A decade that brought us Ghostbusters and leg warmers, Madonna and the mullet, the 1980s were when gaming hit the mainstream, changing our lives forever.
And whether the ‘80s started your gaming kick or you’ve since dipped back into the decade’s hits, these favourites are certainly worth a replay. Not only are they all still engaging must-plays, they’re also packed with nostalgia.
Up, left, ghost, ghost, ghost!
The decade got off to a solid start when, just weeks into it, a little yellow fella by the name of Pac-Man started gobbling up dots while being harassed by a quartet of menacing ghouls. Almost 40 years later Pac-Man is arguably the most iconic game of all time with its pixelated puzzles and fast, frantic gameplay continuing to excite.
In Pac-Man for iOS you can play your way through original, classic mazes or enjoy new gameplay grids. As you scuttle through these trying to collect energiser fruits and avoid the onrushing ghosts you’ve got to swipe to change Pac-Man’s movements. It’s modern mechanics for a timeless title.
It’s a-him, a-Mario!
It was back in 1983 that the little Italian plumber moved from Donkey Kong to start his own legendary series. As well as igniting a gaming revolution, Mario Bros. birthed an icon that continues to grow and evolve.
In Super Mario Run you get to play as the world’s most famous plumber and guide your moustachioed buddy through a variety of iconic levels. Here, Mario runs of his own accord and you’ve got to jump and spin your way past baddies, collecting rings and smashing boxes as you go.
Pyramids, aliens, hmm…
The cute, yet profanity-packing, Q*bert first hit arcades in 1982. Your job? Help the little orange lead navigate a series of fiendishly tricky, pyramid-based puzzles. Each cube you jump on switches colour, and you need to get all the cubes to match.
This iOS remake brings the same premise with some added twists. You’re still pursued by the same recognisable baddies making it tricky to know where to turn, and the levels still quickly become fiendishly difficult. Now though you can give Q*bert a makeover. Whether you end up sporting a viking or alien antenna, one wrong move and that iconic “@!#?@!” will be making another appearance.

When ’80s hobby meets ’80s hobby
Back in the day you’d have to queue up for a go on this martial arts-based beat-‘em-up. Now, downloading Double Dragon Trilogy is like having instant access to not just one, but three arcade machines of your own.
Letting you relive this iconic trilogy in traditional pixelated perfection, here you’ve got to punch, kick and karate chop your way through wave after wave of wrong‘uns to rescue your girlfriend from a gang of thugs. You’ll throw knees, elbows and the occasional head-butt all while being backed by a brilliantly retro 8-bit soundtrack. Hi-yah!
