The Most Popular Game In Each Year of the 1970s

Many people associate the beginning of video games with the 1980s, but the first games actually appeared in 1958. From then until 1979, a number of commercial games gained players around the world. The 1970s were a particularly innovative time, with publishers releasing several historically significant and often very popular games. While measuring popularity can be tricky, this article focuses on both sales figures and a game’s lasting influence on the industry during its peak year.

1970) Chess 3.0

In 1970, video games as we know them didn’t exist yet. Most games were shared between programmers as experiments or demonstrations. However, that year saw the creation of Chess 3.0, a computer version of chess that won the first U.S. Computer Chess Championship. The competition was unique: players moved pieces on physical chessboards, and operators entered those moves into a mainframe computer. Although not a commercial success or widely played, Chess 3.0 was an important step towards the computer chess games we have today.

1971) Computer Space

In 1971, Computer Space was the most popular and groundbreaking video game – it was also the first arcade game you could play for money. Originally based on a 1962 game called Spacewar!, created at MIT on a DEC PDP-1 computer, Computer Space put players in control of a rocket ship battling flying saucers. The aim of the game was to outscore the computer opponent. It was housed in a uniquely styled, futuristic fiberglass cabinet and even made a cameo appearance in the 1973 film Soylent Green, making it the first arcade game featured in a major movie.

1972) Pong

Although often thought of as the first video game due to its fame, Pong wasn’t actually the original. However, it was the first video game to become a commercial success, and that’s what truly matters. This success helped launch the entire video game industry, making it a hugely important title. By 1972, Pong was incredibly popular. It started as an arcade game, but quickly became available on many different devices. Atari even sold a home version of Pong through Sears, bringing the game into living rooms across the country.

1973) The Magnavox Odyssey

Although Pong remained incredibly popular in the early 1970s, it wasn’t the only game people were playing at home. The Magnavox Odyssey, released a few months before in September 1972, quickly became a huge hit. It was the best-selling system that year and also the first commercially successful video game console. We’re highlighting the console itself, rather than a single game, because the Magnavox Odyssey came with a variety of titles – a total of 28. The most popular of these was Table Tennis, which served as the direct inspiration for Pong.

1974) Tank

Even though Pong remained incredibly popular in 1974, it wasn’t the only game people were playing. Tank, released in November of that year, quickly became another favorite. This two-player game put players in control of tanks navigating a maze-like arena seen from above. Players aimed to destroy each other while dodging mines. When a tank was destroyed, it would reappear, and players earned points until the two-minute match ended. Tank was very successful and was later included as part of the Combat game for the Atari 2600. Interestingly, 1974 also saw the debut of Dungeons & Dragons, which, while not a video game itself, would heavily influence game design in the years to come.

1975) Gun Fight

Released in November 1975, Gun Fight quickly became the year’s biggest hit arcade game. But it wasn’t just popular – Gun Fight is historically important as the first arcade game to use a microprocessor. The game pitted two cowboys against each other in a classic Western duel, marking the first time a video game allowed players to compete directly against one another. Originally based on a 1969 electromechanical game, Gun Fight unknowingly paved the way for the first-person shooter (FPS) games we know today, where players battle it out against each other.

1976) Sea Wolf

In 1976, popular arcade games included Speed Race and Breakout (designed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak). However, Sea Wolf was the most successful game in the US that year. What made Sea Wolf special was its immersive design – players looked at the screen through a periscope built into a tall cabinet. The game challenged players to control a hidden submarine and fire torpedoes at ships before time ran out. It wasn’t just popular; Sea Wolf was also groundbreaking and influenced the design of later games like 1980’s Battlezone.

1977) Sprint 2

1977 saw a lot of innovative games emerge. While Nintendo’s Color TV-Game was a surprising best-seller, arcades were still buzzing with classics like Sea Wolf and Breakout. However, we’re recognizing Sprint 2 as the year’s standout title. This two-player racing game was the first to feature computer-controlled cars that could navigate the track with a sense of realism. Earlier racing games often had cars follow fixed routes, but Sprint 2 offered a much more dynamic and engaging experience.

1978) Super Breakout

While Space Invaders was the biggest game of 1978, we already highlighted it in another article, so we’re choosing Super Breakout as our pick for that year. Released as a sequel to 1976’s Breakout, Super Breakout kept the same basic gameplay but added three different ways to play, with two of those modes featuring multiple balls. Like the original, it used colored plastic overlays to add color to its black-and-white screen. It was incredibly popular and was even included as the bundled game with the Atari 5200 console, though that console wasn’t known for being a top performer.

1979) Asteroids

While Space Invaders remained incredibly popular at the end of the 1970s, we’re highlighting Asteroids as the next big title. This Atari game is a classic from the decade, and even though it’s fairly simple, it’s still a lot of fun. Asteroids was a huge success, inspiring many similar games and becoming one of the first major hits of the arcade era. It’s been updated and re-released on numerous platforms, including the PlayStation and Game Boy Color, proving its lasting appeal.

What’s the best game from the 1970s in your opinion? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-21 17:17