The Classic PC Gaming Era (1977-1989) - Concluding Thoughts and the Must-Play List

Before we move on to console games, here are some final thoughts on this era of PC gaming!

I hope you have enjoyed reading this series as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. When I started, I was only planning to include a few dozen games, and I was legitimately surprised to find myself featuring over 170 titles (plus at least another 350 in summaries) by the time I was finished! But this has been far more than a trip down memory lane for me; in the course of researching this series, I learned about many games I either had never heard about or had only read about in video game magazines, talked about with gamers who’d lived in Europe or seen stocked briefly on store shelves, and I have greatly enjoyed the experience of rediscovering them.

As someone who spent most of the 1980s as a small child and who only really got to play games outside of the IBM PC library on visits to friends’ houses, much of what I learned about gaming during that era came from listening to adults talk about their favorite games or from convincing my friends to show me what their computers could do. I was fortunate to live in a military community where many of my friends’ fathers were computer enthusiasts and owned Atari STs, Apple IIs, Macintoshes, Commodore 64s and Amigas. Those of us who were stuck with the dull IBM PC clones weren’t too excited about showing off the games we played, and even when my own father pulled games off a BBS or accepted copies of software from friends (which was not often – he was strongly against software piracy), they tended to feel second-tier compared to what our friends were playing on their game-friendly PCs and consoles.

What I took for granted then was how having limited access to arcade-style games pushed me to try other genres I might have otherwise ignored. For example, one of my father’s friends gave my family a stack of old software including games like the Zork trilogy, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Jet, and that treasure trove provided me with access to many titles I grew to enjoy. The town we moved to when I was a little older also had a unique secondhand computer store where people could sell old software, and this allowed me to buy and sell used games long before stores like FuncoLand, EB Games and GameStop made trading in old games a commonplace activity. Having access to inexpensive software gave me and my brothers many additional opportunities to broaden our horizons.

Of course, the 1990s became a very exciting time for MS-DOS PC gaming as the computer hardware became more capable. My family got a Gateway 2000 386 system with a 256-color VGA graphics card just in time to play groundbreaking action titles like MechWarrior, Wing Commander, Star Wars: X-Wing, Commander Keen in Goodbye Galaxy, Wolfenstein 3D, Duke Nukem, Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty and Doom, just to name a few. We gradually added a sound card and CD-ROM drive (allowing us to try out many early multimedia games we’d missed), and once we upgraded to a more sophisticated multimedia system during my high school years, we were soon eyeing the exciting new category of 3D graphics cards and playing games on the internet via dial-up modem. The games available at the end of the 1990s were much closer to the games I enjoy today than anything I was playing at the start of the decade, and by that point, there was no question that the future of PC gaming lay with Windows, an operating system that had significantly transformed how home PCs were being used and created a highly popular platform for gaming.

We’ll explore the 1990s in future volumes, and I can’t wait to dig into the significant and influential early 90s titles from the Apple II, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum and Amiga as well as the exciting world of PC shareware and multimedia. But before we get there, we’ll need another book to cover a major (and intentional) blind spot from this volume: console and coin-op games from the 1980s.

You may have noticed that I did not spotlight many of the excellent ports of arcade games that appeared on various PC platforms throughout the 1980s, and my reason for leaving them out is because the ports were almost always inferior to the original versions. Coin-op cabinets featured high-end graphics and sound hardware relative to PCs of the day and were far nimbler at creating experiences that were easy for anyone to pick up and play. Console games tended to fall somewhere between coin-op and PC sensibilities, and once Atari collapsed and Nintendo put a stranglehold on the North American games industry, PC ports of console titles greatly declined. This created a divergence that lasted for decades, and it was not until fairly recently in gaming history that PC gaming and console gaming have started to see significant overlap.

And so, in our next volume, we’ll take a look at the other side of gaming, starting with the 1980s coin-ops and early consoles (particularly the Atari VCS/2600, the Mattel Intellivision and the ColecoVision) before exploring that well-trod territory of the Nintendo Entertainment System and the less familiar turf of the Sega Master System and the Atari 7800. We’ll also touch on games from console systems many people never had a chance to play, like the Vectrex, Atari 5400 and the Sega SG-1000, and begin to discuss the TurboGrafx-16/CD and Sega Genesis launch libraries.

If you have enjoyed this series, I hope you will tell others to check it out! Please tell them to visit https://greatestgames.substack.com to explore additional reviews and learn how you can further support this series.

Thank you for reading, and we’ll see you in the next volume as we continue our exploration of The Greatest Games You (Probably) Never Played!

The Must-Play List

Because I found so many excellent titles to recommend, I felt it would be wise to include a list of the featured games which I feel are absolutely essential to experience today, along with a link to the article.

• Planetfall and Stationfall (1983 and 1987) (Full entry here) – One of the funniest – and most heartbreaking! – interactive adventure series ever created. A must-play for fans of the Space Quest games or The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Don’t let the lack of graphics keep you away from these wonderful games but do consider downloading a map and some hints if you’re not in the habit of taking notes while you play.

• Alley Cat (1983) (Full entry here) – An excellent arcade-style game about cats with an awesome (and free!) Windows remake that supports up to 4 local players.

• Time Bandit (1983) (Full entry here) – An incredibly fun combination of Pac-Man, Gauntlet and Time Pilot. The 1985 remake on the Atari ST is the one to play.

• Below the Root (1984) (Full entry here) – A platformer-style adventure game with a huge, interesting game world and an epic story based on a series of novels by Zilpha Keatley Snyder. Notable for being non-violent and non-linear. The 1985 follow-up game Alice in Wonderland is also great; I prefer the Commodore 64 version for both

• Park Patrol (1984) (Full entry here) – Who would have guessed one of Activision’s best arcade action games of the early 1980s is a PC exclusive based on collecting trash in a public park? Try the Commodore 64 version.

• Space Taxi (1984) (Summary here) – Combine Crazy Taxi with Lunar Lander and you’ll get something akin to this excellent Commodore 64 platform puzzler. The 2005 Windows-based shareware sequel is also great.

• Spy vs. Spy Trilogy (1984, 1985 and 1988) (Full entry here) – A clever concept for a local splitscreen multiplayer game where seeing the other character’s screen is a core mechanic. Best on the Amiga or Atari ST.

• SunDog: Frozen Legacy (1984) (Full entry here) – An absolutely massive space trading and strategy game that still holds up well today. Using your starship, the SunDog, you try to help a religious colony get the supplies and followers it needs while you build up a reputation for yourself as a space merchant. Highly recommended for fans of the 2012 game FTL: Faster Than Light, as it has a similar look and feel. Best on the Atari ST.

• Alcazar: The Forgotten Fortress (1985) (Full entry here) – An adventure RPG that’s highly reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda, but which actually came out the year before it. It was a Coleco Adam exclusive that was later ported to other platforms. Today, it’s best on the Commodore 64.

• Mail-Order Monsters (1985) (Full entry here) – Create your own monsters and go on a rampage, battling other beasts and destroying cities as you grow more powerful. Best on the Commodore 64.

• Paradroid (1985) (Full entry here) – An exceptionally smart game about using an inconspicuous robot to reprogram other, more dangerous robots who’ve taken over a starship. The Heavy Metal Paradroid version on the Commodore 64 is great, but there are also many modern remakes.

• Lode Runner's Rescue (1985) (Full entry here) – A cool isometric action puzzler that bears little resemblance to its classic namesake, but which is still a great game. It’s best on the Commodore 64.

• Airheart (1986) (Full entry here) – One of the few can’t miss arcade action games exclusive to the Apple II. It’s a breathtaking pseudo-3D action game that’s still a lot of fun today. It was later ported to the Amiga and Atari ST as Typhoon Thompson in Search of the Sea Child, but it’s pretty much the same game experience.

• Alter Ego (1986) (Full entry here) – A life simulation role-playing adventure game where you play through the entire life of a single character from birth to death. It’s a bit dated in places and thus best to just pretend it’s a simulator about what life was like growing up in the early 1980s. Perfectly playable in any version, but there are modern mobile and web-based ports available.

• The Sentinel (a.k.a. The Sentry) (1986) (Full entry here) – A unique and surreal 3D action puzzler that’s difficult to explain, but which is a blast to play once you understand its mechanics. Move your Synthoid robot up a hill boulder by boulder and try not to get spotted by the Sentinel. Good on any platform, but probably best on the Amiga or Atari ST.

• Starflight (1986) (Summary here) – The spiritual grandfather of Star Control II, Mass Effect, No Man’s Sky, Starfield and many other space-themed exploration RPGs. While it was incredibly popular in its day, most modern gamers have no idea it ever existed, and that needs to change. All PC versions are good, but the Sega Genesis remake is more like the classic Star Control II and is recommended for modern players. The sequel (which is PC only) is also excellent and plays well on all platforms.

• They $tole a Million (1986) (Full entry here) – A one-of-a-kind strategy game where you plan out heists and then set your crack team of criminal specialists loose as you direct the action from outside the building. Best on the Commodore 64.

• Uridium (1986) (Full entry here) – An amazingly fluid shoot ‘em up where the player can shift direction left or right and take down a massive spaceship on each level. Best on the Commodore 64. Ported to the NES in North America as The Last Starfighter.

• The Faery Tale Adventure: Book I (1987) (Full entry here) – An excellent action RPG that uses an overhead perspective to allow you to roam around a giant world (think Ultima VII). While the story’s ho-hum and combat becomes trivially easy within a few hours of starting, the game will appeal to those who enjoy open-world exploration. Best on the Amiga, but also available on the Sega Genesis.

• The Fool's Errand (1987) (Full entry here) – A clever and imaginative puzzle game based around the tarot deck that seems simple at first, but which has multiple layers of mysteries to ponder as you delve further into it. A classic on the Macintosh - and the creator has released an official free version to play on modern hardware through a Mac emulator.

• Nebulus (1987) (Full entry here) – While it’s also known today by many other names including Tower Toppler, Castelian, Kyorochan Land and Subline, it doesn’t matter; every version is about a reptile-like critter ascending a cylindrical tower and dodging enemies who want to knock him down to the lower levels. It’s one of the best-looking games on the Commodore 64, but great in any of its many versions, which include PCs, consoles and handhelds.

• Oids (1987) (Full entry here) – Mash together Choplifter and Gravitar and you get an amazing fun and accessible rescue game that holds up well today. It was one of the few games that set the Atari ST apart in the 1980s (until it received a 1990 Macintosh port and 2002 sequel), and it even includes a level editor.

• Wizball (1987) (Full entry here) – A truly unique side-scrolling shooter from Sensible Software in which you play as a wizard and his cat as they transform into green balls and fly around surreal landscapes. The Commodore 64 version is the classic (and has an unofficial freeware Windows remake from 2007), but the Amiga and Atari ST versions are also worth a look.

• Exile (1988) (Full entry here) – An amazing open-world action adventure that any fan of Metroid or Axiom Verge will love. While the controls take some getting used to, they’re absolutely worth the trouble. Try the 1991 Amiga or Atari ST remake.

• TRAZ: Transformable Arcade Zone (1988) (Full entry here) – A Breakout-style constructor set that includes 64 inventive levels as well as the ability to create your own wild ideas for a brick breaker. The Commodore 64 version is excellent.

• Trinity (1988) (Full entry here) – Brian Moriarty’s poetic text-based adventure about the horrific effects of nuclear war. It’s a brilliant game that will leave you thinking long after you’re finished. I’m not sure graphics could ever do this game justice. Good on just about any platform.

• Eye of Horus (1989) (Full entry here) – An Egyptian-themed action platformer similar to Metroid that fans of exploration adventures will adore. The controls are a bit clunky, but once you master them, the gameplay is golden. The Amiga and Atari ST versions are gorgeous.

• First Strike (1989) (Featured in the upcoming book!) – An After Burner-style game that features some of the best and smoothest graphics the Commodore 64 can offer. It features eight missions and plenty of great action as you fly an F-16 and take out land, air and sea targets on a 3D playing field.

• Midwinter (1989) (Full entry here) – Imagine what it’d be like to play a game like Just Cause 4 or Far Cry 6 in the late 1980s; throw in a little bit of Ghost Recon and SSX to that and you’ll get Midwinter, an open world first person action strategy game where you ski down hills, drive snow buggies, fire missiles from hang gliders, blow up buildings and recruit allies for guerilla-style ambushes. It has one heck of a learning curve due to its choppy framerate and unique controls, but it’s worth the trouble. It was an Atari ST standard, but I recommend the DOS version for modern players.

• Renegade III: The Final Chapter (1989) (Full entry here) – A completely bonkers PC-only threequel to the arcade classic. Instead of fighting in a gritty urban setting, you travel through time and fight in the age of the dinosaurs, ancient Egypt, the Middle Ages and an alien future. Best on the Commodore 64 (where it has a suitably strange ending), but beloved on the ZX Spectrum as well.

• Prophecy: Fall of Trinadon (1989) (Full entry here) – An excellent action RPG that’s fun, accessible and which features an engaging story and a unique magic system. Great for fans of series like Ys or The Secret of Mana. I’m amazed this game isn’t better-known today. Only available on DOS.

• Stunt Track Racer (a.k.a. Stunt Car Racer) (1989) (Full entry here) – An amazing 3D game for its time about racing on a high-up track loaded with jumps and tricky turns. There’s never been another game quite like it. Play it on the Amiga or Atari ST; avoid the DOS version.

• Sword of the Samurai (1989) (Full entry here) – The follow-up to Sid Meier’s Pirates!, set in Sengoku-era Japan and featuring a deep simulation of the life of an up-and-coming samurai. A bit of an acquired taste, but tremendously fun. It’s only available on DOS, but easy to buy and play through GOG.com.

As Our Series Continues…

It’s time to move on to console and arcade gaming in the 1970s and 80s, and we’re going to cover it all with an exploration into hundreds more games you’ve probably never played but definitely ought to check out. Come for amazingly great early 1980s games like Warlords, Super Locomotive, Shark! Shark!, Acrobatic Dog-Fight, Mysterious Stones: Dr. Jones’s Adventure and Intrepid and stick around for mid-to-late 1980s greats like Peter Pack-Rat, Penguin-kun Wars, Momoko 120%, UFO Robot Dangar, Wonder Momo, Raimais, Last Alert, The Legend of Valkyrie and the arcade version of Twin Eagle: Revenge Joe’s Brother, complete with a rockin’ soundtrack with wonderfully inscrutable lyrics.

If you’ve never heard of any of those games, you’re in for a treat as we explore them one by one. And If those games are all old hat to you, don’t worry; they’re just the tip of the iceberg for what we’ll be discussing!

If you missed my series on the hundreds of 1980s PC games you probably never played, you can find the entire archive at https://greatestgames.substack.com.

Anything I don’t share here will be in my upcoming book, tentatively titled The Greatest Games You (Probably) Never Played Vol. 2. Subscribe to this newsletter so you won’t miss it!