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.
- Pac-Man
- Donkey Kong
- Mario
- Link
- Ms. Pac-Man
- Little Mac
- Alex Kidd
- Q-Bert
- Mega Man (Rockman)
- Samus Aran
- Bill Rizer & Lance Bean
- Billy Lee
- Joe Musashi
- Kid Icarus
- Bomberman
- Chef Pepper
- Duck Hunt Dog
- Jaffar
- Frog
- Dig Dug
- Jacky
- Hockey Fat Guy
- Luigi
- Super Joe
- Tyris Flare
- Gilius Thunderhead
- Questor
- Alis
- Snoopy
- Kanzo Hattori
- Wonder Boy
- Kage
- Centurion
- Hayato
- Giana
- Lady Bug
- Lion-O
- Arthur
- Larry
- Knight & Ostrich
- Mike Tyson
In no particular order, we give you the big list of eighties video game characters:
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
- Debuted – 1982
- Developer – Coleco
- System – ColecoVision
- Game – Donkey Kong
View On eBay
– Donkey Kong TableTop Arcade
Mario
- Debuted – 1985
- Developer – Nintendo
- System – NES
- Game – Super Mario Bros.
View On Walmart
– NES Classic Edition System
Link
- Debuted – 1986
- Developer – Nintendo
- System – NES
- Game – Legend Of Zelda
Ms. Pac-Man
- Debuted – 1986
- Developer – Nintendo
- System – NES
- Game – Mrs. Pac-Man
View On Amazon
– Ms. Pac-Man Counter Arcade
Little Mac
- Debuted – 1987
- Developer – Nintendo
- System – NES
- Game – Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out
Alex Kidd
- Debuted – 1986
- Developer – Sega
- System – Master System
- Game – Alex Kidd In Miracle World
Q-Bert
- Debuted – 1983
- Developer – Parker Brothers
- System – Atari 2600
- Game – Q-Bert
View On Amazon
– Q-Bert Mini Handheld Game
Mega Man (Rockman)
- Debuted – 1987
- Developer – Capcom
- System – NES
- Game – Mega Man
Samus Aran
- Debuted – 1986
- Developer – Nintendo
- System – NES
- Game – Metroid
Bill Rizer & Lance Bean
- Debuted – 1987
- Developer – Konami
- System – NES
- Game – Contra
Billy Lee
- Debuted – 1987
- Developer – Konami
- System – NES
- Game – Double Dragon
Joe Musashi
- Debuted – 1988
- Developer – Sega
- System – Master System
- Game – Shinobi
Kid Icarus
- Debuted – 1987
- Developer – Nintendo
- System – NES
- Game – Kid Icarus
Bomberman
- Debuted – 1985
- Developer – Hudson Soft
- System – NES
- Game – Bomberman
View On Amazon
– Bomberman On Switch Console
Chef Pepper
- Debuted – 1982
- Developer – Data East
- System – Atari 2600
- Game – BurgerTime
Duck Hunt Dog
- Debuted – 1985
- Developer – Nintendo
- System – NES
- Game – Duck Hunt
Jaffar
- Debuted – 1989
- Developer – Broderbund
- System – Apple II
- Game – Prince Of Persia
Frog
- Debuted – 1983
- Developer – Konami
- System – Atari 2600
- Game – Frogger
Dig Dug
- Debuted – 1983
- Developer – Namco
- System – Atari 2600
- Game – Dig Dug
Jacky
- Debuted – 1986
- Developer – Namcot
- System – NES
- Game – Kung Fu Heroes
Hockey Fat Guy
- Debuted – 1988
- Developer – Nintendo
- System – NES
- Game – Ice Hockey
Luigi
- Debuted – 1985
- Developer – Nintendo
- System – NES
- Game – Super Mario Bros.
Options To Play Game Today
– NES Classic Mini Console
Super Joe
- Debuted – 1986
- Developer – Capcom
- System – NES
- Game – Commando
Tyris Flare
- Debuted – 1989
- Developer – Sega
- System – Master System
- Game – Golden Axe
Gilius Thunderhead
- Debuted – 1989
- Developer – Sega
- System – Master System
- Game – Golden Axe
Questor
- Debuted – 1985
- Developer – Tengen
- System – NES
- Game – Gauntlet
Alis
- Debuted – 1988
- Developer – Sega
- System – Master System
- Game – Phantasy Star
Snoopy
- Debuted – 1983
- Developer – Atari
- System – Atari 2600
- Game – Snoopy and the Red Baron
Kanzo Hattori
- Debuted – 1986
- Developer – Bandai
- System – NES
- Game – Ninja Kid
Wonder Boy
- Debuted – 1987
- Developer – Sega
- System – Master System
- Game – Wonder Boy
Kage
- Debuted – 1987
- Developer – Taito
- System – NES
- Game – The Legend Of Kage
Centurion
- Debuted – 1989
- Developer – Sega
- System – Master System
- Game – Altered Beast
Hayato
- Debuted – 1988
- Developer – Sega
- System – Master System
- Game – Kenseiden
Giana
- Debuted – 1988
- Developer – Time Warp
- System – Commodore 64
- Game – The Great Giana Sisters
Lady Bug
- Debuted – 1982
- Developer – Universal
- System – Coleco Vision
- Game – Lady Bug
Lion-O
- Debuted – 1987
- Developer – Gargoyle Games
- System – Commodore 64
- Game – Thundercats
Arthur
- Debuted – 1989
- Developer – Capcom
- System – Master System
- Game – Ghouls’n Ghosts
Larry
- Debuted – 1987
- Developer – Sierra
- System – Apple 2
- Game – Lesire Suit Larry
Knight & Ostrich
- Debuted – 1982
- Developer – Atari
- System – Apple 2
- Game – Joust
View On Walmart
– Joust 14-1 Legacy Arcade
Mike Tyson
- Debuted – 1987
- Developer – Nintendo
- System – NES
- Game – Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out
You May Also Like: