Video games have been with us for quite a while now, helping many generations grow and discover new ways to solve problems. As we grow older, we often look fondly on the first few games that introduced us to the medium, and the different ages have their own ‘classic’ games.
Users of Reddit gathered to discuss just that, and the different ages of the participants couldn’t be more obvious. Some remember playing the very first video game in existence, while others played as children what others consider games from their teenage years. These are a selection of games they were discussing.
Pong
For many older gamers, Pong wasn’t just their first video game, it was their introduction to electronic entertainment entirely. Two paddles and a bouncing square were enough to create a lifelong hobby.
Duck Hunt
The NES light gun made Duck Hunt feel magical to kids. Pointing a plastic pistol at the television and actually affecting what happened on screen seemed like futuristic technology at the time.
Space Invaders
Arcades and home conversions introduced countless players to Space Invaders. The simple task of shooting descending aliens became one of gaming’s earliest worldwide phenomena.
Battle Chess
Many PC gamers fondly remember Battle Chess on floppy disks. The game followed normal chess rules, but every captured piece triggered elaborate animated battles that made the ancient board game feel exciting.
Super Mario Bros.
Nintendo’s landmark platformer served as a first gaming experience for an entire generation. Running, jumping, and discovering secrets in the Mushroom Kingdom created memories that have lasted for decades.
Leisure Suit Larry
Some players discovered gaming through the notoriously adult-oriented Leisure Suit Larry. Whether they were old enough to play it or not, its humor and puzzle-solving left a lasting impression.
Pac-Man
The yellow dot-eating icon became one of the most recognizable video game characters ever created. For many people, Pac-Man was the first game they encountered in an arcade.
Intellivision Baseball
Sports fans often remember Intellivision Baseball as their introduction to gaming. Its graphics seem primitive now, but the ability to play a baseball game on television felt revolutionary.
Tetris
Countless Game Boy owners received the handheld bundled with Tetris. The puzzle game’s simple design and endless replayability made it one of the most memorable first gaming experiences ever.
Streets of Rage 2
Many Sega fans have vivid memories of cooperative sessions in Streets of Rage 2. The side-scrolling action and memorable soundtrack helped make it a defining game of the early 1990s.
Frogger
Crossing roads and rivers sounds simple, but Frogger became an arcade classic. Many gamers still remember desperately trying to guide a tiny frog safely across increasingly dangerous obstacles.
Minesweeper
For a generation of PC users, Minesweeper arrived preinstalled and ready to play. It introduced countless people to gaming during school breaks, office downtime, or long afternoons at home.
Sonic the Hedgehog
The original Sonic the Hedgehog showcased the Sega Genesis with speed unlike anything many players had seen. For countless kids, it was their very first console gaming experience.
The Oregon Trail
Many students encountered The Oregon Trail in school computer labs. Learning about westward expansion while trying not to die from dysentery became a surprisingly memorable gaming experience.
Crash Bandicoot
The original PlayStation introduced many players to 3D platforming through Crash Bandicoot. Navigating its colorful levels became a formative gaming memory for countless late-1990s kids.
