Classic Video Games: The Very Best of the 80s

The Best Computer Games from 1980 to 1989

We were young, carefree, and the Nintendo seemed like the most amazing thing on the planet. Isn't it just wonderful to reminisce about the good old days?   We thought we'd track back a few decades and rate our top 10 most iconic computer games of the 1980s.   Feel free to give us your thoughts in the comments section below...

10. Duck Hunt (1984)

Duck Hunt was a light gun shooter video game developed and published by Nintendo. Kids (and adults) all over the world were zapping their guns from the comfort of their own homes - the closest thing they got to the real arcade itself. Duck Hunt is one of the most iconic games in history for this reason alone.

9. Double Dragon (1987)

Double Dragon was a 1987 beat 'em up video game developed by Technōs Japan and distributed in North America and Europe by Taito. Probably the first game of its kind, DD paved the way for future games of this genre like Street Fighter and Tekken .

8. Out Run (1986)

Out Run was a hugely popular arcade game released by Sega in 1986. The game was a critical and commercial success, becoming one of the best-selling video games of its time. No question, this game inspired a whole new generation of racing games to follow.

7. Dragon's Lair (1983)

Dragon's Lair was probably one of the most underrated games in history. Well ahead of its time, the graphics and gameplay of this game made it like a modern version of the Super Mario Bros frachise, and it's hard to believe it was released in 1983.

6. Sim City (1989)

SimCity, later renamed SimCity Classic, was a unique city-building simulation video game, first released in 1989. This was one of those games that every parent was happy for their child to play - encouraging an element of building and architecture. A true first of its kind.

5. The Legend of Zelda (1986)

The Legend of Zelda, originally known in Japan as Legend of Zelda: The Hyrule Fantasy, was an action-adventure video game developed and published by Nintendo. This maze type problem solving game went in a different direction to the usual platform games of this ilk. You either loved or hated Zelda, but there's no doubt it's an absolute classic!

4. Super Mario Bros (1985)

Developed and published by Nintendo, could Super Mario Bros be the most important computer game of all time? It is certainly up there in the conversation. Super Mario Bros, released in 1985, was the computer game that ever child wanted, and it still holds up, even in today's market.

3. Donkey Kong (1981)

Donkey Kong was a first of its kind arcade game released by Nintendo in 1981. An early example of the platform game genre, the gameplay focused on manoeuvring the main character across a series of platforms while dodging and jumping over obstacles. This game paved the way for more advanced versions in the years to follow.

2. Super Mario Bros 3 (1988)

Super Mario Bros. 3 was a popular platform video game developed and published by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan in 1988, and later in North America in 1990. After mixed reviews on Super Marios Bros. 2, the third instalment took platform games to a complete new level. Many passionate game players still rate this game as the greatest of all time.

1. Pac-Man (1980)

Pac-Man, stylised as PAC-MAN, was an arcade game developed by Namco and first released in Japan in 1980. It was created by Japanese video game designer Toru Iwatani. Still possibly the most iconic game of all time, along with Space Invaders (1978), Pac-Man kicked off the 80s with a genre of game that proved to be highly addictive and a whole lot of fun to play.