The 1980s were the golden age of the arcade and the birth of the home console: the pixel takes shape, genres are invented, legends begin. This Top 50 gathers the 8-bit and arcade games that laid the medium's foundations. RomWize re-tests and ranks them by its re-evaluated scores, each with its versions, their rarity and their collector value.
"The legendary Tetris bundled with the Game Boy. Tetrominoes, lines to clear, endless A-Type or goal-based B-Type. Iconic OST by Hirokazu Tanaka, link-cable versus revolutionary for 1989. One of the greatest games ever, period. The cartridge that sold the Game Boy to the world."
"The absolute pinnacle of 8-bit platforming. Eight thematic worlds, revolutionary costumes, infinite secrets. Nintendo at maximum creativity. The best NES game and one of the greatest games ever made."
"The absolute masterpiece of the series. Eight memorable Robot Masters, Takashi Tateishi's legendary soundtrack, perfectly balanced difficulty. One of the greatest video games ever created, on any platform."
"The game that changed everything. Mario in the Mushroom Kingdom, from warp zones to Bowser's castles. Revolutionary level design, immediate and universal fun. The most important video game ever made."
"The perfection of arcade co-op on NES. Bub and Bob blow bubbles, trap enemies, collect bonuses. Inexhaustible, charming, perfect for two. A monument."
"One of the most iconic shooters in the Master System catalogue. Difficult, precise and ingeniously designed. The Force device and fantastic level design have lost none of their appeal across the decades."
"HAL Laboratory's Japanese precursor to Adventures of Lolo. Impeccable logic puzzles in labyrinths. Even more demanding than its western versions. For pure puzzle purists."
"A revolutionary action-platformer where jumping is impossible. The grappling hook is everything. Brilliant mechanic, inspired level design. One of the most inventive NES games, still perfectly playable."
"One of the greatest NES games. Read boxers' patterns and counter-attack at the right moment: perfect mechanic. From Glass Joe to Mike Tyson, an epic progression. Timeless and absolutely essential."
"The second FF on Famicom, radically different from the first: usage-based skill system, named characters. Controversial but fascinating in its experimental boldness."
"The combined Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt cartridge on NES, the iconic launch bundle. The two foundational NES games in one. An invaluable historical document of video game history."
"The sequel introduces the hero party and a broader quest. Already richer and more varied than the first. A great step forward that establishes the series formula. Still playable and enjoyable."
"The Japanese version of Castlevania III, superior to the western release in many respects. Legendary soundtrack, multiple paths, multiple characters. An absolute masterpiece."
"The original Legend of Zelda on NES. Open world to explore by hand, secrets to discover everywhere. Link, the Triforce, Hyrule: a foundational mythology. Eternal, essential, revolutionary."
"One of the foundational games in all of video gaming. Samus Aran in armor in a labyrinthine alien world to explore freely. Unique solitary and oppressive atmosphere. Revolutionary, timeless, absolutely essential."
"A monument. Contra redefines the 8-bit run'n'gun with frantic arcade action, a legendary Konami code, and two-player co-op that remains among the best in video game history."
"The very first Dragon Quest: the game that invented the modern J-RPG in Japan. Rudimentary compared to its successors but foundational in essence. Historically essential."
"DuckTales on NES by Capcom: impeccable platformer with a cane as spring. Open levels, memorable bosses, legendary soundtrack. Among the best NES games, without question."
"Rygar, Tecmo's NES action-RPG. Warrior with a yo-yo shield in a mythological world. Free exploration, progressive power gain. Inventive mechanics, polished atmosphere. A forgotten classic."
