Top 10 Favorite Games of the Early Era (1947-1979)
My Personal Favorites
The early gaming era is filled with many iconic and consequential games, but let’s be honest: these are pretty basic games today. Some of these are easy to find in clone versions across the web or emulators, and others are nearly impossible and lost to time. Fortunately, I have played some of these throughout my life through a brief time I owned an Atari when I was a kid or classic compilations in modern consoles. I watched some footage to see how I would have felt about a game if I were a kid during release. Considering the limitations these early titles had, I put together the top ten games of the era I liked, considering the time they were released. So, with that, let’s get started!
10 - Lunar Lander (1979)
Atari
Lunar Lander is one of the earlier computer games and has been copied many times. When I was a kid, I got to play the 1979 version, one of its most well-known versions. It’s not exactly going to knock your socks off, and even for its time, I can see this getting some eye rolls from kids and teenagers, but the concept is well done, and there is a challenge that kept me hooked. It’s one of many examples of what early-era gaming was: short, quick experiences that were so fun you kept doing it over again. Similar to many mobile games out there now.
9 - Pong
Atari
Arguably the most famous video game ever made, Pong is part of that list of games that even non-gamers know and have at least tried. Pong works because it's a pick-up-and-play title that doesn’t need instructions. It makes sense why a bunch of drunk guys in a bar made it famous because you don’t need to think much to play it. Despite its simplicity, anyone can play this today and still find lots of fun with it. I first played it when I got an Atari VCS briefly during my childhood; if I remember correctly, it was the game I played the most during that short time. It may be old, and it may be brought up as a retro classic, but this game absolutely holds up to this day.
8 - TV Basketball
Taito / Midway
Like Pong, this one plays really simple but can get addicting. TV Basketball was one of the first super-popular sports video games. The game is a sort of spinoff from Pong, and you notice it as you play. A pick-and-play aspect kept me wanting to play as long as I could. Like I said earlier, this era of gaming was great at getting you to play short, quick games and restarting to play them. While Pong is more popular and, I would even say, a bit more addicting, this one added some flavor that I really liked. I see why it was such a success.
7 - Superman
Atari
Superman accomplishes what it set out to do when it was released. Sure, the gameplay is repetitive, and it’s not going to age well for all modern gamers, but when you consider its time period, there’s enough to appreciate it. The funny part is there hasn’t exactly been a long-lasting legacy of good-to-great Superman video games as there has been for Batman and Spider-Man. If anything, that might be why I got hooked trying this game out. Until then, this game makes up for the sin that would be Superman 64 by doing what you want to do in a Superman game: beat down Lex Luthor and save the city. Now, if we can only get that in today’s times…
6 - Asteroids
Atari
Among one of the first Atari-era games I played, Asteroids is a classic. I will say I actually find this game a bit difficult, but the gameplay loop is entertaining enough to keep me playing. Like Pong and TV Basketball, it's one of those games with a simple concept, but the gameplay is so fun it keeps you coming back. When I think of retro sounds and graphics, Asteroids is what I think of.
5 - Monaco GP
Sega / Gremlin
I have a love-to-mediocre relationship with how I feel about racing games. I always feel mixed between the serious driver simulation games and the more arcade racing titles I love but slowly get tired of playing. That being said, I appreciate plenty of racing games out there, and they can be fun in short bursts - including this one. Monaco GP can be a little tricky if your reflexes are off or you don’t focus enough, but that “I gotta keep trying” loop makes this era’s games so easy to lose time with. The game is a technical wonder when you consider its release year. I see why Sega brought this back later on.
4 - The Oregon Trail
It’s safe to say at least a plurality of Millennials have played this game. The Oregon Trail was a big part of my childhood, as my 5th-grade class had a computer with the game installed. The game is a perfect mix using simulation to teach you and make you think as you try to complete the infamous trail. It has its frustrations, as anyone who has played it can tell you, but that keeps you coming back. This was also one of the first games I played that wasn’t a Mario or Nintendo game, so it was the closest I would come during that time to playing what today would be called a Western RPG. This is one of those games I will make sure my daughter plays at least once.
3 - Space Invaders
Taito / Midway
The mega-hit of the golden age of the arcades deserves its reputation. Space Invaders is limited by the hardware of the time but can still deliver a fast-action title that puts you in a fight to save Earth from invading aliens. The game has that pick-up-and-play feel, but you still have to think on your feet and ensure you don’t get too aggressive to beat it. Like Asteroids, even if you struggle with it, you keep coming back because the gameplay is too much fun and well-designed. The sound effects and score and the art direction are memorable. Like Pong, even today, this game holds up well.
2 - Galaxian
Namco / Taito
While I love Space Invaders, I actually find myself being more in love with Galaxian. The game feels like Space Invaders on steroids. You have to think on your feet more, as enemies could swap and come after you. The sound effects are pretty iconic. I’ve played this in multiple forms and clones, and I'm happy with it every time I come away. It can get tough, don’t get me wrong, in a fair way. Galaxian is the perfect retro arcade game that was a symbol for sci-fi games of the time.
1 - Breakout
Atari
I consider Breakout to be among the most underrated video games of all time. Like Tetris, this game is a good time, despite its simplicity. The sound effects will forever be stuck in my head. The game can also be used for everything, from taking it seriously for a high score to using it for relaxation. You use the paddle to bounce the ball, hit the blocks, and watch the blocks disappear, which gets more satisfying the closer you are to winning. Steve Jobs and company did a great job in making this one. Like Tetris, this one isn’t hard to find. You can type it on a Google search and play it within seconds. If you haven’t played Breakout, seriously, play it! It’s both super fun and important, both in gaming history and in Apple’s history.