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 1985

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#1 Tetris (1985) (#4)

Alexey Pajitnov | 8, DOS, NES, GB | Puzzle | ~3h | 103 lists

#2 Super Mario Bros. (1985) (#56)

Nintendo R&D4 | ARC, NES | Platform | ~2h | 48 lists

#3 Gauntlet (1985) (#229)

Atari Games | ARC | Maze / Dungeon Crawler | ~2h | 22 lists

#4 Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (1985) (#306)

Origin Systems | 10, DOS, NES | Role-Playing | ~21h | 19 lists

#5 Ghosts 'n Goblins (1985) (#415)

Capcom | ARC, 3, NES | Platform | ~3h | 13 lists

#6 A Mind Forever Voyaging (1985) (#578)

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

#7 Gradius / Nemesis (1985) (#660)

Konami | ARC, NES | Shooter | ~1h | 8 lists

#8 The Bard's Tale (1985) (#671)

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

#9 Paradroid (1985) (#722)

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

#10 The Oregon Trail (1985) (#856)

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

#11 Mercenary (1985) (#1016)

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

#12 Paperboy (1985) (#1051)

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

#13 King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne (1985) (#1053)

Sierra On-Line | 3, DOS | Adventure | ~2h | 3 lists

#14 Space Harrier (1985) (#1110)

Sega AM2 | ARC, 5, SMS, TG16 | Shooter | ~24m | 3 lists

#15 Ballblazer (1985) (#1175)

Lucasfilm Games | 6, A52, A78 | Action / Sports | ~12m | 5 lists

#16 Commando / Senjō no Ōkami (1985) (#1177)

Capcom | ARC, 4, DOS, NES | Run and Gun | 3 lists

#17 The Way of the Exploding Fist (1985) (#1238)

Beam Software | 4 | Fighting | ~1h | 3 lists

#18 Balance of Power (1985) (#1324)

Mindscape, Inc. | 6, DOS, MAC | Strategy | 4 lists

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