Acclaimed Video Games
The top 1,000 most recommended games across 827 critic lists from 134 publications.
Updated: October 26, 2025
Most Acclaimed Video Games of 1981
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#1 Donkey Kong (1981) (#122)
Ikegami Tsushinki, Nintendo | ARC, NES | Platform | ~18m | 31 lists
#2 Galaga (1981) (#150)
Namco Limited | ARC | Shooter | ~48m | 24 lists
#3 Defender (1981) (#255)
Shockwave, Williams Electronics | ARC, A26 | Shooter | ~48m | 18 lists
#4 Ultima / Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness (1981) (#457)
California Pacific Computer, Sierra On-Line | A2, A8 | Role-Playing | ~6h | 10 lists
#5 Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (1981) (#537)
Sir-tech Software | 7, NES, MAC | Role-Playing | ~25h | 8 lists
#6 Frogger (1981) (#624)
Konami | ARC | Action | ~36m | 7 lists
#7 Centipede (1981) (#654)
Atari | ARC, 3, A8, C64 | Shooter | ~12m | 7 lists
#8 Tempest (1981) (#673)
Atari | ARC, 4 | Shooter | ~54m | 7 lists
#9 Warlords (1981) (#804)
Atari | ARC, A26 | Action | ~12m | 5 lists
#10 Qix (1981) (#958)
Taito | ARC, 3, A52, NES | Puzzle | ~42m | 5 lists
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