8-Bit-Magic: Underrated 80 Games You Can Play Today On Emulators

While the 1970s laid the foundations for the video games industry, it was in the 1980s that the magic truly began to be felt. It was the golden era of 4-bit and 8-bit gaming, where developers had to really get creative to get around technical limitations at the time.

Of course, gaming is vastly different today. Back then, a game was something that came in a box and something you had to wait for. In the internet era, we can play games of every genre, ranging from vast MMORPG games like World of Warcraft to exciting slots like the Amazing Money Machine, whenever we like.

When you think of 80s gaming, you invariably think of titles like Mario Bros. and Pac-Man, but we thought we would go down a different route, bringing you 15 underrated games from the decade. What’s more, with the wide availability of emulator software today, it is possible to play many of these underrated gems on any device.

Starquake (1985, ZX Spectrum/C64/Amstrad)
A quirky sci-fi platformer with colorful graphics and surprisingly advanced mechanics for 1985. It was ranked as one of the best Spectrum games of all time.

The Guardian Legend (1988, NES)
An ambitious hybrid of shooter and adventure game that flew under the radar. The Guardian Legend does not get everything right, but when it does, it’s great.

Bruce Lee (1984, Atari 8-bit/C64)
Simple yet addictive martial arts platformer that combines furious action with clever level design. One to enjoy if you like games like Donkey Kong.

Little Samson (1989 prototype, NES)
A rare action-platformer with Mega Man vibes that didn't get its due until years later. Little Samson got repackaged a few years later and became known as one of the best-ever NES games.

Marble Madness (1984, Arcade)
A physics-based puzzler that was brutally challenging and visually light years ahead of its time. It aimed to do 3D graphics before that was really possible, but it’s still got a lot of merit.

Air Fortress (1987, NES)
A fun action-adventure game that blends horizontal shooting with exploration. It’s also got a brilliant soundtrack. It gets really difficult after a few levels, so perhaps not one for novice players.

Crystalis (1989, NES)
An action RPG that was definitely overshadowed by Zelda, but Crystalis has a compelling story and some brilliant combat features.

Thexder (1985, MSX/DOS)
A transforming mech platform shooter that was a huge hit in Japan, but it took a while to gain respect in North America and Europe. It is seen as an important breakthrough title, leading the way for others, like Contra, to follow.

Barbarian: The Ultimate Warrior (1987, C64/Amiga)
A game that was seen as controversial at the time, Barbarian features cool sword duels and some overtly-sexualized imagery. That led to bans in some countries. But it is tame by today’s standards.

Power Drift (1988, Arcade)
An overlooked Sega racer with wild rollercoaster tracks and a brilliant pseudo-3D engine. Power Drift was way ahead of its time.

River City Ransom (1989, NES)
An early open-world beat 'em up with RPG elements that was really much more influential than what is given credit for today.

Rick Dangerous (1989, Amiga/Atari ST)
A trap-laden Indiana Jones parody platformer that could be infuriating and feel rewarding in equal measure. It kind of showcases the best and worst of 80s-era gaming, but it’s still worth a revisit.

Metal Storm (1989, NES)
An action adventure that tasks you with stopping a laser destroying Earth, you’ll do some gravity-defying stunts to save the day.

Monster Party (1989, NES)
A truly bizarre horror-themed platformer that gets a bit silly with its weird bosses to defeat. This had – and still does – a cult following.

Ballblazer (1985, Atari 5200/C64)
A futuristic one-on-one sports game with split-screen action and early 3D graphics. Again, they don’t always pull it off, given what they had to work with, but there is much to admire and enjoy with