1981

215 video games came out in 1981, among them Donkey Kong, Galaga and Frogger.

By month

• January1 game
• February11 games
• March2 games
• April4 games
• Maynone dated
• June13 games
• July8 games
• August4 games
• September3 games
• October13 games
• November5 games
• December16 games

Best rated games of 1981

1. 
   Mouse TrapArcade, INTV, 2600 +1 · Exidy
   771981
2. 
   New Rally-XArcade, PC-88, X1 +7 · Namco
   76Feb 1981
3. 
   Lock 'n' Chase2600, Arcade, INTV +4 · Data East
   7419 Jun
4. 
   Donkey KongDOS, Arcade, 2600 +18 · Nintendo, Ikegami Tsushinki
   729 Jul
5. 
   QixApple IIGS, Arcade, NES +4 · Taito
   72Oct 1981
6. 
   TempestArcade, BBC, Electron +3 · Atari
   71Oct 1981
7. 
   Wizard of Wor2600, Arcade, Bally Astrocade +2 · Dave Nutting
   715 Jun
8. 
   Kaboom!2600, 5200, Atari 8-bit · Activision
   701981
9. 
   Frogger2600, TRS-80, VIC-20 +18 · Konami
   68Aug 1981
10. 
    Centipede2600, Arcade, BBC +14 · Atari, Inc.
    676 Jun
11. 
    Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad OverlordApple II, DOS, NES · Sir-Tech, Game Studio
    67Sep 1981
12. 
    Ultima I: The First Age of DarknessDOS, Apple IIGS, Apple II +3 · Richard Garriott
    641 Jun
13. 
    Asteroids DeluxeArcade, 2600, BBC +2 · Atari, Inc.
    63Mar 1981
14. 
    ScrambleArcade, Xbox 360, PS4 +2 · Konami
    61Feb 1981
15. 
    GorfArcade, Atari 8-bit, 2600 +6 · Dave Nutting
    601981
16. 
    Stampede2600, INTV · Activision
    591981
17. 
    Freeway2600 · Activision (pub.)
    541981
18. 
    Castle WolfensteinApple II, Atari 8-bit, DOS +2 · Muse Software
    51Sep 1981
19. 
    DefenderArcade, 2600, Atari 8-bit +16 · WMS Industries
    47Feb 1981
20. 
    Zork IITRS-80, Apple II, PDP-11 +13 · Infocom
    47Nov 1981
21. 
    StargateArcade, DOS, 2600 +4 · Vid Kidz
    4321 Oct

Most talked about

• 
  Donkey KongDOS, Arcade, 2600 +18 · Nintendo, Ikegami Tsushinki
  729 Jul
• 
  GalagaNamco Galaga, NES, PC +10 · Namco
  1981
• 
  Frogger2600, TRS-80, VIC-20 +18 · Konami
  68Aug 1981
• 
  Centipede2600, Arcade, BBC +14 · Atari, Inc.
  676 Jun
• 
  Castle WolfensteinApple II, Atari 8-bit, DOS +2 · Muse Software
  51Sep 1981
• 
  DefenderArcade, 2600, Atari 8-bit +16 · WMS Industries
  47Feb 1981
• 
  QixApple IIGS, Arcade, NES +4 · Taito
  72Oct 1981
• 
  Ultima I: The First Age of DarknessDOS, Apple IIGS, Apple II +3 · Richard Garriott
  641 Jun
• 
  Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad OverlordApple II, DOS, NES · Sir-Tech, Game Studio
  67Sep 1981
• 
  TempestArcade, BBC, Electron +3 · Atari
  71Oct 1981
• 
  ScrambleArcade, Xbox 360, PS4 +2 · Konami
  61Feb 1981
• 
  StargateArcade, DOS, 2600 +4 · Vid Kidz
  4321 Oct
• 
  Kaboom!2600, 5200, Atari 8-bit · Activision
  701981
• 
  GorfArcade, Atari 8-bit, 2600 +6 · Dave Nutting
  601981
• 
  AmidarArcade, NEC PC-6000 Series, BBC +1 · Konami
  1981
• 
  New Rally-XArcade, PC-88, X1 +7 · Namco
  76Feb 1981
• 
  DONKEY.BASDOS, iOS, PC · Bill Gates, Neil Konzen
  1981
• 
  Softporn AdventureApple II, Atari 8-bit, DOS · Sierra Entertainment (pub.)
  1981
• 
  Wizard of Wor2600, Arcade, Bally Astrocade +2 · Dave Nutting
  715 Jun
• 
  JunglerArcade · Konami
  1981
• 
  Super Cobra2600, Odyssey 2, Arcade +6 · Konami
  Aug 1981
• 
  BosconianArcade, MSX, ZX +3 · Namco
  Nov 1981
• 
  UtopiaINTV · Mattel Electronics
  1981
• 
  Route-16Arcade, NES, Switch · Tecmo, Sun Corporation
  3 Feb
• 
  Lady BugArcade, Coleco, INTV +1 · Universal Entertainment
  1981
• 
  Cosmic AvengerArcade, Coleco · Universal Entertainment
  Jul 1981
• 
  Radar Rat RaceVIC-20, C64 · HAL Laboratory
  1981
• 
  Mouse TrapArcade, INTV, 2600 +1 · Exidy
  771981
• 
  Lock 'n' Chase2600, Arcade, INTV +4 · Data East
  7419 Jun
• 
  Asteroids DeluxeArcade, 2600, BBC +2 · Atari, Inc.
  63Mar 1981

Known only to the year

• 
  GalagaNamco Galaga, NES, PC +10 · Namco
• 
  Kaboom!2600, 5200, Atari 8-bit · Activision
  70
• 
  GorfArcade, Atari 8-bit, 2600 +6 · Dave Nutting
  60
• 
  AmidarArcade, NEC PC-6000 Series, BBC +1 · Konami
• 
  DONKEY.BASDOS, iOS, PC · Bill Gates, Neil Konzen
• 
  Softporn AdventureApple II, Atari 8-bit, DOS · Sierra Entertainment (pub.)
• 
  JunglerArcade · Konami
• 
  UtopiaINTV · Mattel Electronics
• 
  Lady BugArcade, Coleco, INTV +1 · Universal Entertainment
• 
  Radar Rat RaceVIC-20, C64 · HAL Laboratory
• 
  Mouse TrapArcade, INTV, 2600 +1 · Exidy
  77
• 
  Apple PanicApple II, VIC-20, DOS +1 · Broderbund
• 
  RobotWarPLATO, Apple II · Silas Warner
• 
  Crazy KongArcade, C64
• 
  Tennis2600 · Activision
• 
  Star StrikeINTV, 2600, Xbox 360 · Mattel Electronics
• 
  VentureArcade, 2600, INTV +1 · Exidy
• 
  Lunar LeepersVIC-20, Apple II, Atari 8-bit +1 · Sierra Entertainment (pub.)
• 
  Laser Blast2600 · Activision
• 
  Jawbreaker2600, Apple II, Atari 8-bit +1 · Sierra Entertainment (pub.)
• Poly PlayArcade · VEB Polytechnik
• 
  ThresholdVIC-20, Atari 8-bit, Apple II +4 · Sierra Entertainment
• 
  Colony 7Arcade, Atari 8-bit · Taito
• 
  Computer BaseballApple II, DOS, Atari 8-bit +3 · Strategic Simulations
• 
  Omega RaceArcade, VIC-20, 2600 +2 · Midway Games
• 
  AsylumTRS-80, DOS, C64 +1
• 
  Space Cavern2600 · Games by Apollo
• 
  SwordThrustApple II · Donald Brown
• 
  Ulysses and the Golden FleeceApple II, Atari 8-bit, DOS +4 · Sierra Entertainment
• 
  River PatrolZilog Z80, Arcade, 2600 · Orca Corporation
• 
  President ElectDOS, Apple II, C64 · Strategic Simulations
• Pro Golf
• 
  Triple ActionINTV · APh Technological Consulting
• 
  Space EggsAtari 8-bit, Apple II · Nasir Gebelli
• 
  Caverns of MarsAtari 8-bit · Atari Program Exchange (pub.)
• 
  Space FuryArcade, Coleco · Sega
• 
  MunchkinOdyssey 2 · Koninklijke Philips NV, Magnavox (pub.)
• 
  Freeway2600 · Activision (pub.)
  54
• 
  ThiefArcade · Pacific Novelty
• 
  Mole AttackVIC-20
• 
  Parthian KingsApple II, C64
• 
  Crush, Crumble and Chomp!Apple II, Atari 8-bit, TRS-80 +3 · Epyx
• 
  Alpine SkiArcade · Taito
• 
  Armored CarArcade
• 
  Spacechase2600 · Games by Apollo
• 
  The EndArcade, PC, Arcadia 2001
• 
  CrossfireVIC-20, Atari 8-bit, Apple II +2 · Sierra Entertainment (pub.)
• 
  Raster BlasterApple II, Atari 8-bit · BudgeCo (pub.)
• 
  SneakersApple II, Atari 8-bit · Sirius Software (pub.)
• 
  The Adventures of Robby Roto!Arcade · Midway Games
• 
  Cranston ManorApple II, FM-7, PC-88 +1 · Sierra Entertainment
• 
  The Demon's ForgeApple II, DOS
• 
  Empire I: World BuildersApple II
• 
  AvengerVIC-20, C64 · Commodore International
• 
  Torpedo FireApple II · Strategic Simulations (pub.)
• 
  Space DungeonArcade, 5200 · Taito
• 
  Jupiter LanderCommodore MAX Machine, VIC-20, C64
• 
  Stampede2600, INTV · Activision
  59
• 
  Adventure AZX81, ZX, CPC +1 · Artic Software
• 
  Sengoku Ninja TaiArcade · Data East
• 
  The Warp FactorApple II, DOS
• MarsArcade
• 
  JabbertalkyApple II, TRS-80
• 
  The Shattered AllianceApple II, Atari 8-bit · Wizards of the Coast (pub.)
• Pool 1.5Apple II
• 
  Mariner
• 
  Ice Hockey2600 · Activision
• 
  Tigers in the SnowApple II, Atari 8-bit, TRS-80 +2 · Strategic Simulations (pub.)
• 
  TaxmanApple II
• 
  Racquetball2600 · Games by Apollo
• 
  The InstituteTRS-80, Atari 8-bit, Apple II +1
• 
  Empire of the OvermindTRS-80, Atari 8-bit, Apple II
• 
  Operation ApocalypseApple II
• 
  Tooth InvadersVIC-20, C64
• 
  Dragon's EyeAtari 8-bit, Apple II, PET
• 
  Southern CommandApple II
• 
  Satellite AttackOdyssey 2
• Dark WarriorArcade
• 
  MasterTypeApple II, IBM Personal Computer, Atari 8-bit +3
• 
  Cartels & CutthroatsApple II, DOS, C64
• 
  Ali Baba and the Forty ThievesAtari 8-bit, Apple II, PC-88 +2
• 
  The Battle of ShilohTRS-80, Atari 8-bit, Apple II
• 
  Madness and the MinotaurCoCo, Dragon 32/64 · Spectral Associates
• 
  Bez-MXApple II
• 
  K-Razy Shoot-OutArcade, Atari 8-bit, 5200
• 
  Voyager IApple II, PET, DOS +5
• OutpostApple II
• Super Tank
• Blackjack MasterHayden Books (pub.)
• 
  Battle TrekTRS-80, Atari 8-bit
• SumerAtari 8-bit
• 
  Adventure in TimeApple II, Atari 8-bit
• 
  AlkemstoneApple II · Level-10 (pub.)
• MicroworldAtari 8-bit
• 
  The Golden BatonTRS-80, BBC, Atari 8-bit +5
• 
  ScarfmanTRS-80, CoCo, Dragon 32/64
• LORDDECSYSTEM-20
• 
  Zossed in SpaceTRS-80 · Adventure International (pub.)
• Draw PokerApple II
• Color Robot BattleCoCo
• Laser BattleC64
• 
  GalaxyPET, Apple II, TRS-80 +6
• Quest 1TRS-80 · SoftSide Magazine (pub.)
• Robot AttackTRS-80
• MunchmanGrandstand (pub.)
• 
  Starship CommanderApple II · Gilman Louie
• MilestonesApple II
• 
  My First AlphabetAtari 8-bit · Atari Program Exchange (pub.)
• BlitzkriegProgramma International (pub.)
• 
  Wall StreetApple II, Arcade
• 
  Kaves of KarkhamApple II · Level-10 (pub.)
• 
  Sorcerer of SivaAtari 8-bit, TRS-80, Apple II
• GobblerApple II · Sierra Entertainment (pub.)
• 
  Dragon FireApple II · Level-10 (pub.)
• Obliterate!
• HockeyAtari 8-bit
• 
  Red AlertApple II
• 
  International Gran PrixApple II
• 
  Voyage of the ValkyrieApple II, TRS-80
• TsunamiApple II
• 
  DeflexZX81, PET, VIC-20 +3 · Jeff Minter (pub.)
• 
  Conflict 2500PET, TRS-80, Atari 8-bit +3
• Moon WarArcade · Stern Electronics
• 
  Escape from TraamTRS-80 Model 100, CoCo, TRS-80 +2
• Flying Tigers
• 
  Pinball1292 Advanced Programma…, VC 4000, PC +3
• Classic Adventure
• Monty Plays ScrabbleApple II, TRS-80
• Happy HolidaysINTV
• Mummy's CurseApple II
• Red AlertArcade · Irem
• Maze InvadersArcade · Atari, Inc.
• MeteorsArcade
• Castles of DarknessApple II
• Battle of AtlantisArcade

Platforms

• Apple II 77
• arcade video game machine 70
• Atari 8-bit computers 47
• Commodore 64 44
• Atari 2600 36
• TRS-80 23
• MS-DOS 23
• Intellivision 19
• Commodore VIC-20 18
• ColecoVision 14
• PC 12
• Atari 5200 11
• Amiga 8
• MSX 8
• FM-7 8
• ZX Spectrum 7