Retro things seem to always be in style, and with the popularity of video games these days, retro games are definitely no exception. Video games of the 1980s can be found everywhere, from the “virtual console” releases of the Wii (which includes many Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis, and Super NES titles) to Xbox Live Arcade found on Xbox 360. What makes people go back to the great 80’s games? It’s hard to say, but these are some of the best video games of the 80s.

You can’t talk about the best games of the 1980s without mentioning the plumber brothers themselves, Mario and Luigi. “Super Mario Bros.”, both in the arcade and on the NES, is a game that will always be loved by gamers all over the world. Sequels, like “Super Mario Bros. 3” (which sold 18 million copies!), which was released in the late 1980s, are considered some of the greatest games of all time.

Another great game of the 1980s was “Metroid”, which was released in 1987 in North America, for the NES. The game was instantly praised for its sci-fi setting, great controls, and non-stop action. However, one of the best aspects of the game has to do with the story itself. While it’s pretty basic (a common thing in 80’s games), it is revealed at the end of the game that the main character, Samus, is actually a woman. Without a doubt, this paved the way for all the heroines we see in games today.

It’s hard to talk about video games, and definitely 80’s video games, without mentioning “Pac-Man” from 1980. Pac-Man was a pretty basic character with a pretty basic goal: eat all the pellets without getting caught by ghosts. angry they wander. However, the addictive gameplay led to the game being probably the first big hit in gaming history, at least in many areas.

Finally, “Donkey Kong” burst onto the scene in 1981, picking up right where “Pac-Man” left off. The game introduced Mario to an unsuspecting public, who has since become probably the most famous character in video game history, alongside Pac-Man himself. The game itself was brutally challenging and is still played competitively today.

Perhaps 80’s video games are loved because they allow the player to make up their own story. Since we never knew why the ghosts were chasing Pac-Man or why Bowser kidnapped the princess, players could make up their own stories. However, perhaps the simple yet addictive gameplay is the reason. One thing is for sure: the great video games of the past are still just as relevant today.