Retro games you may have played in the 1980s: a nostalgic look back

By Matthew Mohan-Hickson

Technology and TV writer

Published 16th Aug 2024, 09:00 GMT

Updated 27th Dec 2024, 09:02 GMT

Relive memories of iconic games like Tetris and Pac-Man that defined an era 🎮

For those who were lucky enough to grow up in the 1980s, you were treated to some truly iconic video games. It was the decade that some of the most iconic series of all-time started - including a certain Italian plumber fond of saying ‘yahoo’ and rescuing princesses.

It was the decade when Tetris and Pac-Man arrived at the arcades, and children woke up on Christmas morning to find a NES under the tree.

I’ve been diving back in time to look at the history of tech - and decided to see what video games I missed out on by not being around in the 1980s. Here’s nine of the most iconic games of the decade - how many do you remember?

Kicking off the decade in style, Pac-Man (and all of its subsequent editions like Ms Pac-Man) arrived in 1980 and has gone on to become one of the most iconic games ever. It started in arcades but later jumped to consoles of all varieties. It was so popular that the song ‘Pac-Man Fever’ charted in the US in 1982. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

1. Pac-Man - 1980

Kicking off the decade in style, Pac-Man (and all of its subsequent editions like Ms Pac-Man) arrived in 1980 and has gone on to become one of the most iconic games ever. It started in arcades but later jumped to consoles of all varieties. It was so popular that the song ‘Pac-Man Fever’ charted in the US in 1982. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images | Spencer Platt/Getty Images Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

How simple a concept, a giant ape throwing barrels at a plumber trying to prevent him rescuing his girlfriend Pauline (in the days before Mario chased after Princess Peach). But the rest, is as they say, history. It was the start of multiple of Nintendo’s most recognisable characters. Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images

2. Donkey Kong - 1981

How simple a concept, a giant ape throwing barrels at a plumber trying to prevent him rescuing his girlfriend Pauline (in the days before Mario chased after Princess Peach). But the rest, is as they say, history. It was the start of multiple of Nintendo’s most recognisable characters. Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images | Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images

Get a frog across the road, what is the worst that could happen? Such was the simple hook of one of the biggest arcade games of the 1980s - and the start of a franchise that has endured in different forms over the decades. Photo: David McNew/Getty Images

3. Frogger - 1981

Get a frog across the road, what is the worst that could happen? Such was the simple hook of one of the biggest arcade games of the 1980s - and the start of a franchise that has endured in different forms over the decades. Photo: David McNew/Getty Images | David McNew/Getty Images Photo: David McNew/Getty Images

One of the most iconic video games of all time. It must have been truly mind blowing to play this when it arrived in the west from Russia in the 1980s - but you have no doubt played it on some device or another over the years. Pictured Alexey Pajitnov the developer of Tetris! Photo: Wojtek Laski/Getty Images

4. Tetris - 1984

One of the most iconic video games of all time. It must have been truly mind blowing to play this when it arrived in the west from Russia in the 1980s - but you have no doubt played it on some device or another over the years. Pictured Alexey Pajitnov the developer of Tetris! Photo: Wojtek Laski/Getty Images | Wojtek Laski/Getty Images Photo: Wojtek Laski/Getty Images

Tech Nintendo Boost

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.