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About This Quiz
Think you know your console games? There's no cheat code for this quiz!
In the 1970s, the personal computer started to invade people's homes. With this new technology, it opened doors for engineers to design a more compact (and affordable) way to enjoy new video games. It also opened the doors for writers and developers, who were in charge of the storylines (if they had one) and appearance of the games. The joystick and paddle were the first to arrive on the scene as controllers, followed by a flat, more rectangular controller, laser gun, and for those who are more active, the Power Pad.
In the realm of games, while many of the concepts were simple, the graphics eventually evolved into something more understandable. If basketball was your game, then you'd check out Atari's straightforward title, "Basketball." In the 1980s, the more comparable title was "Double Dribble." Today, one of the top basketball titles is "NBA 2K18." If hanging out in the wild west was your thing, then Atari's "Outlaw" was a perfect choice for you. Today, "Red Dead Redemption" is one of the most celebrated titles, with its storytelling and open environment format. If you wanted to battle dragons and get treasures, then Atari's "Adventure" was your bag. As a comparable title, the Final Fantasy series invaded our consoles in the 1980s, with titles still being released today.
If you've been able to relate to these titles, check out this quiz, where we've rounded up classic titles for you to prove your gamer status. Good luck!
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What game is it?
Sonic the Hedgehog
Along with Sega's power, the Sonic games also evolved. The original Sonic The Hedgehog was first released in 1991, but today the series spans dozens of titles, both 2D and 3D, featuring a variety of gameplay styles and a few spinoffs that include a racing game, fighting game, pinball and a party game.
Duck Tales
Pirates!
Grand Theft Auto 5
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What game is it?
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat is a famous fighting game and the first console game to receive a "Mature" rating. If you grew up in the '90s, chances are you, just like all your friends and classmates, were playing Mortal Kombat nonstop.
Wizards & Warriors
Top Gun
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
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What game is it?
Ice Climber
Base Wars
The Secret of Monkey Island
Remember the classic misadventures of Guybrush Threepwood? The Secret of Monkey Island was a huge success in the '90s, telling the story of a young guy who always wanted to become a pirate.
Donkey Kong 94
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What game is it?
Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers
Pokémon Red and Blue
The first two international Pokémon releases, usually referred to as Pokémon Red and Blue, were also the original releases of the Pokémon RPG games for the Game Boy. Monochromatic pixel art and 4-bit background music won't impress anyone nowadays, but back in 1998, this game was a must-have!
Mega Man 6
Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode
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What game is it?
Ico
North & South
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Deus Ex
Deus Ex was released for many popular platforms including Xbox, PlayStation, PC, etc. While Deus Ex feels like a crazy mix of different games, this first-person shooter does achieve a good balance between the graphics and story line.
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What game is it?
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. is a classic among classics. Eventually released for all popular platforms, the game was originally made by Nintendo for their home console. Super Mario Bros. is still one of the most recognizable console games in the world.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Pro Wrestling
System Shock 2
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What game is it?
Duck Hunt
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda is undoubtedly one of the best Nintendo's games. It was played in a top-down view and constantly encouraged players to experiment and explore. Fun fact: it was the first home console game cartridge that could save data thanks to the included batteries for the storage.
Spy Hunter
The Goonies II
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What game is it?
Ice Hockey
Mega Man 5
Kung Fu
Contra
At first, Contra was a coin-operated arcade game. In 1988, Nintendo created its home version for their consoles and since then, a few sequels for different consoles were released. Not everybody knows it, but the name of this game refers to the Contras, CIA-backed Nicaraguan rebels who were well-known in the US in the '90s.
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What game is it?
Rush 'N Attack
Little Samson
Super Smash Bros.
Super Smash Bros. is a fun fighting game that featured all famous NES characters, from Sonic and Pikachu to Mewtwo and Mr. Game & Watch. Entire sleepovers were dedicated to this game! By the way, competitive tournaments are still a thing.
Hogan's Alley
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What game is it?
Excitebike
1943: The Battle of Midway
The Oregon Trail
Super Street Fighter II
The second entry in the Street Fighter series was not as famous as the original title, but it featured more sophisticated graphics, new challenges, music, four new characters and other improvements that the dedicated Street Fighter fans loved.
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What game is it?
Super Dodgeball
Metroid
Metroid was a unique console game in many ways - it started the phenomena of “speed running” through a game, had multiple endings, and unique design. There were other surprises as well: Players were shocked when main character, Samus Aran, was revealed to be a woman at the end of the game.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
SimCity 2000
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What game is it?
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
Ring King
Track & Field
NBA Jam
The gameplay of NBA Jam, the first entry in in the NBA Jam series, is pretty similar to Arch Rivals, another 2-on-2 basketball video game released a few years earlier. However, this title, both an arcade and Game Boy version, became much more popular among the fans of sports games worldwide.
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What game is it?
X-COM: UFO Defense
Ikari Warriors
Double Dragon II
At first, it was just another arcade game. But after the release of the NES version, Double Dragon became a separate universe. Fun fact: There is a happy ending in the NES version and the woman players are trying to save is alive, unlike in the original, arcade version. While the second game closely resembles the original, it still features some significant improvements such as new levels, fighting moves and animated cut scenes.
Contra
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What game is it?
Fallout 2
Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode
Not everybody knows about this game, but Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode is the only NES game - or console game at all - where players could have sex (implied sex, but still...) Moreover, it's the longest-running manga series with the first game released in 1988.
Prince of Persia
Resident Evil 2
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What game is it?
1943: The Battle of Midway
1943: The Battle of Midway is an iconic NES game and sequel to an earlier console game called 1942. 1943, just like the original game, is also a top-down shooter where the player controls a P-38 fighter during World War II. By the way, the designer of this game later worked on designing the Street Fighter games for Capcom.
The Secret of Monkey Island
Final Fantasy VII
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
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What game is it?
Fallout 3
Metal Storm
Mario Kart
Mario Kart is a successful spin-off from Nintendo's trademark Super Mario series. The first Mario Kart game was released in 1992, and since then it became a hit series of racing video games, especially popular among kids and teenagers.
Zork I: The Great Underground Empire
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What game is it?
Prince of Persia
Did you know that there is even a song based on this successful NES platformer that combined puzzle-solving with some run-and-jump action? Yes, that's right: one South Korean singer has a song called The Magical Castle that was inspired by Prince of Persia games.
EarthBound
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening
Stinger
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What game is it?
Batman
Suikoden 2
Mega Man 2
Final Fantasy
Ever wondered why it's called Final Fantasy? Well, its designer Hironobu Sakaguchi's wasn't sure that this game would be a big success and decided that if the game was a failure, he would stop making games and quit the industry. Luckily, Final Fantasy quickly became a big hit - it started a huge game franchise and popularized the JRPG genre in the US.
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What game is it?
Tecmo Bowl
Compared to all the home football video games before, Tecmo Bowl felt more “real” and even featured real NFL players. It's safe to say that this original title defined football games on the NES until the release of its sequel.
Final Fantasy Tactics
Grand Theft Auto
Bomberman
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What game is it?
Duck Hunt
If you owned a NES console at some point in your life, you probably had a few Light gun games in your collection. The choice was endless, from Wild Gunman and Hogan's Alley to The Lone Ranger. However, the majority of NES fans preferred the classic Duck Hunt - a game where players could shoot down birds in One Duck or Two Duck mode and even "accidentally" shoot the dog during the bonus round, much to the joy of gamers.
GoldenEye 007
Marble Madness
Burnout 3
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What game is it?
Super Smash Bros.
The Oregon Trail
Who knew that education games can be also fun! The Oregon Trail, originally released in 1985, was invented during a 8th grade classroom lesson in 1971. The game appeared for over 40 years across dozens platforms from first Apple computers to modern phones.
Double Dribble
Jackal
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What game is it?
Cobra Triangle
Life Force
Donkey Kong
Originally an arcade game, Donkey Kong was later released on all mainstream consoles including Game Boy, Nintendo, Wii and more. The adventures of Donkey Kong were a big success! The ape itself first appeared in 1981 arcade machine, in which he faced Mario, now Nintendo's most famous character. By the way, it was the first appearance of Mario as well.
Monkey Island 2
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What game is it?
Micro Machines
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!
When Nintendo was making a NES version of their Punch-Out!!! arcade game, at first they tried to replicate the full-size, wire-frame boxer from the arcade. Since it was impossible to replicate Mike Tyson on a tiny screen properly, they eventually created Little Mac, a tiny, scrappy boxer who was working hard to get a shot at Mike Tyson and the championship belt.
Grim Fandango
RBI Baseball
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What game is it?
Resident Evil
Resident Evil, also known as Biohazard, is not a single game but rather a franchise that includes not only video games but also comic books, novels, sound dramas, films, animated sequels, and a lot merchandise, such as action figures or T-shirts. The original game that started all this madness was released in 1996.
Donkey Kong
MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat
Legendary Wings
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What game is it?
StarCraft
Thief II: The Metal Age
Ms. Pac-Man
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
While the original game was a big hit, when its sequel came out, it felt like gaming had peaked. The devoted fans still love the first game, but Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 was close to perfection, and the reason for it was simple – the manual that connected all the levels.
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What game is it?
Mega Man 2
Since the first Mega Man game wasn't a big success, Capcom wasn't really exciting about making a sequel. They still allowed the Mega Man 2 team to create the game but also wanted them to work on other projects at the same time.
Pac-Man
Pokemon Yellow
Double Dragon II: The Revenge
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What game is it?
A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia
Adventure Island II
EarthBound
We know this game as EarthBound, but its fans in Japan played the same game called Mother 2. The original Mother came to the US as EarthBoundBeginnings for Wii U only in 2015, while a follow-up game, Mother 3, was released only in Japan.
Willow
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What game is it?
Suikoden 2
Suikoden 2 was a decent RPG, light on content but heavy on combat. While its storyline wasn't too intriguing, this game featured an enormous cast of interesting characters.
Bubble Bobble
Kirby's Adventure
Kid Icarus
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What game is it?
Tecmo Super Bowl
Super Mario Bros. 2
Final Fantasy Tactics
One of the best retro games you can play on the Sony PlayStation, Final Fantasy Tactics is still among the leaders of role-playing console games. In 2017, this game turned 20 years old!
Tetris
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What game is it?
GoldenEye 007
In 1997, GoldenEye introduced a completely new gaming experience. It was not only a decent movie tie-in, but also one of the best console first-person shooters (and it still is). The game features both an engaging single-player mode that made you feel like a real spy and a multiplayer that wasn't originally included - it was built in just 6 weeks and added only at the end, right before the release of the game.
Contra
Ninja Gaiden
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!!
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What game is it?
Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Bionic Commando
Metroid
Banjo-Kazooie
The original game was released for the Nintendo 64 in the '90s. The adventures of a bear and a large red bird were a lot of fun - in fact, "Banjo-Kazooie" is the 10th-best-selling Nintendo 64 video game of all time!
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What game is it?
Dragon Warrior III
Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Solid is a game that represents its creator’s vision. In addition to crazy dialogues and a lot of humor, this game had a clear anti-nuke message and the greatest stealth gameplay of all time. All in all, it's safe to stay that MGS popularized defined stealth genre, inspiring a lot of iconic games.
Metal Gear
Bubble Bobble
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What game is it?
Deus Ex
Baldur's Gate 2
Crystalis
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is a title worth mentioning mostly because of its expansive, rewarding game world, full of unexpected twists, surprises, and secrets. It has everything gamers love from a main character that's easy and fun to control to a unique world you can explore for hours. Back in 1997, all these cool features were still new and exciting.
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What game is it?
Star Wars: TIE Fighter
The sequel to Star Wars: X-Wing, Star Wars: TIE Fighter is the first game to be set on the side of the Galactic Empire. The graphics in this game significantly improved thanks to the 3-D rendering engine that made objects look more realistic; in 1994, this game was a break through title.
Street Fighter
Baseball Stars
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest
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What game is it?
Mega Man
Halo: Combat Evolved
Even though Halo was released in 2001, it became an iconic console game pretty quickly. It's not as old as other titles featured here, but it's worth mentioning simple because Halo was one of the first shooters that inspired the countless modern games. A must-have classics!
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Street Fighter II
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What game is it?
Battletoads
R.C. Pro-Am
Street Fighter
Originally an arcade game, Street Fighter was released on various home systems from NES to Xbox and Play Station. Developed and published by Capcom, it's still one of the most popular fighting games in the world with the latest game released in 2016 (Street Fighter V).
River City Ransom
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What game is it?
Dragon Warrior
Top Gun
This game is pretty close to modern flight simulator. A lot of players still remember the F-14 Tomcat, the fighter aircraft featured in the Tom Cruise film. The NES version of Top Gun, released in the '80s, was a huge success - it sold more than 2 million copies!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Super Mario
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What game is it?
Base Wars
Base Wars is a weird, futuristically-themed sports game that looked like baseball and involved huge robots. It was challenging to win Base Wars without cheating, but this title had a lot of cool features. For example, try to name your team "TERMINATOR" and all of your robot players will have laser swords!
Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos
Gradius
Halo: Combat Evolved
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What game is it?
Rygar
Dr. Mario
Ice Climber
Ice Climber is a notable game for many reasons. First of all, it's a launch title for the NES. Moreover, the same characters appeared in the Super Smash Brothers games and the game itself looks too good for 1985. The game was popular worldwide - in some countries, the first NES console was sold bundled with Ice Climber.
Blaster Master
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What game is it?
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Pirates!
In this iconic adventure game, you could explore, kill people, steal things, and do all the fun stuff that pirates never actually do in the Disney movies. The NES version, released in 1991, gave players a lot of freedom, much more than its original Commodore 64 version.
Star Wars: TIE Fighter
Mega Man 4
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What game is it?
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers
The huge success of Duck Tales (released in 1989) paved the way for Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers a year later. A lot of players still remember the creepy final boss, Fat Cat, who scared one generation of young NES fans.
Half-Life
Dragon Warrior IV
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What game is it?
Final Fantasy VI
IronSword: Wizards & Warriors II
Super C
North & South
North & South, released in 1990, resembles modern real-time strategy games with its turn-based play and elements of a board game. The huge plus was that you could choose where to start playing - from the start of the Civil War, in the middle, or skip to the end.
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What game is it?
Pro Wrestling
Back in the '80s, Pro Wrestling was a simple yet excellent simulation of the real thing. Your goal is to wear your opponent down with simple moves and winning this game isn't hard at all. Every time you win the match, the game displays the iconic message - "A WINNER IS YOU,-” which later became an Internet meme.
Blades of Steel
Journey to Silius
Section Z
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What game is it?
Rad Racer
World of Warcraft
The Legend of Zelda
Spy Hunter
Spy Hunter for NES was a solid version of the arcade classic, even though it was much harder to use NES controller than the steering wheel in the arcade. The NES version also had a fun glitch: you could drive off the road and become invincible … and stay invincible as long as you stayed off the road.
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What game is it?
Silent Hill
Little Nemo: The Dream Master
Arkanoid
Just like in Breakout, your goal is simple- control a paddle and bounce with a ball against a wall of bricks. Fun fact: the NES version of this game included a special controller that later became one of the rarest NES controllers ever made.
Snake Rattle N' Roll
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What game is it?
Metal Gear Solid
Ice Hockey
Ice Hockey was not trying to simulate anything - it's just a fun, carefree NES game, where players mostly bump up against each other and nobody follows the rules. If you want to win the game, keep in mind that Czechoslovakia is the best team, while the Americans are terrible. There are also three kinds of characters - skinny, fat, and average. Each has their own advantages and disadvantages (skinny guys are fast but weak, fat guys are strong but slow ... you get the idea).
Counter-Strike
Maniac Mansion
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What game is it?
Kung Fu
One of the earliest games for the NES, Kung Fu brought us the thrill of having our very own arcade game at home. This retro game was fun and exciting, but some of the enemies were downright ridiculous. Who knew that martial arts schools teach kung fu not only to pandas but also to fire-breathing dragons, birds, and bees...
The Guardian Legend
Adventures of Lolo 2
StarTropics
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What game is it?
Shadowgate
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Rush 'N Attack
You're a crazy marathon runner who'll do anything to win, including killing your enemies with a knife. Rush'n Attack is mostly remembered for its Cold War setting; it's title is a creative play on "Russian attack".
Banjo-Kazooie
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What game is it?
Diablo 2
Wizards & Warriors
Bomberman II
Little Samson
Little Samson was released very late in the system's life span (1992). This platfomer remains the most overlooked gem in the NES library. In recent years, Little Samson became one of the most rare and expensive Nintendo games! If you own this rare NES game, you're sitting on cash money - new Little Samson cartridges can be worth hundreds of dollars.
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What game is it?
Duck Tales
Willow
Excite Bike
The original title Excite Bike debuted for the Famicom in Japan in 1984 and was released for the NES the next year. This game is the first game of the Excite series, but it has a lot of sequels -Excitebike 64, Excite Truck. Excitebots: Trick Racing, and even a 3D remake of the original game.
A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia
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