The 50 best games of the '80s, ranked

The writer's editorial order from the original article. We index, we don't re-rank.

01

Elite

1984 ·5 writers · 4 pieces

→02

Tetris

1985 ·18 writers · 21 pieces

→03

Super Mario Bros. 3

1988 ·22 writers · 31 pieces

→04

Tempest

2021 ·8 writers · 5 pieces

→05

Donkey Kong

1981 ·11 writers · 13 pieces

→06

Defender

1994 ·3 writers · 3 pieces

→07

SimCity

2013 ·17 writers · 22 pieces

→08

Prince of Persia

2008 ·4 writers · 5 pieces

→09

Maniac Mansion

1987 ·5 writers · 5 pieces

→10

Dungeon Master

2022 ·8 writers · 7 pieces

→11

Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar

1985 ·2 writers · 3 pieces

→12

The Hobbit

2003 ·2 writers · 1 pieces

→13

The Legend of Zelda

1986 ·15 writers · 20 pieces

→14

Contra

1987 ·9 writers · 10 pieces

→15

Paradroid

1985 ·4 writers · 3 pieces

→16

Metroid

1986 ·11 writers · 11 pieces

→17

Rainbow Islands

2001 ·2 writers · 1 pieces

→18

Robotron: 2084

1982 ·4 writers · 3 pieces

→19

Boulder Dash

1984 ·2 writers · 2 pieces

→20

R-Type

1987 ·5 writers · 3 pieces

→21

Uridium

1986 ·2 writers · 2 pieces

→22

Final Fantasy

1987 ·6 writers · 5 pieces

→23

Koronis Rift

1985 ·2 writers · 2 pieces

→24

Ant Attack

2024 ·4 writers · 2 pieces

→25

Ikari Warriors

1986 ·2 writers · 1 pieces

→26

Mega Man 2

1989 ·10 writers · 15 pieces

→28

Ms. Pac-Man

1982 ·5 writers · 5 pieces

→29

International Karate +

1987 ·4 writers · 3 pieces

→30

Myst III: Exile

2001 ·2 writers · 1 pieces

→31

Star Wars

1983 ·5 writers · 4 pieces

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