Consider this a love letter to the pixelated masterpieces that shaped our childhoods—and, if we’re being honest, still occupy a significant chunk of our time as adults. Some games were built to last, and this collection of well-loved 8-bit titles has certainly stood the test of time, captivating retro gaming fans to this day.
From Donkey Kong to Pac-Man, these legendary games taught us patience (looking at you, Tetris), resilience (hello, Final Fantasy), and the simple joys of colorful side-scrolling gameplay (thanks, Mario & Co.).
If you’re ready for a healthy dose of nostalgia, read on to revisit the best retro gaming titles that still have us rage-quitting to this day (just without the unplugging…).
Super Mario Bros. (1985)
While Mario and Luigi had been bouncing around arcade systems since 1983, Super Mario Bros. was, for many gamers, our first real encounter with the Mushroom Kingdom at home. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Before Bowser was the Bowser we know today, we battled him as ‘King Koopa’. And before Peach was our princess? We rescued ‘Princess Toadstool’. Looking back now, it’s a bit like a fever dream, but everything the Mario franchise became began here.
Side-scrolling to reach that flagpole for hours is a hallmark of a true gamer’s childhood. From underwater levels to the lava-filled final boss, Super Mario Bros. is the game that keeps giving, even 40 years later.
The Legend of Zelda (1986)
Despite approaching 40 years old (sorry for the shock, ’80s kids), Zelda remains one of the most popular games, available on nearly every console, from the GameCube to the Wii. This game scratched every fantasy itch; it gave us dungeons, caves, and a newfound appreciation for the recorder.
Surprisingly expansive and tricky, but always fun. Gathering those eight pieces of the Triforce felt like winning at life, even if it required traversing numerous dungeons and Ganon’s final hideout.
Tetris (1984)
Ask anyone to name a retro 8-bit game, and you’ll more than likely get Tetris or Pac-Man in response. The blocks that changed the game forever, the fast-moving blocks of Tetris are almost burned into our collective consciousness, not to mention all over clothing, signage, and decor across the globe.
With over 200 variations of the game now in existence, we think the replayability of Tetris needs to be studied by professionals. When it came to the NES in 1989, it boomed in popularity even more. Simple but smart, these colorful shapes will be lighting up the faces of players for years to come, even when arcade consoles have long become dusty relics.
Pac-Man (1980)
You can hear it too, right? Ah yes, the bleeps and bloops that soundtracked an entire generation of gamers. Whether you first met Pac-Man in the arcade, on the Atari 2600, or even later (…it’s on the App Store now!), this hungry yellow disc has consumed millions upon millions of hours from gamers across the world.
The good old ‘Ghost Gang’—Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde—were not the most fearsome of foes, and yet somehow they still struck cold fear into our hearts. The adrenaline was addictive, the maze mesmerizing, and the high score an awe-inspiring figure we could never, ever reach. Pac-Man, in all its 8-bit glory, will always be a legendary game.
The best part? You got to pick who came along for the ride, choosing your party from different classes and locking in for the entire game. This was a beast of a game with 11+ bosses to tackle, and we loved every minute.
Mega Man 2 (1988)
Honestly, we owe a lot to Mega Man 1 bombing hard—it cleared the path for the legendary 8-bit sequel we all adore. Capcom’s team may have been working under the clock, cutting corners here and there, but Mega Man 2 still stands as a timeless classic in our book.
Final Fantasy (1987)
As 8-bit RPGs go, it rarely gets better than the first installment of Final Fantasy. A deeply strategic, sprawling game, Final Fantasy 1 gave birth to an entire franchise, laying the foundations (themes, design, and game mechanics) for the rest of the series.
Castlevania (1986)
When it comes to 8-bit horror games, Castlevania will always come out on top. Hidden holy water vials that work like grenades? Crucifix boomerangs? This game took the Dracula myth to a whole new level and had us crouching, jumping, and lashing our magic whip at Frankenstein’s Monster and the Grim Reaper himself in some pretty chaotic final bosses.
Was Simon a pretty understated protagonist? Sure. Were the moving ceiling spikes deceptively difficult? Also, sure. But this game, with its gloomy hallways and spooky soundtrack, is simply embedded within our consciousness as an all-time 8-bit classic.
Contra (1987)
This iconic run-and-gun game was simplistic but legendary for kids of the ’80s and early ’90s. Fighting over who got to be Bill and who got to be Lance was simply unavoidable as you played this with your best friend after school. Giving us the classic arcade experience we all craved (but from the comfort of our bedrooms), Contra was ultra-cool. Anyone remember the Konami Code hack for lives at the start? Admit it, we all did it.
Final Fantasy (1987)
As 8-bit RPGs go, it rarely gets better than the first installment of Final Fantasy. A deeply strategic, sprawling game, Final Fantasy 1 gave birth to an entire franchise, laying the foundations (themes, design, and game mechanics) for the rest of the series.
Metroid (1986)
If you were a teenager in the ’80s, first—how are those knees holding up? And second—could anything have been cooler than space pirates and beta rays back then? We’d say no.
Metroid was the ultimate futuristic action game: slick controls, an unforgettable soundtrack, and graphics that still impress. Honestly, if we had to pick a planet to live on, it’d be Zebes—mainly for those insanely efficient elevators.
This game had us racing through tunnels, blasting open secret passageways, and pulling off somersault attacks on underground foes—and we couldn’t get enough.
Donkey Kong (1981)
“Help Mario Save His Girl!” read the instructions of the Atari version of Donkey Kong (yes, you can find PDF versions of the original leaflets online, because we’re that committed).
Donkey Kong has long been transformed into a global franchise and immortalized as the strong, stubborn character we all know and love, but you just can’t beat the original 8-bit version, no matter how much streamlining you do to this gorilla.
Fun fact: the Atari 8-bit version contains one of the longest-hidden Easter eggs in video game history. The hidden Easter egg was only revealed 26 years later when Landon Dyer, the programmer, revealed it on his blog. If you were looking for a reason to dust off the old cartridge and give this thing a replay, there you have it.
Reconnect With Retro at Displate
Reignite your love for retro and style your space with certified throwbacks that transport you and your guests right back to your 8‑bit childhood! From Pac-Man to Atari, discover wall decor themed around all your favorite titles in Displate’s extensive collection of gaming posters.
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