Video games became incredibly popular in the 1980s, building on their growth in the 1970s. This period also saw the rise of home video game consoles, which became essential for many kids growing up in places like Japan and the United States.
During the 1980s, handheld consoles like the Game Boy and Atari Lynx became incredibly popular, shaping how people experienced video games. For many, gaming meant playing either on a home computer or on one of these portable systems.
The Vectrex Is a Fun-Sized Console
The Vectrex stands out from other video game consoles of the 1980s due to its unique design and the games it offered. Unlike most consoles of the time, it had its own built-in screen, giving it the feel of a classic arcade machine. And that’s before you even consider how good its games were!
Vectrex games were designed to look great on the console’s unique black and white screen, and most offered quick, short gameplay sessions. While it had simple platformers like Spike, it also surprised players with impressive 3D graphics in games such as Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Unfortunately, the console is relatively obscure nowadays.
The Atari Lynx Was More Advanced Than the Game Boy
The Lynx was Atari’s single handheld gaming device, and it came out around the same time as the Nintendo Game Boy. However, the Lynx was much more technologically advanced, featuring a color screen with a backlight – a significant upgrade over the Game Boy’s dim, black-and-white screen.
Despite being quite advanced for its time, the Lynx had a major drawback: it used six AA batteries that didn’t last very long – sometimes only a few hours. This prevented it from becoming a widespread success. However, its strong hardware allowed it to play both basic games like Chip’s Challenge and more impressive titles such as RoadBlasters.
The Atari 5200 Is Like a Home Computer
The Atari 5200 was designed to replace the incredibly successful Atari 2600. It was more powerful technically, with more memory, a quicker processor, and improved graphics compared to the older model.
The Atari 5200 offered a game library comparable to its rivals, like the ColecoVision, with both popular arcade conversions such as Pole Position and original Atari games like Defender. The main drawback is the controller, which is known to develop problems with drifting over time. If you can find a controller that works properly, though, the Atari 5200 remains a fun and enjoyable console even today, just as it was forty years ago.
The TurboGrafx-16 Did Have 16-Bit Graphics
Despite being called the TurboGrafx-16 (or PC Engine outside of the US), the system actually runs on an 8-bit processor. However, it does feature a 16-bit graphics chip, allowing it to produce vibrant and colorful games that were often more visually impressive than those on the Sega Master System.
While good graphics are nice, the games themselves are what really matter. The TurboGrafx-16 has a lot of fantastic games that don’t always get the recognition they deserve. Two great examples are Bonk’s Adventure and Fighting Street, which was the only home console version of the original Street Fighter.
The Atari 7800 Is One of the Most Overlooked Consoles of All Time
The Atari 7800 was Atari’s final attempt to compete in the home video game console market. It was designed to replace the Atari 2600 and 5200, and importantly, could still play older Atari 2600 games. In terms of power, it fell somewhere between the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and the Sega Master System.
The Atari 7800 is often overshadowed by consoles like the Master System and NES, but it still has a lot to offer. Beyond being able to play classic Atari 2600 games, it boasts its own collection of exclusive titles that are worth checking out, such as Basketbrawl and Midnight Mutants. Basketbrawl is a particularly interesting game, blending the sports of basketball with fighting action.
The ColecoVision Was Ahead of Its Time
The ColecoVision was a video game console made by Coleco, a company already known for its earlier Pong consoles called the Telstar series. While it looked similar to the Intellivision, the ColecoVision was generally better. A key advantage was that many different game companies made games for it, much like they did for the popular Atari 2600.
The ColecoVision wasn’t just powerful for its time – its processing and graphics capabilities were cutting-edge. It also featured a strong collection of games, including original titles like WarGames and popular arcade conversions of Nintendo classics such as Donkey Kong.
The Master System Is the Master of Gaming Prowess
While the SG-1000 was Sega’s very first game console, it was only available in a few countries – Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan. The Master System, however, marked Sega’s debut in the U.S. and Europe, arriving just in time to challenge Nintendo’s popular NES.
Today, the Master System is often remembered as Nintendo’s main rival before the Sega Genesis came along. However, it still offers a lot of fun, especially through its games. You can find everything from classic platformers like Alex Kidd in Miracle World to engaging RPGs like Phantasy Star. Overall, the console has a surprisingly strong library of great titles.
The Game Boy Just Works
The Game Boy followed Nintendo’s Game & Watch handhelds, but was a significant upgrade in terms of gameplay and features. It’s interesting to note that despite being less technically powerful than competing systems like the Game Gear and Atari Lynx, the Game Boy still offered a much better gaming experience.
Despite its technical limitations, both Nintendo and other game developers found clever ways to create amazing games for the Game Boy. This creativity likely contributed to the console’s long-lasting success. It became synonymous with Tetris when it launched in 1989, and later with Pokémon by 2003. Ultimately, the Game Boy offered something for all types of gamers.
Genesis Does What Nintendon’t
The Sega Genesis, called the Mega Drive in most countries, was the company’s best-selling game console. It initially outperformed the older Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and then provided strong competition to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) for several years. This success was due in part to its popularity with players of all ages – kids, teenagers, and adults.
Because of this, the games available on the console were very diverse. Younger players probably enjoyed titles like Sonic the Hedgehog, teenagers likely preferred Primal Rage, and adults often played Mortal Kombat. With add-ons like the Sega CD and 32X, the Genesis offered a huge variety of gaming experiences.
The NES Plays With Power
Originally launched in Japan as the Family Computer in 1983, the Nintendo Entertainment System—or NES—became incredibly popular after its release in the U.S. two years later. It quickly became a huge success, eclipsing older consoles like the Atari 2600 and outperforming its competitors, such as the Master System.
The Nintendo Entertainment System, or NES, boasted an incredibly diverse game library. It launched iconic series like Super Mario Bros. and also featured unique, standalone games like StarTropics. Even years after its release, and as the most popular console of the 1980s, the NES continued to receive innovative titles such as Kirby’s Adventure and Batman: Return of the Joker.
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2026-02-21 04:42