/vr/ - Retro Games

The last two Top 20s from Gamest for their 1998 awards. The magazine ceased publication at the end of 1999, but most of its staff moved to Arcadia. Unfortunately the Arcadia Awards hadn't been posted online that I'm aware of.

Top 20 By Popularity
1.Tekken 3
2. Street Fighter Alpha 3
3. The King of Fighters '98
4. Marvel vs. Capcom
5. The King of Fighters '97
6. Virtua Fighter 3tb
7. Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram
8. Street Fighter EX2
9. Virtua Striker 2
10. Last Blade
11. Virtua Striker 2 Ver. '98
12. Street Fighter III 2nd Impact
13. Real Bout Fatal Fury 2
14. SoulCalibur
15. Rival Schools
16. ESP Ra.De
17. Beatmania: 2nd Mix
18. Armed Police Batrider
19. Striker 1945 II
20. Raiden Fighters

Top 20 By Income
1. Tekken 3
2. Street Fighter Alpha 3
3. Marvel vs. Capcom
4. The King of Fighters '98
5. Virtua Fighter 3tb
6. The King of Fighters '97
7. Virtua Striker 2
8. Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram
9. Street Fighter EX2
10. Virtua Striker 2 Ver. '98
11. Last Blade
12. Street Fighter III 2nd Impact
13. Real Bout Fatal Fury 2
14. SoulCalibur
15. Rival Schools
16. Beatmania 2nd Mix
17. ESP Ra.De.
18. Armed Police Batrider
19. New Japan Pro Wrestling: Toukon Retsuden 3
20. Time Crisis

Funny seeing Alpha 3 at No. 2 at both lists, while 2nd Impact didn't even reach the Top 10 (even EX2 outranked it). I heard it took awhile until 3rd Strike for the III series to gain a following.