🎮🕹️👾 The world of gaming has come a long way since the early days of arcade machines and simple home consoles. Today, we have virtual reality and photo-realistic graphics. But let’s not forget the classics that paved the way for the gaming industry as we know it today.

As the saying goes, “the classics never go out of style.” And in the gaming world, this statement couldn’t be more true. This blog is a journey through time, exploring some of the classic games that have stood the test of time.

Old But Gold: Pac-Man

🍓🐷👻 It’s hard to imagine a world without Pac-Man. This game was the beginning of the “golden age” of arcade games in the early 1980s. Pac-Man was first released in 1980 and has since become a cultural icon.

The game was simple yet addictive. Players controlled a small yellow character named Pac-Man, who had to navigate a maze filled with dots while avoiding ghosts. Eating power pellets would allow Pac-Man to turn the tables on the ghosts and devour them for extra points.

Pac-Man was a massive hit in arcades across the world and eventually made its way onto home consoles like the Atari 2600. It’s hard to imagine a gaming world without Pac-Man’s influence.

A yellow Pac-man character with an open mouth, chasing ghosts in a maze

Blast From The Past: Super Mario Bros.

🍄🐢👑 No classic gaming list would be complete without mentioning the mustached plumber himself, Mario. Super Mario Bros. was released in 1985 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, and it was a game-changer in every sense of the word.

Players took control of Mario, exploring the Mushroom Kingdom to save Princess Toadstool from the dastardly Bowser. The game consisted of eight “worlds” filled with levels that tested the player’s platforming skills.

One of the most iconic aspects of Super Mario Bros. was its music. The game’s theme song is instantly recognizable and has gone on to become one of the most recognizable pieces of video game music in history.

A screenshot of Mario jumping over an obstacle in the game, Super Mario Bros.

The Original Open World: The Legend of Zelda

🗡️🛡️🐴 Long before open-world games became the norm, there was The Legend of Zelda. Released in 1986 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, this game was groundbreaking for its time.

Players took control of the hero Link, venturing through the kingdom of Hyrule to rescue Princess Zelda. The game featured a vast open-world, filled with secrets and treasures to discover. The dungeons in the game were a mix of puzzle-solving and combat, a formula that set the stage for countless action-adventure games that followed.

The Legend of Zelda was a truly massive game for its time, the depth and complexity of which were unheard of in the gaming industry. This game has left an impact that we still feel to this day.

A screenshot from The Legend of Zelda showing Link exploring a dungeon.

In Conclusion

🧐✒️🎓 These classic games paved the way for the gaming industry as we know it today. Even though they may not have the flash and dazzle of today’s games, their influence on the industry is still felt.

If you’re new to classic gaming, we highly recommend giving these games a try. Don’t be put off by their age; these games are still just as fun today as they were when they were first released. Who knows, you might just discover a new favorite game!

A collage of images from Pac-Man, Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda.