Can You Name These All-Time Favorite Video Games From an Image?

By: Jody Mabry
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Name These All-Time Favorite Video Games From an Image?
Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

Gamers around the world now have the ability to put themselves into the world of video games with the newest virtual reality technology. But, what were the games that first got you excited to play? Many people don't realize that the first video game was invented in the '50s, only a few years after color television. It's true! In October of 1958, a physicist at Brookhaven National Laboratory invented a tennis game very similar to Pong. 

So, are you a first-person shooter? Do you prefer the pixelated antics of nostalgic gaming heroes such as Pac Man, Qbert, or Donkey Kong? Or, are you an '80s and '90s champion who spends your day trying to save the princess in games such as Super Mario Brothers and Zelda? It takes quick reflexes, experiences and the innate ability to predict what is to come to be a great gamer. And while many gamers nowadays play alongside friends thousands of miles away, there is something to be said for the intimate setting of a gaming room and a bunch of friends gathered around a screen. Saturday night NBA Jam anyone? 

Are you always the first person to pick up the newest release? See how much of a video game expert you are by taking this quiz!

Pac-Man
YouTube
What's the name of this all-time favorite video game?
Pac-Man
While you may have gotten a high score in Pac-Man, you probably haven't been able to get the game's true highest possible score of 3,333,360 points. This rare feat was first accomplished by Billy Mitchell in July 1999 - a full 19 years after the game's initial release.
Frogger
Ms. Pac-Man
Dig Dug
Super Mario Bros.
youtube
Match the name to the classic pictured here.
Super Mario Bros.
Players today have gotten so good at Super Mario Bros. that the game can be completed in an unassisted speedrun in under five minutes. Crazy.
Joust
Donkey Kong
Burger Time
Donkey Kong
YouTube
Which classic video game is this?
Burger Time
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong was the first time we met Mario and Donkey Kong. It wouldn't be the last by a long shot.
Super Mario Bros.
Dragon's Lair

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Tetris Games
YouTube
Which video game is pictured here?
Qix
Breakout!
Tetris
Fun Fact: Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak was so good at Tetris that Nintendo Power Magazine banned him from submitting high scores for publication. Undeterred, Steve submitted Tetris scores with his name spelled backwards ("Evets Kainzow") - and it worked!
Asteroids
Legend of Zelda
youtube
What's the name of this classic?
Zork
Conquest
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was a real system seller for the Nintendo 64. My roommate at the time purchased his N64 the day Ocarina came out just to play the game.
M.U.L.E.
Mortal Kombat
youtube
Which name belongs to this game?
Final Fight
Street Fighter
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat was released in 1992. Initially a second banana to Street Fighter, this game became insanely popular and spawned movies.
Fatal Fury

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Street Fighter
YouTube
Which classic video game is this?
Fatal Fury
Mortal Kombat
Street Fighter
The deluxe arcade version of the original Street Fighter used two mechanical "punch buttons" which allowed the player to deliver light/medium/heavy kicks and punches depending on how hard they smashed the buttons.
Bad Dudes vs. Dragon Ninja
Sonic the Hedgehog
youtube
What's this game's name?
Paperboy
Super Mario Bros.
Frogger
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sega needed a weapon to combat Mario in the 90's console wars, so Sonic the Hedgehog was born and was a real hit. Sega also coined the term "Blast Processing" which was slightly less real.
Tomb Raider
youtube
What would you say the name of this game is?
Silent Hill
Tomb Raider
Many people may know the Angelina Jolie movie better than the game, which is a shame because Tomb Raider is a really fun ride. The Lara Croft character first entered the gaming world in 1996. The series was rebooted to great success in 2013 by Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix.
Tombs of Athos
Pitfall

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Super Mario Kart 1992
youtube
What's this game's name?
Outrun
Spy Hunter
Super Mario Kart
This game took racing to a whole new level, with players able to sabotage each other and split-screen racing. Super Mario Kart was first released in 1992.
Super Mario Bros.
Paper Boy Games
YouTube
What's the name of this all-time favorite video game?
Burger Time
Joust
Paperboy
Paperboy was a fun game! Just pedal the bike, throw the papers and commit random acts of vandalism as you go along.
Spy Hunter
Pitfall!
youtube
Name this classic video game.
Asterix
Pitfall
Pitfall! is a true classic, released by Activision for the Atari 2600 in 1982. Who didn't spend hours trying to get the little guy to grab the rope just right to swing over the pit?
Berzerk
Crystal Castles

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Dig Dug
youtube
By what name is this game known?
Q-Bert
Dig Dug
Many of us spent many quarters trying to beat this game. Time management is key. Namco first released Dig Dug in 1982.
Mine Crazy
Ghouls 'N Ghosts
Space Invaders
youtube
Can you do us a favor and match this all-time favorite to its name?
Space Invaders
Were you a "shoot them as fast as I can" player, or did you wait for the bonus saucers to rack up extra points? Different strategies could be used to beat Space Invaders.
Asteroids
Tempest
Star Wars
Pong
youtube
Do you know what this classic is called?
Shootout
Super Tennis
Pong
Here it is, the original home video game! If you've got one of the old ones around and it still works, you're sitting on a gold mine. Pong was created by Atari engineer Allan Alcorn.
Breakout

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Asteroids
YouTube
Can you do us a favor and match this all-time favorite to its name?
Tempest
Battlezone
Asteroids
1979's Asteroids is an oldie but a goodie. Were you one of the players who rocketed around the game field, or did you stay mostly in the center?
Space Duel
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
YouTube
Do you know the name of this all-time favorite?
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege was released in 2015 as the eleventh game in the Rainbow Six series. The series is part of the Rainbow Six media franchise which began with the 1998 publication of Clancy’s techno-thriller novel of the same name.
DOOM
Aliens versus Predator
Rising Storm
Grand Theft Auto
youtube
What is this favorite called?
Grand Theft Auto
Grand Theft Auto made major waves in 1997 for its language and the nature of the violence, but that only made sales go higher. Since then the series has been going strong, with many celebrities lending their voices to the game, including Samuel L. Jackson, Burt Reynolds, Ray Liotta, Debbie Harry, and Axl Rose.
Spy Hunter
Outrun
Psycho Bus

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Mega Man 2
youtube
Tell us which video game this is.
Metroid
Metal Gear
Planetfall
Mega Man 2
Mega Man 2 is the best Mega Man game. While this may seem like an opinion, trust me, it is a fact. The only non-fantastic thing about Mega Man 2 us the box art for the USA version of the game. It was, however, an improvement over the so-horrible-it's-almost-funny-actually-no-it's-really-horrible USA box art for Mega Man 1.
GoldenEye 007
youtube
Are you sure that you can name this game?
Virtua Cop
GoldenEye 007
This was a groundbreaking game, showing how well a first-person shooter could work as a console game. GoldenEye 007 was based on the 1995 James Bond movie, GoldenEye, in case you were wondering.
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
Silent Hill
Metal Gear Solid
youtube
By what name is this game known?
Cobra
Metal Gear Solid
Great fighting action and a solid plotline made Metal Gear Solid a great entry in a series that began back in the early days of video games. Konami first released this one in 1998.
Contra
Halo: Combat Evolved

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Qbert
youtube
What's this game called?
Qix
Q*bert
Who remembers the "plunk" noise when you put a quarter in the game? Q*bert was one of the most popular arcade games of the '80s.
Vanguard
Tetris
Mario Bros 1983
YouTube
What is this favorite called?
Sonic the Hedgehog
Mario Bros.
Originally named "Jumpman", Nintendo changed the character's name to "Mario" after Mario Segale - the Italian-American landlord who paid the team an angry visit when Nintendo was behind on rent.
Donkey Kong
Super Mario Bros.
Wolfenstein The New Order
YouTube
Which of these names matches this video games?
Unreal Tournament 2004
Wolfenstein: The New Order
Wolfenstein: The New Order (2014) is the seventh game in the Wolfenstein series. Players are tasked with stopping Nazi world domination in an alternate reality where the Nazis won World War II.
The Darkness 2
Superhot

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Resident Evil
youtube
Can you tell us the name of this one?
Silent Hill
Resident Evil
The dialog was stilted. The camera was fixed. The controls were more fit for a tank. None of this mattered in the face of Resident Evil's expertly delivered jump-scares.
Doom
Gears of War
Half-Life 2
YouTube
What would you say the name of this game is?
F.E.A.R.
Marathon Infinity
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
Half-Life 2
The Half-Life series, so far, consists of two main games. The second game, Half-Life 2 (2004), was extremely well received by gamers and game critics, going on to win numerous “Game of the Year” awards.
NBA Jam
youtube
What's the name of this classic?
NBA Basketball
Double Dribble
One on One: Dr. J. vs. Larry Bird
NBA Jam
NBA Jam did for video basketball what the Madden series did for video football, although over time Madden has held up better. It was released by Midway in 1993.

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Doom
youtube
Which all time favorite is this?
Gauntlet
Doom
For a great conversation starter try this: "Original Doom. Chainsaw or shotgun? Discuss." Doom was one of the seminal first-person shooter games and spawned a movie of its own. Doom the movie was released in 2005.
Age of Empires
Castlevania
FEAR
YouTube
Name this all-time favorite.
DOOM
Team Fortress 2
F.E.A.R.
This 2005 game’s name stands for “First Encounter Assault Recon.” It is followed by two sequels, thus far, with the third one stylized as F.3.A.R. The second game was F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin.
Dishonored
Double dragon
youtube
Match the name to the classic pictured here.
Double Dragon
Double Dragon, starring brothers Billy and Jimmy Lee, made the transition from arcade to console games pretty smoothly. It was first released in 1987.
Final Fight
Fighters Destiny
Mortal Kombat

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BioShock Infinite
YouTube
Please match this game to its name.
Star Wars Battlefront
Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter
BioShock Infinite
BioShock Infinite was honored with numerous Game of the Year awards following its release in 2013. Among those it won were ones from Electronic Gaming Monthly, the Associated Press, CNN and Forbes.
Titanfall 2
Far Cry
YouTube
Can you correctly name this one?
PlanetSide
Far Cry
Far Cry is a prolific series of games, with the very first installment, Far Cry, having been released in 2004. The franchise has a total of 11 games, so far, with more in the works.
Marathon Infinity
Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Super Mario World
youtube
Do you know the name of this all-time favorite?
Super Mario World
Nintendo released Super Mario World in 1990 as a launch title for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). This wide-ranging game brought in characters from the entire Nintendo universe and ate up players' weekends.
Super Mario Bros. 3
Mario Kart
Super Mario Bros.

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Contra
youtube
Tell us the name of this game.
Contra
While Konami's Contra is an excellent game, it will forever be associated with it's famous cheat code which when entered at the game's title screen would give players 30 lives. Contra was actually the second game to use the code - Gradius used it first in the NES version in 1986. You know the code right? Say it with me. UP UP DOWN DOWN LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT B A
Final Fight
Cobra
Joust
Perfect Dark
n/a
Can you correctly name this one?
Tron 2.0
Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Perfect Dark
Perfect Dark (2000) is often referred to as a spiritual successor to GoldenEye 007. A prequel, Perfect Dark Zero, was released in 2005 and a remastered version of the original in 2010.
Resistance 3
Battlefield
YouTube
Do you know what this classic is called?
Dishonored
Battlefield 1
Although it bears the title “Battlefield 1,” this game which was released in 2016, is actually the 15th installment in the Battlefield series. The first game, Battlefield 1942, was released in 2002.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
Destiny

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Galaga '88
youtube
Name this all-time favorite.
Galaga '88
A space shooter game with a 3-D aspect, Galaga '88 was a real quarter eater. Namco released this one to follow Galaxian, Galaga, and Gaplus.
Vanguard
Defender
Space Invaders
Halo
YouTube
Tell us the name of this game.
Halo
The original game in the Halo series, Halo: Combat Evolved, came out in 2001 to rave reviews from gamers and game critics. It spawned an extremely successful franchise of graphic novels, action figures, toy vehicles and at least six other video games.
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II
Destiny
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Overwatch
YouTube
Are you sure that you can name this game?
Unreal Tournament 2004
Overwatch
This team-based multiplayer online game was released in 2016 by Blizzard Entertainment. It was designed for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Windows.
Zeno Clash
Shadow Warrior

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Galaga 1981
youtube
Please match this game to its name.
Defender
Final Fight
Space Invaders
Galaga
This space fight game offered the fun of having a larger alien ship "capture" your fighter, which you could then rescue for double power. Galaga was released by Namco in 1981.
TimeSplitters
YouTube
Name this classic video game.
TimeSplitters 2
The original TimeSplitters game was released in 2000, with TimeSplitters 2 coming out in 2002. It was followed by a third installment, TimeSplitters: Future Perfect in 2005. All three games ranked highly among gamers and game critics.
Alien: Isolation
Crysis
Shadow Warrior
Joust
youtube
Which video game is this?
Vanguard
Defender
Angry Birds
Joust
Get above the other guy and spear him, then pick up the egg. Joust sounds easy, right? Not so much.

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Pole Position
youtube
Which of these names matches this video games?
Grand Prix Circuit
Spy Hunter
Hang-On
Pole Position
It seemed maddeningly simple: Mash the accelerator pedal at the right time and win all the races. It wasn't. Pole Position was first released in 1982 by Namco.
Pokemon Red Blue Gameboy
YouTube
Which video game is pictured here?
Pokemon Red and Blue
You modern-day Pokemon catchers might not know that the game dates back years. Pokemon Red and Blue used the link cable to connect two Game Boys for battles. In Japan, it was released as Pokemon Red and Green.
Pokemon Yellow
Pokemon GO
Little Monsters
Crysis
YouTube
Can you tell us the name of this one?
Aliens versus Predator
SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle
Crysis
There are three main games in the Crysis series, to date, with a fourth game, Crysis Warhead (2008) issued as a standalone expansion to the original Crysis game from 2007.
Left 4 Dead 2

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Chrono Trigger
youtube
Which video game is this?
Legend of Zelda
Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger is at the top of my "desert island games" list. To make this game Square assembled a "Dream Team" of famous designers, notably Hironobu Sakaguchi (creator of Final Fantasy), Yuji Horii (creator of Dragon Quest), and Akira Toriyama (character designer for Dragon Ball and Dragon Quest).
Final Fantasy
Secret of Mana
Rygar
youtube
Which name belongs to this game?
Wizards & Warriors
Trojan
Rygar
If you played Rygar, you were in on the early days of the console games. It was a side-scrolling adventure game with a very intricate Japanese backstory. Tecmo gave the concept another try with Rygar: The Legendary Adventure which was released in the USA in 2002.
Castlevania
Zeno Clash
YouTube
Tell us which video game this is.
Zeno Clash
Game developers ACE Team put out Zeno Clash as its debut game in 2009. It received above average positive reviews and the ACE Team later developed a sequel titled Zeno Clash II (2013).
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
Overwatch
The Operative: No One Lives Forever 2

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Serious Sam HD The First Encounter
YouTube
Which all time favorite is this?
Team Fortress 2
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena
Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter
The first Serious Sam game is made up of two episodes. They are Serious Sam: The First Encounter (2001) and Serious Sam: The Second Encounter (2002). Two sequels followed, as well as several versions of each game.
Bulletstorm
YouTube
What is this game called?
Bulletstorm
Bulletstorm (2011) comes from People Can Fly, a Polish video game developer and Epic Games, an American company. Bulletstorm stands out among the first-person shooter genre thanks to the style and off-color humor injected into the gameplay.
PlanetSide
Natural Selection 2
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
You Got:
/50
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