90s Nickelodeon cartoons were loud, weird and full of jokes that kids and adults both laughed at. Rocko's Modern Life, Ren & Stimpy, CatDog and Aaahh!!! Real Monsters each had their own strange world. This One Gotta Go card asks which Nicktoon you would cancel for good.
Think about the shows you rushed home to watch, the ones your parents didn't quite understand, and the one you would actually rewatch today. Then pick one to cut and get ready for some serious 90s nostalgia.
The 4 choices on this card
A. Rocko's Modern Life
Rocko's Modern Life followed a wallaby trying to handle everyday adult life in the town of O-Town. Many jokes were clearly aimed at the grown-ups. The case against it is that kids sometimes found it slower than the zanier shows, which makes it a possible cut.
Keep it if: You loved Rocko, Heffer and Filburt and now catch all the adult jokes you missed as a kid.
B. Ren & Stimpy
Ren & Stimpy was the wildest show on this card, starring a jumpy chihuahua and a happy, clueless cat. It was famous for gross-out humor and extreme close-ups. The case against it is that it could be too much, even for 90s kids.
Keep it if: You love the wildest, weirdest cartoon humor and still quote Ren and Stimpy with your friends.
C. CatDog
CatDog was one animal with a cat on one end and a dog on the other, always pulling in two directions. The theme song alone is unforgettable. The case against it is that the idea was funnier than many of the episodes, so it might be your cut.
Keep it if: You still sing the theme song and love how Cat and Dog could never agree on anything.
D. Aaahh!!! Real Monsters
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters followed Ickis, Oblina and Krumm at a monster school under a city dump, learning how to scare people. It had a great look and lots of heart. The case against it is that fewer people remember it, so it's an easy cut for some.
Keep it if: You loved the monster school, the creative designs and the three friends learning to be scary.
Our take
We'd cut CatDog. The theme song is a classic, but the show itself is the one on this card that leans most on one idea, while Rocko's Modern Life had sharp writing, Ren & Stimpy pushed every limit and Real Monsters had the most creative world. Expect the most fun debate between the Rocko fans and the Ren & Stimpy crowd. Bonus question: which of these would you show to a kid today to explain what 90s cartoons were like?
How to play this card with friends
- Read the four choices out loud.
- Everyone picks the one they'd eliminate at the same time.
- Explain your pick. This is where the fun starts.
- Use the follow-up questions below to keep it going.
Follow-up questions to keep the debate going
- Which Nickelodeon show had the most jokes that went over parents' heads?
- Which theme song do you still know word for word?
- Which of these would work best as a reboot today?
- Which 90s Nickelodeon show deserves a spot on this card instead?
Want more debates like this? Get the One Gotta Go card game for game night, family dinners and road trips. Shop the decks.
90s Nickelodeon Shows: quick answers
What were the best 90s Nickelodeon cartoons?
Rocko's Modern Life, Ren & Stimpy, CatDog and Aaahh!!! Real Monsters are four classic 90s Nicktoons, along with favorites like Rugrats, Doug and Hey Arnold!. Each had a very different style, which is part of why 90s Nickelodeon is so fondly remembered.
What was Rocko's Modern Life about?
Rocko's Modern Life followed Rocko, a wallaby who moved to the town of O-Town and tried to handle everyday adult life with friends like Heffer and Filburt. The show was known for jokes aimed at adults that many viewers only noticed when they rewatched it as grown-ups.
