Time is always ruthless, and not every game can stand the test of time. Some games start with a bang and sail smoothly, only to gradually fade into obscurity. However, there are some games that have become exceptions, creating their own series and continuing to meet the desires of fans even to this day.
Interestingly, some game franchises even originated from the 80s but are still thriving today. Here are the top 7 notable names that exemplify this.
Street Fighter
Street Fighter is one of the most influential fighting game franchises of all time, debuting in the late 80s. Street Fighter was first released as an arcade game. The game is very “simple”; you just control the character Ryu to defeat a series of strong opponents in a martial arts tournament.
Since that first release, subsequent parts of the series have changed significantly, especially with the character selection feature. At the time, the first Street Fighter game had unique and innovative elements, and those same elements later transformed the fighting game genre forever.
Final Fantasy
To this day, Final Fantasy has developed a vast number of games to serve its fans since the first game was released in the 80s, specifically in 1987. Most Final Fantasy games are set in fantasy and sci-fi worlds, mixed with RPG elements.
Because the games in the series are all different and carry their own unique stamps, players still debate about which installment is the best. One common aspect that is most noticeable among these distinct Final Fantasy games is that each character is beautifully designed and has an engaging narrative.
Madden NFL
The early installments of this franchise were simply called John Madden Football because EA had not yet signed a deal with the NFL. One difference between the Madden games of the past and today is that they were not released annually. It wasn’t until the 90s that EA Sports began releasing a new Madden game each year.
However, one thing that this series has maintained from the 80s to now is that Madden has always been the most realistic and immersive simulation of American football at the time each installment was released.
The Legend Of Zelda
Link’s first journey began in 1986. In this installment, our protagonist must rescue Zelda from the evil Ganon, leading to a fierce battle in Hyrule. Since then, the formula of this game franchise has not changed much. The storyline will have certain changes, such as Link needing to save Hyrule instead of Zelda, but there will usually always be a mark of Ganon in there.
Nevertheless, each game still has its own unique charm. Since its inception in the 80s, this franchise has gone through many “evolutions,” improving graphics and gameplay while also releasing both 2D and 3D versions to attract new players. Because the formula of this series still works to this day, there is not much reason for the Legend Of Zelda series to change too much. This is why the sales of each Zelda game remain very stable, rarely becoming a “flop.”
Wolfenstein
The Wolfenstein series debuted in 1981 with the first game being Castle Wolfenstein. Due to technological limitations, the games back then looked very different from the Wolfenstein we see today. In fact, it wasn’t even a first-person shooter (FPS) anymore but rather a 2D action-adventure game with stealth elements.
It wasn’t until the 90s that the series evolved into FPS games with the refreshed title Wolfenstein 3D. This game had an enormous influence on later games as well as the FPS genre in general. The 2014 remake by Bethesda included many elements from Wolfenstein 3D while also incorporating stealth action from the original game. Additionally, it was praised by the gaming community for its graphics and gameplay.
Pac-Man
With a gameplay that is incredibly simple and easy to understand, Pac-Man has stood the test of time. It thrived throughout the 80s and has survived for over 40 years into our era. Since the first game was launched in 1980, the game content has not changed much; essentially, you play as a yellow smiling face eating dots on the screen while avoiding ghosts.
Of course, the game has had many variations and changes in visuals, but the core elements of the game remain, continuing to bring joy to people despite the years that have passed.
Super Mario
Mario is one of the most famous fictional characters in history, both in general and in the video game industry. Mario first appeared in 1981, simply as the character “Jump Man” in Donkey Kong, but he quickly gained his own game named after him in 1985, followed by the entire Super Mario franchise with various genres, from racing like Mario Kart to fighting like Smash Bros.
From the mid-80s to the mid-90s, the game saw continuous releases of different installments. After that, Super Mario took a break for a while. Instead, Super Mario Sunshine replaced it from 1997 to 2005.
By the late 2000s, the original series made a comeback and has been continuously released until today. The core values of the franchise have mostly remained unchanged. The entire series revolves around the story of the plumber Mario defeating Bowser to stop him from becoming the king of the Mushroom Kingdom and rescuing Princess Peach. Of course, there are many games with innovative ideas, but they all fundamentally revolve around the essence of the first Super Mario game.