1983 was the year when the American home gaming market began to crash (see North American video game crash of 1983 ), with more game systems and games than the market could support, and quality control from the console companies being absent. In Japan , the Nintendo Famicom would make its debut.
Business [ | ]
The US arcade game market 's revenues drop to $6.4 billion in 1983[1] (equivalent to $15.2 billion in 2024).
Notable Releases [ | ]
Games [ | ]
Arcade
March: Bally Midway releases Journey , the first game with digitized sprites.
May: SEGA releases Astron Belt , the first laserdisc video game , which uses pre-rendered , computer-animated film footage as backdrops, overlaid with sprite graphics.
May: Atari brings Star Wars to the arcades in the form of a 3D vector graphics simulation of the movie's attack on the Death Star sequence and featuring digitized samples of voices from the movie.
June: Data East releases Bega's Battle , one of the first video games to use cel-animated video instead of computer generated graphics . It was also the first game to use full motion video cut scenes .
June: Cinematronics releases Dragon's Lair , one of the first video games to use cel-animated video instead of computer generated graphics .
December: Libble Rabble is released by Namco .[2] It runs on the Namco Libble Rabble hardware, Namco's second arcade system board to use a 16-bit processor.
Computer
Console Hardware [ | ]
Key Events [ | ]
References [ | ]
Video game releases [ | ]
Name
Release Date
Category
Region(s)
Platform(s)
10-Yard Fight
1983
Video Game
International
Arcade
3D Crazy Coaster
1983
Video Game
North America
Vectrex
3D Narrow Escape
1983
Video Game
North America
Vectrex
3D Time Trek
1983
Video Game
United Kingdom
Amstrad CPC , Commodore 64 , Commodore 16 , Commodore Plus/4 , Commodore VIC-20
A.D. 2083
1983
Video Game
North America
Arcade
Action Force
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Advanced Dungeons and Dragons: Treasure of Tarmin
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Air Battle
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Alpha Beam with Ernie
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
AnimAction
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Antarctic Adventure
1983
Video Game
North America
ColecoVision
Arabian
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Art Master
1983
Video Game
North America
Vectrex
Artillery Duel
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600 , ColecoVision
Astérix (1983)
1983
Video Game
Europe
Atari 2600
Astron Belt
May , 1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Atic Atac
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Atlantis
1983
Video Game
North America
Magnavox Odyssey 2
Atlantis
1983
Video Game
Brazil
Magnavox Odyssey 2
Aztarac
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Bank Heist
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Baseball (1983)
December 7 , 1983
Video Game
Japan
Family Computer
Battlezone
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
BC's Quest for Tires
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Beamrider
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600 , Intellivision , ColecoVision
Beany Bopper
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Benji's Space Rescue
1983
Video Game
United Kingdom
Commodore 64
Big Bird's Egg Catch
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Bio-Attack
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Birdie King 2
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Blaster
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Blobbers
1983
Video Game
Europe
Magnavox Odyssey 2
Blockade Runner
1983
Video Game
North America
Intellivision
Blue Max
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Blue Print
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600 , Atari 5200
Boing
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Bokosuka Wars
1983
Video Game
Japan
Sharp XI
Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600 , ColecoVision
Bump 'n' Jump
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600 , Intellivision , ColecoVision
Bumper Bash
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Burgertime
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600 , Intellivision
Burning Desire
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Busy Police
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Buzz Bombers
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Cabbage Patch Kids: Adventures in the Park
1983
Video Game
North America
ColecoVision
Cakewalk
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Catch the Ball/Noughts and Crosses
1983
Video Game
Brazil
Magnavox Odyssey 2
Centipede
1983
Video Game
North America
Intellivision , ColecoVision
Chack'n Pop
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Champion Base Ball
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Chase the Chuck Wagon
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Chez Maxime
1983
Video Game
Europe
Magnavox Odyssey 2
China Syndrome
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Chuck Norris Superkicks
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600 , ColecoVision
Cliff Hanger
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Cloak & Dagger
1983
Video Game
North America
Arcade , Atari 5200
Clowns
1983
Video Game
International
Commodore 64
Condor Attack
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Congo Bongo
1983
Video Game
Japan
Arcade
Cookie Monster Munch
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Cosmic Chasm
1983
Video Game
North America
Arcade
Cosmic Corridor
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Crackpots
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Crash Dive
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Cross Force
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Crossbow (1983)
1983
Video Game
North America
Arcade
Crystal Castles
1983
Video Game
North America
Arcade
Cube Quest
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Deep Scan
1983
Video Game
International
Atari 2600
Defender
1983
Video Game
North America
Intellivsion , ColecoVision
Demolition Herby
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Demon Attack
1983
Video Game
Europe
Magnavox Odyssey 2
Demon Attack
1983
Video Game
North America
Magnavox Odyssey 2
Demon Attack
1983
Video Game
Brazil
Magnavox Odyssey 2
Dice Puzzle
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Dig Dug
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Digger
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Discs of TRON
1983
Video Game
North America
Arcade
Dolphin
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Domino Man
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Donkey Kong
June 1 , 1983
Video Game
International
Atari 8-bit
Donkey Kong
July 15 , 1983
Video Game
Japan
Family Computer
Donkey Kong Jr.
1983
Video Game
North America
Intellivision , ColecoVision
Donkey Kong Jr.
July 15 , 1983
Video Game
Japan
Famicom
Donkey Kong Jr. Math
December 12 , 1983
Video Game
Japan
Family Computer
Dracula (1983)
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Dragon's Lair
June 19 , 1983
Video Game
North America
Arcade
Dragonfire
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600 , Intellivision , ColecoVision
Electronic Table Soccer
1983
Video Game
Brazil
Magnavox Odyssey 2
Elevator Action
1983
Video Game
International
Arcade
Enduro
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Evolution
1983
Video Game
North America
ColecoVision
Exciting Soccer
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Exerion
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Fathom
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600 , Intellivision , ColecoVision
Final Approach
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Flash Gordon
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Food Fight
1983
Video Game
North America
Arcade
Frankenstein's Monster
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Frantic Freddy
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Frogger
1983
Video Game
Europe
Magnavox Odyssey 2
Frogger
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600 , Atari 5200 , ColecoVision
Front Line
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600 , ColecoVision
Frostbite
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Galaxian
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600 , ColecoVision
Gangster Alley
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Gas Hog
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Gateway to Apshai
1983
Video Game
North America
ColecoVision
Gauntlet (1983)
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Ghost Manor
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
GI Joe: Cobra Strike
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Gigolo
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Glacier Patrol
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Glib
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Granny's Garden
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Gravitar
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Great Escape
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Guzzler
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Gyruss
1983
Video Game
North America
Arcade
Halloween
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Happy Trails
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Harbor Escape
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Heads Up
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Helicopter Rescue
1983
Video Game
Europe
Magnavox Odyssey 2
High Way Race
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Hoccer
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Hunchback
1983
Video Game
North America
Arcade
Ice Trek
1983
Video Game
North America
Intellivision
James Bond 007
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Journey
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Joust
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Jr. Pac-Man
1983
Video Game
North America
Arcade
Jumpman Junior
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Jungle Fever
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Jungle Hunt
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600 , ColecoVision
Juno First
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
K.C. Munchkin
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
K.C.'s Krazy Chase
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Kangaroo
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Karate
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Keystone Kapers
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Killer Bees
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Kool-Aid Man
1983
Video Game
North America
Intellivision , Atari 2600
Krull
September , 1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Kung Fu Superkicks
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Lady Bug
1983
Video Game
North America
Intellivision
Laser Gates
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Laser Volley
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Lode Runner
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
London Blitz
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
M.A.C.H. 3
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Major Havoc
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Malagai
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Mangia
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Mario Bros.
1983
Video Game
North America
Arcade , Atari 2600
Marvin's Maze
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Master Builder
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Masters of the Universe: The Power Of He-Man
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Mega Force
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Mega Zone
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Melody Blaster
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Melody Master
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Mind Strike
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Miner 2049er II
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Minestorm
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Mogul Maniac
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Montezuma's Revenge
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Moon Patrol
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Moonsweeper
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Moria
1983
Video Game
International
OpenVMS
Morse
1983
Video Game
Brazil
Magnavox Odyssey 2
Motocross (Intellivision)
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
MotoRace USA
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Mountain King
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Mr. Basic Meets Bits n Bytes
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Mr. Do!
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Mr. Do!'s Castle
1983
Video Game
North America
Arcade
Ms. Pac-Man
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 5200
N-Sub
1983
Video Game
Europe
Sega SG-1000 , Sega SC-3000
N-Sub
1983
Video Game
Japan
Sega SG-1000 , Sega SC-3000
Neutron Star
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Nightmare (Magnavox Odyssey 2)
1983
Video Game
Europe
Magnavox Odyssey 2
No Escape
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Norseman
1983
Video Game
Europe
Magnavox Odyssey 2
Nova Blast
1983
Video Game
North America
Intellivision
Obelix
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Ocean City Defender
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Oscar's Trash Race
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Out of Control
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Pac & Pal
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Pac-Man
1983
Video Game
North America
Intellivision
Pengo
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600 , Atari 5200
Pepsi Invaders
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Phozon
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Picnic
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Piece o' Cake
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Pinball (1984)
1983
Video Game
International
Arcade
Pinball (Intellivision)
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Plaque Attack
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Polar Rescue
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Pole Position
1983
Video Game
North America
Vectrex
Pole Position II
1983
Video Game
North America
Arcade
Ponpoko
January , 1983
Video Game
North America
Arcade
Popeye
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600 , Intellivision
Popeye
1983
Video Game
Brazil
Magnavox Odyssey 2
Power Lords
1983
Video Game
North America
Magnavox Odyssey 2
Power Lords
1983
Video Game
Europe
Magnavox Odyssey 2
Pressure Cooker
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Professor Pac-Man
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Q*Bert
1983
Video Game
Europe
Magnavox Odyssey 2
Q*Bert
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600 , Atari 5200 , Intellivision , ColecoVision , Commodore 64
Q*Bert
1983
Video Game
Brazil
Magnavox Odyssey 2
Q*Bert's Qubes
1983
Video Game
North America
Arcade
Quadrun
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Quest for Quintana Roo
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Quick Step
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Raft Rider
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Reach for the Stars
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Real Sports Soccer
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Real Sports Tennis
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Revenge of the Beefsteak Tomatoes
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
River Raid
1983
Video Game
North America
Intellivison
Robin Hood
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Robot Tank
March 24 , 1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Route 16
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Rubik's Cube
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Safecracker
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Scooby Doo's Maze Chase
1983
Video Game
North America
Intellivision
Scuba Diver
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Seamonster
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Seaquest
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Secret of the Pharaohs
1983
Video Game
Brazil
Magnavox Odyssey 2
Senjyo
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Shuttle Orbiter
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Sir Lancelot
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Sky Skipper
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Smurfs Save the Day
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Snoopy and the Red Baron
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Solar Fox
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Solar Storm
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Sorcerer
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Sorcerer's Apprentice
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Space Shuttle
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Space Tunnel
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Space War (Atari)
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Space Warp
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Spacemaster X-7
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Spelunker
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Spider Fighter
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Spiderdroid
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Spike’s Peak
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Spitfire Attack
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Spy Hunter (1983)
1983
Video Game
North America
Arcade
Squish 'Em
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari , Commodore 64
Star Castle
1983
Video Game
North America
Vectrex
Star Fox (1983)
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Star Raiders
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 5200
Star Trek 6.8
1983
Video Game
North America
Commodore PET
Star Trek 64
1983
Video Game
North America
Commodore 64
Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator
1983
Video Game
North America
Arcade
Star Wars
July , 1983
Video Game
North America
Arcade
Star Wars: Jedi Arena
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - Death Star Battle
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Star Wars: The Arcade Game
1983
Video Game
North America
Arcade
Stinger
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Stonkers
1983
Video Game
United Kingdom
ZXSpectrum
Strawberry Shortcake: Musical Matchups
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Stronghold (1983)
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Stuntman
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
SubRoc-3D
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Subterranea
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Super Bee
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Super Cobra
1983
Video Game
Europe
Magnavox Odyssey 2
Super Cobra
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Super Doubles Tennis
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Super Rider
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Survival Run
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Swordquest: Fireworld
February , 1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Swordquest: Waterworld
February , 1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Swords & Serpents
1983
Video Game
North America
Intellivision
Tag Team Wrestling
1983
Video Game
International
Undefined
Tapper
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Task Force
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Taz
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
The Activision Decathlon
March 18 , 1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600 , ColecoVision
The Dreadnaught Factor
1983
Video Game
North America
Intellivision
The Glob
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
The Great Wall Street Fortune Hunt
1983
Video Game
Brazil
Magnavox Odyssey 2
The Heist
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
The Mousing Cat
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
The Quest for the Rings
1983
Video Game
Brazil
Magnavox Odyssey 2
Thunderground
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Time Pilot
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Tooth Protectors
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Trans American Rally
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Trek Adventure
1983
Video Game
North America
Commodore 64
Tropical Trouble
1983
Video Game
North America
Intellivision
Truckin
1983
Video Game
North America
Intellivision
Tunnel Runner
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600
Turbo
April 4 , 1983
Video Game
North America
Intellivision
Turtles
1983
Video Game
North America
Magnavox Odyssey²
Turtles
1983
Video Game
Brazil
Magnavox Odyssey²
Tutankham
1983
Video Game
North America
Atari 2600 , ColecoVision , Intellivision
TX-1
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
UFO
1983
Video Game
Brazil
Magnavox Odyssey²
UFO
1983
Video Game
Japan
Magnavox Odyssey²
Up'n Down
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Vastar
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Video Jogger
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Video Reflex
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Wacko
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Wall Ball
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Wall Defender
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
War Room
1983
Video Game
North America
ColecoVision
White Water
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
World Series Major League Baseball
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Worm Whomper
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
X-Man
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Z-Tack
1983
Video Game
Undefined
Undefined
Hardware releases [ | ]