Acclaimed Video Games

The top 1,400 most recommended games across 913 critic lists from 142 publications.

Updated: March 25, 2026

Most Acclaimed Apple II Games of All Time

Filters

44 of 44

#1 Tetris (1985) (#2)

Alexey Pajitnov | 8 , DOS , NES, GB | Puzzle | ~3h | 99 lists

#2 Ms. Pac-Man (1982) (#143)

General Computer Corporation (GCC) | ARC , 4 , DOS | Maze | ~1h | 30 lists

#3 Elite (1984) (#186)

Acornsoft, David Braben, Frontier Developments, Ian Bell | 6 , DOS | Space Combat | 23 lists

#4 Prince of Persia (1989) (#200)

Brøderbund Software | 6 , DOS, MAC , TG16 | Platform | ~2h | 25 lists

#5 Sid Meier's Pirates! (1987) (#226)

MicroProse Software, Inc. | 6 , DOS, MAC , NES | Strategy / Action-Adventure | ~8h | 18 lists

#6 Zork (1977) (#249)

Infocom | 6 , DOS, MAC | Adventure / Interactive Drama | 21 lists

#7 Another World / Out of This World (1991) (#254)

Delphine Software | 3 , DOS , GEN , SNES , 3DO | Action / Platform | ~2h | 18 lists

#8 Robotron: 2084 (1982) (#289)

Vid Kidz | ARC , 6 , DOS , A52, A78 | Shooter | ~18m | 16 lists

#9 Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (1985) (#293)

Origin Systems | 10 , DOS , NES | Role-Playing | ~21h | 18 lists

#10 Bubble Bobble (1986) (#356)

Taito | ARC , 7 , DOS , NES, FDS | Platform | ~3h | 14 lists

#11 Lode Runner (1983) (#392)

Brøderbund Software, Irem | ARC , 4 , NES | Puzzle-Platformer | ~2h | 13 lists

#12 Marble Madness (1984) (#457)

Atari Games | ARC , 4 , DOS | Racing / Platform | ~36m | 10 lists

#13 Archon: The Light and the Dark (1983) (#480)

Free Fall Associates | 7 , DOS | Action / Strategy | ~24m | 12 lists

#14 Ultima / Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness (1981) (#482)

California Pacific Computer, Sierra On-Line | A2, A8 | Role-Playing | ~6h | 10 lists

15 (#503)

Arkanoid (1986)

Taito | , , , , | | ~2h | 9 lists

#15 Arkanoid (1986) (#503)

Taito | ARC , 11 , DOS, MAC , NES | Puzzle | ~2h | 9 lists

#16 Maniac Mansion (1987) (#520)

Lucasfilm Games | A2, C64 , DOS , NES | Point-and-Click | ~3h | 11 lists

#17 Ultima III: Exodus (1983) (#522)

Origin Systems | 8 , DOS, MAC | Role-Playing | ~15h | 10 lists

#18 Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (1981) (#538)

Sir-tech Software | 7 , NES , MAC | Role-Playing | ~25h | 10 lists

#19 Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny (1988) (#539)

Origin Systems | 4 , DOS | Role-Playing | ~20h | 8 lists

#20 Joust (1982) (#585)

Williams Electronics | ARC , A26, A52 , A2, A8 , DOS | Action | ~30m | 8 lists

#21 The Bard's Tale (1985) (#647)

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

#22 Impossible Mission (1984) (#778)

Epyx | 5 | Puzzle / Platform | ~3h | 5 lists

#23 California Games (1987) (#785)

Epyx | A2, C64 , LYNX | Sports | ~2h | 7 lists

#24 Spy Hunter (1983) (#813)

Bally Midway | ARC , A26, CV , 6 , DOS , NES | Vehicular Combat | ~24m | 9 lists

#25 The Oregon Trail (1985) (#832)

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

#26 The Hobbit (1982) (#833)

Beam Software | 6 , DOS | Adventure | ~1h | 5 lists

#27 King's Quest I: Quest for the Crown (1984) (#834)

Sierra On-Line | 3 , DOS, MAC | Adventure | ~2h | 5 lists

#28 Boulder Dash (1984) (#940)

First Star Software | ARC , 7 , CV | Maze / Puzzle | ~3h | 6 lists

#29 Paperboy (1985) (#1009)

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

#30 King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne (1985) (#1016)

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

#31 Wasteland (1988) (#1064)

Interplay Productions | A2, C64 , DOS | Role-Playing | ~26h | 3 lists

#32 Choplifter (1982) (#1083)

Dan Gorlin | 6 , A52 | Shooter | ~54m | 5 lists

#33 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1984) (#1115)

Infocom | 7 , DOS, MAC | Adventure / Interactive Drama | 4 lists

#34 King's Quest III: To Heir is Human (1986) (#1116)

Sierra On-Line | A2 , DOS | Adventure | ~4h | 3 lists

#35 King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella (1988) (#1138)

Sierra On-Line | 3 , DOS | Adventure | ~4h | 3 lists

#36 Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards (1987) (#1200)

Sierra On-Line | 3 , DOS, MAC | Adventure | ~3h | 4 lists

#37 Spy vs. Spy (1984) (#1202)

First Star Software, Vatical Entertainment | 7 , NES , SMS | ~1h | 4 lists

#38 Ballblazer (1985) (#1203)

Lucasfilm Games | 6 , A52, A78 | Action / Sports | ~18m | 4 lists

39 (#1228)

Xevious (1983)

Namco | , , , | | ~1h | 3 lists

#39 Xevious (1983) (#1228)

Namco | ARC , 6 , NES , A78 | Shooter | ~1h | 3 lists

#40 The Ancient Art of War (1984) (#1232)

Evryware | 6 , DOS, MAC | Real-Time Strategy / Real-Time Tactics | 2 lists

#41 Miner 2049er (1982) (#1235)

Big Five Software | A26, A52 , A2, A8 , DOS | Platform | ~48m | 4 lists

#42 Moon Patrol (1982) (#1308)

Irem | ARC , A26, A52 , 4 , DOS | Shooter | ~30m | 3 lists

#43 Trinity (1986) (#1319)

Infocom | 4 , DOS, MAC | Interactive Drama | 3 lists

#44 Balance of Power (1985) (#1365)

Mindscape, Inc. | 6 , DOS, MAC | Strategy | 3 lists

Alexey Pajitnov

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

Puzzle

~3h

99 lists

Tetris 1985

#143

General Computer Corporation (GCC)

A2, ARC, A8, C64, DOS, ZXS

Maze

~1h

30 lists

Ms. Pac-Man 1982

#186

Acornsoft, David Braben, Frontier Developments, Ian Bell

CPC, A2, BBCM, C64, DOS, MSX, ZXS

Space Combat

23 lists

Elite 1984

#200

Brøderbund Software

AMI, CPC, A2, MAC, AST, DOS, FMT, PC98, TG16

Platform

~2h

25 lists

Prince of Persia 1989

#226

MicroProse Software, Inc.

AMI, CPC, A2, MAC, AST, C64, DOS, NES, PC88

Strategy / Action-Adventure

~8h

18 lists

Sid Meier's Pirates! 1987

#249

Infocom

A2, MAC, A8, C64, PDP, DOS, T80, TCC

Adventure / Interactive Drama

21 lists

Zork 1977

#254

Delphine Software

3DO, AMI, A2, AST, DOS, GEN, SNES

Action / Platform

~2h

18 lists

Another World / Out of This World 1991

#289

Vid Kidz

A2, ARC, A52, A78, A8, AST, BBCM, C64, DOS, VC20

Shooter

~18m

16 lists

Robotron: 2084 1982

#293

Origin Systems

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

Role-Playing

~21h

18 lists

Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar 1985

#10

#356

Taito

AMI, CPC, A2, ARC, AST, C64, DOS, FDS, MSX, NES, ZXS

Platform

~3h

14 lists

Bubble Bobble 1986

#11

#392

Brøderbund Software, Irem

A2, ARC, A8, C64, NES, PC88

Puzzle-Platformer

~2h

13 lists

Lode Runner 1983

#12

#457

Atari Games

AMI, A2, ARC, AST, C64, DOS

Racing / Platform

~36m

10 lists

Marble Madness 1984

#13

#480

Free Fall Associates

CPC, A2, A8, C64, DOS, PC88, SX1, ZXS

Action / Strategy

~24m

12 lists

Archon: The Light and the Dark 1983

#14

#482

California Pacific Computer, Sierra On-Line

A2, A8

Role-Playing

~6h

10 lists

Ultima / Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness 1981

#15

#503

Taito

AMI, CPC, A2, MAC, ARC, A8, AST, BBCM, C64, DOS, MSX, NES, PC88, TCC, ZXS

Puzzle

~2h

9 lists

Arkanoid 1986

#16

#520

Lucasfilm Games

A2, C64, DOS, NES

Point-and-Click

~3h

11 lists

Maniac Mansion 1987

#17

#522

Origin Systems

AMI, A2, MAC, A8, AST, C64, DOS, FM7, PC88, PC98

Role-Playing

~15h

10 lists

Ultima III: Exodus 1983

#18

#538

Sir-tech Software

A2, MAC, C64, FM7, MSX, NES, PC88, PC98, SX1

Role-Playing

~25h

10 lists

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord 1981

#19

#539

Origin Systems

AMI, A2, AST, C64, DOS

Role-Playing

~20h

8 lists

Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny 1988

#20

#585

Williams Electronics

A2, ARC, A26, A52, A8, DOS

Action

~30m

8 lists

Joust 1982

#21

#647

Interplay Productions

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

Role-Playing

~22h

7 lists

The Bard's Tale 1985

#22

#778

Epyx

CPC, A2, BBCM, C64, ZXS

Puzzle / Platform

~3h

5 lists

Impossible Mission 1984

#23

#785

Epyx

A2, LYNX, C64

Sports

~2h

7 lists

California Games 1987

#24

#813

Bally Midway

CPC, A2, ARC, A26, A8, BBCM, CV, C64, DOS, NES, ZXS

Vehicular Combat

~24m

9 lists

Spy Hunter 1983

#25

#832

MECC

A2, MAC, DOS, WIN

Strategy

~1h

4 lists

The Oregon Trail 1985

#26

#833

Beam Software

CPC, A2, BBCM, C64, DOS, MSX, ZXS

Adventure

~1h

5 lists

The Hobbit 1982

#27

#834

Sierra On-Line

AMI, A2, MAC, AST, DOS

Adventure

~2h

5 lists

King's Quest I: Quest for the Crown 1984

#28

#940

First Star Software

CPC, A2, ARC, A8, CV, C64, FM7, PC88, ZXS

Maze / Puzzle

~3h

6 lists

Boulder Dash 1984

#29

#1009

Atari Games, Vivid Games

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

Action

~1h

3 lists

Paperboy 1985

#30

#1016

Sierra On-Line

AMI, A2, AST, DOS

Adventure

~3h

3 lists

King's Quest II: Romancing the Throne 1985

#31

#1064

Interplay Productions

A2, C64, DOS

Role-Playing

~26h

3 lists

Wasteland 1988

#32

#1083

Dan Gorlin

A2, A52, A8, C64, FM7, PC88, VC20

Shooter

~54m

5 lists

Choplifter 1982

#33

#1115

Infocom

AMI, CPC, A2, MAC, A8, AST, C64, DOS, T80

Adventure / Interactive Drama

4 lists

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 1984

#34

#1116

Sierra On-Line

A2, DOS

Adventure

~4h

3 lists

King's Quest III: To Heir is Human 1986

#35

#1138

Sierra On-Line

AMI, A2, AST, DOS

Adventure

~4h

3 lists

King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella 1988

#36

#1200

Sierra On-Line

AMI, A2, MAC, AST, DOS

Adventure

~3h

4 lists

Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards 1987

#37

#1202

First Star Software, Vatical Entertainment

AMI, CPC, A2, A8, AST, C64, NES, SMS, ZXS

~1h

4 lists

Spy vs. Spy 1984

#38

#1203

Lucasfilm Games

CPC, A2, A52, A78, A8, C64, MSX, ZXS

Action / Sports

~18m

4 lists

Ballblazer 1985

#39

#1228

Namco

A2, ARC, A78, C64, FM7, NES, PC88, SX1, ZXS

Shooter

~1h

3 lists

Xevious 1983

#40

#1232

Evryware

AMI, CPC, A2, MAC, AST, DOS, PC88, PC98

Real-Time Strategy / Real-Time Tactics

2 lists

The Ancient Art of War 1984

#41

#1235

Big Five Software

A2, A26, A52, A8, DOS

Platform

~48m

4 lists

Miner 2049er 1982

#42

#1308

Irem

A2, ARC, A26, A52, A8, C64, DOS, MSX

Shooter

~30m

3 lists

Moon Patrol 1982

#43

#1319

Infocom

AMI, A2, MAC, AST, C64, DOS

Interactive Drama

3 lists

Trinity 1986

#44

#1365

Mindscape, Inc.

AMI, A2, MAC, AST, DOS, MSX, PC88, PC98

Strategy

3 lists

Balance of Power 1985

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