From CBR · Marley Hughes · · 1m 40s
10 Forgotten '80s Computer Games That Are 10/10 Masterpieces
10 '80s computer games that shaped gaming history despite being forgotten.
In brief
10 '80s computer games that shaped gaming history despite being forgotten. Ten 1980s computer games remain influential despite being overlooked in modern gaming. Originally reported by CBR.
Maniac Mansion Popularized Cutscenes
Maniac Mansion used cutscenes to tell its story, featuring Dave and friends rescuing Sandy from Dr. Edison.
“Maniac Mansion doesn't get as much recognition as it should, given its biggest contribution to gaming: cutscenes.”
Archon Is Chess Taken to the Extreme
Archon: The Light and the Dark is a highly advanced chess game with battle modes for elimination.
“There is no other game with a premise and gameplay as niche as Archon: The Light and the Dark.”
Bloodwych Is a Dangerous First-Person RPG
Bloodwych, released in Europe in 1989, featured multiplayer dungeon crawling with two players cooperating.
“Bloodwych, first released in Europe in 1989, wasn't the first RPG of its kind; it featured first-person dungeon-crawling mechanics.”
Defender of the Crown Is a Grand 16-Bit Milestone
Defender of the Crown demonstrated state-of-the-art home computing with striking graphics and a medieval strategy game.
“Defender of the Crown was a milestone when it first came out, serving a nice demonstration of state-of-the-art home computing in the '80s.”
Wasteland Is Fallout's Spiritual Predecessor
Wasteland, released in 1988, follows a post-apocalyptic nuclear hellscape with AI-driven challenges.
“Wasteland follows an identical premise to any given Fallout game; players must navigate a post-apocalyptic nuclear hell scape.”
MIDI Maze Is the Blueprint for FPS Games
MIDI Maze, designed for Atari ST, pioneered networked multiplayer death matches in first-person shooters.
“MIDI Maze, later released on other platforms as Faceball 2000, isn't the first FPS game, but has long served as the blueprint for titles within the genre.”
Shadow of the Beast Has a Delightfully Gloomy Tone
Shadow of the Beast used parallax scrolling to create a realistic 2D platforming experience with a gloomy tone.
“Shadow of the beast made innovative use of parallax scrolling, in which the background moves more slowly than the foreground.”
Dungeon Master Pioneered First-Person RPGs
Dungeon Master was one of the earliest first-person RPGs with real-time combat and a fire staff quest.
“Dungeon Master, not unlike other games of its era, is an RPG built around dungeon crawling.”
The Ancient Art of War Made Strategy Real-Time
The Ancient Art of War used a rock-paper-scissors system to determine which group makes the first move in real-time strategy.
“The Ancient Art of War served as a foundation for the modern real-time strategy genre.”
M.U.L.E. Was Ahead of Its Time
M.U.L.E. was a competitive tycoon game where players grow and sell food to outperform opponents.
“In M.U.L.E., players have to grow and sell food, which may sound simple enough. However, there are competitors, including human-controlled opponents.”
At a glance
Ten 1980s computer games remain influential despite being overlooked in modern gaming.
