Top 10 Arcades Games Every Year From 1980-1989 (100 Games)

[@1CoinOnly]

I want to thank you guys for all your feedback. These videos were made a long time ago before I was an experienced KZbinr. This rankings also reflected my opinions at the time but I have also expanded my knowledge and taste since then. Maybe some 2.0 versions of these are due in the future.

[@dilvish9317]

Honestly, it is a good list. We all have our favs and reminisce about these and the great times we had. Keep it up, no apologies for your opinion necessary.

[@SirReptitious]

Ah, glad you put this comment! I was about to make a comment wondering where these rankings came from, since I am positive they were not the best selling machines, or machines that took in the most money. Some of them I have never even heard of. But it's just your opinion, so it's fine(although you really should have put that in the video or description). ;-)

[@johnphantom]

Wizards of Wor, not War. Used to play that game as a tabletop outside the arcade at Frenchman's Reef in St. Thomas USVI, when they had it in a sitting area as a coffee table basically back in the early 1980s. Late 1980s I worked for the company that owned all the arcade and cigarette machines on the island, it was in disrepair in the warehouse. I tried to repair it, but they did not want to invest money in it. It was the only one out of the whole warehouse that I wanted to repair besides doing it as my job.

[@SirReptitious]

@@johnphantom I believe it was Wizard Of Wor; singular not plural.

[@atkman]

It is a good list with games like Moon Patrol and Tron ... but vs. Super Mario Bros (1986), Jungle Hunt (1982), and Mr. Do need to be on the list!

[@abcmaya]

The feeling of going to the arcade in the 80s was an awesome experience

[@chicagodino]

It wasn’t just the arcade, it was the malls, restaurants, bowling alleys and even some regular stores (like Kmart) all had arcade games.

[@KB-ke3fi]

@@chicagodino Yeah now most are shut down because of all the thugs and parking lot hijackings.

[@Robusphere]

Walking into the noisey, scintillating, crowded, dark cave with That odor of hot transistors and popcorn. It was another plane of existence. Walking back out into the boring real world was a downer.

[@patrickaker4380]

The mall arcades around the Detroit area growing up, was the 80s Mecca.

[@unlimited-6183]

Nothing beats the arcade experience. Not even online gaming 😢

[@fizban690]

I sure miss the days of going to the mall and hanging out in the Arcade and spending most of the day with just $5 in quarters. Poor kids nowadays will never know that gloriousness. Putting your quarter/token on the machine for the next game of Street Fighter 2, and then staying there for an hour on 25 cents taking on all challengers? That was the best.

[@disgruntledgunownersassoc.6131]

Fizban the Fabulous who splatted in Pax Tharkas?

[@Tigershark-qy2gq]

Amen. I owned some of the local games for high scores. I was born in Ottawa Canada in 1968, so I've been in the game since before Pong and all the earliest games. I'm old enough to have been there for most of the changes that happened in pinball too. Going from early mechanicals to where we are now. We appreciated what we had back then. We knew we were part of something very special. The dawn of videogaming was some of the most exciting stuff I've lived through. As was Pinball.

[@smgdfcmfah]

@@Tigershark-qy2gq My dad picked up an old pinball machine in the 70s from a tear down job and we had it in our basement for years. I could go to any machine and just own it. I'll still throw a quarter in a machine if I find one.

[@smgdfcmfah]

I was definitely THE "Karate Champ" when I was 15! Had a bit of comeback during the early Streetfighter/Mortal Kombat phase but the kids from that era grew up with home systems and they soon outpaced me.

[@davemardon6756]

Wow...Born in 66, saving Quarters every chance I could...Going to the mall on a Friday evening with mom..She went shopping, I went to the Arcade....Back in the day when you could leave your kid alone in the Mall, reasonably confident that they were safe and you knew where they were....Did I mention what visual and audio attack on the senses it was being there? Ten's of machines, blinking lights, the sound of joy sticks being "mashed", the silly music, kids carrying LARGE sodas, ......Total sensory overload....Miss those days.

[@mattgiguere5638]

Born in 67 had a paper route and spent all of it at the Gold Mine arcade in Newark Ca. Good times.

[@holden6104]

I lived in the arcade as a kid. To this day, there's nowhere else I'd rather play games. Nothing beats the feeling of playing fighting games in arcade with a crowd.

[@jamesgray7064]

Arcade in my local bowling alley. I turned over Missile Command : )

[@mattgiguere5638]

Amen bro....me too and I have epilepsy....loved it and my player 1 up replicas in my man cave....blast on bro. 67 matt🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@SirReptitious]

'66 here too! Lived in the arcades back in the day. Damn, if I had all the money back I spent in the arcades I could retire early! ;-p

[@DarrenGoodsell]

I was a kid of the 80s. Arcades was a special place. You can play the games now on emulators, but absolutely nothing beats an arcade joystick, the buttons, the cabinet, the atmosphere, the thrill of getting that high score, people watching you boss the game, even knowing you had to make that coin count made you try that bit harder. Impossible to re-create at home. Thanks for the memories! Subscribed

[@colinlock-lv9vv]

nothing beats going into arcade the noise darkness in britain itwas either 20p 1 play 50p 3plays or just top up credits, if yo didnt live by seaside then you'd play arcade game or games in video shop or the chippy. unfortunatley none of this exsist anymore due to rise of consoles.

[@AndyLShannon]

This video is a flashback to my childhood. Born in 71. I grew up as video games did. Still a gamer and almost 50. Thanks for the memory.

[@palhetland9930]

Me 2 😃

[@originalhungrybeetle]

Me 3

[@damienholland8103]

Born in 76 and still a gamer. Nowadays I play Apex Legends. I don't get why some people are surprised that people our age are still into gaming -- they're oblivious about how far back gaming goes.

[@Microbex]

It was the best time to be a kid born in the 70's

[@putiadams284]

Hubby born 70 me 72...both still gamers...im crap at them but doesn't stop me from playing 😅 our local fishnchip shop just put in 4 machines...defender, 1942, Galaga & Spaced invaders...we shot down half hour b4 shop closed, bought dinner and played til closing, fun times..oh & they're free to play.

[@philbrown9764]

I started playing video games when the Atari 2600 came out in 1976, there or about. I was 27 back then. And at 72 years old (this year), I still play them and have since then.

[@psterud]

That's awesome. I didn't have Atari until 1981, at 8 years of age, although we had a Pong machine before that. That must have been a very, very different experience for you, being an adult already when these things were coming out.

[@dg-hughes]

As a teen in the 80s and as a person who worked for a coin-op arcade game company I can't say I remember these games as much as I feel them. Playing the games now is nothing like playing them at the time they came out, some things can't be experienced unless you were there.

[@pennyandrews3292]

I have to agree. It seems like the late 1980s games in particular were way too focused on being graphically impressive and fast-paced for the time, and are harder to pick up today. Pac-Man still holds up because it's just inherently fun, but so many of those titles were something you had to be there, in the era, to really appreciate. I'd compare it to the difference between the kind of stories that are ruined if you get a spoiler, and the kind that you can read over and over again and enjoy each time.

[@psterud]

Being there was priceless. The pizza parlor after a big game, or a birthday party, or the mall... I wish I could go back and feel that magic again for just a few hours.

[@rikk319]

@@psterud Nostalgia is real. Our emotions had the most effect on us in our teens, regardless of when you lived, because your hormones ramp them up, but you haven't learned to control them yet. That's why our memories from that time of your life are so powerful.

[@KB-ke3fi]

@@psterud It was great. They went away because people got tired of being mugged or shot.

[@Pdx616]

Every 7 11 and minimart had a couple arcades and you knew which ones to go to to play a particular game And how did we or myself afford to dump a bunch of quarters into these things equivalent to almost a dollar nowadays

[@jcb3393]

Wow - 1981 gave us Gorf, Frogger, Galaga, Ms. Pac-Man, and Donkey Kong?!? What a golden year!

[@bababooey7641]

The absolute best year. I still play ms pac man and galaga at a brewery in grand rapids Michigan that I frequent

[@rickwest8018]

Agreed Galaga and donkey Kong are two of my all time favourite games

[@lagstorm1]

Qix as well. Very addictive quarter eating game.

[@Hachman666]

And Bosconian, my favorite shooter with Time Pilot...

[@squifty]

@@lagstorm1 I'm so disappointed that whenever I see some "Retro Arcade" software package being sold, they NEVER include Qix. I always loved that game, but it seems to have been entirely forgotten.

[@nostalgia46]

Oh man, those were the days, I used to love playing Rampage in the arcade.

[@johnjeffreys6440]

Dragon's Lair was way ahead of its time, but that cartoon trend never took off. Reply

[@NicholasChorba]

Thank you for making this. There were plenty i don't remember, but 80-86 provided so many blasts from the past. Pure joy at the remembrance of long forgotten games.

[@bobbyricigliano2799]

I haven't given them a single thought in 25+ years, and yet recognized almost all of them immediately. Thanks for the memories. Subscribed.

[@helmutstransky3761]

i startet collecting during(lauchbox, retroarch) the shutdowns. i had so much fun and good memories.

[@val13c59]

The sound of this games is nostalgic Magic to my ears.

[@unlimited-6183]

Karate Champ 🏆• "Aren't you a bit old to be playing video games?" 😂 classic!!

[@Lsmoo1993]

So many great memories as a kid in the 80s playing so many of these games. Star Castle, Pac Man, Robotron, Zaxxon, Defender / Stargate, Millipede, Xevious, Dragon Spirit etc. So lucky and blessed to grow up then. Video games, bike shops, and sports. Simply the Best!!

[@justinchristoph3725]

God, I was flashing back so hard watching this. Especially listening to the noise. I'm suddenly 12 again and watching my friends play these games and looking at the row of quarters lined up on the machine. I haven't thought of many of these games in decades. Where the HeII was Battlezone?

[@carlvinmyers6442]

You and me both 😂😂

[@christopheguillaume4032]

Born in 69 ... this video is a time machine and a childhood photo albums. So many memories here. Infinite thanks.

[@1CoinOnly]

Thank you for watching today!

[@manamedia]

Some great memories! Moon Patrol and Phoenix. Thank you for posting.

[@theharshtruth8563]

I visited my first arcade in the winter of 1982. Black lights, dark room, 20 arcade games all making bleeping noises, super excited kids all peeking at glowing screens & marquees over the shoulders of others & keep their quarter on the ashtray to secure their spot to be next up to play. What an exciting time to be alive. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

[@1CoinOnly]

Me neither. I’m so fortunate I grew up in some great places!

[@dilvish9317]

I really think that not including JOUST is an oversight. Really unique game.

[@GrandmaEdwardo]

No joke! That's what I was looking for here. Can't believe it missed the 10 ten for 1982.

[@splatbubble]

@@GrandmaEdwardo Agreed. The Atari 7800 version is so aces too.

[@mattgiguere5638]

Agreed and hard to learn 🤬

[@lenski1115]

I'm shocked one of my favorite

[@tonymoretti2347]

More like a crime against humanity!

[@tomlee252]

Phoenix is a great yet under rated often overlooked game, your 10 best is mostly all my favorites

[@garyraymer]

Thanks for the video, as a now 64 year old, I have played(and own, using a Playstation 2 system) I am able to play my favorites, Galaga, Dig Dug, the classics, there are only maybe 7 or 8 that I don't remember playing at all, Thanks again!!!

[@dan_76]

No Mr. Do! For 1982? It's one of the best. Wipes the floor with QBert and Dig Dug, which everyone always compares it to.

[@allanburton8115]

Back in the early 80's, my brother and I used to ride our bikes to the bowling alley and play video games all day

[@elfman5781]

Galaga, Moon Patrol, and Star Wars. I just loved these games. Always on top of the high score leaderboard. Spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars when those games were out.

[@AIex_Kidd]

Galaga #5 of 1981? Man, that game deserves te be on the top 5 of ALL TIMES

[@adamwhite248]

Well said bud.first game to be 40cents instead of 20cents in Australia.Spewing!

[@michaelscott1658]

Totally agree with that take - I dumped more quarters in that game than any other back in the mall arcade days!

[@RW77777777]

he thought we wouldn't notice but we did

[@adamwhite248]

@@AIex_Kidd blood oath mate.first game in Australia to go to 40c a game instead of 20c.Sad sad Xmas holidays that year.From 5 games a dollar to 2.Pinnie parlours were laughing,kidz and parents were spewing.

[@psterud]

I could go on and on and on about how much fun these things were as a kid in the '80s. It was a tidal wave, along with all the great pop music, among other things, that was hitting us like a tsunami at the same time. A very great time to be alive.

[@yankees29]

It really was the peak of entertainment

[@Cerulean0987]

Brings back great memories of hanging out at the local pizza joint. I can still remember the black lights, Tron, and a pocket full of quarters and the smell of freshly cooked pizza in the air.

[@keithmaxon9510]

Just found this video. Really surprised Zaxxon, Joust or Road Blasters did not make the lists . . .

[@lazarushernandez5827]

I'm sure some of those were just outside the top ten. There were a bunch of games I remember playing that didn't make it either: Jungle Hunt, Vanguard, Congo Bongo, Berserk, Popeye, Turbo... Lots of great games in the 80s.

[@mannykrag3486]

@@lazarushernandez5827 yeah but Joust and Zaxxon...

[@peterrevens8454]

Mr. Do and Dig Dug too.

[@kuan720]

Zaxxon drove me insane. Sucked at it.

[@timkr66]

@@peterrevens8454 Dig Dug is in his list, and it is one of the top 10 for the year it came out.

[@davidlarsen-tj4tn]

I was 12 at the dawn of the 80’s so remember these games well. I was never good. Didn’t have the patience. Was more of a pinball guy. There was a store a block away during our high school years that had a few pinball machines and a few arcade games. Was the perfect place to hang out all the time at,especially in the winter months. Great memories

[@jamescole6846]

I played a lot of these back in the day but Robotron was my favorite. I got so good, I could play for hours on 1 quarter and was banned from several arcades because of that.

[@psterud]

Nice. You must have spent a lot of money getting good at it. It is far from easy, but once you get it, it's on.

[@johnjeffreys6440]

Did they even show Space Invaders or Asteroids? They started it all.

[@billbinkelman1259]

I was working across the street from Southdale Mall in Edina, MN from 1981 to about 1983 or so. Nearly every lunch I and a co-worker would go across the street and pour god knows how many quarters into the arcade games there. I wonder how money I spent...money I sorely needed for rent and other necessities. Never did get the hang of Defender. Loved Joust, Red Baron, and a few more. LOL...I was never into game consoles though. Somehow, playing in an arcade was more fan than playing at home. IMO, the death of arcade games came with the popularity of Mortal Kombat and similar games. Thanks for the trip down distant memory lane.

[@1CoinOnly]

You are welcome, I actually think arcade games does because of the expense and decent arcade experiences could finally be replicated at home by the mid 90s. Mortal Kombat was certainly one of them.

[@pez334]

I was really surprised that battle zone ,star castle or berzerk didn’t show up in top ten for 1980

[@cyberprompt]

thumbs berzerk

[@timothysmith5111]

I used to play the crap out of berzerk and frenzy

[@fvni]

Agreed. Loved Berzerk - the game gets tough very soon, as the robots become exponentially fast & aggressive. Star Castle can linger on and put you to sleep with the rotational rings, then wham, a mine shoots from the center and you are toast. Miss those days.

[@TwinPeaksArchive1]

Loved Star Castle. Game made me tense.

[@josephzummo9685]

Star castle was great

[@1974Carnage]

Good list, but one of my favourites was Pitfall 2, but you did include Dragon Buster & Willow

[@mister-do5469]

What a Shame!,you miss Mr.Do!,one of the best Arcade Games of all time and the best in 1982!

[@johnjeffreys6440]

Dragon's Lair was way ahead of its time, but that cartoon trend never took off. Reply

[@carlvinmyers6442]

I love that game, they had it, Zaxxon, and Donkey Kong for the Coleco Vision. Man those were good times 😂

[@andymouse]

Yep !

[@johnjeffreys6440]

@@mister-do5469 Was Rastan on the list?

[@adamwhite248]

Loved Mr Do.Pengo as well.

[@Secondskin_]

1942 was one game id travel to play back in the day. Was an hour bus ride away but damn, it was worth it.

[@slamtilt01]

I didn’t see Bezerk. The immortal line “Chicken. Fight like a robot!”.

[@carlvinmyers6442]

I can't believe I forgot bezerk... smh lol

[@lagstorm1]

Evil Otto!

[@ssarmazi]

Thank you for this, some of these games I didn't even remember until now. Time Pilot was a real favourite, but my absolute favourite was Robotron. I actually played at a fully-operational console of Robotron a couple of years ago in a mall in Syracuse. What great memories of years bygone!

[@soulg1969]

Robotron is still great and probably always will be.

[@psterud]

I didn't have Robotron growing up, but I got to play it on PS3 and then on the real cabinet later. Absolute classic.

[@yvesrn]

Where was Zaxxon? That game was huge..

[@user-sc1qi3ce7j]

I was thinking the same thing...

[@clubredken13]

I think Zaxxon was only for the Colecovision. It was my fav for it tho.

[@yvesrn]

@@clubredken13 zaxxon was in cabinets. Stand up and cocktail. Huge arcade game.

[@williamzander4732]

Zaxton two was terrible.

[@laustcawz2089]

@@clubredken13 It was in arcades.

[@lightningbrigade4722]

My favorite game was XYBOTS. Great video. Thanks for the memories.

[@Kevin-cl7xj]

Pretty decent list of games here. Certainly brings back some great memories spent at the arcade. A little surprised Zaxxon and Mr. DO! didn't make the cut.

[@psterud]

Agree. I remember when Zaxxon came out, and it was a revolution. And Mr. Do! was so much fun, better than Dig Dug.

[@ginjaico_6132]

Yeah, I thought those two were a given. I didn't actually like Zaxxon. But Mr. DO! ..... awesome game. Shame not to see Bank Panic

[@fckuyo3918]

and Xevious

[@buddylove346]

I can't tell you how much money and time we spent in arcades like this one in the picture, in high school back in the 80's we would all go there on Friday & Saturday nights because we were too young to go to clubs and bars so we would pack into a place called Games Galaxy. My #1 favorite game was Wizzard of War but we played them all. If you got to grow up in the 50's through the 90's with all the golden classic music, movies and concerts, YOU were blessed!

[@raulnovoa6098]

Many of these games. Should. Be in the hall of.fame. for best memories.

[@SacTownLions0]

love the "Budweiser" tapper, lol

[@ironleeFPS]

Atari 2600, Intellivision and Colecovision was one thing, and I played all 3 back then (82/83), but there was nothing like playing the real arcade machines. It was a real experience.

[@Robusphere]

In a busy, noisy arcade

[@psterud]

Totally agree. The sound alone was worth the price. The bass on the Space Invaders cabinet was intense. Some kids had the better consoles, but they still didn't have the good sound.

[@greatkingrat]

Well this is going straight to the saved list for frequent reference.

[@vudusid8717]

The fact that you put Bubble Bobble at number one for 1986 make me feel like this crazy world has been restored. Well done!

[@louis-patrickrancourt1565]

I'm that old -> I know 90% of these and played 80% of them. Good old days ;)

[@arymonem]

Excellent video! You just transported me to a time that were the best in my life! Thank you

[@trollhunter8842]

Arcades were the only reason why Chuck E Cheeses was so successful back in the 80s. Every kid had their birthday party there. I was hooked on centipede, pac-man, space invaders, frogger, berserk, and asteroids. Good times.

[@Stinger2578]

I remember in our area before Chuck E. Cheese, it was Showbiz Pizza with several animal mascots and merchandise.

[@nrnoble]

Thumbs UP. What is made more clear by seeing these games back to back is there many games have a forerunner game that is the first for a specific type of game play, then other games are very similar. Some games appear to be nearly identical to a previous game only reskinned with different graphics.

[@2011Savere]

Defender was always so hard. I remember barely lasting a minute playing that In the arcade. 😂

[@lagstorm1]

Same here. Stargate: Defender was even tougher.

[@US_Joe]

Great post. I can smell the creosote on the boardwalk & breath the fresh salt air. Thank you for the memories! Nicely done. 👍👍👍

[@pz2736]

Man, Sinistar scared the crap out of me. Great memories of so many wasted hours and quarters!

[@nicks4523]

Sound effects were amazing. Once you opened the door to an arcade, and all of the sounds from 20 games simultaneously was like symphony.

[@1CoinOnly]

There was nothing like it!

[@davess61]

oh wow what a time to be a gamer that was. Some of those games had been buried deep inside my childhood memories and the music in particular brought it all back. I hope you're still creating new content, I'll subscibe to your channel to find out :D

[@statzuno]

The sit-down Spy Hunter was awesome.

[@mournblade1066]

Right??? I played the hell out of that at Aladdin's Castle arcade back in the 1980s. The HELL, I tells ya!

[@mrmojorisin8752]

Did I miss it, or is Mr. Do! missing from this list? That would be unconscionable.

[@frankspencer6935]

Well they had Dig Dug, which was very good too.

[@3622Dave]

Mr Do! is my favourite arcade of all time. I was sure it was going to be in the no.1 spot for 1982. It is infinitely better than Dig Dug!

[@atkman]

I was just about to say the exact same thing... put Mr. Do on the list!

[@majinmorpheus]

@@3622Dave What!!! That game was / is major!!!

[@tommywhite7092]

100% bro. Mr.do is hands down #1 of that year. Definitely top 10 of the 80's.

[@bicyclist2]

This brings back so many fond memories of my childhood. The 80's rocked. My friends and I used to beg our parents for some quarters or allowance so we could go to the arcade. It was the place to be seen. As only the cool kids were there. Some of these I've never seen or get a chance to play. Thank you.

[@unlimited-6183]

OMG I still remember that infamous army theme of Capcom's 1942 😂 and Karate Champ 🏆 only brings one thing to my mind.... Jean Claude Van Damme's BLOODSPORT !!!!

[@youtopia2000]

80 -83 were the best years for me, then I went off to college. Surprised Battlezone wasn't on the list, but still a great compilation. Thanks for the memories!

[@moxica93]

Interesting how the earlier games were more unique because of the limits of technology. Later in the 80's so many games were just variations on the same theme.

[@SoundOfYourDestiny]

The striking thing is how little the overall concepts evolved. But then, it may be that this is simply a poorly-curated compendium.The absence of Zaxxon, for example, is absurd.

[@thomasmount3530]

Actually you can see different engine threads being picked up and put down in most of the games. Funny that I never noticed this growing up with the games, but I can see it now.

[@psterud]

Yeah, there was repetition later, but there was certainly repetition earlier, too. The Space Invaders thing was ubiquitous in games early on, like Galaxian, Gorf, Phoenix, Pleiades, Satan's Hollow, Galaga, and so on.

[@jasoneverett]

I mean, after Space Invaders there was a crap load of "shoot the enemy coming from the top of the screen" games. A ton of Pac-Man wannabe's as well.

[@johnjeffreys6440]

Dragon's Lair was way ahead of its time, but that cartoon trend never took off.

[@4GuitarTrance]

Galaga, Donkey Kong, Galaxian, Defender, Pac-Man and Gorf... my favorites. But liked almost all of them. I was just a kid... but those dark, black light-lit arcades were so cool. I can't begin to imagine how many quarters I spent. Great memories. Thanks! 👍

[@1CoinOnly]

Welcome my friend it was a different vibe back then!

[@BnORailFan]

A friend and I got really good at Asteroids and played a 2-player game that lasted over 6 hours with each of us scoring over 1.4 million points. We had to quit because we had to go to work that morning. I'll never forget that night.

[@Robusphere]

A friend and I did the same thing kinda. Played all night till sunrise.

[@LeeJohnson-zn9tl]

Awesomeness 🎉

[@psterud]

What a great memory. I had a friend who could play that game forever. I always sucked at it.

[@robertpease9834]

My best friend would rack up 99 ships and then sell them to someone.

[@psterud]

@@robertpease9834 Ha! Awesome.

[@meekster67]

Thanks for this, remember so many. Worked in an arcade in high school, and always got to play the new games for free!! You can play a lot of old cabinet games at the pinball museum in Vegas if you happen to go there. Took a bag a of quarters, and was in a happy place for hours... :D :D

[@1CoinOnly]

I hope I can visit someday!

[@samtaurus007]

Wow, memories of old. Bubble Bobble was my personal favourite. :)

[@cityportoftraps8996]

abs super... completed it with the help of my friend, the 'fox'... good memories of Moon Cresta and Missile Command... fairly addicted to 3 more that got no mention here... ❤

[@ikemurphy5624]

I’m watching 1986 saying Bubble Bobble better be #1 and you did not disappoint-I have a working original Bubble Bobble arcade machine

[@DarksladeDiaries]

a title error. The game is called "Wizard of Wor". Otherwise, cool video. Brought back a lot of memories.

[@strongblade]

Not to mention "Sinistar" , not "Sinister"...

[@bateriayvr8988]

"I am the Wizard of war... Da da da da" ;)

[@lagstorm1]

I miss the days at the mall playing a lot of these games plus Qix, Mr Do, Berserk, Stargate: Defender, Zaxxon, Jungle King, Space Firebird, Venture, Vanguard, Joust, and Space Ace. I completely forgot about some of these games that I played the crap out of in the arcades back then. Thank you for the nostalgia.

[@markjackson4085]

Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were building multi billion dollar companies... I was mastering Donkey Kong.

[@soulg1969]

I hope you watched "King of Kong".

[@cwalker3783]

Actually, both guys were employees at Atari...

[@Robusphere]

No kidding

[@jimbotron70]

Satisfactions 😊

[@futureisyours3016]

I bet ya at the top of your game and you're score is untouchable.

[@stiwrx12345]

I remember playing most of these games back in the day for hours and hours on end. Great video

[@robertpease9834]

One of my favorites was Tron Deadly Discs. I loved that it was a full size arcade machine you stood inside.

[@BadTiger]

Thank you for helping bring back my childhood memories at the arcade. I played at least 95% of ALL of those games

[@1CoinOnly]

You are welcome legend

[@syrophenikan]

Star Castle, BattleZone, Qix. Love those old vector graphics games.

[@mournblade1066]

Qix wasn't vector.

[@MeetSylvie]

Ah, sweet memories of my youth and teenage years. The 1980's truly were a magical time to be alive. Good movies, music and video games 😊

[@1CoinOnly]

Some of the best my friend!

[@turnupthesun81]

We loved space games in the 80s. I also loved the Marlboro add in Hang-On. You’ll never see that anymore.

[@monolithgeometry3221]

Crashing into that looked like it hurt!?

[@sadchild70]

Surprised not seeing Xenophobe in 1987 or 1988. Great comp, thank you

[@erichowry7197]

I remember playing all these games in the arcade during the 80's. Great memories!!

[@wewastheacidhousechildren]

Superb video mate. Some of the games there, well, the music just takes me straight back to that special time filling the games with 10p's chasing the high score or the end game. The music from hang on, out run, gyruss, tempest, pac land. As soon as i hear these i think of them special arcade times. I aint got an issue with getting older, what makes me sad is that certain times and things in our lives we once had and cherished so much we will never have again and just will never be the same. Thats the sadness.

[@1CoinOnly]

Thanks for watching bro. At 44 the hard thing for me is not having the innocence to do what I want when I want anymore. It was a great time when all we had to worry about was games and fun with friends.

[@victorjohnson7512]

As a teen in the 1970's, just playing moon lander and asteroids was like entering the twilight zone for 25 cents.

[@JamieKeefer]

Shinobi I am thinking was 1986, but anyway that was a good one. Remember my buddy put a lot of money in that game trying to beat it.

[@ericanderson2152]

1st few minutes felt just like walking through Alladin’s Castle in 1983

[@kuan720]

When I was a kid, I didn't know Aladdin's Castle was a franchise. We had one at the Granite Run Mall outside of Philly. Those lights and sounds are my favorite 80s/childhood memory

[@XHuntinatorX]

We had one in Hanes Mall... Winston-Salem N.C. Man, what great times those were.

[@MM-rw8jv]

We had one in Seaview Square Mall in Ocean twp. NJ. Growing up in the 80's was the best.

[@pimpdski]

Alladin's Castle Chicago Ill for me!!

[@edwardx4979]

There was an Alladin's Castle 🏰 near my high school when I was in my teens. Used to go there every other weekend or so! Good times...😊

[@jameshardy6277]

Pretty much captured my childhood arcade memories in this video. Thanks mate.

[@jacobfrench758]

Stay '80s my friends

[@davidtaylor328]

I'm with you all the way !!! 👍🏻

[@rcschmidt668]

Well done!

[@TheRetroManRandySavage]

🤟

[@luvmenow33]

18:15 RASTAN!! Not only a great game but that first level music was so awesome it still gives me the chills today.

[@robertpease9834]

Dragon's Lair was just so groundbreaking. I would watch others play for hours because I wasn't any good at it.

[@Peggsme15ter]

I was one of those who you would watch. That was my game back in the day. It was so unique.

[@halvattujenpapat]

i remember every gas station and bar have different coin up game. dig dug and bomb jack i like them... good memories

[@DrWho2008t101]

I remembered this as if it was yesterday. Thanks for the video!

[@oldmanfunky4909]

I have played them all. I was born when "arcades" only had pinball machines and Skee-Ball. Which now that I am older wonder why those have not made a come back.

[@fusoya6544]

Brilliant list but R-TYPE has to be there for 1987!!

[@MGForums]

For sure and outrun should be #1. Pacland and Kung Fu Master were always busy in the arcade I frequented.

[@Epic_Moist_Loaf]

This is their list, not yours.

[@MGForums]

@@Epic_Moist_Loaf and this is our list not "theirs". 🤣

[@vistalite-ph4zw]

R-TYPE was awesome! I the other one similar to R-TYPE was Lifeforce I believe...🤔

[@brantnuttall]

@@vistalite-ph4zw Or Salamander as it was known here in the UK. And there was no Gradius (Nemesis) either

[@markplotkin2182]

I miss those days so much ❤😊

[@JohnSmith-oq4cb]

A blast from the past. The good old days of the arcades

[@1CoinOnly]

Some of the best!

[@cruzer619]

OMG THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!! These were my golden years!

[@sonicmania9993]

Really enjoy this video -- takes me back! My heaviest days in the arcades were in junior high around 1980-83, and I think your lists for those early years are quite good. For the second half of the decade, however, a huge percentage of the games listed are beat-em-ups/fight-and-go-right/run-n-gun games. While there certainly are some greats in those genres, this digest video would suggest that they were the only good arcade games made in the late 80s... List needs more shmups like Darius 1&2, R-Type 1&2, Image Fight, Truxton, Saint Dragon, Gradius 1-2-3. And I can't believe that neither Afterburner 1 or 2 made the list!

[@psterud]

Yeah, I felt like Afterburner should have been on there. A great late game. I especially remember it in movie theaters along with other 50-cent games.

[@Gleep715]

This video brings back a lot of great memories. It was a time when games were overall more simple but not necessarily easy. There was no reset button and no comfy chair to sit in while you played. I miss those days. I could have probably bought a nice car with all of the quarters I dropped in those games but don't regret it! As to this being the top ten for each year I was surprised by the games in the list once it got past 1985. I have never even heard of 2/3 of those games and never got to play many other others despite the hours and money I spent in arcades around that time. I didn't grow up in a big city so I know the selection in the area arcades was limited. I just didn't realize it was that limited.

[@JohnJohnson-du7vc]

Now I see why I stopped going to arcades after 1982. It's mostly the same game with a different skin for 8 years

[@leetonge5171]

cant thank you enough. I forgot about a load of these games. you brought back many happy memories from arcades

[@thomasc6868]

I remember the people lined up to play Dragons Lair around 1984.

[@monolithgeometry3221]

That machine had to be emptied every two hours at that price

[@johnjeffreys6440]

surprised that cartoon trend never took off.

[@KevinPayton-fq8gd]

Dragon's Lair was groundbreaking for sure.

[@jdocean1]

I was in amazement of that game when I first saw it.

[@The1stDukeDroklar]

For me it was better just to watch others waste their quarters to watch a movie progressed only through memorization of what you're "supposed to do".

[@mrnobodyinvr9762]

Thanks for putting the time into making this listing, really great vibes. Loved all those games back in the day.

[@scudder991]

Missile Command was awesome in '80 & '81. Very underrated.

[@vladimir66cz45]

This is also my favorite game. And another my favorite Do Run Run, Turpin, Klax, etc ..

[@psterud]

But so hard!