Video games came of age in the 1980s, and over the course of the decade, gaming went from a novelty to a thriving industry. From picking up the NES to going to the arcade, people of all ages were trying games for the first time.
Since games saw so much growth during the 80s, there were a flurry of new releases, with many developers throwing ideas at the wall to see what would stick. Unfortunately, many of the best video games from the ’80s, including Pitfall! and Maniac Mansion, don’t get the attention they deserve today.
Pole Position Should Be First in Everyone’s Hearts
Pole Position is an arcade racing game first released in late 1982. It can be played on either a standard cabinet or a special driving cabinet. Players have to dodge obstacles and navigate twisted tracks so that they can beat their opponents and make it to the finish line first.
Despite being a staple of arcade compilations, most people have completely forgotten Pole Position. Some would argue that it’s a poorly aged ’80s game that’s not on par with modern racers, but it influenced many classic racing games, including Mario Kart and Gran Turismo. Pole Position deserves to be recognized for its role in gaming history.
The Original Street Fighter Has Been Overshadowed
Street Fighter is a fighting game first released in arcades in December 1987. It features up to eight fighters from around the world facing off in one-on-one matches, with players relying on each character’s special moves to gain the upper hand.
Since then, the Street Fighter franchise has come a long way, and the original game is often remembered only as the predecessor to Street Fighter II, which does it a disservice. Revisiting Street Fighter makes it clear that the modern games wouldn’t be the same without the foundation it laid.
Street Fighter
- Released
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August 30, 1987
- ESRB
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m
- Developer(s)
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Capcom
- Publisher(s)
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Capcom
- Engine
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unity
- Franchise
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Street Fighter
Pitfall! Is One of the Best Atari Games Ever
Pitfall! is a platformer released for the Atari 2600 in September 1982. Players control Pitfall Harry as he avoids pitfalls, scorpions, alligators, and other hazards while trying to earn as many points as possible.
Even though it’s one of the best Atari 2600 games of all time, many titles from that era, including Pitfall!, are barely talked about today. Considering how influential it was to the platform genre and how well it still holds up, there’s no reason a game like Pitfall! should be so often overlooked.
Pitfall!
- Released
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January 1, 1982
- ESRB
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t
- Developer(s)
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Activision
- Publisher(s)
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Activision
R.C. Pro-Am Brought Nintendo and Rare Together
R.C. Pro-Am is a racing and vehicular combat game released for the NES in February 1988. It was one of the first collaborations between Rare and Nintendo and put players in control of remote-controlled toy cars competing in pro-am races.
Despite its influence, R.C. Pro-Am is strangely overlooked. It played a key role in shaping racing games on Nintendo consoles and also helped to define the working relationship between Rare and Nintendo. R.C. Pro-Am is a forgotten NES title every retro game fan should play.
R.C. Pro-Am
- Released
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February 21, 1988
- Developer(s)
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Rare
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo, Tradewest
MIDI Maze Was Ahead of Its Time
MIDI Maze is a first-person shooter and maze game released for the Atari ST in 1987. It later found greater popularity under the name Faceball 2000. Regardless of the title, MIDI Maze lets players compete in one of the earliest first-person shooter deathmatch tournaments.
The game was definitely ahead of its time, becoming one of the first titles to feature networked multiplayer through the Atari ST’s MIDI ports. On top of that, MIDI Maze, particularly in its Faceball 2000 form, pushed its platforms to their limits, especially the Game Boy.
Maniac Mansion Is a Classic But Forgotten Adventure Game
Maniac Mansion is a point-and-click adventure game first released for the Apple II and Commodore 64 on October 5, 1987. The story follows a group of college students, led by Dave Miller, as they attempt to rescue his girlfriend, Sandy Pant,z from the mad scientist Dr. Fred Edison.
The title is filled with off-the-wall humor and puzzles that often border on outright absurdity. Maniac Mansion had a massive influence on adventure games, but while later Lucasfilm Games titles like Monkey Island and Sam & Max are fondly remembered, this one has been forgotten.
Maniac Mansion
- Released
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October 5, 1987
- Developer(s)
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LucasArts
- Publisher(s)
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LucasArts
Mystery House Is One of the Creepiest ’80s Games of All Time
Mystery House is another adventure game released for the Apple II on May 5, 1980. Players explore a seemingly abandoned mansion where a hidden murderer stalks its occupants, killing them one by one.
Not only was Mystery House the first graphical adventure game, but it was one of the earliest horror games. Even though the game’s visuals might look primitive by modern standards, the creepy premise still holds up today.
Defender of the Crown Should Be a Classic ’80s Strategy Game
Released for the Amiga on November 1, 1986, Defender of the Crown is a strategy game set in a fictionalized version of medieval England around the year 1149. Players follow the Saxons as they attempt to defend the crown while engaging in various medieval activities.
Defender of the Crown set a standard that wouldn’t be matched for years. Its visuals were striking, and its gameplay was far more refined than earlier and later entries in the genre. There’s no reason Defender of the Crown should be treated as a mere footnote today.
Sid Meier’s Pirates Lets Players Take Sail
Released for the Commodore 64 in May 1987, Sid Meier’s Pirates is an action-adventure and strategy game that lets players take on the roles of pirate, privateer, and even pirate hunter. Despite the title, it offers far more than a simple pirate fantasy, giving players a wide range of activities across the Caribbean.
The game is often overlooked compared to Sid Meier’s later work, especially the Civilization series of turn-based and 4X strategy titles. A 2004 remake brought the concept back, but it didn’t do much to raise the original’s profile. Even so, the original Sid Meier’s Pirates is a title that Civilization fans should play.
Wonder Boy Is an Incredibly Underrated Platformer
Wonder Boy is a platformer that was first released in arcades around July 1986. In the game, the titular Wonder Boy is a caveman who sets out to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend. Even though it takes place in the past, Wonder Boy can use a skateboard to get around foes.
One of the most interesting things about Wonder Boy is that the game had a double life. It was ported to many systems, including the Sega Master System, but it was also adapted into a new game for the NES: Adventure Island. Both titles went on to spawn series.
It’s a shame that Wonder Boy isn’t usually brought up when people are discussing platformers that defined the genre. Both it and Adventure Island have unique features, like potential power-ups that can also curse the player, and the titles deserve more attention than they get.