5 Games From the 1980s You Forgot Were Awesome

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The 1980s were a strange time for video games. After a big industry crash in 1983, it took several years to recover, and that recovery was largely driven by the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System and the continued success of arcade games. The decade brought a wealth of new games, some of which launched hugely popular franchises. While games like Super Mario Bros., Metroid, and Mega Man became classics, there were just as many fantastic, lesser-known titles that modern gamers might have missed. Luckily, many of these hidden gems are still accessible to play today.

Here are five awesome games from the ’80s that you might’ve forgotten about.

5) Karateka

Jordan Mechner became a well-known game developer, especially for his work on Prince of Persia and its 2003 update. He also created the excellent adventure game The Last Express in 1997. But his first game, Karateka, is particularly significant and remains a standout title from that time period.

The game Karateka was a pioneer in using rotoscoped animation, bringing a more movie-like feel to video game storytelling. It uniquely combined the gameplay of side-scrolling platformers with 2D fighting, making it a standout title when it was first released.

I remember when the original Karateka came out – it was huge! Everyone loved it, and critics were really impressed. Sadly, the remake in 2012 didn’t quite capture that magic. Since then, the only other thing we’ve gotten related to Karateka is this amazing documentary from Digital Eclipse called The Making of Karateka. It’s basically a deep dive into the game and Jordan Mechner’s life, and it even includes a bunch of different versions of the original game, which is awesome!

4) R.B.I. Baseball

R.B.I. Baseball is more than just a fun baseball game – it’s a landmark title in the history of sports gaming. It was the first console game to officially license Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) rights, allowing it to feature the real names of professional baseball players.

While the game doesn’t have an official MLB license and therefore can’t use real player names, it was the first time players like George Brett, Mike Schmidt, and Mark McGwire were included in a baseball video game. As any sports gamer knows, having those recognizable players is crucial for a game’s success – without them, it can be hard to attract and keep fans.

Back in 1986, the original R.B.I. Baseball was a groundbreaking game and really set the stage for future baseball titles. While the series lost its momentum by 1995, and recent attempts to revive it haven’t been successful against MLB The Show, those early games were remarkable in several ways.

3) Gauntlet

Gauntlet was a hugely popular hack-and-slash arcade game, largely because its four-player cabinet was very noticeable and attracted players. Arcades were earning thousands of dollars per machine each month, making it one of the most successful games of the mid-1980s.

I remember when the console versions came out – everyone loved how fast-paced the game was! It was so popular that they quickly made a second one, and eventually released five games total between 1985 and 1991. There’s one that always confused me though – the Game Boy version, Gauntlet: The Third Encounter. It wasn’t actually the third game, and it wasn’t a straight port either; it was kind of a strange sequel all its own.

The Gauntlet series has seen a few revivals, with Gauntlet Legends and its Dark Legacy expansion being fairly well-received. However, the last game in the series came out in 2014. While another Gauntlet game would be welcome, particularly one with strong online and local co-op features, the developers at Arrowhead Studios are currently concentrating their efforts on Helldivers 2.

2) Marble Madness

Mark Cerny, famous for designing the PlayStation Vita, PS4, and PS5, began his career as a video game developer. While he worked on various games before joining Sony, his first major success was Marble Madness.

Players guided a marble through tricky, three-dimensional mazes using a trackball. Though the gameplay seemed straightforward, the game’s design was surprisingly challenging. The arcade version was a huge hit in 1984, and it later found success on home consoles and computers.

Although a mouse wasn’t as enjoyable as a trackball, Marble Madness still looked fantastic and was a great way to pass the time. A sequel was planned, but it never actually came out. While games like Super Monkey Ball capture a similar feel, it’s a shame that the creator of Marble Madness never made another game like it.

1) Maniac Mansion

Lucasfilm Games, later known for its incredible adventure games, created some true classics in the point-and-click genre. Designers Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick became legends thanks to hits like The Secret of Monkey Island and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure.

Maniac Mansion was a groundbreaking adventure game and the first title Lucasfilm Games published on its own. In fact, the development team created the SCUMM engine specifically to build the game. While critics loved it immediately, it took some time for Maniac Mansion to become a commercial success.

Despite the decline of the adventure game genre, Maniac Mansion inspired a TV series and a sequel, Day of the Tentacle. Today, when people remember Lucasfilm Games, titles like The Secret of Monkey Island, Full Throttle, and Grim Fandango often come to mind. Hopefully, we’ll see a complete remake of Maniac Mansion in the future.

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2025-11-28 21:15