The Terminator franchise has survived Skynet, time travel paradoxes – and, somehow, decades of mixed bag video game tie-ins. From janky NES platformers to gritty PC shooters, nearly every console generation has taken a shot at capturing James Cameron’s doomsday vision in playable form.

And now, with Terminator 2D releasing October 31, the saga gets a fresh side-scrolling twist that calls back to the series’ pixel roots. Whether you’re a die-hard T-800 sympathiser or just curious which games actually did Skynet justice, this updated ranking slices through the chaos.

So, grab your shades, spin up the time circuits, and let’s see which Terminator games are worth fighting for – and which should be terminated for good.

19. Terminator Genisys: Future War (2017)

Platform: Mobile

A free-to-play base-builder that’s about as inspired as the Genisys movie itself. Clunky timers, predatory microtransactions, and generic art that screams “sci-fi assets on sale.” Even die-hard fans gave this a hard pass.

18. Terminator Genisys: Revolution (2015)

Platform: Mobile

Another mobile tie-in for Genisys, this on-rails shooter was more ad platform than game. A few moments of fun gunplay buried under pop-ups, cooldowns, and the usual freemium energy nonsense.

17. The Terminator (NES, 1990)

Platform: NES

One of the earliest console stabs at the license. Terrible controls, laughably bad visuals, and repetitive platforming. A far cry from Cameron’s bleak vision – this is 8-bit punishment.

16. The Terminator (Sega Master System/Game Gear, 1992)

Platform: Sega 8-bit

This 8-bit version is slightly better than the NES disaster but still bland. Slow, stiff, and forgettable. Only notable if you’re a Sega completionist.

15. The Terminator: Dawn of Fate (2002)

Platforms: PS2, Xbox

A prequel with potential. Decent voice acting and lore, but ruined by awkward cameras and uninspired combat. The early 2000s were littered with these half-baked third-person action games – this is one of them.

14. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

Platforms: PS2, Xbox

Released alongside the movie, this FPS is peak cash-grab. Dull levels, wooden Arnie voice lines, and uninspired design. Barely counts as functional – only slightly better than Dawn of Fate.

13. Terminator: Future Shock (1995)

Platform: MS-DOS

Ambitious for the time – real 3D environments, drivable vehicles – but the clunky Bethesda engine and primitive controls haven’t aged well. You can respect it as a relic, but that’s about it.

12. The Terminator (1993)

Platform: Sega CD

Full-motion video from the film and a killer soundtrack (Tommy Tallarico!), but the gameplay loop is shallow and mindless. A CD-era oddity, mostly style, not enough substance.

11. Robocop vs. The Terminator (1993)

Platform: Game Gear

Technically a crossover, but hey, it counts. Fun concept, gnarly violence, but stiff controls and punishing difficulty can kill the fun fast. Best played for the sheer 90s novelty.

10. Terminator 2029 (1992)

Platform: MS-DOS

Another Bethesda experiment. An isometric shooter with light RPG elements – more like a proto-Fallout vibe. Clunky as hell by today’s standards, but historically interesting for PC fans.

9. Terminator Salvation (2009)

Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC

A short, bland Gears-of-War clone that coasts on co-op and big explosions. It’s fine if you snag it for a dollar, but don’t expect anything more than serviceable cover shooting.

8. Terminator 3: The Redemption (2004)

Platforms: PS2, Xbox, GameCube

Surprisingly solid. Good mix of vehicle combat and third-person blasting, cheesy Arnie lines, and a big step up from Rise of the Machines. Underrated mid-2000s fun.

7. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (NES/SNES/Game Boy)

Developer: LJN

Every version here is a weird side-scroller with unbalanced difficulty and awkward hit detection. Pure 90s jank – but charming in its own train-wreck way. It’s T2, after all.

6. Robocop vs. The Terminator (Sega Genesis)

Platform: Sega Genesis (Mega Drive)

The Genesis version is a different beast – faster, gorier, and more fun. The soundtrack rips, and it’s remembered fondly by Sega kids for good reason.

5. The Terminator (Sega Genesis)

Platform: Sega Genesis

A tough, old-school side-scroller that nails the apocalyptic vibe. The music still slaps, and the pixel art’s got charm. One of the best retro takes on the license.

4. Terminator: Skynet (1996)

Platform: MS-DOS

A spiritual sequel to Future Shock – cleaned up mechanics, better level design, and early LAN multiplayer. It was ahead of its time, just overshadowed by Quake and Doom clones.

3. Terminator Resistance (2019)

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC

Teyon’s scrappy, low-budget FPS that turned out way better than expected. Genuinely respectful of the source material, with stealth, hacking, and moral choices. The bleak Skynet war feels authentic.

2. Terminator Resistance: Enhanced (2021)

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC

A remaster of Resistance with upgraded visuals, smoother performance, and DLC baked in. It’s still rough in spots, but a must-play for franchise diehards. Easily one of the best modern takes.

1. Terminator 2: Judgment Day – The Arcade Game (1991)

Platform: Arcade Original

The king stays the king. The original arcade cabinet nailed the movie’s chaos: mounted light guns, endless explosions, and a heart-pounding loop. The cabinet still devours quarters to this day. Accept no substitutes.

A future worth fighting for (sometimes)

Terminator’s game history is mostly a scrapyard of half-baked ideas and cheap tie-ins – but when it hits, it hits. If Resistance and the old T2 arcade game teach us anything, it’s that when developers respect the source and actually give a damn, Skynet’s future can be worth revisiting. Bring on the next round – we’ll be back.