Classic 80’s Gaming Franchises That Are Still Around Today

The 80's saw the tail-end of the Cold War, as well as the fall of the Berlin Wall. It was also the decade that many of the greatest gaming franchises of all time first saw the light of day, which can probably almost be considered nearly as important, if spun correctly.

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By  Maddie Fisher

From games featuring a hammer wielding Italian plumber, to a fire-ball shooting martial arts master, much of the decade's video game output featured some of gaming's most iconic faces. Additionally, some of the most ubiquitous and lucrative gaming franchises were established during this time, leading to these games' long lives, which continue to this day.

8 Mario

Debuted In 1981

Video games have had to wade through countless controversies throughout the medium's life. Yet, against all odds, Mario found his way through it all, and into the homes of millions around the globe.

Nintendo's premier mascot is beloved for good reason. His charming and simple design, as well as the world he hails from, just has that much mass appeal. This is why, since Donkey Kong, Mario has found a space in every genre, medium, country, and creed, and is now one of the most recognizable pop culture figures on the planet.

7 Wolfenstein

Debuted In 1981

In 2014, Wolfenstein: The New Order was released, feeling like a triumphant return for a long-dormant series. Of course, it wasn't a genuine feeling, as the series had seen steady releases since its inception up until this point.

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It's sequel, The New Colossus, features a truly unhinged story, complete with some jaw-dropping moments. Modern Wolfenstein feels as if Machine Games reached back through its decades-long history, just to bring back some of the franchise's best aspects and stuff them into the series we know today.

6 The Legend Of Zelda

Debuted In 1986

It's rare that a game franchise makes it as long as The Legend of Zelda has without putting out many true duds along the way. Yes, each entry's mileage may very in the eyes of fans, but for every ten Ocarina of Time lovers, there are just as many Skyward Sword diehards.

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This is a feat for any franchise as long-lasting as this one. It's a sign that Nintendo is unafraid to try new things, with each new game's release giving fans something new, whether that's a fresh new art style, like in Wind Waker, or an iconic innovation in the gaming space, like with Z-targeting in Ocarina of Time.

5 Dragon Quest

Debuted In 1986

Dragon Quest is yet another genre-defining series from the 80s. Created by some of the biggest names in the gaming space, including the creator of Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama, as the series' character designer, it was simply poised for success from the start.

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Every entry in Dragon Quest's canon is full of adorably realized monsters like Slimes and Dracky, all inhabiting a world well worth wandering. It's also a world that's further fleshed out by way of its healthy amount of side content, including manga and anime.

4 Street Fighter

Debuted In 1987

Street Fighter 2 was one of the first fighting games to ever do it, as well as one of the best, rocking arcades everywhere since the 90s. Its now iconic roster of fighters, each with their own playstyles and special moves, has followed it throughout the years, and has just recently been included in a 6th major installment.

People often forget that the original Street Fighter, released in '87, is where it all started. This first game is where the Ryu and Ken rivalry was established, as well as their incredibly well-known movesets, which included their supernatural hadouken blasts and shouryuuken uppercuts.

3 Final Fantasy

Debuted In 1987

To date, there are 16 mainline Final Fantasy games that players have been able to sink their teeth into. Then there's the countless spin-offs that have been released alongside them across just about every gaming device in history. There are very few franchises in any medium as expansive as Final Fantasy.

From tactical games to Soulslikes to movies and mobile experiences, Final Fantasy has never been one to stay out of the limelight. It's also a series that isn't afraid to take fans back and forth through time and dimensions, exploring aspects of past games while staring starkly toward the future.

2 Madden

Debuted In 1988

For the past 34 years, Madden has been a staple in the sports video game scene. Each entry hasn't been made equal however, with features being added and removed to make each year stand out in one way or another, but not necessarily making each entry an improvement on the last.

What has stayed constant, though, has been the steady ramp up in graphical fidelity that the series has seen. With new animations and a great emphasis on photo-realism as of late, Madden has been able to prove that it just doesn't play where the look of the gridiron is concerned.

1 Prince Of Persia

Debuted In 1989

Hot off the heels of The Lost Crown and The Rogue, it's clear that the Prince of Persia franchise is having a moment as of late. Though, it hasn't all been easy going for the series following a storied history of re-releases, reinventions, and re-imaginings.

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There are some consistencies that have stayed with the franchise through its ups and downs, though. Namely, the high octane acrobatics that the titular Prince can pull off, as well as his ability to reverse or manipulate time. The series has only grown more impressive as gaming's graphical capabilities have advanced over the years.

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