By Bindiya Bhatt
Gone are the days of limited video games, when not all of us were lucky enough to play them whenever we wanted. Yes, I’m talking about the ‘80s – the decade that saw video games gain immense popularity, often called the ‘golden age’ of both arcades and home consoles. It was the era that introduced kids to something that felt nothing short of a wonder.
As a kid, I discovered an avid gamer in me when I went completely crazy for the games that were gradually becoming popular among children. Some notable games from the 1980s included Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Tetris, Duck Hunt, Super Mario Bros., Contra, Prince of Persia, and more.
Well, these games weren’t easily accessible in the absence of mobile phones, and not everyone could afford to bring home a gaming console or a computer. There was a single café near my home, and it offered us an hour of gameplay for Rs 2 or so. I remember going there with my brother and a bunch of kids, all huddled together, standing in a queue for their turn. However, the girls in my circle were hardly interested in video games – they’d rather play stapu or with dolls. But my madness for games always took me there.
However, as the popularity of video games grew, consoles became affordable, and we finally brought one home. I even remember playing Prince of Persia on my black & white computer – and I could play it for hours and hours. Madness at its peak! Raise your hand if you’ve ever played Mario for 6 hours straight!
But now, the picture is completely different. Gaming is so accessible that you can download hundreds of games on your mobile phone and other devices, with endless options to choose from.
Ask any ‘80s kid, and they’ll jump with joy if you mention those retro games. While Gen Z grows up with PlayStations and unlimited gaming apps, we had those few limited wonders and we still cherish them today. Let’s go down memory lane with these popular retro games you can still play today:
Pac-Man (1980)
Released in 1980, Pac-Man is one of the most popular games of all time, known for its simple yet addictive gameplay. Following its launch, the game emerged as the top-grossing arcade title of the ‘80s worldwide. This maze-chase video game features the main character, Pac-Man, and a ghost gang named Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde. Pac-Man’s goal is to eat all the dots spread across the maze while avoiding the notorious ghosts constantly chasing him.
Once you eat all the dots, you move to the next level. And if a ghost catches you, you lose a life. It’s game over when you lose all your lives.
Donkey Kong (1981)
In 1981, game designer Shigeru Miyamoto introduced Donkey Kong, a rival to Pac-Man. With more than 15 million ports of the game sold, it turned out to be a big hit in both North America and Japan.
The original series featured two games – Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr. In the first, you play as Mario; in the second, as Donkey Kong Jr. The goal in both is to dodge obstacles and make your way through four challenging levels.
The player jumps over barrels and climbs ladders or vines to progress through the game. Mario uses a hammer power-up to smash obstacles, while Donkey Kong Jr. gets rid of them by dropping fruit from vines. Players earn points for collecting items, destroying obstacles, and finishing levels quickly. You get three lives at the start of the game, and if you fall or touch an obstacle – you lose!
Super Mario Bros (1985)
“Tudu tu tudu tu…” – when gaming consoles became affordable and we finally said goodbye to cafés, this tune coming from homes was common (yes, that iconic Mario theme!). Even today, a colleague from the ’80s at my office has it set as his mobile ringtone – shows that the love for this game hasn’t faded one bit!
Mario and Luigi emerged as two of the most iconic characters in the gaming world. Originally released in 1985, Super Mario Bros. later evolved into both 2D and 3D versions, where players advance through levels by collecting items and defeating enemies along the way. Power-ups make the gameplay easier.
Super Mario Odyssey was launched for Nintendo Switch in October 2017. In 2021, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury was re-released on the same console, while Super Mario Bros. Wonder, a 2D side-scrolling Super Mario game, was introduced in 2023.
Interestingly, there have been three movies based on the Super Mario Bros. franchise – Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach! (a 1986 anime film), Super Mario Bros. (a 1993 live-action film), and The Super Mario Bros. Movie (a 2023 animated film).
Contra (1987)
Forget PUBG and Free Fire Max – action-packed Contra was the first love for many back then. It didn’t have the lifelike characters or fancy graphics of today’s games, but it still managed to keep kids glued to their screens.
Personally, I always envied my brother – he played better than me. And because I found it a bit difficult, I was more into games like Mario Bros. and Prince of Persia. That said, for the unversed, the 1987 game was developed for arcades by Konami. In 1988, it was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System and later ported to various computers.
The run-and-gun game became one of the top four highest-grossing dedicated arcade games of 1987 in the US and went on to become a commercial success worldwide. After the original, several Contra sequels were released. The game also featured two-player mode – letting one play as Bill and the other as Lance.
Prince of Persia (1989)
This was one of my favourite games, and I remember spending hours playing it. I still brag about being the only one among my friends and siblings who finished the game and made the prince meet the princess. Can’t explain how that cute hug moment at the end felt like a big celebration for me! Oops, got carried away down memory lane! Well, nostalgia aside, here’s what the game was really about.
Prince of Persia was created by Jordan Mechner and first published by Broderbund in 1989. It was followed by Prince of Persia 2: The Shadow and the Flame in 1993.
Since then, numerous instalments have been released by various developers – with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown being the latest, launched in 2024. Two more titles are already in the pipeline for 2025 and 2026. The franchise also inspired a film adaptation.
Today, the graphics may be amazingly impressive, and the lifelike characters might take your gaming experience to the next level.
But nothing can beat the joy of those flickering CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) displays and hours of fun – a time filled with pure joy and innocence!
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