Acclaimed Video Games
The top 1,400 most recommended games across 920 critic lists from 146 publications.
Updated: October 16, 2026
Most Acclaimed Video Games of the 1980s
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100 of 156
#1 Tetris (1985) (#4)
Alexey Pajitnov
|
8,
DOS,
NES,
GB
|
Puzzle
|
~3h
|
103 lists
#2 Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988) (#38)
Nintendo R&D4
|
NES
|
Platform
|
~5h
|
63 lists
#3 Super Mario Bros. (1985) (#56)
Nintendo R&D4
|
ARC,
NES
|
Platform
|
~2h
|
48 lists
#4 The Legend of Zelda (1986) (#102)
Nintendo R&D4
|
NES,
FDS
|
Action-Adventure
|
~8h
|
31 lists
#5 Mega Man 2 (1988) (#109)
Capcom
|
NES
|
Platform
|
~3h
|
39 lists
#6 SimCity (1989) (#121)
Maxis
|
DOS,
MAC,
5,
SNES
|
City Building
|
~16h
|
37 lists
#7 Donkey Kong (1981) (#123)
Ikegami Tsushinki, Nintendo
|
ARC,
NES
|
Platform
|
~18m
|
36 lists
#8 Pac-Man (1980) (#130)
Namco
|
ARC,
3,
5,
DOS,
NES
|
Maze
|
~48m
|
38 lists
#9 Ms. Pac-Man (1982) (#154)
General Computer Corporation (GCC)
|
ARC,
4,
DOS
|
Maze
|
~1h
|
30 lists
#10 Galaga (1981) (#163)
Namco Limited
|
ARC
|
Shooter
|
~48m
|
25 lists
#11 Punch-Out!! / Mike Tyson's Punch Out!! (1987) (#187)
Nintendo R&D3
|
NES
|
Sports
|
~3h
|
26 lists
#12 Prince of Persia (1989) (#193)
Brøderbund Software
|
6,
DOS,
MAC,
TG16
|
Platform
|
~2h
|
27 lists
#13 Elite (1984) (#199)
Acornsoft, David Braben, Frontier Developments, Ian Bell
|
6,
DOS
|
Space Combat
|
24 lists
#14 Contra (1987) (#201)
Konami
|
ARC,
DOS,
3,
NES
|
Run and Gun
|
~1h
|
29 lists
#15 Metroid (1986) (#227)
Nintendo R&D1
|
ARC,
NES,
FDS
|
Action-Adventure
|
~6h
|
22 lists
#16 Gauntlet (1985) (#229)
Atari Games
|
ARC
|
Maze /
Dungeon Crawler
|
~2h
|
22 lists
#17 Sid Meier's Pirates! (1987) (#237)
MicroProse Software, Inc.
|
6,
DOS,
MAC,
NES
|
Strategy /
Action-Adventure
|
~8h
|
19 lists
#18 Defender (1981) (#264)
Shockwave, Williams Electronics
|
ARC,
A26
|
Shooter
|
~42m
|
21 lists
#19 Double Dragon (1987) (#274)
Technos Japan
|
ARC,
NES,
SMS
|
Beat 'em Up
|
~1h
|
20 lists
#20 Super Mario Bros. 2 / Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic (1987) (#293)
Nintendo R&D4
|
NES,
FDS
|
Platform
|
~3h
|
17 lists
#21 Robotron: 2084 (1982) (#302)
Vid Kidz
|
ARC,
6,
DOS,
A52,
A78
|
Shooter
|
~18m
|
17 lists
#22 Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (1985) (#306)
Origin Systems
|
10,
DOS,
NES
|
Role-Playing
|
~21h
|
19 lists
#23 Pitfall! (1982) (#314)
Activision
|
4,
3
|
Platform
|
~36m
|
20 lists
#24 OutRun (1986) (#347)
Sega AM2
|
ARC,
3
|
Racing
|
~36m
|
15 lists
#25 R-Type (1987) (#358)
Irem
|
ARC,
7,
SMS,
TG16
|
Shooter
|
~1h
|
17 lists
#26 Ninja Gaiden (1988) (#369)
Tecmo, Tecmo Koei Games
|
NES
|
Hack and Slash /
Platform
|
~3h
|
14 lists
#27 Castlevania (1986) (#370)
Konami
|
DOS,
C64,
AMI,
NES,
FDS
|
Platform
|
~3h
|
15 lists
#28 Bubble Bobble (1986) (#375)
Taito
|
ARC,
7,
DOS,
NES,
FDS
|
Platform
|
~3h
|
14 lists
#29 Dungeon Master (1987) (#390)
FTL Games
|
AST,
AMI
|
Role-Playing /
Dungeon Crawler
|
~19h
|
14 lists
#30 Lode Runner (1983) (#395)
Brøderbund Software, Irem
|
ARC,
4,
NES
|
Puzzle-Platformer
|
~2h
|
14 lists
#31 Missile Command (1980) (#411)
Atari
|
ARC,
A26,
A52,
A8
|
Shooter
|
~24m
|
16 lists
#32 Ghosts 'n Goblins (1985) (#415)
Capcom
|
ARC,
3,
NES
|
Platform
|
~3h
|
13 lists
#33 Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (1987) (#420)
Nintendo R&D4
|
NES,
FDS
|
Action RPG /
Platform
|
~10h
|
13 lists
#34 Populous (1989) (#423)
Bullfrog Productions
|
3,
SMS,
GEN,
SNES
|
God Game
|
~12h
|
12 lists
#35 Star Wars (1983) (#433)
Atari, Atari Games
|
ARC,
3,
7,
DOS,
MAC
|
Shooter
|
~30m
|
12 lists
#36 M.U.L.E. (1983) (#439)
Ozark Softscape
|
3,
DOS
|
Strategy
|
~2h
|
12 lists
#37 Herzog Zwei (1989) (#456)
Technosoft
|
GEN
|
Real-Time Strategy
|
~6h
|
9 lists
#38 Marble Madness (1984) (#467)
Atari Games
|
ARC,
4,
DOS
|
Racing /
Platform
|
~36m
|
11 lists
#39 Archon: The Light and the Dark (1983) (#477)
Free Fall Associates
|
7,
DOS
|
Action /
Strategy
|
~24m
|
13 lists
#40 Ultima / Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness (1981) (#488)
California Pacific Computer, Sierra On-Line
|
A2,
A8
|
Role-Playing
|
~6h
|
10 lists
#41 Final Fight (1989) (#494)
Capcom
|
ARC,
SNES
|
Beat 'em Up
|
~1h
|
12 lists
#42 Adventure (1980) (#503)
Atari
|
A26
|
Action-Adventure
|
~12m
|
9 lists
#43 Dragon Quest / Dragon Warrior (1986) (#515)
Chunsoft
|
NES
|
Role-Playing
|
~9h
|
9 lists
#44 Arkanoid (1986) (#516)
Taito
|
ARC,
11,
DOS,
MAC,
NES
|
Puzzle
|
~2h
|
9 lists
#45 Final Fantasy (1987) (#522)
Square
|
MSX,
NES
|
Role-Playing
|
~15h
|
10 lists
#46 Maniac Mansion (1987) (#526)
Lucasfilm Games
|
A2,
C64,
DOS,
NES
|
Point-and-Click
|
~3h
|
11 lists
#47 Ultima III: Exodus (1983) (#527)
Origin Systems
|
8,
DOS,
MAC
|
Role-Playing
|
~16h
|
10 lists
#48 Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (1981) (#535)
Sir-tech Software
|
7,
NES,
MAC
|
Role-Playing
|
~26h
|
11 lists
#49 Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny (1988) (#548)
Origin Systems
|
4,
DOS
|
Role-Playing
|
~20h
|
8 lists
#50 Bomberman (1983) (#554)
Hudson Soft
|
4,
NES
|
Maze
|
~2h
|
8 lists
#51 Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (1986) (#564)
Nintendo R&D4
|
FDS,
SNES
|
Platform
|
~3h
|
8 lists
#52 A Mind Forever Voyaging (1985) (#578)
Infocom
|
DOS,
3
|
Adventure /
Interactive Drama
|
~6h
|
6 lists
#53 Joust (1982) (#591)
Williams Electronics
|
ARC,
A26,
A52,
A2,
A8,
DOS
|
Action
|
~30m
|
9 lists
#54 The Sentinel / The Sentry (1986) (#595)
Firebird Software
|
6,
DOS
|
Puzzle
|
6 lists
#55 Tecmo Bowl (1987) (#598)
Tecmo
|
ARC,
NES
|
Sports
|
~2h
|
8 lists
#56 Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse (1989) (#603)
Konami
|
NES
|
Platform
|
~4h
|
9 lists
#57 Manic Miner (1983) (#611)
Matthew Smith
|
5
|
Platform
|
5 lists
#58 Head over Heels (1987) (#623)
Ocean Software
|
7
|
Action-Adventure
|
6 lists
#59 Bionic Commando (1988) (#624)
Capcom
|
NES
|
Platform
|
~2h
|
10 lists
#60 Frogger (1981) (#629)
Konami
|
ARC
|
Action
|
~36m
|
9 lists
#61 Centipede (1981) (#650)
Atari
|
ARC,
3,
A8,
C64
|
Shooter
|
~12m
|
10 lists
#62 Snatcher (1988) (#651)
Konami
|
PC88,
MSX,
TG16,
SCD
|
Point-and-Click
|
~8h
|
5 lists
#63 Ghouls 'n Ghosts (1988) (#653)
Capcom
|
ARC,
5,
GEN
|
Platform
|
~2h
|
7 lists
#64 Phantasy Star II (1989) (#656)
Sega R&D 2
|
GEN
|
Role-Playing
|
~27h
|
8 lists
#65 Gradius / Nemesis (1985) (#660)
Konami
|
ARC,
NES
|
Shooter
|
~1h
|
8 lists
#66 Battlezone (1980) (#670)
Atari
|
ARC,
A26,
VC20,
C64
|
First-Person Shooter /
Vehicular Combat
|
~12m
|
7 lists
#67 The Bard's Tale (1985) (#671)
Interplay Productions
|
6,
DOS
|
Role-Playing
|
~22h
|
7 lists
#68 Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 (1987) (#672)
Taito
|
ARC,
5,
NES,
SMS,
GEN,
TG16
|
Platform
|
~2h
|
8 lists
#69 International Karate + (1987) (#678)
System 3 Software
|
5
|
Fighting
|
~48m
|
7 lists
#70 NetHack (1987) (#680)
DOS
|
Roguelike
|
~11h
|
5 lists
#71 Kid Icarus (1986) (#682)
Nintendo R&D1
|
NES,
FDS
|
Action /
Platform
|
~4h
|
7 lists
#72 Baseball Stars (1989) (#683)
SNK
|
NES
|
Sports
|
~9h
|
8 lists
#73 Paradroid (1985) (#722)
Graftgold
|
C64
|
Shooter /
Puzzle
|
~1h
|
5 lists
#74 Tempest (1981) (#723)
Atari
|
ARC,
4
|
Shooter
|
~42m
|
8 lists
#75 Shinobi (1987) (#738)
Team Shinobi
|
ARC,
DOS,
6,
NES,
SMS,
TG16
|
Hack and Slash /
Platform
|
~1h
|
6 lists
#76 Track & Field / Hyper Olympic (1983) (#739)
Konami
|
ARC,
A26,
A8,
MSX
|
Sports
|
~36m
|
5 lists
#77 Mario Bros. (1983) (#748)
Nintendo R&D1
|
ARC,
A26,
A52,
5,
NES
|
Platform
|
~54m
|
7 lists
#78 Defender of the Crown (1986) (#752)
Master Designer Software, Inc.
|
4
|
Strategy
|
~1h
|
7 lists
#79 Mega Man (1987) (#754)
Capcom
|
NES
|
Platform
|
~3h
|
7 lists
#80 DuckTales (1989) (#764)
Capcom
|
NES,
GB
|
Platform
|
~2h
|
6 lists
#81 Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap (1989) (#773)
Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
|
SMS,
TG16
|
Action-Adventure /
Platform
|
~6h
|
4 lists
#82 Golden Axe (1989) (#776)
Team Shinobi
|
ARC,
SMS,
GEN
|
Beat 'em Up
|
~1h
|
7 lists
#83 Impossible Mission (1984) (#796)
Epyx
|
5
|
Puzzle /
Platform
|
~3h
|
5 lists
#84 California Games (1987) (#804)
Epyx
|
A2,
C64,
LYNX
|
Sports
|
~2h
|
7 lists
#85 Strider / Strider Hiryū (1989) (#815)
Capcom
|
ARC,
DOS,
3,
GEN
|
Hack and Slash /
Platform
|
~1h
|
5 lists
#86 Stunt Car Racer / Stunt Track Racer (1989) (#817)
Microplay Software, MicroStyle
|
DOS,
5
|
Racing
|
~3h
|
6 lists
#87 Pole Position (1982) (#818)
Namco
|
ARC,
3,
5
|
Racing
|
~24m
|
8 lists
#88 Spy Hunter (1983) (#822)
Bally Midway
|
ARC,
A26,
CV,
6,
DOS,
NES
|
Vehicular Combat
|
~24m
|
9 lists
#89 Warlords (1981) (#824)
Atari
|
ARC,
A26
|
Action
|
~12m
|
6 lists
#90 Jet Set Willy (1984) (#837)
Software Projects
|
3
|
Platform
|
~2h
|
5 lists
#91 King's Quest I: Quest for the Crown (1984) (#840)
Sierra On-Line
|
3,
DOS,
MAC
|
Adventure
|
~2h
|
6 lists
#92 The Revenge of Shinobi / The Super Shinobi (1989) (#848)
Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
|
GEN
|
Hack and Slash /
Platform
|
~2h
|
5 lists
#93 The Oregon Trail (1985) (#856)
MECC
|
A2,
3
|
Strategy
|
~1h
|
4 lists
#94 Microsoft Flight Simulator 1.0 (1982) (#858)
subLOGIC
|
DOS
|
Flight Simulation
|
~30m
|
5 lists
#95 The Hobbit (1982) (#863)
Beam Software
|
6,
DOS
|
Adventure
|
~1h
|
5 lists
#96 Star Raiders (1980) (#876)
Atari
|
A26,
A52,
A8
|
Space Combat
|
~18m
|
5 lists
#97 Exile (1988) (#878)
Audiogenic
|
5
|
Action-Adventure
|
~5h
|
4 lists
#98 River City Ransom / Street Gangs (1989) (#886)
Technos Japan
|
NES
|
Action-Adventure /
Beat 'em Up
|
~2h
|
5 lists
#99 Excitebike (1984) (#899)
Nintendo
|
ARC,
PC88,
NES
|
Racing
|
~48m
|
6 lists
#100 Wizball (1987) (#930)
Sensible Software
|
DOS,
5
|
Shooter
|
~2h
|
3 lists
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