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1985 in video games

1985 saw many sequels and prequels in video games, such as Super Mario Bros. and Kung Fu, along with new titles such as Commando, Duck Hunt, Gauntlet, Ghosts 'n Goblins, Gradius, Hang-On, Space Harrier, Tetris and The Way of the Exploding Fist. The year's highest-grossing arcade video games were Hang-On and Karate Champ in the United States, and Commando in the United Kingdom. The year's best‑selling home system was the Nintendo Entertainment System (Famicom) for the second year in a row, while the year's best‑selling home video game was Super Mario Bros.

List of years in video games
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Financial performance edit

In the United States, annual home video game sales fell to $100 million ($280 million adjusted for inflation) in 1985.[1] Meanwhile, the arcade game industry began recovering in 1985.[2][3][4]

Highest-grossing arcade games edit

Japan edit

In Japan, the following titles were the top-grossing arcade video games on the bi-weekly Game Machine charts in 1985.

MonthTable arcade cabinetUpright/cockpit arcade cabinetRef
TitlePointsTitlePoints
JanuarySpartan X (Kung-Fu Master)17.39TX-1 V816.1[5][6]
February14.6115[7][8]
MarchSamurai Nipponichi16.2213.13[9][10]
AprilReturn of the Invaders13.2614.84[11][12]
MayI'm Sorry14.5814.43[13][14]
JuneSenjō no Ōkami (Commando)14.55Wyvern F-016.07[15][16]
JulyPing Pong King16.22TX-1 V814.96[17][18]
AugustSandlot Baseball16.56Hang-On28.28[19][20]
September13.9137.96[21][22]
OctoberExciting Hour15.3937.05[23][24]
NovemberChoplifter15.5935.58[25][26]
DecemberASO: Armored Scrum Object14.133.8[27][28]

United Kingdom and United States edit

In the United Kingdom and United States, the following titles were the highest-grossing arcade games of 1985.

RankUnited KingdomUnited States
Play MeterRePlay[29]AMOA[30][31][32]
TitleTypeArcadeRoute/StreetVideo
1Commando[33]Hang-On[4]Karate ChampDedicatedNintendo VS. SystemKarate ChampSpy Hunter
2Un­knownUn­knownKung-Fu MasterDedicatedKung-Fu Master,
Karate Champ,
Pac-Land,
Pole Position II		English Mark Darts,
Crowns Golf,
Yie Ar Kung-Fu,
Kung-Fu Master		Kung-Fu Master,
Pole Position,
Trivia Master,
Karate Champ
3Un­knownUn­knownCommando
4Un­knownUn­knownYie Ar Kung-FuConversion
5Un­knownUn­knownHogan's AlleySystem
6Un­knownUn­knownExcitebikeSystemUn­known
7Un­knownUn­knownPole Position,
Spy Hunter		Dedicated
8

Best-selling home systems edit

RankSystem(s)ManufacturerTypeGenerationSales
JapanUSAUK[34]Worldwide
1Nintendo Entertainment System / FamicomNintendoConsoleThird6,500,000[35]90,000[36]—6,590,000
2Commodore 64 (C64)CommodoreComputer8-bitUn­known1,000,000[37]Un­known2,500,000[38]
3IBM Personal Computer (PC) / IBM PCjrIBMComputer8-bit / 16-bit———1,400,000[39]
4Atari 2600AtariConsoleSecond———1,000,000[37]
5Apple IIApple Inc.Computer8-bit———900,000[38]
6Commodore 128CommodoreComputer8-bit———500,000[37]
7NEC PC-88 / PC-98NECComputer8-bit / 16-bit430,000[40][41]Un­knownUn­known430,000+
8ZX SpectrumSinclairComputer8-bit—Un­known390,000390,000+
9Sega SG-1000 / Mark III (Master System)SegaConsoleThird280,000[42]——280,000+
10Amstrad CPC / Amstrad PCWAmstradComputer8-bit—Un­known250,000250,000+

Best-selling home video games edit

Japan edit

The year's best-selling game was Super Mario Bros. for the Family Computer (Famicom), later known as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) outside Japan. The game sold 2.5 million copies and grossed more than ¥12.2 billion ($72 million at the time, or $204 million adjusted for inflation) within several months.[43] It eventually sold 3 million cartridges by the end of 1985.[44]

Game Machine magazine reported that more than ten Famicom games released between 1983 and 1985 had each sold over 1 million cartridges in Japan by the end of 1985.[45] The Magic Box lists fourteen Famicom games released between 1983 and 1985 that crossed 1 million lifetime sales in Japan.[46] At least 11 of the following 14 Famicom million-sellers released between 1983 and 1985 crossed 1 million sales in Japan by the end of 1985.

Title(s)PublisherSalesRef
Super Mario Bros.Nintendo3,000,000[44]
4 Nin Uchi MahjongBaseballNintendoUn­known[46][45]
ExcitebikeF1 Race
GolfKung Fu
MahjongMario Bros.
SoccerTennis
Kinnikuman: Muscle Tag MatchBandai
XeviousNamco
Lode RunnerHudson Soft

United Kingdom edit

In the United Kingdom, the following titles were the top ten best-selling home video games of 1985, according to the annual Gallup software sales chart. The top ten titles were all home computer games.[47]

RankTitleDeveloperPublisherGenreSales
1The Way of the Exploding FistBeam SoftwareMelbourne HouseFighting500,000 (Europe)[48]
2Soft AidVariousQuicksilvaCompilationUn­known
3EliteAcornsoftAcornsoftSpace trading
4GhostbustersActivisionActivisionAction
5Finders KeepersMastertronicMastertronicPlatformer
6Frank Bruno's BoxingElite SystemsElite SystemsFighting (boxing)
7CommandoCapcomElite SystemsRun-and-gun shooter
8Formula 1 SimulatorSpirit SoftwareMastertronicRacing
9Daley Thompson's DecathlonOcean SoftwareOcean SoftwareSports (Olympics)
10Impossible MissionEpyxU.S. GoldPlatformer

Fighting games topped the UK software sales charts for two years in a row in the mid-1980s, with The Way of the Exploding Fist in 1985 and then the home computer conversions of Yie Ar Kung-Fu in 1986.[49]

United States edit

In the United States, the Software Publishers Association (SPA) began tracking home computer game sales in 1985. The following fourteen computer games received Gold Awards from the SPA for sales above 100,000 units in 1985 (but below the 250,000 units required for a Platinum Award).

TitlesRef
Alphabet ZooChoplifter[50]
DeadlineF-15 Strike Eagle
Fraction FeverFrogger
GhostbustersKids on Keys
Lode RunnerMath Blaster!
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy[51]
Zork IZork II
Zork III—

Events edit

Major awards edit

Business edit

Notable releases edit

Games edit

Arcade

Computer edit

Console edit

NESNintendo Entertainment SystemSMSSega Master SystemIntIntellivision
PCPersonal ComputerG&WGame and WatchArcArcade
SGSG-10002600Atari 2600
Notable releases of the year 1985
ReleaseTitle [60]Consoles
NES

JP: February 4

NA: October 18

Arcade: 1985

PC: October

Ice ClimberNES, Arc, PC
MarchExcitebike (NA Release)Arc
Arcade:

JP: March 1

NA: April

EU: August

NES NA:

October 18

Hogan's AlleyNES, Arc
Arcade:

EU: Q1 1985

NES:

JP: June 21

NA: October 18

PC:

December

Kung FuNES, Arc, PC
PC:

April

NES:

December 19

ThexderPC, NES (Japan only)
NES:

JP: April 9

NA: October 18

SoccerNES
April 23Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?PC
NES:

JP: June 18

NA: October 18

Arcade:

1985

Wrecking CrewNES, Arc
September 9Battle CityNES (Japan only)
NES:

JP: September 13

NA: October 18

Super Mario Bros.NES
September 16Ultima IV: Quest of the AvatarPC
October 18Wild GunmanNES (US release)
October 18TennisNES (NA release)
October 18Stack-UpNES
October 18PinballNES (NA release)
October 18GyromiteNES
October 18GolfNES (NA release), Arc (EU release)
October 18Excitebike (NA Release)NES
October 18Duck Hunt (NA release)NES
October 18Clu Clu LandNES, Arc
October 18BaseballNES
October 1810-Yard FightNES
October 27Dragon Slayer II: XanaduPC
NovemberHydlide II: Shine of DarknessPC
1985Racing Destruction SetPC
1985Roller CoasterPC
1985StarquakePC
1985Tau CetiPC
1985The Oregon TrailPC
1985MercenaryPC
1985Clues'o'PC

Hardware edit

North American release of the Nintendo Entertainment System
Arcade
Computer
Console

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Lindner, Richard (1990). Video Games: Past, Present and Future; An Industry Overview. United States: Nintendo of America.
  2. ^ "Coin-Op history – 1975 to 1997 – from the pages of RePlay". RePlay. 1998. Archived from the original on April 28, 1998. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  3. ^ "Special Report: Tom Petit (Sega Enterprises)". RePlay. Vol. 16, no. 4. January 1991. pp. 80, 82.
  4. ^ a b "1985". Play Meter. Vol. 20, no. 13. December 1994. p. 74.
  5. ^ "Best Hit Games 25" (PDF). Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 252. Amusement Press, Inc. January 15, 1985. p. 27.
  6. ^ "Best Hit Games 25" (PDF). Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 253. Amusement Press, Inc. February 1, 1985. p. 25.
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