This article showcases our top picks for the
Best 70s Video Games. We reached out to industry leaders and experts who have contributed the suggestions within this article (they have been credited for their contributions below).
We are keen to hear your feedback on all of our content and our comment section is a moderated space to express your thoughts and feelings related (or not) to this article
This list is in no particular order.
This product was recommended by Timothy Connon from ParamountQuote
This game is remembered as one of THE classic arcade games. Pac-Man is timeless and unforgettable when people think of an Arcade they think of Pac-Man.
This product was recommended by Lucia Jensen from Weloans
The Oregon Trail is the best 70’s video game. The text-based strategy video game was developed in 1971 by Don Rawitsch, Bill Heinemann, and Paul Dillenberger. It was then produced in 1974 by the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium (MECC). Initially, the single-player game was designed to teach children in 8th grade about the realities of 19th-century pioneer life on the Oregon Trail. Players assume a wagon’s leadership role to guide a party of settlers from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon’s Willamette Valley through a covered wagon in 1848.
This product was recommended by Camila Henderson from FastPaydayLoans
Seawolf sits right at the top of retro game list that I would make today. It’s probably older than I am, but I absolutely love it nonetheless. It’s complex, and highly intriguing. Cost aside, I would probably have the arcade version in my house today, because I simply can’t get enough of the game.
This product was recommended by Jane Hammitt from FastPeopleFinder
Space invaders will forever be worth the money. The game is pretty much underrated, especially given the fact that it pretty much revolutionised the gaming industry upon launching. A game of Space invaders takes you all the way back into time, when the graphics were a little more underdeveloped, and game development was all about the story. Even today, the game is still lots of fun, not just because it comes with lots of actions, but also because there’s a special feeling of sorts when you wipe clean your enemies from the screen.
This product was recommended by Kelvin Stewart from USBadCreditLoans
This Nanoblock is the advanced version of the 70s brick game. The bricks are assembled to form a shape and model. It is an entry-level kit with sophisticated outfits. The overall idea of this game is to create unique models. This game enhances the creative skills of kids.
This product was recommended by Lyle Florez from EasyPeopleSearch
Galaxian was one of the first games to use RGB color graphics, and it was the first game to do so. It could also scroll the screen while animating multi-color sprites, making it more complicated than the competitors. Galaxian’s success prompted a sequel, Galaga, to be released in 1981. It also influenced a slew of other games, including 1941, Time Pilot, and any game where the user controls a ship against foes.
This product was recommended by Shane Paarman from Awesome Stuff 365
This is one of the first survival-style games that existed,and it’s all about playing as a caravan of settlers from Missouri to Oregon. You have to trade along the way for money, hunt for food, and remember to keep everyone alive. It’s so popular that they’ve turned it into a board game too! I found this version on Amazon that comes as a playable micro arcade, so the graphics aren’t great but it feels authentic.
This product was recommended by Sarah Ross from CocoLoan
This version of Galaxian for the Atari 2600 is an excellent port of the late 70s/early 80s-era arcade shooter. All of the enemy fighters look quite nice, as does your spaceship/laser cannon, there is relatively little flicker present for a 2600 game, and the sound effects are crisp and enjoyable. Control is also good, and while you can only shoot one shot at a time, one can learn quickly how to time those shots to increase the attack rate. I also found the cycling color effect during the title screen to be a lovely little touch. If you can find this game mint in box, then there is even an amusing Atari Force comic book that comes with it. Galaxian is a great game that I recommend to anyone who collects and plays Atari titles.
This product was recommended by Michael Rose from Union Law Firm
My family used to head out to Coney Island on the weekends and I used to spend lazy Saturday afternoons playing this game in the arcades that littered the beachfront. I fell in love with it, and it’s been an overriding passion ever since, because who doesn’t love to destroy invading alien hordes and save the planet for the price of a quarter
This product was recommended by Richard Clews from PantSandSocks
When I was a kid, my friends and I would play Asteroid at my place.I enjoyed the gameplay a lot because you could move around, aim, and shoot freely.
This product was recommended by Ronald Williams from BestPeopleFinder
I still remember this game more for its innovative and beautifully designed case than for its actual gameplay. Sea Wolf was also one of the first games to incorporate a high save score, which is a feature that became prevalent soon after. It also encouraged people to try to outdo their friends to get the highest score, making the game relatively profitable through competition. Sea Wolf is a shooter that places the players inside a submarine. They then look at a screen with ships moving along the sea line and fire torpedoes to destroy them. Instead of just looking at a screen, Sea Wolf had a rotating periscope that moved left and right. Its horizontal movement created a realistic aim for the player to find ships and destroy them. While the graphics weren’t inspiring, the gameplay was fun and engaging.
This product was recommended by Christina Russo from The Kitchen Community
My older brothers all loved this game, and through a process of geek osmosis, I eventually began to adore it too. It’s a bonafide gaming classic, and the longer you manage to avoid and destroy the debris, the faster and more complicated the game gets. It’s a perfect analogy for life, which is probably why it’s lasted so well and is still infinitely playable.
This product was recommended by Sheila Eugenio from Media Mentions
One of the best 70s video games. It was released in 1972 and it took up to three years to develop. In the computer space, players control a spaceship and try to avoid its death by colliding with different objects. It is one of the most popular games for kids because it is easy to play and has simple controls.*
This product was recommended by Phillip Villegas from Three Pedal Mafia
Star Raiders puts you in command of a space ship that is travelling across the cosmos fighting Krylons. You must utilise a map to track opponent positions and move around in addition to dogfighting alien invaders. Hyperspace can be used to travel at a faster rate. The joystick is used to control your ship and fire weapons, while the Video Touch Pad is used to access the ship’s computer. This is a read the manual kind of game. There are a lot of game settings and controls, so you need to make sure you read the instructions carefully. If you don’t have one, you can easily find one online.
This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com and other Amazon websites.
Post Views: 401