Gaming in the 80's

More of a list of what personally sticks out to me; either culturally (lots of people talked about/played the game), financially (the game sold lots), or maybe just creativity (very unique idea for the time). Suggestions very welcomed, but I can't guarantee an entry!! Just because, and let's keep it a secret between us, these are mostly just games I personally like playing or reading about LMAO. No matter what though, I would love to hear people's perspectives on 80's gaming and how varied it was depending on where we all grew up. The 80's was big with pretty much everything (arcade, PC, and console... even the beginning of more mainstream handheld stuff!) so it's neat seeing how how our perspectives change how we view things. I'm also just going to focus on games that came out in the 80's just because it makes things less complicated. I knowwww Space Invaders was very influentional to 80's gaming, but it came out in 1978, sorry!

I made this while bored at work, not meant to be too serious - but look! I tried to shittily color sort it! Sorry for ALREADY blabbing way too much lol. Hope you enjoy my nonsense.

Fantasy World Dizzy
Fantasy World Dizzy
Bonk's Adventure
Bonk's Adventure
Prince of Persia
Prince of Persia
SimCity
SimCity
Disney's DuckTales
Disney's DuckTales
Mother
Mother
Mega Man 2
Mega Man 2
Tetris
Tetris
The version of Tetris that eventually became it's most famous version: portable Tetris.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Downtown Nekketsu Story
Downtown Nekketsu Story
Super Mario Land
Super Mario Land
Golden Axe
Golden Axe
Momotaro Dentetsu
Momotaro Dentetsu
Tetris
Tetris
The original Tetris stand-up arcade cabinet that took the West
Treasure Island Dizzy
Treasure Island Dizzy
Tetris
Tetris
The arcade cabinet that introduced Japan to the craze of Tetris!
Splatterhouse
Splatterhouse
Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 2
Battle Chess
Battle Chess
Ninja Gaiden
Ninja Gaiden
King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella
King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella
Famicom Tantei Club: Kieta Koukeisha
Famicom Tantei Club: Kieta Koukeisha
Dragon Warrior III
Dragon Warrior III
Contra
Contra
Wonder Boy in Monster Land
Wonder Boy in Monster Land
Sega's continuation of the successful Wonder Boy arcade game. Unlike Nintendo, the Mark III/Master System was able to keep using the name Wonder Boy because it was always a Sega property!
Dizzy: The Ultimate Cartoon Adventure
Dizzy: The Ultimate Cartoon Adventure
Head Over Heels
Head Over Heels
Wizball
Wizball
Phantasy Star
Phantasy Star
Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy
Mega Man
Mega Man
Nakayama Miho no Tokimeki High School
Nakayama Miho no Tokimeki High School
Shinobi
Shinobi
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
Maniac Mansion
Maniac Mansion
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei
Double Dragon
Double Dragon
Metal Gear
Metal Gear
California Games
California Games
The Ancient Land of Ys
The Ancient Land of Ys
Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards
Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards
Sid Meier's Pirates!
Sid Meier's Pirates!
Rygar
Rygar
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Zork Trilogy
Zork Trilogy
The Ultimate Challenge from Beat Takeshi
The Ultimate Challenge from Beat Takeshi
720 Degrees
720 Degrees
Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Castlevania
Castlevania
OutRun
OutRun
KiKi KaiKai
KiKi KaiKai
Hudson's Adventure Island
Hudson's Adventure Island
Famicom Wonder Boy - which got fairly popular independently from the original Sega Wonder Boy
Metroid
Metroid
Ganbare Goemon!: Karakuri Douchuu
Ganbare Goemon!: Karakuri Douchuu
Salamander
Salamander
Bubble Bobble
Bubble Bobble
Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-kun
Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-kun
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
Dragon Warrior
Dragon Warrior
Wonder Boy
Wonder Boy
Original arcade Wonder Boy
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda
Ballblazer
Ballblazer
Ikki
Ikki
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros.
The Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail
A Mind Forever Voyaging
A Mind Forever Voyaging
Ghosts 'n Goblins
Ghosts 'n Goblins
Gradius
Gradius
Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?
Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?
Paperboy
Paperboy
Gauntlet
Gauntlet
Flicky
Flicky
Jet Set Willy
Jet Set Willy
Marble Madness
Marble Madness
Hydlide
Hydlide
Spartan X
Spartan X
1942
1942
Excitebike
Excitebike
4-nin Uchi Mahjong
4-nin Uchi Mahjong
Deus Ex Machina
Deus Ex Machina
Ninja-Kid
Ninja-Kid
Bank Panic
Bank Panic
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Super Punch-Out!!
Super Punch-Out!!
The Tower of Druaga
The Tower of Druaga
Tetris
Tetris
The original Tetris that was pre-installed into the majority of computers sent out in the Soviet Union.
I, Robot
I, Robot
King's Quest: Quest for the Crown
King's Quest: Quest for the Crown
Golf
Golf
Karate Champ
Karate Champ
Duck Hunt
Duck Hunt
Chuckie Egg
Chuckie Egg
Baseball
Baseball
M.U.L.E.
M.U.L.E.
Lode Runner
Lode Runner
Track & Field
Track & Field
Tapper
Tapper
Ultima III: Exodus
Ultima III: Exodus

3 Comments


1 month ago

Just wanted to say that I appreciate the color sorting

Shadowgate (specifically the NES port) was one of my first introductions to adventure games and is a fun little play if you've never had the chance to try it

You might also like to look into Project Firestart, it's a little rough around the edges but is pretty cool for being a prototypical example of what most would consider survival horror

1 month ago

Thanks so much!! @doctorQuark im gonna add them once im home!

1 month ago

"California Games" has literally not entered my head since the actual 80s; thank you for the unlock.


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