Games are becoming increasingly complicated as technology advances. Companies are pouring money into the pursuit of success. Games appear and quickly vanish, leaving little trace. Despite technological progress, some older games survive and resurface in popularity. Board games have recently gained popularity. Some of the same reasons apply to retro video games and board games. One motivation is nostalgia. Another reason is that gamers know what to expect.
They recall the game and understand how to play it. They don’t need to read a handbook or watch YouTube videos to learn how to play. Another factor is that these games are frequently simple and uncomplicated. The objective is straightforward, and complexities do not weigh down a player. Games like Pac-Man, Monopoly, and ultimate 80s bingo are easy to play but also offer tremendous fun. With this in mind, we thought we would take a look at the best 80s games that are either making a comeback or never went away in the first place.
Pac-Man
Pac-Man is undoubtedly the most famous video game ever made and continues to be extremely popular. The game’s titular character is a yellow circle who navigates a maze while eating fruit and running away from ghosts. It was first released in 1980. The game has a delightfully liberating feel since the Pac-Man avatar represents a kind of “everyman” who is just trying to get by, feed his family, and outrun his inevitable demise for as long as possible. Pac-Man has been released in almost every format and theme imaginable, which should be no surprise. Having said that, the classic, original version of the game is widely regarded as the favorite.
Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy is one of the best-selling video game franchises, having sold hundreds of millions of copies worldwide. In recent years, there has been a strong desire for the earlier formative years of Final Fantasy, which is often regarded as the peak of the RPG series. Retro Final Fantasy is regarded as the golden era, and practically every numbered mainline Final Fantasy game has been ported to PC or console, with continued success many years after the initial release. The fact that Final Fantasy is still relevant and holds such high esteem demonstrates how influential those initial few titles were. When we look at the graphics of the Final Fantasy games of today, it’s sometimes hard to remember this franchise was born in the 80s.
Super Mario Bros.
Many classic video games are connected with Mario and his parent business, Nintendo. The Super Mario franchise is well-known all around the world. Mario has appeared in so many different gaming genres that listing them all would be impossible. There is, however, no better game than the original Super Mario Bros. It was published in 1985 and is primarily regarded as the game that saved the gaming industry following the crash of 1983.
Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong was one of the most famous arcade games of the 1980s, spawning numerous successful sequels. Donkey Kong Country was one of many reboots of the game inspired by the Super Mario series. It was undoubtedly the best of the bunch. This retro game has recently been brought to the Nintendo Switch system, allowing both old and new players to enjoy this excellent gaming icon. With a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, you may once again guide Donkey Kong across jungles, snow-capped mountains, and other locations in pursuit of misplaced bananas.
1942
Matt Hall and Andy Sum are retro video game experts. Crossy Road, their smash hit, is a brilliant homage to the arcade classic Frogger. Shooty Skies, their newest offering, was inspired by 1942, an ’80s arcade game in which a WWII plane takes off to annihilate its adversaries. The notion of 1942 is carried over into Shooty Skies. However, the game’s retro design is far more colorful than its inspiration. Instead of a cargo plane flying over the ocean, Shooty Skies is packed with new characters, scenery, and opponents.
Space Invaders
This was technically in the 1970s but took off in the 1980s. Tomohiro Nishiikado invented the game, which was eventually published and sold by Taito in Japan. Because of its pixel-saturated figures and theme tune, Space Invaders is one of the most well-known shooting games. This classic game has had several spin-offs and reboots throughout the years. It continues to pop up on our gaming consoles today.
Bottom Line
Looking back at how gaming was in previous decades might provide valuable context for the present. In other circumstances, it can bring back ideas that will help drive gaming’s future. Creating a picture of historical gaming trends might help contextualize the present.