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List of years in video games

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{{Video game history}}

This is a chronological list of years in video games that indexes the years in video games pages. Years are annotated with significant events in the history of video games.{{horizontal TOC|nonum=yes}}

1970s

{{Further|1970s in video games|Early history of video games}}

  • 1970 – Initial development begins on the first commercial video game, Computer Space. The first North American Computer Chess Championship is held.
  • 1971 – Computer Space and Galaxy Game are released. The Oregon Trail is first demonstrated.{{Cite web|url=https://www.carleton.edu/news/stories/carl-creators-of-oregon-trail-celebrate-50th-anniversary/|title=Carl Creators of Oregon Trail Celebrate 50th Anniversary - Carleton College|access-date=2023-02-09|archive-date=2023-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124045228/https://www.carleton.edu/news/stories/carl-creators-of-oregon-trail-celebrate-50th-anniversary/|url-status=live}}{{Cite journal |last=Lowood |first=Henry |date=2009 |title=Videogames in Computer Space: The Complex History of Pong |url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/5223982 |journal=IEEE Annals of the History of Computing |volume=31 |issue=3 |pages=5–19 |doi=10.1109/MAHC.2009.53 |s2cid=7653073 |issn=1058-6180 |access-date=2023-04-27 |archive-date=2023-03-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310154703/https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/5223982/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}
  • 1972 – The Magnavox Odyssey, the first home video game console, is released,{{Cite web |title=Magnavox Odyssey Video Game Unit, 1972 |url=https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1302004 |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=National Museum of American History |language=en |archive-date=2022-11-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123020915/https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1302004 |url-status=live }} along with the arcade machine Pong.
  • 1973 – Pong and similar titles dominate the arcade sector, Gotcha, Space Race and Maze War are also released.
  • 1974 – Tank is released, as well as the early first first-person shooter Spasim.{{Cite book |last=Wolf |first=Mark J. P. |title=Guns, Grenades, and Grunts: First-Person Shooter Games |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |year=2012 |isbn=9781441146267 |editor-last=Voorhees |editor-first=Gerald A. |pages=32–33 |chapter=BattleZone and the Origins of First-Person Shooting Games |editor-last2=Whitlock |editor-first2=Katie |editor-last3=Call |editor-first3=Joshua}}
  • 1975 – Speed Race releases internationally, along with the first ever RPG Dungeon.
  • 1976 – The Fairchild Channel F releases, the first console to have cartridges. The highest selling arcade game of the year is F-1.
  • 1977 – The Atari Video Computer System (later the Atari 2600) is released as the first widely popular home video game console.{{Cite book |last=Wolf |first=Mark J. P. |title=Encyclopedia of Video Games: M-Z |publisher=Greenwood |year=2012 |pages=52–53}}
  • 1978 – Space Invaders is released, popularizing the medium and beginning the golden age of arcade video games.{{Cite journal |last=Northfield |first=R. |date=2018-08-01 |title=Gaming's golden age |url=https://digital-library.theiet.org/content/journals/10.1049/et.2018.0702 |journal=Engineering & Technology |language=en |volume=13 |issue=7 |pages=30–33 |doi=10.1049/et.2018.0702 |s2cid=117377706 |issn=1750-9637 |access-date=2022-11-23 |archive-date=2022-11-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123020913/https://digital-library.theiet.org/content/journals/10.1049/et.2018.0702 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}
  • 1979 – The first handheld console, the Microvision is released. Other key titles that year include Galaxian and Asteroids.

1980s

{{Further|1980s in video games}}

  • 1980 – Pac-Man is released, and Nintendo enters the handheld market with the Game & Watch series. Rogue inspires the Roguelike genre.
  • 1981 – Donkey Kong, Frogger, Bosconian, Centipede and 005 are among the notable releases that were introduced. Vanguard pioneers the scrolling shooter genre. Jump Bug further innovates scrolling shooters.
  • 1982 – The number of arcades in the United States reaches its peak.{{cite web |last1=June |first1=Laura |title=For Amusement Only: the life and death of the American arcade |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/1/16/3740422/the-life-and-death-of-the-american-arcade-for-amusement-only |website=The Verge |date=16 January 2013 |access-date=6 February 2024 |archive-date=6 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006081005/http://www.theverge.com/2013/1/16/3740422/the-life-and-death-of-the-american-arcade-for-amusement-only |url-status=live }} Q*bert, Dig Dug and Ms. Pac-Man are released. In hardware, the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum are also released.
  • 1983 – The industry crashes in the United States, resulting in 20 years of Japanese domination.{{cite news |title=Is Japanese gaming in crisis? |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/9159905.stm |date=4 November 2010 |access-date=7 February 2024 |archive-date=25 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525193250/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/9159905.stm |url-status=live }}{{Cite report |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237434904 |title=Down Many Times, but Still Playing the Game: Creative Destruction and Industry Crashes in the Early Video Game Industry 1971-1986 |last=Ernkvist |first=Mirko |date=2008 |access-date=2022-11-23}} Nintendo release the Famicom, beginning the 8-bit era.{{cite book |last1=Wolf |first1=Mark J. P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pZb5CAAAQBAJ&pg=PA322 |title=Video Games Around the World |date=1 May 2015 |publisher=MIT Press |isbn=978-0-262-52716-3 |page=322}}
  • 1984 – The first beat-em-up game Kung-Fu Master is released along with Duck Hunt and Punch-Out!!
  • 1985 – Super Mario, Tetris; The Nintendo Entertainment System is released as an international version of the Famicom.{{Cite magazine |last=Kohler |first=Chris |title=Oct. 18, 1985: Nintendo Entertainment System Launches |language=en-US |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/2010/10/1018nintendo-nes-launches/ |access-date=2022-12-28 |issn=1059-1028 |archive-date=2020-11-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126134701/https://www.wired.com/2010/10/1018nintendo-nes-launches/ |url-status=live }}
  • 1986 – The Legend of Zelda launches; the Metroidvania genre is sparked by Metroid and Castlevania respectively; in hardware the Sega Master System releases in North America.
  • 1987 – Mega Man and Final Fantasy debut. Additionally, Out Run is highly influential in the development of racing games.{{cite magazine |title=How Out Run changed video games forever |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/out-run-video-game-design |magazine=Wired UK |access-date=2024-02-06 |archive-date=2021-11-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104120401/https://www.wired.co.uk/article/out-run-video-game-design |url-status=live }}
  • 1988 – Ninja Gaiden, Super Mario Bros. 3, and the debut of the Sega Mega Drive in Japan.
  • 1989 – The 16-bit era begins in North America with the TurboGrafx-16 and Sega Genesis.{{Cite journal |last=Schilling |first=Melissa A. |date=2003 |title=Technological Leapfrogging: Lessons from the U.S. Video Game Console Industry |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.2307/41166174 |journal=California Management Review |language=en |volume=45 |issue=3 |pages=6–32 |doi=10.2307/41166174 |jstor=41166174 |s2cid=114838931 |issn=0008-1256 |access-date=2022-11-23 |archive-date=2022-11-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123033241/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.2307/41166174 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }} The Game Boy is released to great success.

1990s

{{Further|1990s in video games}}

  • 1990 – Nintendo releases the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in Japan.{{Cite book |last=Byrne |first=Brian |title=History of the Super Nintendo (SNES): Ultimate Guide to the SNES Games & Hardware |publisher=Console Gamer Magazine |year=2017 |isbn=978-1549899560 |pages=4}} The Nintendo World Championships begin, an early example of Esports.
  • 1991 – Street Fighter II launches; it and its updated variants dominate the arcade sector for several years. Sonic the Hedgehog debuts.
  • 1992 – Mortal Kombat, Mario Kart, Ecco the Dolphin, Streets of Rage 2 and Kirby, the arcade version of Virtua Racing is Sega's first 3D title.
  • 1993 – Star Fox, Ridge Racer, The Lost Vikings, Samurai Shodown and Myst are among the notable releases that were introduced. Doom launches, greatly influencing and popularizing the first person shooter genre.{{cite web |title=The Greatest Games of All Time: Doom - GameSpot.com |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/features/the-greatest-games-of-all-time-doom-6143094/ |date=11 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011173849/http://uk.gamespot.com/features/the-greatest-games-of-all-time-doom-6143094/ |archive-date=2012-10-11 }} NBA Jam is influential in sports.{{cite web |title=Breaking into the Industry: Tim Kitzrow |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/02/16/breaking-into-the-industry-tim-kitzrow |website=IGN |language=en |date=16 February 2000 |access-date=6 February 2024 |archive-date=28 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230828011554/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/02/16/breaking-into-the-industry-tim-kitzrow |url-status=live }}
  • 1994 – Sony enters the console market with the PlayStation.{{Cite magazine |title=The First Sony PlayStation Changed Everything About Gaming |url=https://time.com/3613610/sony-playstation/ |access-date=2022-12-28 |magazine=Time |date=3 December 2014 |language=en |archive-date=2022-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221228203028/https://time.com/3613610/sony-playstation/ |url-status=live }} Also released are Super Metroid, EarthBound, Tekken and the debut of the Elder Scrolls franchise with Arena.
  • 1995 – The Sega Saturn launch is unsuccessful. E3 is first held. 3dfx release the Voodoo GPU line. Key releases that year include Rayman, Ristar, Chrono Trigger and Time Crisis.
  • 1996 – The Nintendo 64 launches; Atari leaves the market.{{Cite magazine |last=Kohler |first=Chris |title=Nintendo 64 Came Out 20 Years Ago—Here's How I Felt About It Then |language=en-US |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/09/nintendo-64-20th-anniversary/ |access-date=2022-12-28 |issn=1059-1028 |archive-date=2016-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160929205936/https://www.wired.com/2016/09/nintendo-64-20th-anniversary/ |url-status=live }} Pokémon debuts and becomes a global phenomenon. Tomb Raider, Resident Evil, and Crash Bandicoot launch.
  • 1997 – Final Fantasy VII, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and GoldenEye 007. Modern games UX research is first employed for Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back.{{cite web|title=What is GUR/UX?|url=https://grux.org/what-is-gurux/|access-date=2024-02-06|archive-date=2023-06-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230613030534/https://grux.org/what-is-gurux/|url-status=live}}
  • 1998 – The Game Boy Color and Dreamcast launch. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time releases to critical acclaim. Half-Life is highly influential in immersive storytelling.{{cite web |last1=James |first1=Matt |title=The Enduring Legacy of 'Half-Life,' 20 Years After Its Release |url=https://www.theringer.com/2018/11/29/18116704/half-life-20th-anniversary-valve-fps-black-mesa-xen |website=The Ringer |language=en |date=29 November 2018 |access-date=6 February 2024 |archive-date=30 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430122911/https://www.theringer.com/2018/11/29/18116704/half-life-20th-anniversary-valve-fps-black-mesa-xen |url-status=live }}
  • 1999 – Nvidia enters the GPU market with the GeForce 256. Key titles that year include Super Smash Bros., Heroes of Might and Magic III, Ape Escape and Shenmue.

2000s

{{Further|2000s in video games}}

2010s

{{Further|2010s in video games}}

  • 2010 – The Kinect sells well but is later regarded as a gimmick.{{cite web |last1=Stuart |first1=Keith |title=Xbox One: Kinect will be different this time, says Rare |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2013/oct/08/xbox-one-kinect-rare |website=The Guardian |date=8 October 2013 |access-date=6 February 2024 |archive-date=6 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206140931/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2013/oct/08/xbox-one-kinect-rare |url-status=live }} Red Dead Redemption, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Mass Effect 2, God of War III are acclaimed.
  • 2011 – Nintendo launches the 3DS. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is considered among the greatest games of all time.{{cite magazine|title=Edge Special List: The 100 Greatest Video Games|magazine=Edge|date=September 2015}} Other key launches include Batman: Arkham City and Portal 2.
  • 2012 – The PlayStation Vita and Wii U launch internationally and are both considered failures.{{cite web |last1=Yang |first1=George |title='The little handheld that could': examining the Vita's impact a decade later |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/24/22545198/playstation-vita-10-year-anniversary-sony-handheld |website=The Verge |language=en |date=24 June 2021 |access-date=6 February 2024 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624180125/https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/24/22545198/playstation-vita-10-year-anniversary-sony-handheld |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Stuart |first1=Keith |title=RIP Wii U: Nintendo's glorious, quirky failure |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/feb/03/rip-wii-u-nintendos-glorious-quirky-failure |website=The Guardian |date=3 February 2017 |access-date=6 February 2024 |archive-date=5 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205030444/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/feb/03/rip-wii-u-nintendos-glorious-quirky-failure |url-status=live }} Also launching are Far Cry 3, Journey, Dishonored, The Walking Dead and XCOM.
  • 2013 – The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One launch, with the former becoming dominant.{{cite web |last1=Warren |first1=Tom |title=Microsoft finally admits Xbox One sales were less than half of the PS4 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/15/23306068/microsoft-xbox-one-sales-lifetime-versus-ps4-sales |website=The Verge |language=en |date=15 August 2022 |access-date=6 February 2024 |archive-date=17 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117075504/https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/15/23306068/microsoft-xbox-one-sales-lifetime-versus-ps4-sales |url-status=live }} Outlast, The Wonderful 101, Gone Home and Remember Me are introduced. Grand Theft Auto V, The Last of Us, The Stanley Parable and BioShock Infinite are warmly received.
  • 2014 – Gamergate leads to changes in the industry's attitude to diversity.{{cite web |title=How 'GamerGate' led the gaming industry to embrace more diverse and caring values |url=https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/popular-culture/how-gamergate-led-the-gaming-industry-to-embrace-more-diverse-and-caring-values |website=University of Portsmouth |language=en |date=23 February 2023 |access-date=6 February 2024 |archive-date=6 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206151155/https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/popular-culture/how-gamergate-led-the-gaming-industry-to-embrace-more-diverse-and-caring-values |url-status=live }} Key releases include Shovel Knight, Mario Kart 8, Hearthstone, Destiny and Monument Valley.
  • 2015 – Twitch becomes influential in speedrunning and Lets Play.{{cite news |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/01/29/twitchs-viewers-reach-100-million-a-month/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809175422/https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/01/29/twitchs-viewers-reach-100-million-a-month/ |archive-date=2017-08-09 |title=Twitch's Viewers Reach 100 Million a Month |newspaper=WSJ |last1=Needleman |first1=Sarah E. }} Launch of the New Nintendo 3DS, along with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Bloodborne, Undertale, and Fallout 4.
  • 2016 – Interest in virtual reality technologies increase after the wider release of the Oculus Rift. Also released are Uncharted 4, Overwatch, Forza Horizon 3, and a rebooted Doom.
  • 2017 – The Nintendo Switch launches with Breath of the Wild. PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds establishes the battle royale genre. Loot box proliferation leads to regulation debate.{{cite web |title=Are loot boxes gambling? |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/are-loot-boxes-gambling |website=Eurogamer.net |language=en |date=12 October 2017 |access-date=6 February 2024 |archive-date=6 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206160657/https://www.eurogamer.net/are-loot-boxes-gambling |url-status=live }}
  • 2018 – Fortnite is a runaway success and the Epic Games Store launches. Also launching are Spider-Man, Red Dead Redemption 2, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and God of War.
  • 2019 – Launch of Google Stadia, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Tetris Effect and Disco Elysium. Some regulation of loot boxes begins in Belgium and the Netherlands.

2020s

{{Further|2020s in video games}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}{{History of video games}}

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