Way Back In Time
Nostalgia browser
The 1980s turned video games from a novelty into a home entertainment revolution.
1980Launched in 1977, the Atari 2600 with its woodgrain front and joystick controllers dominated early-80s living rooms. Swappable cartridges and hits like Space Invaders, Pitfall!, and Adventure made home gaming mainstream, before the 1983 video game crash weakened Atari's lead.
1985Released in North America in 1985, the NES revived the home console market after the crash. Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, and Metroid defined a generation and made Nintendo a household name.
1989Sega launched the Genesis in North America in 1989, kicking off the 16-bit era and a fierce rivalry with Nintendo that would define the next decade of gaming.
1989Nintendo's handheld Game Boy launched in 1989 with Tetris packed in. Its long battery life and durable design popularized portable gaming, and the family sold over 118 million units.
1983Dim, neon-lit arcades filled with coin-operated cabinets were social hubs where teenagers gathered to play Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Galaga, and later Street Fighter, competing for high scores.
