The third generation of games (1983–1991) introduced home consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Sega Master System and a Japanese takeover in the console hardware market. In the computer game market, the Commodore 64 and later the Amiga dominated in Europe, the dominated in PC-88 in Japan, and the IBM compatible PCs were taking over the US computer market. Meanwhile, arcade games continued to dazzle with smooth sprite scaling, moving cabinets, advanced audio and early 3D experiments. It was an era of (mostly) pixel graphics, chiptune music and games that shaped the entire industry. The first period when console games definitively stopped being a novelty and became a global entertainment industry.

From Super Mario Bros and Phantasy Star to Elite and Maniac Mansion – are you ready to test your skills?