Acclaimed Video Games
The top 1,400 most recommended games across 920 critic lists from 146 publications.
Updated: October 16, 2026
Most Acclaimed Atari 8-bit Games of All Time
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#1 Pac-Man (1980) (#130)
Namco
|
ARC,
3,
5,
DOS,
NES
|
Maze
|
~48m
|
38 lists
#2 Ms. Pac-Man (1982) (#154)
General Computer Corporation (GCC)
|
ARC,
4,
DOS
|
Maze
|
~1h
|
30 lists
#3 Zork (1977) (#257)
Infocom
|
6,
DOS,
MAC
|
Adventure /
Interactive Drama
|
22 lists
#4 Asteroids (1979) (#271)
Atari
|
ARC,
A26,
A8
|
Shooter
|
~30m
|
19 lists
#5 Robotron: 2084 (1982) (#302)
Vid Kidz
|
ARC,
6,
DOS,
A52,
A78
|
Shooter
|
~18m
|
17 lists
#6 Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (1985) (#306)
Origin Systems
|
10,
DOS,
NES
|
Role-Playing
|
~21h
|
19 lists
#7 Pitfall! (1982) (#314)
Activision
|
4,
3
|
Platform
|
~36m
|
20 lists
#8 Lode Runner (1983) (#395)
Brøderbund Software, Irem
|
ARC,
4,
NES
|
Puzzle-Platformer
|
~2h
|
14 lists
#9 Missile Command (1980) (#411)
Atari
|
ARC,
A26,
A52,
A8
|
Shooter
|
~24m
|
16 lists
#10 Star Wars (1983) (#433)
Atari, Atari Games
|
ARC,
3,
7,
DOS,
MAC
|
Shooter
|
~30m
|
12 lists
#11 M.U.L.E. (1983) (#439)
Ozark Softscape
|
3,
DOS
|
Strategy
|
~2h
|
12 lists
#12 Archon: The Light and the Dark (1983) (#477)
Free Fall Associates
|
7,
DOS
|
Action /
Strategy
|
~24m
|
13 lists
#13 Ultima / Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness (1981) (#488)
California Pacific Computer, Sierra On-Line
|
A2,
A8
|
Role-Playing
|
~6h
|
10 lists
#14 Arkanoid (1986) (#516)
Taito
|
ARC,
11,
DOS,
MAC,
NES
|
Puzzle
|
~2h
|
9 lists
#15 Ultima III: Exodus (1983) (#527)
Origin Systems
|
8,
DOS,
MAC
|
Role-Playing
|
~16h
|
10 lists
#16 Joust (1982) (#591)
Williams Electronics
|
ARC,
A26,
A52,
A2,
A8,
DOS
|
Action
|
~30m
|
9 lists
#17 Head over Heels (1987) (#623)
Ocean Software
|
7
|
Action-Adventure
|
6 lists
#18 Centipede (1981) (#650)
Atari
|
ARC,
3,
A8,
C64
|
Shooter
|
~12m
|
10 lists
#19 Track & Field / Hyper Olympic (1983) (#739)
Konami
|
ARC,
A26,
A8,
MSX
|
Sports
|
~36m
|
5 lists
#20 Pole Position (1982) (#818)
Namco
|
ARC,
3,
5
|
Racing
|
~24m
|
8 lists
#21 Spy Hunter (1983) (#822)
Bally Midway
|
ARC,
A26,
CV,
6,
DOS,
NES
|
Vehicular Combat
|
~24m
|
9 lists
#22 Jet Set Willy (1984) (#837)
Software Projects
|
3
|
Platform
|
~2h
|
5 lists
#23 Star Raiders (1980) (#876)
Atari
|
A26,
A52,
A8
|
Space Combat
|
~18m
|
5 lists
#24 Boulder Dash (1984) (#945)
First Star Software
|
ARC,
7,
CV
|
Maze /
Puzzle
|
~3h
|
7 lists
#25 Qix (1981) (#989)
Taito
|
ARC,
3,
A52,
NES
|
Puzzle
|
~42m
|
6 lists
#26 Rogue / Rogue: Exploring the Dungeons of Doom (1980) (#1005)
Artificial Intelligence Design
|
8,
DOS,
MAC
|
Roguelike
|
~10h
|
3 lists
#27 Mercenary (1985) (#1016)
Novagen
|
5
|
Action-Adventure
|
~2h
|
4 lists
#28 Zaxxon (1981) (#1044)
Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
|
ARC,
5,
4,
DOS
|
Shooter
|
~12m
|
6 lists
#29 Choplifter (1982) (#1066)
Dan Gorlin
|
6,
A52
|
Shooter
|
~54m
|
6 lists
#30 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1984) (#1164)
Infocom
|
7,
DOS,
MAC
|
Adventure /
Interactive Drama
|
4 lists
#31 Spy vs. Spy (1984) (#1174)
First Star Software, Vatical Entertainment
|
7,
NES,
SMS
|
~1h
|
5 lists
#32 Ballblazer (1985) (#1175)
Lucasfilm Games
|
6,
A52,
A78
|
Action /
Sports
|
~12m
|
5 lists
#33 Miner 2049er (1982) (#1196)
Big Five Software
|
A26,
A52,
A2,
A8,
DOS
|
Platform
|
~48m
|
5 lists
#34 Thrust (1986) (#1207)
Firebird Software, Superior Software
|
6
|
Shooter
|
3 lists
#35 River Raid (1982) (#1313)
Activision
|
3,
3
|
Shooter
|
~24m
|
5 lists
#36 Moon Patrol (1982) (#1330)
Irem
|
ARC,
A26,
A52,
4,
DOS
|
Shooter
|
~30m
|
3 lists
#37 Castle Wolfenstein (1981) (#1383)
Muse Software
|
3
|
Action-Adventure /
Stealth
|
5 lists
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