1UP Vault's Top 15 Favorite Games - 1980s
My Favorite Games of All-Time
Note: This list is based on games I’ve either completed or played close to completion. This will explain a lot of the legendary games missing, including franchises like Final Fantasy and Mega Man, which are from this decade and are games I’ve never played or not played enough of. Lastly, this is a subjective opinion on the games of this decade that I’ve played, so even if you disagree, just see it as a celebration of games.
15 - Galaga
Namco
The golden era of fixed shooters was entering its final days this decade, and Galaga emerged as one of my favorites in the genre. I’m not exactly great at playing these types of games, so you really have to be doing some great stuff with your gameplay mechanics to have me keep trying over and over again, and Galaga does just that. The ability to save a ship and get bigger and better weapons as you play, the 8-bit score, and the memorable sound effects make this an experience that you’ll remember for a long time, just ask that guy in The Avengers.
14 - Ice Climber
Nintendo
I first met the characters of Popo and Nana in Super Smash Bros. Melee, and I quickly realized I was pretty good at using them as my fighters. When I eventually got around to playing the game they came from, I found myself really liking it. The game’s mechanics are simple enough, but the determination to get to the top as you dodge and deal with enemies is a heck of a loop. The change in terrain as you get higher and higher is a nice, realistic touch by the team. It may not be remembered as fondly as other Nintendo classics from the era, but I liked my time with this one just as much as those.
13 - Mach Rider
Nintendo
Before Samus became Nintendo’s most popular heroine, the Mach Rider took the stage as she searched for survivors in a post-apocalyptic world. The courses and gameplay mechanics for this game get a little harder and more skill-based as it goes, and as expected, it can be pretty tough. Admittedly, this is one of those NES games I first played on an emulator with cheat codes to deal with the difficulty, but I still enjoyed my time with it. The futuristic techno score is catchy and still leaves an impression today. Unfortunately, this would be the only major entry we would get for this character and franchise, although it has become a cult classic.
12 - Frogger
Konami / Sega
You know the deal… help the frog get to the other side while avoiding cars, trucks, and floating logs. Frogger is like many of the arcade’s best games; it has a very simple premise, yet it’s hard to put down. While there isn’t much to say about this game, it sure is fun. It’s one of those rare classics that you can put in front of anyone from any generation, and they can find themselves sinking at least an hour getting that frog to its destination.
11 - Centipede
Atari
Your mission is to take down a marching centipede monster as it gets closer and closer to you. This arcade hit is a blast to play, even if I go on a good or bad run. Centipede is a game I played when I briefly got my hands on an Atari 2600 as a kid, and even as someone who wasn’t used to those arcade-type titles, I had a lot of fun with it. When I think about great arcade games, I always think of Centipede.
10 - Castlevania
Konami
My history with the Castlevania series is pretty short, as I’ve tended to start a game in the series but sort of fall out of it for various reasons. That being said, in 2011, when I went on a spree playing emulated NES and SNES games, I was able to play through the first game in the series (although I confess to using codes), and I fell in love specifically with its aesthetics. The music and sound effects are timeless, the enemies are like an ensemble of Halloween creatures, and the concept is memorable. To me, it feels like a perfect game to play around the Halloween season, especially with all the obvious inspiration of classic movie monsters for enemies and bosses. While I need to brush up on the series and take care of some games in the series I have on my gaming bucket list, I’ll always have that first Castlevania experience.
9 - Donkey Kong
Nintendo
It’s on like… well, you know. Another game I first played during my brief ownership of an Atari console, I didn’t play it as intended until I was able to play the NES port. Either way, there’s a reason many have become obsessed with this game in tournaments and record-keeping. Not just Miyamoto’s first game, but an overall addictive and fun pick-up and play experience. Now, I’m not going to tell you I’m great with it, but I can get on a roll. It’s a perfect piece of arcade nostalgia that gives us that first taste of Nintendo 8-bit goodness. Also, that score in the background is just too good.
8 - Duck Hunt
Nintendo
I have a lot of memories of the NES, which my older brother gave me, and of my twin brother and me playing Super Mario Bros. with my mom. However, I also have memories playing Duck Hunt. This used the light gun accessory to perfection and really helped the NES live up to its reputation for doing anything. It’s easy to remember, with not a lot of skill needed, although the dog laughing at you can be pretty infuriating when you’re not doing so great. The little sound effects and music live rent-free in my head, and it's one of those titles I immediately think about when I’m thinking about the 8-bit generation.
7 - Tetris
Nintendo / The Soviet Union / Various Publishers
Possibly on the list of the easiest to learn and addictive video games ever released. Along with the crazy real-life story of its availability for the North American console and handheld market, Tetris was part of a phenomenon. When the Game Boy was released with the game pre-installed, it became a must-have, even for non-gamers, so they could play Tetris. To this day, no matter which console or form I play it on, Tetris is one of my favorite games and one I recommend to my non-gaming friends and family.
6 - Pac-Man
Namco
Did you get Pac-Man fever? Because I did at one point. Pac-Man is mostly famous for its arcade cabinets, and I remember going to the theater as a kid, and the local theater we went to had a Pac-Man cabinet. I also remember my uncle, who was the youngest of my dad’s siblings and dabbled a little with gaming, absolutely destroying the game and easily winning levels like crazy. Like the arcade games I have on this list, this is a simple game in premise and function, but so much fun to just sit back and play. Like Donkey Kong, you can get frustrated by going on a bad run, but when everything is clicking, you lock in and can feel unstoppable. Also like Tetris, this one can be played in numerous ways today and is one of those games I’ll probably play at least every couple of years for the rest of my life.
5 - Super Mario Bros. 2 / Super Mario Bros. USA
Nintendo
I remember playing this game as a kid and instantly recognizing how different it was from the first and third games, but I didn’t care because I freaking loved playing it. I tended to pick either Peach or Luigi because they had a little more airtime. I’ve surprisingly beaten this game without cheats back in 2011, and while it’s easy to learn despite how different it is from most Mario games, it does have its hard moments. Still, I have lots of memories playing that first level a ton and finding some of the secrets. It wasn’t until I was a teenager that I found out this game was a reskin of a Japanese game, and that’s why it didn’t play like the Mario game you expected. I was really happy to see it get some love with call-outs and characters in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
4 - Metroid
Nintendo
You would think, as a Metroid super fan, this would’ve been number one, but I acknowledge a lot of Metroid’s faults. The game’s lack of direction is worse than that of the typical Metroidvania titles; it has stutters and performance issues, and there are moments where you have to deal with that “NES hard” annoying moment. In my opinion, the GBA remake is a better way to experience this part of the series. Despite all this, it’s still a Metroid game, and it’s still a whole lot of fun. The exploring could be better, but you’ll still find some interesting items. I played this one several years after discovering the franchise through Metroid Prime. The final encounter with Mother Brain is really hard if you don’t dodge well, but it probably felt pretty epic back in the mid 80s. Even if it doesn’t age well in my opinion, it’s still a solid Metroid game.
3 - The Legend of Zelda
Nintendo
Link’s first adventure across Hyrule still lives up to the hype, despite some decisions that don’t age well for today’s gamers. The biggest issue this has is the lack of direction, and you have to look up a guide in order to properly progress through it. Outside of that, it’s the typical Zelda formula with dungeons, secrets, puzzles, and boss battles. While A Link to the Past is the game where you really start to see that formula get established, the original has it too. Even with the progression issues and needing a guide, it’s one of the few NES-era games that are easy to recommend to younger gamers, and seasoned gamers will be able to get through it without a guide. I love this series, and it all starts with this NES icon.
2 - Super Mario Bros.
Nintendo
This is probably the most important game in my life, as it was the first video game I played, and I have memories of playing it for hours with my brother and mom, who, while she isn’t a gamer, was very good at playing this one. You know the deal - the original Super Mario Bros., with the jumping, hitting blocks, and getting past the lava bridge to take down King Koopa. Level 1-1 is most likely the most played video game segment in history, and I still think the youngest of gamers should at least try playing this before anything else. Even to this day, the game ages well and is completely playable without worry of needing a guide.
1 - Super Mario Bros. 3
Nintendo
When it comes to the 1980s, there are a lot of iconic games, but it’s Super Mario Bros. 3 that, for me, comes out on top. There’s a reason it consistently comes up in discussions of the top ten greatest video games of all time. Miyamoto and company took the formula of the original game and just went wild with it. We have new power-ups, including the iconic Tanooki suit, a map to select levels, the debut of the Koopalings, and an incredible amount of level variety that wasn’t present in the first. That being said, it does get pretty challenging the more you progress, so younger gamers not used to 2D games might run into a bit of a challenge wall. The music, the characters, the enemies, the levels, and so much more - it’s the ultimate 8-bit Mario adventure.