Obscure Arcade Games Of The 80's: 1983-1984

127 obscure arcade games from 1983/1984.
A look at some of the lesser known arcade games of the early 80s. How many have you played?
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COMPLETE GAME LIST:
001 - Dr. Micro - Sanritsu
002 - Exerion - Jaleco
003 - Guzzler - Tekhan
004 - Harem - IGR
005 - High Way Race - Taito
006 - Hoccer - Eastern Micro Electronics
007 - Hopper Robo - Sega
008 - I, Robot - Atari
009 - Intrepid - Nova Games
010 - Joinem - Bally Bidway
011 - Joyful Road - SNK
012 - Jump Coaster - Kaneko
013 - Kick Boy - Nichibutsu
014 - Lover Boy - GT Enterprise
015 - Markham - Sun Electronics
016 - Marvin's Maze - SNK
017 - Money Money - Zaccaria
018 - Mouser - UPL
019 - Mr. TNT - Techstar
020 - New Sinbad - ATW USA Inc
021 - Nova 2001 - UPL
022 - Phozon - Namco
023 - Popper - Omori
024 - Raiders - Century Electronics
025 - Regulus - Sega
026 - Roc'n'Rope - Konami
027 - Saturn - Zilec Jaleco
028 - Scrambled Egg - Technos
029 - Senjyo - Tehkan
030 - SF-X - Nichibutsu
031 - Sinbad Mystery - Sega
032 - Sky Lancer - Orca -1993
033 - Star Jacker - Sega
034 - Stinger - Seibu Denshi
035 - Super Doubles Tennis - Data East Corporation
036 - Super Glob - Epos
037 - Tin Star, The - Taito
038 - Traverse USA - Irem
039 - Tropical Angel - Irem
040 - Uncle Poo - Diatec
041 - Van-Van Car - Sanritsu
042 - Vastar - Orca
043 - Yamato - Sega
044 - Acrobatic Dog Fight - Technos Japan
045 - Appoooh- Sanritsu Sega
046 - BanBam - Sun Elecronics
047 - Bank Panic - Sanritsu Sega
048 - Battle-Road, The - Irem
049 - Ben Bero Beh - Taito
050 - Bull Fighter - Alpha Denshi
051 - Bullfight - Coreland Sega
052 - B-Wings - Data East
053 - Champion Boxing - Sega
054 - Cheyenne - Exidy
055 - Chicken Shift - Bally Sente
056 - Chinese Hero - Taiyo
057 - Circus Charlie - Konami
058 - Complex X - Taito
059 - Country Girl - Royal Denshi
060 - Crater Raider - Bally Midway
061 - Crowns Golf - Namco
062 - Cycle Mabou - Taito
063 - D-Day - Jaleco -1984
064 - Demolition Derby -Bally Midway
065 - Do Run Run - Universal
066 - Dragon Buster - Namco
067 - Drakton - Epos
068 - Driving Force - Shinkai
069 - Eeekk! - Epos
070 - Eight Ball Action - Seatongrove
071 - Equites - Alpha Denshi
072 - Field Day - Taito
073 - Fighting Basketball - Paradise Co.
074 - Fire Battle - Wood Place
075 - Freeze - Cinematronics
076 - Future Spy - Sega
077 - Gladiator 1984- SNK
078 - Goalie Ghost - Bally Sente
079 - Great Swordsman - Allumer Taito
080 - Grobda - Namco
081 - Gyrodine - Crux
082 - Hero - Century Electronics
083 - Hole Land - Tecfri
084 - Hunchback Olympics - Century Electronics - Seatongrove
085 - Imago - Acom
086 - Itazura Tenshi - Nichibutsu Alice
087 - Jack Rabbit - Zaccaria
088 - Jumping Cross - SNK
089 - Jumping Jack - Universal
090 - Kamikaze Cabbie - Data East
091 - Kick Rider - Universal
092 - Kick Start - Wheelie King - Taito
093 - Liberation - Data East
094 - Lode Runner - Irem
095 - Mad Crasher - SNK
096 - Mister Viking - Sega
097 - Mr. Kougar - ATW
098 - Mysterious Stones - Dr John's Adventure - Technos Japan
099 - Ninjakun Majou No Bouken - UPL
100 - Off The Wall - Bally Sente
101 - Pandora's Palace - Konami
102 - Peter Pack Rat - Atari
103 - Pinbo - Jaleco
104 - Pirate Ship Higemaru - Capcom
105 - Progress - Chuo Co
106 - Revenger '84 - Epos
107 - Roller Jammer - Nichibitsu
108 - Rumba Lumber - Taito
109 - Sea Fighter Poseidon - Taito
110 - Seicross - Nichibutsu Alice
111 - Snacks'n'Jaxson - Bally
112 - Snake Pit - Sente
113 - Son Son - Capcom
114 - Spatter - Sega
115 - Star Force - Tehkan
116 - Super Bag Man - Valadon Automation
117 - Super Basketball - Konami
118 - SWAT - Coreland
119 - Three Stooges in Brides Is Brides - Mylstar
120 - Timber - Bally Midway
121 - Tube Panic - Nichibutsu
122 - Two Tigers - Bally Midway
123 - Wai Wai Jockey Gate-In! Jaleco - Casio
124 - Wanted - Sigma Enterprises
125 - Wily Tower - Irem
126 - Zaviga - Data East
127 - Zwackery - Bally Midway

[@billcook4768]

I’m a huge fan of arcade games from this era. And I’ll give you props for one thing - most of those are seriously obscure. Many I gotta go try out. Keep up the good work.

[@EsmeAmelia]

I have no words for that "Lover Boy" game. No wonder I never saw it at an arcade when I was a kid. And that "Snake Pit" game looks like an Indiana Jones game - except Indy would never whip snakes like that. ;)

[@aodhablackheart]

I think the word you're looking for is"edgy"

[@EQOAnostalgia]

F'ing degenerates everywhere lol.

[@ataris-worst-nightmare]

@@aodhablackheart Nah, edgier than chiller? It's just gross...

[@ataris-worst-nightmare]

No way VASTAR is from 1983. BRUH WHY IT IS OBSCURE?! WHY WOULD SOMEONE IGNORE THIS MASTERPIECE. It's like Xevious but GOD THE SPRITES THE CHARACTER THY ENEMIES IS SO ORIGINAL ALL AND THE MUSIC OMG NO WAY ASFJJDLKFJKL

[@TheJoejoez]

So I’ve been trying to find this game for years. My dad played it at his store and I have memories of it in my head... I’ve probably watched over 1000 arcade videos and looked at compilations trying to find it... finally you helped me find it. I thought I was starting to make it up, because I knew it was top down and with fire and ice looking guys. I thought I had merged the fire guy from some other game like Mario 2 or the creatures from bubble bobble or chap n pop. But no, it exists! My dad was incredible at this game. It was Guzzler! Thank you sir.

[@quesoblanco444]

Great job on this list! Really fun to watch, and I appreciate the individual bookmarks.

[@PastoKage]

Awesome! So many games I didn't know about!! Circus Charlie is probably the most famous one on that list!

[@Mark-pr7ug]

I used to play Exerion in a youth club way back in the 1990s. Forgot its title until now. Thanks 👍

[@wh1tewolf4]

Demolition Derby was fun. I remember the arcade game had 6 wheels for up to six player on a table top screen. Two Tigers was fun too, but I was young, so I always got the crosshairs 2up instead of the plane 1up. The Cheyenne game was fun, then they made crossbow. I ran into Chiller later at some nasty bar.

[@rikk319]

When my best friend and I would go to Magic Mountain, we'd always head to a specific arcade and play Twin Tigers for hours...only place we ever found the game and we both loved it.

[@ataris-worst-nightmare]

By the way, such a shame there isn't any video 'bout obscure games of the 70's... yeah, yeah, Sheriff and Space Invaders, but what 'bout Sky Dider? About poor 'ol Space Launcher? Those where creepily ignored.

[@fortaum]

8:13 so many years searching for this game! thanks so much!!!

[@the_joe_reynolds_foundation]

I loved that Demolition Derby game! They had a 4-player table-top version at Sesame Place back in the day.

[@MSTerMegane67]

This was great, I hope you do more obscure Arcade Games as I tend to replay them on MAME and it's always cool to find new stuff I was unaware of existing and give it a shot.

[@GaryRetroGamer]

Here's a late 80's one - kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHXLXqNmh5aAsLs

[@MSTerMegane67]

@@GaryRetroGamer Thanks! I hope you do more of these in the future for other Arcade games! Keep up the good work!

[@GaryRetroGamer]

@@MSTerMegane67 That's absolutely the plan. I've started work on a mid-80s video, and then it's onto the 90s!

[@MSTerMegane67]

@@GaryRetroGamer Awesome! Looking forward to them!

[@mumblesslam]

I love Son Son. I played it on a Capcom Collection for original Xbox. I just recently discovered they made a sequel for the turbografx 16.

[@sryoo543]

감사합니다.

[@satan3959]

A lot of these were well known, but more so in Japan, Gyrodine was really popular over there in fact, even got a port to the Japanese Famicom

[@125scratch2]

What other games here would you say were popular/successful over there?

[@phj9894]

Nova 2001 and grobda are very fun ! thanks for the video.

[@synthonaplinth5980]

Ahh, 'Exerion'. Who could forget the billboards saying 'Jaleco' in some stages? No 'Vulgus', though? That was pretty obscure....

[@lilwyvern4]

There's probably a reason most of these are obscure. Of these, I have heard of about 10 of them and played 2. Dragon Buster is actually quite good. I, Robot is special for being the first game to use fully polygonal graphics.

[@hotdoggington6962]

Yeah...there are a few hidden gems here (Bank Panic and Chicken Shift are a lot of fun, Peter Packrat is a classic, Off the Wall is a riot, a few others are decent), but the majority are only really notable for their role as the uninspired shovelware that led to the pre-NES videogame crash. Some truly great games came out directly before and right after this era, but most of these are right in that stank valley of stagnation after the Golden Era but before Capcom, Konami, Data East, SNK, etc really hit their stride.

[@Asterra2]

So I'll feel pretty blessed if I saw any of these in person (and my child brain remembers it). Going down the list: Exerion-saw it in a hotel once during a trip. Guzzler-Saw it on Starcade, which doesn't count, but it's something. I, Robot-Yes! Saw it in a grocery store entranceway first and was obviously blown away because the 3D visuals were years ahead of their time. (And also blown away by how purely abstract the game was.) New Sinbad 7-Surely the most obscure game I've actually seen in person. Even as a kid, I knew this was a truly bizarre discovery. Some arcade in a very small nearby town. Roc 'n Rope-I saw this in several places so never regarded it as obscure. I *did* regard it as a pretty un-fun looking game, though. Traverse USA-Grocery store. The tune it plays during gameplay, I for some reason stole and reused in a game I made for the VIC-20. It's just what you did back in the day as a kid I guess. Bank Panic-Absolutely not obscure. Saw it all throughout the 80s. Circus Charlie-Local arcade. Demolition Derby-Gas station. I remember how dark these graphics were. Peter Pack Rat-Obscure? More like ubiquitous. Atari must have had a lot of push with arcades because just about everything they ever produced was generally widely seen in arcades. Seicross-Arcade. I must have spotted it in the late 80s because I remember thinking it looked quite outdated. Tube Panic-Mall arcade during a trip. Two Tigers-Gas station. I actually thought this one was fairly popular.

[@axonis2306]

Great comment! Thanks!

[@ataris-worst-nightmare]

@@axonis2306 x2

[@Discrimination_is_not_a_right]

8:48 "Appoooh" looks like a real trip to play.

[@JMDAmigaMusic]

Sky Lancer we used to call it 'Gundam' due to the similarities (and the end boss is a zaku)

[@sonicmania9993]

Great Steamkey -- it ‘s SCRIBBLENAUTS UNLIMITED, classic puzzle-adventure from 2012. Cheers, Gary! Wow this video is a treasure-trove of obscurities -- 1983-84 was a time when I was walking down to our corner arcade a couple of times every week, and even so I’ve only seen a couple of these games. Really interesting how some arcade games were produced and sold in mass quantities worldwide, while others were rarer, maybe never making it out of limited test markets. The arcades in Japan were always a bit larger … but I wonder what kinds of arcades in North America or Europe would have picked up some of the games on this list? Certainly not the ones in my town lol...

[@arghedon]

I dont remember this company or these games but most of them look visually, idea and gameplay much better then the most games of the era.

[@dalaxdercrisper957]

That why is obsure. Most people don't know these games does exist but forgotten from society

[@AloanMoreira1]

7:38 - water skiing in grape soda :D nice

[@IsaacKuo]

Complex X (58) really caught my eye. It looks like a Robotron platformer. Looking up the arcade cabinet, it looks like a twin stick shooter, although with a button on the top of the right stick? The look and feel is just so distinctive, with the small sprites and Robotron-like graphics.

[@Schush]

Complex X was a prototype kit only game licensed to Taito. It never made it past the testing stage - probably due to bad test results. That pic you've seen was someone's idea of what the control scheme was like. Nobody knows for sure since a control panel was never located.

[@IsaacKuo]

@@Schush Cool, thanks for the info!

[@AmigaJunglism]

These are pretty obscure games man. Only recognise a few. Some real nice audio amongst the clips.

[@satan3959]

I played Lode Runner, but I prefer the original simplistic computer versions to the cutsey graphics used in the arcade port (yes, the computer versions were the original. Started out on the Apple II)

[@billcook4768]

But at least the arcade port here fits on the screen. I *much* prefer the Apple2 version of most console ports for that reason alone.

[@Asterra2]

Same, but Irem-slash-Japan knew what they were doing when they made that change. Lode Runner and a whole *SLEW* of other games that only saw popularity in the West were grabbed up for a quick licensing buck... and made more palatable to contemporary Japanese audiences. The Western style of video game in those days never really changed much from the neutral, prosaic, one might say *soulless* presentation of a typical space shooter or platformer with the usual pure black background and such, but the Japanese demanded modernization from their games. Character. Music. Things like that. And to their credit, Lode Runner was *WAY* more popular in Japan than it ever was in the West.

[@Asterra2]

@Neb6 As a kid, I quickly learned an interesting thing about Lode Runner's mechanics by using that editor. If you fill up the entire top row, bad guys will ONLY respawn on the farthest left block of the second row. And if you wall said block off, then only one enemy can ever respawn. He stays in place, while a second enemy gets stuck trying to spawn in.

[@311superfly]

From i robot to intrepid is insane visual blast

[@BlackburnBigdragon]

A lot of these are total conversion kits, or blatant cheap knock offs of other games. There were a lot of manufacturers who just made plug-in boards for different arcade boards that you could plug in, and have a new game using the other board as the hardware. Most of these conversions were cheap, quickly knocked off, junk. But occasionally you ended up with a gem, like Ms. Pac Man. Many arcade game manufacturers sued the makers of these boards. With most of these games, I can identify the original games that have been replaced just from the graphics and sound. And 24:14 Two Tigers!!!! I LOVED that game. I used to play it all the time at the local arcade. It was so much fun. It's another one of those games that's hard to play on an emulator because it requires a steering wheel controller to turn your plane.

[@johnalexander7490]

It was this sort of style of releasing games (GLUT OF GAMES) that did in the first round of Video Games; big decline starting in 83 due to the sheer number of games being sold. Fragmented the market, which eventually recovered, but not to the same dollars as before. 78-82 the Big Money Days

[@johnnycats5157]

The only one I know for sure i've seen and played was Demolition Derby. Fun game. A lot of these look interesting and fun.

[@bradlafferty6076]

The graphics are pretty darn good

[@johnnycats5157]

i'm actually just as interested in who some of these obscure companies were, too. fascinating stuff.

[@desjon6012]

Equites! was looking for this one for ages.

[@clarkg.]

Yes! my Favorite Game! including High Voltage and Splendor Blast

[@desjon6012]

@@clarkg.Just seen these two for the first time.

[@greglemieux9809]

Ok , so Lover Boy? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@chiissu]

The only one's I even heard of are Lode Runner and Son Son. Some of these look good enough to be on the Snes, which surprized me as I wasn't aware they had that kinda graphics back when Robotech was being made.

[@maestro-zq8gu]

Yeah I don't think people these days realize how many games there really were back then.

[@PeBoVision]

The great thing about 80's arcade game retrospectives in 2021, is that we can watch, write down titles of the ones that catch our interest, fire up MAME and try them. All without a roll of quarters or even getting off our chairs.

[@ATOMOrx]

Legal a Lista,mas Exerion foi um clássico dos arcades aqui no Brasil. Eu joguei muito Gyrondine taito e Hole land quando criança. Não lembrava que o robozinho falava e fazia didididi...qual a versão do mame que você usa ,ou é uma pcb original?amo esse jogo. Obrigado!

[@gbman6128]

2:37 The infamous Lover Boy...

[@PointEndClick]

This video is awesome.

[@interesting_output]

The only two games I've actually managed to play out of these ones is Star Force and Circus Charlie. They were kinda rare to see in arcades..

[@the2ndcomingoflaynekrusz654]

I stumbled upon the Lover Boy game when I was browsing classic arcade games and that shite is fricking traumatizing for a 12 year old. I originally got into old arcade games cause they usually weren't graphic, but this game taught me otherwise.

[@jakubpytko5551]

Awesome games.

[@andreyjardim2]

19:40 ninja kun was a dlc from Ninja Kid II from UPL

[@mikescorpio13]

yes Bank Panic was Top 3 ever,also Cheyenne,Demolition Derby,Timber and Traverse USA are games i got the chance to play once or twice not much more.

[@williamhaynes4800]

I don't remember when these came out, I would like to add to this list: Zero Hour Monster Bash Donkey Kong 3

[@brandonbaker6139]

Everyone with anbernic handhelds uses these videos religiously

[@streled5361]

Some of them were ported to the Famicom and some home computers

[@aguawhite3748]

lover boy lol

[@wagnernascimentogoncalves6560]

Exerion was not an obscure game in Guarujá, Brazil. In the 80's, half of the arcade houses in city had one of it. Circus Charlie was on at least one.

[@itsmatt517]

How about that shooter with the flying robot rabbits I saw on that ferry crossing to france in 1989?

[@joshdietrich5080]

Man, some of these games look like they wouldn’t be out of place on Action 52.

[@BlaineC1972]

5. I've played 5 games on this list lol

[@AngryCalvin]

Could never get Joyful Road to work on an emulator. I have the SNK collection on Steam and it works. Funny how it was only ported to the Texas Instruments Home Computer which was my first game system.

[@bobmcbob4399]

Actually played in 80's arcades Xevious and Sea Fighter

[@datacipher]

Xevious was a major release and even advertised in magazines by Atari. Everyone saw it.

[@hellbenderdesign]

Uncle Poo, Hunchback Olympics.

[@patrickstallings9613]

This is fantastic! Does anyone remember an arcade game that was very very similar to Galaga BUT, you had the chance to win a free game? It seems it starts with the letter M or T. I just can't think of it

[@GaryRetroGamer]

Unfortunately, there were dozens of Galaga-like games in the early 80s; this channel, however, is in the process of actually going through every years of the 80s and showcasing *every* game. Theoretically, your mystery game will pop up in one of those. So maybe check back in a few months when all the 80's videos are up, and you'll come across it?

[@ToastyCubes]

Huh. I was told that in the early 1980s, every single arcade game was just a Pac-Man clone. I look at this video and every single game, even the maze chase ones, has loads of depth and interesting ideas, some of which wouldn't ever be tried again. Methinks retro gamers should do their part in trying to preserve these old titles instead of constantly praising the same revolving door of 90s console games.

[@DerekDavis213]

These games were not in coin-op arcades, right? Obscure is right!

[@jayyarbrough4497]

Bet bullfight would go over well in 2023

[@noneofyoubusiness4895]

What was the name of that arkanoid-like game where the ball was a football, and instead of bricks there were players?

[@axe6279]

What's with the pelvic thrusting Sky Lancer lol

[@junosynth]

Anyone know the Isometric arcade game that looks like Zaxxon but you build a robot?

[@edrice2621]

If I recall correctly, it' called "Dengar." I've been looking for that game, too.

[@junosynth]

@@edrice2621 Yeah the music/melody was really good and I want to hear it again.

[@edrice2621]

@@junosynth Here's a link to a video of the game in action: kzbin.info/www/bejne/an-YYX2nd9OBnMk The title of the game is actually "UFO Robo Dangar." I remember playing this game at a video arcade, or some other place, and being impressed by it. I was fascinated with all things mecha/robot at the time.

[@aktchungrabanio6467]

I'm pretty sure you're thinking of MAGMAX: kzbin.info/www/bejne/roqYg4qnaKyioJI

[@rogermellqvist7731]

"Lover boy" must be a hoax. There is no way that would be in an arcade in the 80s.

[@La_Minute_depouvante]

Cool

[@retrogee7906]

classics........

[@the_cursor]

I remember playing Circus Charlie. I don't think I've seen any of the others (maybe Phozon). Just my opinion - all the others looked like trash. Derivative rip-offs of Elevator Action, Burger Time, Zaxxon, Galaga, Dig Dug, Robotron 2084, 1942, Spy Hunter, Q*bert...

[@kozlorog]

Your name is "dude" and your surname is "cool". Thanks, Cool Dude!

[@blacksunshine7485]

Hunchback Olympics 🤣🤣🤣

[@CrazyFriendlyGamerAlex]

These games I probably never played and heard of

[@Theryo2007]

Lover Boy🤣

[@justwilly6778]

I saw a lot of rip offs on this - amazing.

[@jamierose9095]

Roc'N'Rope was not an obscure game, it was ported to pretty much every home system in 1983.

[@brannkos]

Lode Runner and Bank Panic were well known arcade games

[@mr_h831]

... THEY HAD PORN GAMES IN THE FIRCKING 1980S Wut

[@bradleymcavoy3432]

I think 🤔 I’ve only seen a 1/3 of these and played about half of that ( Third) but many of these games stink or are just plain boring, have really weird inaccurate mechanics/physics and AWFUL! 🙄

[@alanbourke4069]

Circus Charlie isn't obscure