80s Video Game Characters

Matt Kasper

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that we may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links.

80s video game characters

Some of the greatest and most iconic video game characters came out of the 1980s. In fact, the eighties were a decade of great innovation and growth for the video game industry. Whether you were around during these times or not you will have heard of most of these characters’ names. We are talking about Pac-Man, Super Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, and so many more recognizable video game legends.

These games were known for their simple, addictive gameplay and fun graphics. I think the best video game characters of all time were born in the 1980s and most of them are still relevant today with new games and spin-offs still revolving around them.


In no particular order, we give you the big list of eighties video game characters:

pac man atari 2600

Pac-Man

  • Debuted – 1982
  • Developer – Atari
  • System – Atari 2600
  • Game – Pac-Man

View On Amazon
HandHeld Pac-Man Console
Mini Collectible Pac-Man Game

donkey kong colecovision

Donkey Kong

  • Debuted – 1982
  • Developer – Coleco
  • System – ColecoVision
  • Game – Donkey Kong

View On eBay
Donkey Kong TableTop Arcade

super mario nes

Mario

  • Debuted – 1985
  • Developer – Nintendo
  • System – NES
  • Game – Super Mario Bros.

View On Walmart
NES Classic Edition System

link legend of zelda

Link

  • Debuted – 1986
  • Developer – Nintendo
  • System – NES
  • Game – Legend Of Zelda
mrs pac man nintendo

Ms. Pac-Man

  • Debuted – 1986
  • Developer – Nintendo
  • System – NES
  • Game – Mrs. Pac-Man

View On Amazon
Ms. Pac-Man Counter Arcade

little mac mike tyson

Little Mac

alex kidd sega

Alex Kidd

  • Debuted – 1986
  • Developer – Sega
  • System – Master System
  • Game – Alex Kidd In Miracle World
qbert atari 2600

Q-Bert

  • Debuted – 1983
  • Developer – Parker Brothers
  • System – Atari 2600
  • Game – Q-Bert

View On Amazon
Q-Bert Mini Handheld Game

mega man nes

Mega Man (Rockman)

  • Debuted – 1987
  • Developer – Capcom
  • System – NES
  • Game – Mega Man
metroid nes video game

Samus Aran

  • Debuted – 1986
  • Developer – Nintendo
  • System – NES
  • Game – Metroid
bill lance contra

Bill Rizer & Lance Bean

  • Debuted – 1987
  • Developer – Konami
  • System – NES
  • Game – Contra
billy lee double dragon

Billy Lee

  • Debuted – 1987
  • Developer – Konami
  • System – NES
  • Game – Double Dragon
joe musashi shinobi

Joe Musashi

  • Debuted – 1988
  • Developer – Sega
  • System – Master System
  • Game – Shinobi
kid icarus character

Kid Icarus

  • Debuted – 1987
  • Developer – Nintendo
  • System – NES
  • Game – Kid Icarus
bomberman nes

Bomberman

  • Debuted – 1985
  • Developer – Hudson Soft
  • System – NES
  • Game – Bomberman

View On Amazon
Bomberman On Switch Console

chef pepper burgertime

Chef Pepper

  • Debuted – 1982
  • Developer – Data East
  • System – Atari 2600
  • Game – BurgerTime
duck hunt dog

Duck Hunt Dog

  • Debuted – 1985
  • Developer – Nintendo
  • System – NES
  • Game – Duck Hunt
jaffar prince of persia

Jaffar

  • Debuted – 1989
  • Developer – Broderbund
  • System – Apple II
  • Game – Prince Of Persia
frog in frogger

Frog

  • Debuted – 1983
  • Developer – Konami
  • System – Atari 2600
  • Game – Frogger
dig dug character

Dig Dug

  • Debuted – 1983
  • Developer – Namco
  • System – Atari 2600
  • Game – Dig Dug
jacky kung fu heroes nes

Jacky

  • Debuted – 1986
  • Developer – Namcot
  • System – NES
  • Game – Kung Fu Heroes
fat guy nes ice hockey

Hockey Fat Guy

  • Debuted – 1988
  • Developer – Nintendo
  • System – NES
  • Game – Ice Hockey
luigi super mario bros nes

Luigi

  • Debuted – 1985
  • Developer – Nintendo
  • System – NES
  • Game – Super Mario Bros.

Options To Play Game Today
NES Classic Mini Console

super joe commando

Super Joe

  • Debuted – 1986
  • Developer – Capcom
  • System – NES
  • Game – Commando
tyris flare golden axe

Tyris Flare

  • Debuted – 1989
  • Developer – Sega
  • System – Master System
  • Game – Golden Axe
gilius thunderhead golden axe

Gilius Thunderhead

  • Debuted – 1989
  • Developer – Sega
  • System – Master System
  • Game – Golden Axe
questor gauntlet nes

Questor

  • Debuted – 1985
  • Developer – Tengen
  • System – NES
  • Game – Gauntlet
alis phantasy star sega

Alis

  • Debuted – 1988
  • Developer – Sega
  • System – Master System
  • Game – Phantasy Star
snoopy vs red baron atari

Snoopy

  • Debuted – 1983
  • Developer – Atari
  • System – Atari 2600
  • Game – Snoopy and the Red Baron
ninja kid kanzo hattori

Kanzo Hattori

  • Debuted – 1986
  • Developer – Bandai
  • System – NES
  • Game – Ninja Kid
wonder boy sega

Wonder Boy

  • Debuted – 1987
  • Developer – Sega
  • System – Master System
  • Game – Wonder Boy
legend of kage nes

Kage

  • Debuted – 1987
  • Developer – Taito
  • System – NES
  • Game – The Legend Of Kage
centurion altered beast

Centurion

  • Debuted – 1989
  • Developer – Sega
  • System – Master System
  • Game – Altered Beast
hayato kenseiden sega

Hayato

  • Debuted – 1988
  • Developer – Sega
  • System – Master System
  • Game – Kenseiden
great giana sisters commodore 64

Giana

  • Debuted – 1988
  • Developer – Time Warp
  • System – Commodore 64
  • Game – The Great Giana Sisters
lady bug coleco vision

Lady Bug

  • Debuted – 1982
  • Developer – Universal
  • System – Coleco Vision
  • Game – Lady Bug
lion O thundercats

Lion-O

  • Debuted – 1987
  • Developer – Gargoyle Games
  • System – Commodore 64
  • Game – Thundercats
arthur ghouls n ghosts

Arthur

  • Debuted – 1989
  • Developer – Capcom
  • System – Master System
  • Game – Ghouls’n Ghosts
leisure suit larry land of lounge lizards

Larry

  • Debuted – 1987
  • Developer – Sierra
  • System – Apple 2
  • Game – Lesire Suit Larry



joust arcade knights

Knight & Ostrich

  • Debuted – 1982
  • Developer – Atari
  • System – Apple 2
  • Game – Joust

View On Walmart
Joust 14-1 Legacy Arcade




punchout mike tyson

Mike Tyson

  • Debuted – 1987
  • Developer – Nintendo
  • System – NES
  • Game – Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out

You May Also Like: