The Evolution of Retro Gaming

The evolution of retro gaming began in retail arcades, where pinball was the original king of gaming, but soon faced a new digital competitor. Games like Computer Space and Pong would spark a new era of gaming that would eventually lead to home computer and console gaming throughout the 70s and 80s. We’re going to take you through that evolutionary journey of the rise of retro gaming into today’s modern era of online gaming.

(1971) Where Did Retro Gaming Start?

Retro gaming’s roots go back to the early commercial video game era of the 1970s. Pinball machines were all the rage at the time, so the high street arcades they were situated in became the perfect launchpad for the first coin-based retro arcade machine, which, at the time, was not so retro but rather a revolutionary new form of entertainment.

• Computer Space: In 1971, the first arcade game was born. This was the first commercial arcade video game to hit the high street retail market. The game played out on a black-and-white screen. Their goal was to fly your pixel-created rocket ship to destroy two flying saucers firing back at you.

• Pong: A year later, in 1972, Pong was released. It is a simple game, based on Table Tennis, or ping-pong, as the name implies. The idea is to hit the ‘dot’, which is a ball, back toward your opponent, and if your opponent misses, you win a point. In fact, it’s similar to the physical air hockey game we play today, but without the goals for discs.

It is these two games that we owe the beginning of not just the retro-gaming scene, but also today’s modern gaming era. It’s where it all began, turning pinball-dominated arcades where high-score culture was already a thing into a diverse public gaming arena.

(1970s) High-Street Arcades Began the Era of Gaming

When we look back at some of the early arcade games of the retro era, it’s easy to see why high-street gaming became so popular. Arcades became the center of towns and hangout spots across many areas of large cities, offering a chance to get a piece of action on popular arcade games, each with a different theme and style of gameplay. Arcades are also where popular retro gaming characters first appeared. 

Mario first appeared on the 1981 Donkey Kong arcade game as Jumpman, and in 1983 The Mario Bros arcade game first came out before we saw either character on the NES.

Retro arcade games:

• Space Invaders
• Pac-Man
• Ms. Pac-Man
• Donkey Kong
• The Mario Bros
• Galaga
• Street Fighter II
• Mortal Kombat

The arcade was essentially a new form of entertainment. Soon, roller discos and bowling alleys, which were trending in the 70s and 80s, realized they would also need to include arcades to keep clientele coming.

Early Retro Games Created a Gaming Culture

High street arcades were an important part of the evolution of retro gaming because this is where gaming culture was born. 

Gaming culture developer into:

• High-score chasing
• Competitive gameplay
• Simple controls
• Iconic characters
• Digital sound effects

Thanks to these cultural gaming attributes from the past, we can link arcade gaming to today’s gaming culture, where we now have leaderboards, speedrunning, esports, and competitive multiplayer games like League of Legends and Dota 2, all of which have roots in arcade habits.

(1977) Atari and the Move Into the Living Room 

When the Atari became popular in the late 70s, it marked the beginning of a shift from visiting high street gaming venues to playing arcade games at home. The Magnavox Odyssey may have been the first home game console, but the Atari 2600, released in 1977, popularized cartridge-based home gaming. It brought arcade-style games into the living room. 

Popular games on the Atari 2600 included:

• Space Invaders
• Asteroids
• Adventure
• Pitfall!
• Missile Command
• Centipede

Although this marked the beginning of home arcade gaming, the process was slow. The early console market became crowded, leading to a drop in quality control and some poor game releases. The console video game scene crashed in around 1983, damaging confidence in home consoles.

(1980) Game & Watch Hand Helds

Aside from high street arcade machines and the Atari, Nintendo’s handheld Game & Watch devices have had an immense influence on the evolution of retro gaming and even on the early arcade scene. Mario Bros. appeared on the gaming scene in 1983 on a Nintendo Game & Watch, and, as a matter of fact, there was a Donkey Kong Game & Watch in 1982. These were small LCD handheld devices powered by a small watch battery, and some of the games invented on these devices first shaped Nintendo and would eventually help sell millions of consoles.

Notable retro gaming Game & Watch games:

• Ball (1980)
• Popeye (1981)
• Donkey Kong (1982)
• Mario Bros. (1983)
• Mario’s Cement Factory (1983)
• Donkey Kong 3 (1984)

(1982 – 1985) The Home Computer Boom – ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, and Amiga

After home consoles failed to impress, it was home computers that changed the retro gaming industry. However, these aren’t the Windows or Apple computers we use today. Some used cassette tapes to load games. These machines also marked the beginning of home game programming, especially on the ZX Spectrum. However, with these gaming consoles came retro games like Kiwi Island, Prince of Persia, and Sensible Soccer.

ZX Spectrum

The ZX Spectrum was one of the first home computers that brought about what we refer to as ‘bedroom coding’. The system was released in the UK in 1982 and soon spread globally. In the UK, the system and its games are still discussed in retro-gaming circles. 

ZX Spectrum Retro Games:

• Manic Miner
• Jet Set Willy
• Dizzy
• Skool Daze
• Knight Lore
• Chuckie Egg

Commodore 64

The Commodore 64 also deserves its place in the evolution of retro gaming. It was released globally in 1982, around the same time as the ZX Spectrum. Although it was also used for programming and learning, it was primarily a game console, and it had a large software and games library.

Commodore 64 Retro Games:

• The Last Ninja
• Impossible Mission
• Boulder Dash
• Elite
• California Games

Commodore Amiga

As technology advanced, arcade game graphics and sound were becoming increasingly accessible on computer systems. The first to take advantage of this was the Amiga 1000, launched in 1985, which was soon followed by the upgraded, and at the time state-of-the-art Amiga 500, which became the home gaming favorite for many players as it simply had more personality than retro gaming consoles of that era, although it would meet its match with the NES, released in the same year.

Commodore Amiga Retro Games:

• Sensible World of Soccer
• Worms
• Lemmings
• The Secret of Monkey Island
• Cannon Fodder
• Speedball 2
• The Chaos Engine

Today’s PC Gaming

Today, gaming on computers is popular despite a brief hiatus after the Commodore Amiga. It took a while, but now PC gaming is just as good, if not better and more flexible than game consoles, thanks to advanced graphics cards, processors and upgradable computer hardware.

(1984 – 1991) Nintendo, Sega, and the Console Wars 

The gaming industry really began to shift towards ‘at home’ gameplay when Nintendo and Sega started to make their mark on the industry. These two companies helped restore confidence in game consoles after the 1983 industry crash, which we mentioned in the Atari ‘Atari and the Move Into the Living Room’ section. It was also around this point that retail arcades started to feel the pinch as more people chose to stay home and play on their NES or Master System. 

Nintendo’s Retro Game Consoles

The stream of Nintendo systems and their games has had a huge impact on the evolution of retro gaming. We say ‘and their games’ because when the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), also known as Famicom, came out, so did the Mario Brothers, and this game became legendary, not just on the NES, but across all Nintendo consoles.

NES / Famicom (1985)

The NES launched in 1985 and directly challenged the Amiga’s gaming community while also competing with the Sega Master System. 

It was on the NES that these retro games were released:

• Super Mario Bros.
• The Legend of Zelda
• Mega Man

SNES / Super Famicom (1991)

The next generation of the NES, being the Super Nintendo, released in 1991, was pretty much the end of computer gaming on Commodore Amigas. It would be years before computer systems returned to the gaming scene, which we now call PC gaming. 

Popular retro games born on the SNES were:

• Super Mario Kart
• Super Mario World
• Donkey Kong Country

Nintendo 64 (1996)

The Nintendo 64 was the next generation of console gaming, bringing 3D gaming to a whole new level and introducing a whole new set of games that have lasted in the hearts and minds of early gamers, thus earning their place as hit retro games of their time. Golden Eye and Worms Armageddon are two games that stand out thanks to their multiplayer gameplay, which created as much fun as it did arguments between pals.

Hit retro games on the Nintendo 64 included:

• GoldenEye 007
• Super Mario 64
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Today’s Nintendo Gaming Systems

Since the Nintendo 64, we’ve also seen the release of the GameCube, Nintendo DS, Wii and Switch, which are not retro game systems just yet, but the early success of the NES, SNES and N64 has led to the creation of these more modern game consoles.

Sega’s Retro Game Consoles

With Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong to compete with, Sega had its work cut out when taking on Nintendo. Yet Sega didn’t just follow Nintendo’s lead. It built its own identity around faster arcade-style games, sharper attitude, and characters like Sonic the Hedgehog, Alex Kidd and later Nights. For many retro gamers, Sega felt like the louder, faster and slightly rebellious alternative to Nintendo.

Sega Master System (1985)

The Sega Master System first launched in Japan as the Sega Mark III in 1985, before being redesigned and released as the Master System in other markets. It became Sega’s main rival to the NES, although Nintendo dominated in Japan and North America. In Europe and Brazil, however, the Master System built a much stronger following.

It was on the Master System that these retro games became closely linked with Sega’s early console era:

• Alex Kidd in Miracle World
• Wonder Boy
• Phantasy Star
• Sonic the Hedgehog

Sega Mega Drive / Genesis (1988)

The Sega Mega Drive launched in Japan in 1988 and later arrived in North America as the Genesis in 1989. This was the console that truly put Sega in direct competition with Nintendo. When Sonic the Hedgehog arrived in 1991, Sega finally had a mascot that could stand beside Mario.

The Mega Drive also gave players faster arcade-style action, sports games, beat ’em ups and platform games that helped define the 16-bit console war.

Hit retro games on the Mega Drive / Genesis included:

• Sonic the Hedgehog
• Streets of Rage
• Golden Axe
• Altered Beast
• Shinobi
• Mortal Kombat

Sega Saturn (1994)

The Sega Saturn launched in Japan in 1994 and reached Western markets in 1995. It arrived during a difficult shift from 2D to 3D gaming. While the Saturn was strong for arcade conversions, fighting games and 2D titles, it struggled against the Sony PlayStation, which quickly became the dominant console of that generation.

Even so, Saturn still has a loyal retro following today, especially among collectors and fans of Sega’s arcade-style games.

Notable Sega Saturn retro games included:

• Virtua Fighter
• Sega Rally Championship
• Nights into Dreams
• Panzer Dragoon
• Daytona USA

Sega Dreamcast (1998)

The Sega Dreamcast launched in Japan in 1998 and reached Europe and North America in 1999. It was Sega’s final home console, but it was also ahead of its time. It had online play, strong arcade conversions, and a library that still feels distinctive today. The Dreamcast could not survive against the PlayStation 2, but it went out with some of Sega’s most memorable games. For many retro gamers, it is now seen as one of the most underrated consoles ever released.

Classic Dreamcast games included:

• Sonic Adventure
• Shenmue
• Crazy Taxi
• Jet Set Radio
• Soulcalibur
• Phantasy Star Online

Sega’s Place in Retro Gaming

Sega may not have lasted as a console maker, but its impact on retro gaming is massive. The Master System gave Sega its first serious home console identity, the Mega Drive created one of the biggest rivalries in gaming history, and the Dreamcast proved Sega could still take risks even at the end of its hardware run.

Nintendo had Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong. Sega had Sonic, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, Virtua Fighter, Crazy Taxi and Shenmue. That rivalry gave retro gaming some of its best characters, consoles and arguments.

(1990) Nintendo, Atari, and Sega Handheld Gaming Wars 

We’ve already covered the Game & Watch handheld era, which produced games that would later influence the gaming console market. It turns out those basic retro LED handheld devices would evolve into the Game Boy. Powered by batteries and able to change games using cartridges, the green-and-black LED screen is yet another symbol of retro gaming courtesy of Nintendo, and the catalyst to a new battle between game console developers in the handheld gaming scene.

The Nintendo Game Boy launched in Japan in 1989, followed by North America in 1989 and Europe in 1990. It prioritized battery life, affordability, and durability over color graphics, hence the green-and-black LED screen. It was here where one of the most well-known retro games started to make a name for itself – Tetris!

Following the Game Boy, there were several more popular handheld gaming consoles released:

• Atari Lynx (1989)
• Sega Game Gear (1990)
• Neo Geo Pocket Color (1999)
• Game Boy Color (1998)
• Game Boy Advance (2001)

Over almost a decade, the mobile console gaming market emerged, using many of the same retro game characters, such as Mario, Donkey Kong, Zelda, and Sonic, to bring new yet familiar games to avid gaming fans. Today, the portable gaming market remains very much alive and successful, even in the face of a new challenger: smartphone gaming.

(Mid-1990s) The Shift to 3D Gaming 

By the mid-1990s, gaming moved from 2D 8-bit gaming into 16-bit 3D worlds. This was one of the biggest changes in gaming history, and we owe the evolution of gaming graphics to early retro games and game consoles.

Early game systems that introduced 3D gaming:

• Sony PlayStation
• Nintendo 64
• Sega Saturn
• Dreamcast

3D retro games still talked about today:

• Super Mario 64
• Tomb Raider
• Resident Evil
• Metal Gear Solid
• Final Fantasy VII
• Tekken 3
• Gran Turismo
• GoldenEye 007
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Althouhg the early 3D PlayStation and N64 games may still be considered modern to some, we now classify these consoles and their games, like James Bond Golden Eye and the very first Gran Turismo as retro too.

Retro Games That Are Still Played Today

Some retro games have never really disappeared. They survive through re-releases, remasters, emulation, speedrunning, online communities, arcade collections, and modern consoles.

The list of retro games still played today is a long one:

• Tetris
• Pac-Man
• Ms. Pac-Man
• Super Mario Bros.
• Super Mario World
• The Legend of Zelda
• Sonic the Hedgehog
• Street Fighter II
• Mortal Kombat
• Doom
• Worms
• Sensible World of Soccer
• GoldenEye 007
• Pokémon Red and Blue
• Final Fantasy VII
• Resident Evil
• Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater
• Crash Bandicoot

The best retro games survive because their core gameplay still works. They do not rely only on graphics. They are easy to understand, hard to master, and instantly recognizable.

Why Retro Gaming Still Survives Today

If you can picture this, the world went from radio to black-and-white TVs in the 40s to color TVs in the 50s. It was a whole two decades before the generation of the 70s would be introduced to something completely new, beginning the era of retro gaming. Moreover, retro gaming is not just about looking backward. It shows how modern gaming was built. 

• Arcades created competitive play. 
• Atari helped bring games home. 
• The Spectrum and Amiga encouraged bedroom developers. 
• Nintendo and Sega turned game characters into global icons. 
• Handhelds made gaming portable.  
• Early 3D consoles opened the door to the world that players explore today.

Retro gaming survives because the best old games still feel good to play.

FAQs

Where did retro gaming start?

Retro gaming started with the earliest commercial video games of the 1970s, especially arcade games like Computer Space and Pong, followed by home systems such as the Magnavox Odyssey and Atari 2600.

What was the first major retro arcade game?

Pong is usually treated as the first major breakout arcade hit because it reached a much wider audience than earlier experiments.

Is PlayStation 1 considered retro now?

Yes. The PlayStation launched in the mid-1990s, so PS1 games are now widely considered retro, especially early 3D titles like Tomb Raider, Resident Evil, Tekken 3, and Final Fantasy VII.

Why are retro games still popular?

Retro games are still popular because many of them have simple controls, strong gameplay loops, memorable characters, and a level of challenge that holds up today.

When did Mario first appear on the gaming scene?

Mario’s first appearance was as Jumpman on a 1981 arcade game release of Donkey Kong. In 1983, Nintendo released Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Game & Watch. It was in 1985, with the NES, that Mario Bros. became an ‘at home’ entertainment game.