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 1985

Filters

13 of 13

#1 Tetris (1985) (#2)

Alexey Pajitnov | 8, DOS, NES, GB | Puzzle | ~3h | 94 lists

#2 Super Mario Bros. (1985) (#55)

Nintendo R&D4 | ARC, NES | Platform | ~2h | 41 lists

#3 Gauntlet (1985) (#211)

Atari Games | ARC | Hack and Slash / Dungeon Crawler | ~2h | 21 lists

#4 Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (1985) (#298)

Origin Systems | 10, DOS, NES | Role-Playing | ~21h | 17 lists

#5 Ghosts 'n Goblins (1985) (#434)

Capcom | ARC, 3, NES | Platform | ~3h | 12 lists

#6 A Mind Forever Voyaging (1985) (#556)

Infocom | DOS, 3 | Adventure / Interactive Drama | ~6h | 6 lists

#7 The Bard's Tale (1985) (#608)

Interplay Productions | 6, DOS | Role-Playing | ~22h | 7 lists

#8 Gradius / Nemesis (1985) (#656)

Konami | ARC, NES | Shooter | ~1h | 7 lists

#9 Paradroid (1985) (#676)

Graftgold | C64 | Shooter / Puzzle | ~1h | 5 lists

#10 The Oregon Trail (1985) (#796)

MECC | A2, 3 | Strategy | ~1h | 4 lists

#11 Mercenary (1985) (#956)

Novagen | 5 | Action-Adventure | ~2h | 4 lists

#12 Paperboy (1985) (#993)

Atari Games, Vivid Games | ARC, 5, NES | Action | ~1h | 3 lists

#13 King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne (1985) (#999)

Sierra On-Line | 3, DOS | Adventure | ~3h | 3 lists

Alexey Pajitnov

AMI, A2, AST, BBCM, C64, DOS, E60, GB, MSX, NES, ZXS

Puzzle

~3h

94 lists

Tetris 1985

#55

Nintendo R&D4

ARC, NES

Platform

~2h

41 lists

Super Mario Bros. 1985

#211

Atari Games

ARC

Hack and Slash / Dungeon Crawler

~2h

21 lists

Gauntlet 1985

#298

Origin Systems

AMI, A2, A8, AST, C64, DOS, FM7, MSX, NES, PC88, PC98, SX1

Role-Playing

~21h

17 lists

Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar 1985

#434

Capcom

CPC, ARC, C64, NES, ZXS

Platform

~3h

12 lists

Ghosts 'n Goblins 1985

#556

Infocom

AMI, AST, C64, DOS

Adventure / Interactive Drama

~6h

6 lists

A Mind Forever Voyaging 1985

#608

Interplay Productions

AMI, CPC, A2, AST, C64, DOS, ZXS

Role-Playing

~22h

7 lists

The Bard's Tale 1985

#656

Konami

ARC, NES

Shooter

~1h

7 lists

Gradius / Nemesis 1985

#676

Graftgold

C64

Shooter / Puzzle

~1h

5 lists

Paradroid 1985

#10

#796

MECC

A2, MAC, DOS, WIN

Strategy

~1h

4 lists

The Oregon Trail 1985

#11

#956

Novagen

CPC, A8, AST, C64, ZXS

Action-Adventure

~2h

4 lists

Mercenary 1985

#12

#993

Atari Games, Vivid Games

CPC, A2, ARC, BBCM, C64, NES, ZXS

Action

~1h

3 lists

Paperboy 1985

#13

#999

Sierra On-Line

AMI, A2, AST, DOS

Adventure

~3h

3 lists

King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne 1985

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