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1982 was the year that marked the peak of the golden age of arcade video games, and is the year before the Video Game Crash of 1983. Also, it marked the first year of Atari's unpopularity (it produced two unpopular games, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and the Atari 2600 version of Pac-Man).

Business[ | ]

  • The US market for arcade games peak in revenue, worth $11.8 billion ($7.3 billion from coins, $4.5 billion from machine sales),[1] equivalent to $28.9 billion in 2024.
  • The European market for home video games is estimated to reach $800 million,[2] equivalent to $1.96 billion in 2024.

Notable Releases[ | ]

Games[ | ]

Arcade
  • January: SEGA Zaxxon arcade system board debuts with Zaxxon, introducing isometric graphics and diagonal scrolling.
  • June: Moon Patrol was created by Irem and released in the U.S. by Williams. It is the first game to use parallax scrolling.[3]
  • July: Namco releases Pole Position,[4] and it becomes one of the most popular racing games of all time.[5] It used full-color landscapes with scaling sprites, and a pseudo-3D third-person view of the track, with its vanishing point swaying side to side as the player approaches corners, simulating forward movement into the distance.[6] Its Namco Pole Position hardware was the first to use 16-bit microprocessors, with two Zilog Z8002 processors,[7] and displayed up to 3840 colors.[8]
  • November: Konami releases Time Pilot, which features a time travel theme and a free-roaming style of gameplay where the player's plane could freely move across open air space that scrolls indefinitely in all directions.[9][10]
  • Donkey Kong Jr. (Arcade)
  • SEGA releases Star Trek, a space combat sim featuring five different controls, six different enemies, and 40 different simulation levels. One of the most elaborate vector games ever released.[11]
  • December: Atari releases Quantum,[12] an early arcade game to use a 16-bit Motorola 68000 CPU, for more detailed and smoother vector graphics.[13]
Console
Computer

Console Hardware[ | ]

References[ | ]

Video game releases[ | ]

Name Release Date Category Region(s) Platform(s)
3D Bowling 1982 Video Game North America Emerson Arcadia 2001
4 in 1 Row 1982 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
Advanced Dungeons and Dragons August 16, 1982 Video Game North America Intellivision
Adventures of Tron 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Air Lock 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Air Raid 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Alien 1982 Video Game North America Undefined
Alien Invaders 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Alien Invaders Plus 1982 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Alpine Skiing 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
American Football (1982) 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Anteater 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Armada 1982 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
Armor Attack 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Armor Battle 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Armored Encounter!/Sub Chase! 1982 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
Astro Chase 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Atari Video Cube 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Atlantis 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600, Intellivision
Attack of the Timelord 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Azurian Attack 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
B-17 Bomber 1982 Video Game North America Intellivision
Baby Pac-Man 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Backgammon (1982) 1982 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
Bagman 1982 Video Game North America Arcade
Barnstorming 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Baseball (1982) 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Baseball! 1982 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Baseball! 1982 Video Game Japan Magnavox Odyssey 2
Battle Cross 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Battle Trek 1982 Video Game North America Atari 8-bit
Beat 'em and Eat 'em October 13, 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Beauty & The Beast 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Bedlam 1982 Video Game North America Vectrex
Berzerk 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600, Vectrex
Birdie King 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Black Widow 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Blitz: Action Football 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Blockout!/Breakdown! 1982 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Blue Print 1982 Video Game North America Arcade
Bomb Squad 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Bowling!/Basketball! 1982 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Brain Quiz 1982 Video Game North America Emerson Arcadia 2001
Breakaway 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Bubbles 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Bugs (1982) 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Bump 'n' Jump 1982 Video Game North America Arcade
Capture (1982) 1982 Video Game North America Arcadia 2001
Carnival 1982 Video Game North America Arcade, Atari 2600, Intellivision, ColecoVision
Casino Slot Machine 1982 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Cat Trax 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Cathouse Blues 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Centipede 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Challenge of Nexar 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Check Man 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Chinese Logic 1982 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Choplifter 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Chopper Command 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Clay Pigeon 1982 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Clean Sweep 1982 Video Game North America Vectrex
Clowns 1982 Video Game International Commodore VIC-20
Coconuts 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Comando Noturno 1982 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Commando Raid 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Communist Mutants from Space 1982 Video Game North America Arcadia Supercharger
Computer Golf 1982 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Computer Golf 1982 Video Game Japan Magnavox Odyssey 2
Conquest of the World 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Cosmic Ark 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Cosmic Chasm 1982 Video Game North America Vectrex
Cosmic Creeps 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Crazy Climber 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Crypts of Chaos 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Custer's Revenge October 13, 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Dark Cavern 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Demon 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Demon Attack 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600, Intellivision
Demons to Diamonds 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Depth Charge/Marksman 1982 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Desert Falcon 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Dig Dug 1982 Video Game North America Arcade
Disco No. 1 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Dishaster 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Donkey Kong March 3, 1982 Video Game International Intellivision
Donkey Kong Jr. 1982 Video Game North America Arcade, Atari 2600
Dragon Trek 1982 Video Game United Kingdom Dragon 32, Dragon 64
Dragonstomper 1982 Video Game North America Arcadia Supercharger
Dungeons of Daggorath 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Dynasty 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial December, 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Earth Dies Screaming 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Eggomania 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Electronic Table Soccer 1982 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
Eli's Ladder 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Encounter at L-5 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Entombed 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Escape 1982 Video Game North America Emerson Arcadia 2001
Escape from the Mindmaster 1982 Video Game North America Arcadia Supercharger
Exocet 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Exojet + 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Eyes 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Fantastic Voyage 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Fast Eddie 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Fast Food 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Fire Fighter 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Fire Fly 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Fireball 1982 Video Game North America Arcadia Supercharger
Football (Magnavox Odyssey 2) 1982 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Fortress of Narzod 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Freedom Fighters 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Frog Bog 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Frogger 1982 Video Game North America Arcadia Supercharger
Front Line 1982 Video Game International Arcade
Funky Fish 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Galaxy Trek 1982 Video Game North America MS-DOS
Gorf 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Grand Prix (1982) 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Grand Slam Tennis 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Guardian 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Hockey!/Soccer! 1982 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Hyper Chase 1982 Video Game North America Vectrex
I Want My Mommy 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
I've Got Your Number 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Incredible Wizard 1982 Video Game North America Bally Astrocade
Infiltrate 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
International Soccer 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Invaders from Hyperspace 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Jawbreaker 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Journey: Escape 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Joust 1982 Video Game North America Arcade
Jungle Hunt 1982 Video Game North America Arcade
Jungler 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
K.C. Munchkin 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
K.C.'s Krazy Chase 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Kangaroo 1982 Video Game North America Arcade
Ken Uston's Blackjack/Poker 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Keyboard Creations 1982 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
Keyboard Creations 1982 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Killer Bees 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Killer Satellites 1982 Video Game North America Arcadia Supercharger
Kinder im Verkehr 1 1982 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
King Kong 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Knight on the Town 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Labyrinth Game/Supermind 1982 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
Lady Bug 1982 Video Game North America ColecoVision
Lady in Wadding 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Liberator 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Lochjaw 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Lock 'n' Chase July 9, 1982 Video Game North America Intellivision
Loco-Motion 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Loony Balloon 1982 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Lost Luggage 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
M*A*S*H 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
M.A.D. 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Marauder 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Math Gran Prix 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Math-A-Magic!/Echo! 1982 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Megamania 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Microsurgeon 1982 Video Game North America Intellivision
Miner 2049er 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Mines of Minos 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Missile War 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Monkeyshines 1982 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
Monkeyshines 1982 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Moon Patrol 1982 Video Game North America Arcade
Morse 1982 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
Mouse Trap 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600, ColecoVision, Intellivision
Ms. Pac-Man January, 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Name This Game 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
NewTrek 1982 Video Game North America MS-DOS
Night Stalker May 16, 1982 Video Game North America Intellivision
Nimble Numbers Ned 1982 Video Game North America Magnavox Odyssey 2
Ocean Battle 1982 Video Game North America Emerson Arcadia 2001
Oink 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Omega Race 1982 Video Game North America Arcade
Out of this World/Helicopter Rescue 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
P.T. Barnum's Acrobats 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Pac-Man 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Pac-Man (Atari 2600) March, 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Pachinko 1982 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Party Mix 1982 Video Game North America Arcadia Supercharger
Pengo 1982 Video Game North America Arcade
Pepper II 1982 Video Game North America Arcade
Phaser Patrol 1982 Video Game North America Arcadia Supercharger
Philly Flasher 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Pick Axe Pete 1982 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
Pick Axe Pete 1982 Video Game North America Magnavox Odyssey 2
Pick Axe Pete 1982 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Pitfall! 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600, Intellivision
Planet Patrol 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Pleiads 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Pole Position 1982 Video Game North America Arcade, Atari 2600, Atari 5200
Ponpoko November, 1982 Video Game Japan Arcade
Pooyan 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Popeye 1982 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
Q*Bert December 31, 1982 Video Game North America Arcade
QB-3 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Qix II-Tournament 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Quantum 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Rabbit Transit 1982 Video Game North America Arcadia Supercharger
Raiders of the Lost Ark 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Rally-X 1982 Video Game Japan Arcade
Ram It 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Reactor 1982 Video Game North America Arcade, Atari 2600
Real Sports Baseball 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Real Sports Football 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Real Sports Volleyball 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Red Clash 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Rescue Terra I 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Riddle of the Sphinx 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Rip Off 1982 Video Game North America Vectrex
River Raid 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Robin Hood: Prince of Theives November, 1982 Video Game North America Nintendo Entertainment System
Robin Hood: Prince of Theives December 10, 1982 Video Game Japan Family Computer
Robotron: 2084 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Room of Doom 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Satan's Hollow 1982 Video Game North America Arcade
Scramble 1982 Video Game Europe Vectrex
Sea Hawk 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Shark! Shark! December 6, 1982 Video Game North America Intellivision
Sharp Shot October 28, 1982 Video Game North America Intellivision
Shootin' Gallery 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Sinistar 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Sky Jinks 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Smithereens 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Smurf: Rescue in Gargamel's Castle 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600, ColecoVision
Sneak 'n Peek 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Soccer (Arcadia 2001) 1982 Video Game North America Arcadia 2001
Solar Quest 1982 Video Game North America Vectrex
Space Attack 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Space Attack (Arcadia 2001) 1982 Video Game North America Arcadia 2001
Space Canyon 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Space Duel 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Space Jockey 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Space Mission 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Space Raiders 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Space Spartans 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Space Vultures 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Space Wars 1982 Video Game North America Vectrex
SpaceTrek 2 1982 Video Game North America Commodore 64
Spider-Man (1982) 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Spiders 1982 Video Game North America Arcadia 2001
Spike 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Spinball 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Springer 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Squeeze Box 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Sssnake 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Stampede 1982 Video Game North America Intellivision
Star Chess 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Star Hawk 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Star Raiders 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Star Strike 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Star Trek 1982 Video Game North America Commodore 64
Star Trek 1982 Video Game United Kingdom Dragon 32, Dragon 64
Star Trek: The Motion Picture 1982 Video Game North America Vectrex
Star Voyager (2600) 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back May 22, 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Stargunner 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Starmaster June 23, 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Sub Hunt February 5, 1982 Video Game North America Intellivision
Sub Scan 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Submarine Commander 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Suicide Mission 1982 Video Game North America Arcadia Supercharger
Super Breakout 1982 Video Game North America Atari 5200
Super Challenge Baseball 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Super Challenge Football 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Super Locomotive 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Super Mouse 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Super Pac-Man 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Super Star Trek 1982 Video Game North America MS-DOS
Survival Island 1982 Video Game North America Arcadia Supercharger
Swimmer 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Sword of Saros 1982 Video Game North America Arcadia Supercharger
Swordquest: Earthworld October, 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Tac-Scan 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Tac/Scan April 7, 1982 Video Game North America Arcade, Atari 2600
Tanks A Lot 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Tanks But No Tanks 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Tapeworm 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Tax Avoiders 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
The Amazing Adventures of Mr. F. Lea 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
The Great Wall Street Fortune Hunt 1982 Video Game North America Magnavox Odyssey 2
The Mousing Cat 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
The Pit 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
The Quest for the Rings 1982 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
The Warp Factor 1982 Video Game North America Apple II, MS-DOS
Threshold 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Thunder Castle 1982 Video Game North America Intellivision
Thunderball 1982 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Tomarc the Barbarian 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Towering Inferno 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Trick Shot 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
TRON 1982 Video Game North America Arcade
Tron: Deadly Discs September, 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Tron: Maze-A-Tron October 6, 1982 Video Game North America Intellivision
Tron: Solar Sailer 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Turbo 1982 Video Game North America ColecoVision
Turmoil 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Turtles 1982 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey²
Tutankham 1982 Video Game North America Arcade
Type & Tell 1982 Video Game North America Magnavox Odyssey 2
UFO 1982 Video Game North America Magnavox Odyssey²
Vanguard 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Vectron 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Venture 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600, ColecoVision, Intellivision
Video Trek 88 1982 Video Game North America MS-DOS
Volleyball (Magnavox Odyssey 2) 1982 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Wabbit 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
War of Nerves 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
War of the Worlds 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Warplock 1982 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Web Wars 1982 Video Game North America Vectrex
Word Zapper 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Worm War I 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Xevious 1982 Video Game International Arcade
Zaxxon 1982 Video Game Japan Arcade
Zektor 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Zoo Keeper 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Zzyzzyxx 1982 Video Game Undefined Undefined


Hardware releases[ | ]

Name Release Date Category Region(s)
Arcadia Supercharger 1982 Peripheral North America
Commodore 64 August, 1982 Home Computer North America
Emerson Arcadia 2001 1982 Home Console North America
Emerson Arcadia 2001 Controller 1982 Peripheral, Controller North America
Intellivision II 1982 Home Console North America
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