Acclaimed Video Games

The top 1,400 most recommended games across 920 critic lists from 146 publications.

Updated: October 16, 2026

Most Acclaimed MSX Games of All Time

Filters

27 of 27

Tetris

#1 Tetris (1985) (#4)

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

Pac-Man

#2 Pac-Man (1980) (#130)

Namco | ARC, 3, 5, DOS, NES | Maze | ~48m | 38 lists

Elite

#3 Elite (1984) (#199)

Acornsoft, David Braben, Frontier Developments, Ian Bell | 6, DOS | Space Combat | 24 lists

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

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

Pitfall!

#5 Pitfall! (1982) (#314)

Activision | 4, 3 | Platform | ~36m | 20 lists

R-Type

#6 R-Type (1987) (#358)

Irem | ARC, 7, SMS, TG16 | Shooter | ~1h | 17 lists

Bubble Bobble

#7 Bubble Bobble (1986) (#375)

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

Arkanoid

#8 Arkanoid (1986) (#516)

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

Final Fantasy

#9 Final Fantasy (1987) (#522)

Square | MSX, NES | Role-Playing | ~15h | 10 lists

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord

#10 Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (1981) (#535)

Sir-tech Software | 7, NES, MAC | Role-Playing | ~26h | 11 lists

Bomberman

#11 Bomberman (1983) (#554)

Hudson Soft | 4, NES | Maze | ~2h | 8 lists

Manic Miner

#12 Manic Miner (1983) (#611)

Matthew Smith | 5 | Platform | 5 lists

Head over Heels

#13 Head over Heels (1987) (#623)

Ocean Software | 7 | Action-Adventure | 6 lists

Snatcher

#14 Snatcher (1988) (#651)

Konami | PC88, MSX, TG16, SCD | Point-and-Click | ~8h | 5 lists

Shinobi

#15 Shinobi (1987) (#738)

Team Shinobi | ARC, DOS, 6, NES, SMS, TG16 | Hack and Slash / Platform | ~1h | 6 lists

Track & Field / Hyper Olympic

#16 Track & Field / Hyper Olympic (1983) (#739)

Konami | ARC, A26, A8, MSX | Sports | ~36m | 5 lists

The Hobbit

#17 The Hobbit (1982) (#863)

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

Football Manager

#18 Football Manager (1982) (#982)

Addictive Games Ltd | 8, DOS | Simulation / Sports | ~2h | 2 lists

Knight Lore

#19 Knight Lore (1984) (#983)

Ashby Computers and Graphics Ltd. | 4 | Action-Adventure | ~2h | 4 lists

Ikari Warriors

#20 Ikari Warriors (1986) (#1096)

SNK | ARC, MSX, CPC, NES | Run and Gun | ~1h | 4 lists

Salamander / Life Force

#21 Salamander / Life Force (1986) (#1107)

Konami | ARC, 4, NES | Shooter | ~48m | 5 lists

Ballblazer

#22 Ballblazer (1985) (#1175)

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

Puyo Puyo

#23 Puyo Puyo (1991) (#1198)

Compile | ARC, 3, 3, GEN, GG | Puzzle | ~30m | 3 lists

Metal Gear

#24 Metal Gear (1987) (#1273)

Konami | DOS, C64, MSX, NES | Action-Adventure / Stealth | ~4h | 4 lists

River Raid

#25 River Raid (1982) (#1313)

Activision | 3, 3 | Shooter | ~24m | 5 lists

Balance of Power

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

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

Moon Patrol

#27 Moon Patrol (1982) (#1330)

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

All 27 results loaded