As a 2000s kid, I'd probably never have gotten into retro game hardware if your channel didn't exist! Thanks for all those vids and tips!

No love for the Sega Master System?

Lol, I have a JAMMA arcade board that I tossed into an old arcade machine I have, and now I have 60 classic arcade games. It's great fun!

Another criteria would be how easy to find and how much the cartridges go for. Although I was a C64 user back in the day (actually giving up an Atari 400 to become one), the Atari 8-bit machines probably have it beat in that criteria, too - C64 game carts tend to not show up very often in second-hand shops because most people tended to either have disc drives in the US or tape drives in the UK. I see the 8-bit carts for Atari more often. They have a nice brown "serious" typography to them, too, for the most part. Stylish and they have a retro-future vibe now.

Plot twist The screenshot for popeye was the nes version!

Atari 800XL with a nice Genesis arcade stick has always been my favourite way to play arcade ports at home.

The NES definitely did have Popeye. I remember owning it and it appears in every NES emulator list.

The Atari 8-bit line had some incredible arcade conversions.

If you're including the NES, you should also consider the Sega Master System. Of course, the SMS will be missing most of your top 40 games (a solid list, BTW), but makes up for a lot of that deficiency by having some great later 'classic' arcade titles like Altered Beast, Shinobi, Rastan, Outrun, Hang-On, Afterburner, Thunderblade, and Golden Axe. I'd also make a case for Colecovision having some REALLY outstanding less iconic arcade conversions that were terrific games and very well-done home versions, such as Ladybug, Frenzy, Venture, Looping, Pepper II, Carnival, Buck Rogers, Up and Down, Roc n Rope, and quite a few others.

5:59 the nes had ms.pacman! Both a normal grey cartridge that was faithful to the arcade, and a tengen one, that had loads of cool extra features.

Havent't thought the Atari 8 bit arcade game library stands above the C64. Nice comparison video!

Still love my 8 bit Atari computers...sweet nostalgia.

What a quality vid. I can tell you put a lot of hard work into it Dave.

I really appreciate the amount of work went into making this video, picking the games and researching all 40 of them must've been very time consuming! It was an entertaining video tho, keep up the good work!

Great and thorough video as always, thanks 8bit guy!

What I loved about the Atari XE system was that it came with Missile Command built into the game system. I just had to hold down the power button to load that instead of any inserted cartridge.

So the best video game consoles of the time were personal computers. Same as today.

The "from late '70s to '84 arcade games" parameter is very interesting! It's a fun basis upon which to compare systems, IMO.

Great video, can't wait for the next review with these machines.

I wish you had included Sega Master System in the list.

Yes! My first console was the 2600, but I had an Atari XEGS that I loved! I still have a couple cartridges. I regret not having the system anymore. Crystal Castles was my favorite. Flight Simulator was a close second. I loved Bug Hunt and all the back catalog of 800XL games. I still have the floppy disks!

Thank you so much for this video! I was born in 2005, but I still absolutely love retro games! (I have an atari flashback 7, portable, GBA SP & an SNES classic, as well as a large variety of plug&play systems.) I wanted to look at some actual vintage systems, & I stumbled upon this video, so, thanks!

amazing amount of information in such a short time. Great video!

I'm a newcomer to your channel, so this comment is very late, but I was pretty psyched to see the TI-99 at the end of this video. I actually happened across one of those in perfect working order in a Goodwill a couple years ago. I haven't done much of anything with it other than play Chess and Parsec, but it's a very cool machine. I've considered looking into what I would need to emulate a tape drive with mp3s, as that would vastly expand my potential game library.

My first computer was a VIC20. . . .. . I got it in 1999. 😢

I had a CD for PC with loads of arcade games when I was super young! I loved Mappy and Xevious ^^

This video helped me decide my new game console. Keep up the good work

The 800xl was my first real computer (after a timex Sinclair 1000 and a 2600). Fun video to watch for the nostalgia.

Did you include clones in the games rankings? For example, the Intellivision and TI-99/4A both had their own clones of Space Invaders, rather than an officially licensed version of the real thing.

I love my Atari 800 and 7800, this is all the more reason why I display them proudly

Very good comparison, keep up the good work!

Keep content coming, 8-Bit Guy. Will be donating, shortly!

I remember the day TI announced they were dropping their computer, their stock went up $25. That tells you public opinion.

Choplifter, Defender II, Dig Dug, Galaxian, Lode Runner, Ms Pac-Man, Popeye, and Space Invaders were released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985 or 1986. Arkanoid -is the official version of- (edit: very similar to) Breakout and exists for the NES. So if you are looking for a retro system with 20 games from your list, NES is not a bad choice.

I am really looking forward to the next episode of this series

Great video. I've been looking at diving into retro games!

Even though I’m only 13 years old I like almost all the game consoles You showed

You forgot about the Sega Master System, didn't you?

I just discovered this channel and I find this kind of stuff sooo interesting!

Might have been mentioned in other comments, but the 5200 also had the VCS adapter to allow it to play 2600 games. Granted only the 2 port units work without modification to the main console, but if you're going to mention the CVs expansion module 1 and mention of how the disk drive for the C-64 helps these systems out on the software selection, then it really is only fair to mention the 5200 and it's VCS adapter. Also quite a few 8-bit Atari computer cart based games have been converted to function on the 5200 and carts of those games can be made and purchased easily.

I would love to see more 8-bit Atari computers

Atari FTMFW! When I was a little kid me and my friends lusted after an Atari 800 computer. I never saw one in person until much later. I think that fact that it's more than just a gaming machine and you can actually program it makes it a more fun machine for the hobbyist. I learned how to program on a Timex/Sinclair 1000 and wrote some pretty simple action games using Sinclair BASIC. I still have that machine and it still worked last time I plugged it in.

Great video. I collect for the 7800and colecovision. Two of my favorites.

Dude, you are one of my favorite KZfaqrs right now

The Atari 400 (with B-key keyboard upgrade) was the first and my favorite computer to develop for. The "display list" idea works brilliantly to make interesting displays of mixed text and graphics, and I like how the concept was duplicated on the Amiga, along with vertical blank interrupts and all that old-school trickery we had to do. AtariBASIC could get you pretty far, but it was very slow, so it was worth it to learn 6502 assembly just to get decent performance. I never managed to publish any of the games or utilities I wrote for the Atari, but later I did publish some Amiga titles. It was a crazy period for developers. Recently I started to work on improving the state-of-the-art for developing Atari Computer software on the macOS platform (or anywhere that Sublime or Atom editors run). I've posted a pretty smart error-catching AtariBASIC language syntax for the Sublime editor at github.com/thinkyhead/6502-Tools (also for Atom soon). Also included is a 6502 Assembler Sublime syntax designed to work better with Atari 6502 source code, both 2600 and 8-bit computer. (Still needs macro-assembler support.) I've also started working on a new macOS version of the "Atari800" emulator that will be usable as part of a development workflow (and not have broken sound). "Altirra" could also be a good starting-point, but it's written for Windows, so I'm just aiming to get a new build of "Atari800MacX" (old UI) for now, gradually update its interfaces, and will apply fixes needed to pass the Altirra acid tests in the future. My hope is to make it easier for homebrew enthusiasts to develop for one of the coolest platforms of the 8-bit era, and to see how far the old platform can be pushed, especially when integrated into today's networked environment of limitless storage. #RetroGaming #ClassicComputing #AtariAge

The XEGS is an underrated system, great video :)

I made the Atari 800 my primary console for classic arcade gaming about 5 years ago because of its huge library and great specs. The fact that the platform ran for so long (1979 - 1992) is likely why there are so many games for it. My favorite thing to play is Missile Command with the 2600 track-ball. If you want to try it, plug in a trackball, switch the controller’s toggle to T, and then type Ctrl-T on the keyboard. It’s a friggin’ blast, so much better than the 2600 version.

tnx for this awesome review :D

Good video, but I noticed a little error. Popeye was in fact developed for the NES; I even have a cartridge of it.

These are _not_ arcade games: H.E.R.O. Jumpman Lode Runner Miner 2049er Montezuma's Revenge Pitfall Pitfall II Pitstop River Raid There were arcade ports of Lode Runner and Pitfall II, but they were both originally home computer/console games.

I am always astounded at your ability to do screen captures on these old machines... and your slick editing. You are one talented guy! Also, I owned a Radio Shack Color Computer which used cartridges, although it probably was proprietary. Thanks for making this.

Congrats, my new favorite KZfaq channel

Welp, since two of these consoles have voice synthesizers on them, I thought I'd make this reference.... BEEEEEE SEVENTEEEEEEN BAWWWMER!

Good video and info thanks

Well, you've inspired me to pick up an old C64. Because I really needed another hobby involving obsolete electronic equipment. Thanks. :D

Thank you for this channel! subscribed

This is in my opinion your best video so far, awesome

And what about the master system? It is also an 8 bit old video game console isn't it? SEGA wasn't popular in north America?

Dude! Thanks for mentioning the Sinclair Spectrum. My brother and I spent hours mashing those super soft buttons when we were wee little tykes. I hope you can get one some day

all your videos are so good

"I won't be including any 16-bit systems..." Actually, the Intellivision's CPU was a 16-bit General Instrument CP1610. It was not of the "16-bit era" that we think of today (Genesis, SNES, TurboGrafx-16) but it was 16-bit.

But there was Popeye for NES. Actually it was black box game!

What a great job you are doing. Keep on the good way!

Good stuff. Glad the TI-99 4/A got a mention.

Montezuma's revenge on the 8-bit Atari computers was awesome

Wait a minute! Many of those games on your list were never released in the arcade like H.E.R.O., Jumpman, Miner 2049er, Montezuma's Revenge, Pitfall, Pitstop and River Raid. Some of the games were eventually ported to the arcade but first appeared on Home Computers & consoles like Choplifter & Pitfall II (Which were made by Sega) and Load Runner (which was made by Irem) so I don't understand why they are on your list.

I don't know why but this is really entertaining. great job

This was fun, thank you!

The Atari 8-bit line was awesome. It came out years before the C64, but compared favorably.

Owning the Atari 800 back in the day, I knew the answer right away. I loved playing the computer games that were every bit as good as the arcade versions.

First video I watched from you. Ahhh, the good old days...

Great video... just love the 400...

Colecovision All The Way! I am surprised that the system does not have as many of those 40 titles. I do however, have an Atari XE system...I am going to have to dust it off now...

I know it's blasphemy for purists, but for those who are really unfamiliar with this era, a Nintendo NES Mini might be a good place to start. I pre-ordered it and I was so lucky that I received it before Christmas. I know that it is emulation and not the same thing is the actual NES, but I love it's library of games (even though it's not possible to add new ones), the HDMI support and ease of convenience. My only problem with it is the short controller cable. I know that's hard to buy one at this moment, but hopefully it won't be too long till Nintendo can manufacture and ship more.

Really enjoyed that!

Really great video.

wow, I had the 600xl as my 1st system. I didnt know how lucky I was.

The more footage I see, the more I think I'd be interested in a 7800, bad sound aside.

2 days left at work! cant wait to see this years content!

Awesome video. I don't have any vintage game console (sadly) but I do have a Raspberry Pi system with RetroPie on it, allowing me to emulate about 50 vintage game consoles, arcade included. So that enables me to relive the past with only a small computer and a (wireless) joystick.

Can you please do a video about the g4 cube please?

Vectrex wasn't on this list but, I would like to mention it was ahead of its time. Amazing system.

Awesome video!

Lovely video, and good criteria, particularly the modern-day ease of use viewpoint is a good one to consider.

4:27 Actually, the 5200 did have a 2600 adapter available. Look it up sometime.

I loved my Atari 1040ST, still miss it to this day.

I would love to see an additional criteria around faithfullness to the original arcade version. Great channel by the way, just discovered it and watching everything.

5:24 Excellent catch!!

The TI-994a was my 1st computer. :) These days I just use my Ouya for classic game emulation. Was indeed surprised about the Atari 400/800.

I love that I can do all these and more on my Raspberry Pi. I have to admit, I spend a decent amount of time playing the inferior systems.

Cool videos! Love them! Oh by the way can you one day do some videos on the Starpath Supercharger & the Vectecx. Thanks!!

Love this vid. I sorta new the Atari 8-bit computer would be the winner from the start. Having one myself, I noticed that it has most of my arcade favorites on it... Good versions too!

of course the best way to play old 80s arcade games, pixel perfect is to get an arcade machine, with one of those cards that has about 400 of the 80s games on it... with no comprimises at all and the real arcade sticks and buttons...

6:55 Hey 8-bit Guy, slight mistake here as Popeye was released on Colecovision under the Parker Bros. label.

4:00 Jumpman, Load Runner and Pitstop are all available for the 2600 and the 7800. Qix is the only one missing and there's a dev community release of it.

you take me to the past. You just got a new suscriber.

Dandy for the 800 was great 4 player game

In fairness, several of the listed games (Choplifter, Jumpman, H.E.R.O., Lode Runner, Miner 2049er, Montezuma's Revenge, Pitstop, River Raid) were either never arcade games, or were ports of the computer/console originals that were then often essentially unknown in arcades and thus not "arcade classics" by the strictest definition. Also, it may be a little unfair to ding a platform for having a good arcade port that just happens to be purposefully misnamed. For example, the Vic-20 may not have a "Space Invaders" but if you go hunting for "Vic Avenger" on KZfaq, you will be pleasantly surprised.

The Intellivision console had a few arcade games that was especially made for Mattel: Lock'n'Chase, Burgertime, Bump'n'Jump, Mission X.

This is an interesting video for me as it falls directly in my wheelhouse. My primary passion is home ports of arcade games from the late 70's and early 80's. As a result I've always gravitated to systems playing those titles. As such I've purged much of my collection and focused strictly on the Atari 2600/7800/XEGS and the NES which combined have a great library of classic arcade ports. I enjoy, for example, playing the different versions of Donkey Kong on all these systems despite the limitations of some. As others have mentioned, several titles you mentioned do appear on the NES like Popeye and others came out on the famicom which can be played on the NES via a famicom-to-NES adapter which is smaller than a cart and not bulky like some of the other add ons you showed.