Video games have consistently grown in scope and complexity over the decades, with many new releases today incorporating multiple genres and a plethora of gameplay mechanics. While these games have continued to push boundaries, there’s still a place for titles that keep things simple and focus on one or two gameplay mechanics that haveendless replay value.
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Such games were booming in the ’70s and ’80s and still find success today, particularly on mobile devices. Over the course of gaming history, some titles have perfected the art of being simple but addictive and are still an easy way to kill a few hours today.
7Pac-Man
Prior to the release of theSuper Mario Bros.trilogy,Pac-Manwas the biggest name in gaming. The arcade game captivated audiences in the ’80s with its bright,eye-catching visuals, marketable characters, and addictive gameplay that encouraged players to keep feeding the machine coins to try and beat their high scores.
ThePac-Manfranchise has tried on many occasions to recapture the magic of the original game with3D platformers, kart racers, and re-inventions of the original formula. While the series has had some great moments, no game has been able to reach the commercial or critical success of the original.
6Tetris
Tetriswas first released in the USSR in 1984 before releasing around the world in the late ’80s.Tetrisisstill the best-selling game of all time when taking the sales of its various editions into account, which is no surprise as there aren’t many gamers today who have never given the classic tile-matching game a try. UnlikePac-Man,Tetrishas continued to thrive in modern gaming, with games likeTetris EffectandTetris 99finding ways to reinvent the original formula without sacrificing quality.
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Tetrisis well-known for its simple but addictive gameplay, particularly because it gives many people a side effect known as “Tetrissyndrome” (also known as theTetriseffect), which is when someone plays numerous hours of the game and starts to see mental images of the shapes.The Witnessis an example of a modern game that gives players this same effect.
5Peggle
Pegglewas developed by PopCap Games and first released in February 2007 on PC before arriving on a wide range of systems, including Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and iOS.
The puzzle game is somewhat reminiscent ofPachinko, though it tasks players with eliminating every orange peg on the screen before running out of balls. The game also keeps things interesting by letting players control various characters, who each have a special power to give the player an edge.
4Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!
Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!was first released in 1987 and was an adaptation of the 1983 arcade gamePunch-Out!!. The game follows a 17-year-old boxer named Little Mac as he tries to defy the odds and beat a series of fighters before ultimately besting the legendary boxer Mike Tyson.
Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!only gives players a few dodge and punch controls that make the game seem deceivingly easy during the first few simple fights. However, the difficulty gradually cranks up until players are faced with Mike Tyson, who isinfamous for being one of the most difficult bosses in gaming history.
3Excitebike
Excitebikewas initially released on the Nintendo Entertainment System and in arcades in 1984. The game features a side-scrolling perspective and has wonderfully smooth gameplay that makes the bike a joy to control. Despite how complex and realistic motorbike racing games have become,Excitebikeis still great fun to play today, which is a testament to how well the gameplay was designed.
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Excitebikewas a launch title for the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America and is one ofthe console’s best-selling games of all time.
2Geometry Wars
To say that theGeometry Warsseries had an unorthodox start to life would be an understatement, as the game first appeared inProject Gotham Racing 2as a minigame that could be played on an arcade cabinet in a car garage. Many people began playingProject Gotham Racing 2just for themultidirectional shooter, which gave Microsoft Game Studios (now known as Xbox Game Studios) the perfect opportunity to turn the minigame into a full release.
There has been a handful ofGeometry Warsreleases over the years, including the critically-acclaimedGeometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2,which was released in July 2008 on Xbox 360 and received an impressive90 Metascore.
1Frogger
Froggerwas released in 1981 and gave players the odd task of guiding a frog to a lily pad home. This is far easier said than done, however, as standing between the frog and lily pads are high-speed vehicles, sinking turtles, and aggressive crocodiles that can stop the player’s progress dead.
Froggerwas a huge financial success, as much likePac-Man, players poured money into the arcade game’s machine to try and beat their high scores.
