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Video Game Systems Released Before 1990: Complete Guide

Home Consoles (Pre-1990)

Console	Year	Region	Key Games
Magnavox Odyssey	1972	Global	Table Tennis, Hockey
Atari 2600 (VCS)	1977	Global	Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Pitfall!, Adventure
Intellivision	1979	NA/EU	Astrosmash, Night Stalker, Utopia
ColecoVision	1982	NA/EU	Donkey Kong, Zaxxon, Smurf: Rescue
Atari 5200	1982	NA	Pac-Man, Star Raiders, Robotron: 2084
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES/Famicom)	1983 (JP) / 1985 (NA)	Global	Super Mario Bros., Zelda, Metroid, Castlevania
Sega Master System	1985 (JP) / 1986 (NA)	Global	Alex Kidd, Phantasy Star, Wonder Boy
Atari 7800	1986	NA	Ms. Pac-Man, Pole Position II, Joust
PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16	1987 (JP) / 1989 (NA)	JP/NA	Bonk's Adventure, R-Type, Ys Book I & II
Mega Drive / Genesis	1988 (JP) / 1989 (NA)	Global	Sonic 1, Altered Beast, Ghouls 'n Ghosts

Notable Home Computers (Gaming Platforms)

Commodore 64 (1982): Best-selling computer ever; Elite, The Last Ninja, Turrican, Impossible Mission.
ZX Spectrum (1982, UK): Jet Set Willy, Manic Miner, Knight Lore, Dizzy.
Amstrad CPC (1984): Sorcery+, Rick Dangerous, Chase H.Q.
Amiga 1000 (1985) / Atari ST (1985): 16-bit pioneers; Shadow of the Beast, Lemmings, Speedball 2.
MSX (1983, Japan/global): Standardized platform; Metal Gear, Gradius, Penguin Adventure.

Arcade Systems (Pre-1990)

Arcade hardware varied by game; notable titles that defined the era:

1978: Space Invaders (Taito)
1980: Pac-Man (Namco)
1981: Donkey Kong, Galaga, Frogger
1982: Dig Dug, Pole Position, Joust, Robotron: 2084
1983: Dragon's Lair (laserdisc), Track & Field
1984: Punch-Out!!, 1942
1985: Super Mario Bros. (VS. System), Hang-On, Space Harrier
1986: Out Run, Bubble Bobble, Arkanoid
1987: Double Dragon, Street Fighter, Contra
1988: After Burner, Shinobi, Bad Dudes
1989: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Golden Axe, Strider

Handhelds

Game & Watch (1980–1991): Nintendo's single-game LCD series.
Atari Lynx (1989): First color handheld.
Game Boy (1989): Monochrome; launched with Tetris.

Legacy: The pre-1990 era established genres, franchises, and business models still relevant today. The 1983 crash (NA) and Nintendo's 1985 revival shaped modern console licensing.

Video Game Accessories