Is there anything that hits you right in the nostalgia quite like retro games? If you were there when these games were new, you just know – the games of this era were absolutely iconic, spawning franchises that live on to this day. Multiple generations now know the fun of hopping on goombas with Mario, slashing at Ganon with Link’s Master Sword, and gobbling power pellets with Pac-Man to turn the tables on those pesky ghosts.
These iconic 80s games and others captured the attention of millions as Atari, Nintendo, Sega, and others designed experiences that would create core memories for kids around the world. In this list, we’ll celebrate games like Donkey Kong, Contra, Zork, and a few others that are certified legendary. Let’s strap on our Reebok pumps, pump up, and get walking down Memory Lane.
Pac-Man (1980)
Originally called “Puck Man” in Japan, Pac-Man was released by Namco for arcade consoles, and it took off in a BIG way. It was a bona fide quarter muncher until you finally got the skills to clear the levels without difficulty. Classic video games were often tough but rewarded repeated effort to develop skills. They gave us a real sense of satisfaction as we achieved mastery and progressed over time to get on the high-score list at our local coin-op arcade.
Pac-Man invited players to chomp their way through a maze, eating all the pellets they could while avoiding four colored ghosts. Eating a power pellet sent the ghosts scattering and enabled Pac-Man to devour them and send them back to their little stable at the center of the screen. The very best players could make it to the 256th level, where a glitched “kill screen” would informally end the game.
Casino Game Recommendation: Retro Electronic, with reels packed with Nintendos, rotary phones, beepers, hard discs, and other symbols that will take you back to the past.
Super Mario Bros. (1985)
Quite possibly the most iconic retro game of all time. Countless kids (and grown-ups) remember attempting the journey to Bowser’s Castle to rescue Princess Peach time and time again. Without the protective save feature of modern games, there was nothing to do but “git gud” (modern players know what’s up when it comes to this issue). Otherwise, you’d soon be out of lives and forced to start over at World 1-1.
The calypso-esque synthesized steel drum music will forever be in our heads. Green pipes will always seem like portals to other worlds. And that moment when you first made it up and OVER the top of the screen to run to the Warp Zone? Mind-blowing.
Plus, there are dozens of amazingly fun sequels and spin-offs, like Super Mario Bros. 3, the #2 game of the era on GamesRadar, the endlessly repayable Mario Kart, and the madcap, friendship-ruining anarchy of Mario Party. Hats off to the mustachioed man with a hundred caps (and, of course, his green bro, Luigi).
Casino Game Recommendation: King of Jumping is a fun scratch ticket game that has a title befitting the original Jumpman himself.
The Legend of Zelda (1986)
“It’s dangerous to go alone! Take this.” A few words kicked off our quest to restore the Triforce, defeat Ganon, and rescue Princess Zelda. Retro gaming culture is forever obsessed with all things Zelda, and this was the game that started the journey that never ends.
The dungeons were challenging, the secrets were satisfying, and the power-ups were exciting to get a hold of. With little direction, players had to explore the world and find the nine dungeons. Boss fights were stressful, but as your heart bar increased and your gear got better, you could become a true hero to Hyrule. Like many games of the era, rumors on the playground were a vital way to get information (e.g., Ganon can only be killed with a silver arrow!)
We can still hear the overworld theme when leaving the house in the morning…
ALT TEXT: Side-by-side gameplay screenshots of “Super Mario Bros.” (1985) and “The Legend of Zelda” (1986) with pixel art cartridges.
Donkey Kong (1981)
This game is “king” among iconic 80s games. It was huge in the arcade and huge on the Nintendo Entertainment System home console. It was the origin of our beloved Mario (named “Jumpman” at the time because he… jumped… a lot) and practically invented the platformer, which would form the basis for innumerable titles afterward.
This game taught us to time things carefully, to keep working toward the goal, and to always stick the landing. It takes us back to a time in life when the biggest concern was whether we should try to take the ladder or simply stay and face the barrel bouncing our way.
Tetris (1985)
Tetris is easily one of the best retro games of the 80s. It was insanely addictive. You could pass hours and hours just trying to keep your stack manageable while the music gradually sped up and the pieces came faster and faster. Fun fact: the song was arranged for the game by a Japanese composer, but it actually was based on a Russian folk song called “Korobeiniki.” Surely you can hear the influence.
Today, the world’s vidya masters still play the game. There was even a new world record set in March 2024 when Alex Thatch beastmoded like never before to hit the highest level ever achieved and the world’s first score over 10M. It took him more than an hour, but it shows that there is just so much life and cultural significance left in these games, even decades after their original release. Just amazing.
Contra (1987)
This game is another of the classic video games that brought people together on the school bus to share knowledge. More specifically, the 30 lives code, which was essential to most people who wanted to beat the game. 80s kids can all still remember chanting together: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, (Select, if you had a friend and wanted two player mode), and then, Start.
Contra asked players to run and gun, blasting enemies with a variety of weapons. The coveted spread shot was something you and your battle buddy would both dive for as soon as it came floating onto the screen. It was totally OP. Rapid fire was nice. The laser gun was very powerful. The fireballs were pretty hard to make work with their wacky firing pattern.
Progress through the levels and bosses, and reach the end for a triumphant finish when you blast the final enemy’s beating heart to smithereens. Who remembers cheering at 1 a.m. when you finally pulled this off?
Casino Game Recommendation: Guns, Love, and Therapy is an edgy slot game for fans of shooters.
Metroid (1986)
Is there any game on this list that doesn’t have music that has stood the test of time? Metroid is another, with a soundtrack that is still alive and well, getting formal orchestral performances and exquisite professional covers to this day on YouTube.
The exploration was really enjoyable, rewarding players with cool power ups for taking on the great unknown of the planet Zebes. Each area had its own vibe and new gear for Samus. It was a total revelation when we learned that the bounty hunter inside the suit was a woman. And you might still remember that the code Justin Bailey got you to a nice spot in the game with decent gear.
Turn into a ball. Lay some bombs. Time everything to climb to a new secret area. Yeah, this concept will be fun forever.
Casino Game Recommendation: Continue the fight against monsters from space in the fun, modern slot game Alien Fruits 2.
Final Fantasy (1987)
No discussion of retro gaming culture is complete without covering one of the early Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs) that got the genre going. Final Fantasy 1 on the NES (we’re passing 15 now) had you build a party with your choice of warriors, mages, thieves, and others. You’d then travel the world, encounter monsters, grind, and level up. Then you’d buy new gear and spells and get missions from allies. You’d plunder dungeons and play the hero in an epic quest to save the world.
This game ultimately gave rise to some of the coolest experiences in gaming in subsequent iterations. But it began here, with the quest to regain the four crystals. The town theme is still so relaxing to hear. You feel safe, for just a little while.
Casino Game Recommendation: Knights, castles, and swords make King’s Sword a solid slot game for players looking for reels that bring in a little Final Fantasy feel.
Mega Man 2 (1988)
This is definitely one of the best retro games of the 80s. Those special weapons were just too cool. Once you learned that each boss was weak to another boss’s weapon, and you learned the order to beat them in, it was all over for Dr. Wily. The levels were hard and fun, the bosses were a blast to beat, and the final level was stressful, with everything riding on the line. This one felt great to finish, and it felt even better to hear of each new sequel that would come out.
Casino Game Recommendation: Retromania. Cassettes, typewriters, and that ubiquitous yellow-brown color palette give this game a real 1980s feel. It’ll take you back to the Mega Man (aka “Rock Man”) days.
Zork (1980)
This text-based adventure gave people an innovative way to play. It was incredibly frustrating but also zany, and it got your imagination going as you pictured each scene and wondered what to do with that jewel encrusted egg.
Out Run (1986)
We can’t leave this article without referencing at least one racing game. This title for the arcade and Sega Master System had such a super-80s vibe to it. It had great music, hot cars, and just enough challenge to keep it interesting.
Casino Game Recommendation: The neon grid aesthetic of Retro Party will put you right in the mood of a 1980s drive into the sunset, along with the perfect driving soundtrack.
Why Retro Games Are Still Relevant
As you can tell from all these descriptions, it’s not just about the memories. These games live on through music, memorable characters, endless sequels, and an emulation community that simply will never let the games die. Also, in a world with so much complication, a straightforward and fun challenge is usually a good time.
It’s actually more interesting to imagine what it would take to make these games go away. Will they ever? We think that even after the apocalypse if you find people gathered around a TV, you’ll still hear the sound of digital coins being collected…
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