Click and compare - it's in your hands:

Entering a martial arts tournament at the height of the genre's mid-80s popularity, The Way of the Exploding Fist draws clear inspiration from Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do, reinforced by its digitised kiai sample and visual nods.

The Way of the Exploding Fist

1985 • Amstrad • BBC • Commodore 64 +1 more

Pixel8Games 81% Users —

Participate in this morning's edification

Ghosts 'n Goblins (1985) gleefully armed Sir Arthur, knocked his armour off within seconds, and then kept kicking him while he was already down.

Ghosts 'n Goblins

1985 • Amiga • Amstrad • Arcade +4 more

Pixel8Games 78% Users —

Die. Retry. Repeat.

Tetris was the sort of game that looked like office software, then quietly stole entire evenings.

Tetris

1984 • Amstrad • Commodore 64 • PC

Pixel8Games 80% Users —

One more piece

Horace Goes Skiing (1982) cheerfully put players in control of an unusual character whose idea of a relaxing ski trip involved dodging traffic, renting skis, and repeatedly face-planting down a mountain.

Horace Goes Skiing

1982 • Spectrum

Pixel8Games 52% Users —

Worst ski holiday

Airwolf (1985) arrived fuelled by TV hype, cello solos, and the promise of airborne firepower.

Airwolf

1984 • Amstrad • Arcade • Commodore 64 +1 more

Pixel8Games 57% Users —

Cello in the air

Rolling Thunder (1986) dropped players into a stylish spy thriller where trench coats were sharp, enemies were ruthless, and bullets were strictly rationed.

Rolling Thunder

1986 • Amiga • Amstrad • Arcade +2 more

Pixel8Games 83% Users —

Cool under fire

Elite (1984) dropped players into a vast, lonely galaxy armed with a fragile Cobra Mk III, 100 credits, and absolutely no safety net.

Elite

1984 • Amstrad • BBC • Commodore 64 +1 more

Pixel8Games 93% Users —

Profit or perish

Raid Over Moscow (1984) served Cold War panic as an arcade sampler platter: launch the interceptor, dodge defences, blow the silos, then head for the Kremlin like you'd lost a bet.

Raid Over Moscow

1984 • Amstrad • Apple II • Atari 8-bit +2 more

Pixel8Games 80% Users —

The empire strikes back

Target: Renegade (1988) strutted in like a street brawler with a bad attitude and a worse neighborhood.

Target Renegade

1988 • Amstrad • Commodore 64 • NES +1 more

Pixel8Games 75% Users —

Street justice, cheap shots

Duke Nukem 3D (1996) swaggered into the shooter scene chewing bubblegum and kicking ass.

Duke Nukem 3D

1996 • Mega Drive • PC

Pixel8Games 91% Users —

No manners. No mercy.

Bruce Lee blended martial arts, platforming, and exploration into something quietly special.

Bruce Lee

1984 • Amstrad • BBC • Commodore 64 +1 more

Pixel8Games 84% Users —

Be water, my friend.

Pole Position (1982) didn’t just ask you to race - it demanded you qualify first, instantly setting it apart from its coin-hungry rivals.

Pole Position

1982 • Arcade

Pixel8Games 71% Users —

Qualify or quit

Impossible Mission (1984) politely greeted players with an ominous “Stay awhile… stay forever!” before immediately trying to kill them.

Impossible Mission

1984 • Amiga • Amstrad • Commodore 64

Pixel8Games 90% Users —

Timing is everything

Jimmy White's Whirlwind Snooker (1991) swaggered onto the 16-bit scene like a pub-hero with a brand-new cue - loud, quick, and convinced every pot was on.

Jimmy White's Whirlwind Snooker

1991 • Amiga • Atari ST • Mega Drive +1 more

Pixel8Games 84% Users —

Right on cue

Marble Madness (1984) looked cute until the timer started screaming and your marble began sliding like it hated you.

Marble Madness

1984 • Amiga • Amstrad • Arcade +6 more

Pixel8Games 74% Users —

Don't blink!

Maniac Mansion (1987) invited you to pick a trio of teenagers and trespass into the Edison household, where every room hid a gag, a trap, or a way to accidentally doom your friends.

Maniac Mansion

1987 • Amiga • Apple II • Atari ST +3 more

Pixel8Games 79% Users —

Break in, think

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