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Top 10 Arcade Games Of The 1970s


believe it or not these games were

believe it or not these games were absolutely mind-blowing back in the day

absolutely mind-blowing back in the day

absolutely mind-blowing back in the day and have since helped to find video

and have since helped to find video

and have since helped to find video games in the public eye welcome to

games in the public eye welcome to

games in the public eye welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re kicking

watchmojo.com and today we’re kicking

watchmojo.com and today we’re kicking off our new series on the top 10 arcade

off our new series on the top 10 arcade

off our new series on the top 10 arcade games per decade with our picks for the

games per decade with our picks for the

games per decade with our picks for the top ten arcade games of the 1970s for

top ten arcade games of the 1970s for

top ten arcade games of the 1970s for this list we’re looking at the best

this list we’re looking at the best

this list we’re looking at the best games released – and played in arcades

games released – and played in arcades

games released – and played in arcades between 1970 and 1979 these are the

between 1970 and 1979 these are the

between 1970 and 1979 these are the games that made a significant impact on

games that made a significant impact on

games that made a significant impact on popular culture and the video gaming

popular culture and the video gaming

popular culture and the video gaming medium helping to influence bigger

medium helping to influence bigger

medium helping to influence bigger better games of the future

better games of the future

better games of the future number 10 death race a game about

number 10 death race a game about

number 10 death race a game about running down gremlins in your car death

running down gremlins in your car death

running down gremlins in your car death race was revolutionary at the time due

race was revolutionary at the time due

race was revolutionary at the time due to its steering wheel and acceleration

to its steering wheel and acceleration

to its steering wheel and acceleration pedal that are used to control the car

pedal that are used to control the car

pedal that are used to control the car rather than the typical joystick and

rather than the typical joystick and

rather than the typical joystick and buttons the game was extremely

buttons the game was extremely

buttons the game was extremely controversial upon its release with many

controversial upon its release with many

controversial upon its release with many groups lobbying against it and worrying

groups lobbying against it and worrying

groups lobbying against it and worrying about the possible psychological impact

about the possible psychological impact

about the possible psychological impact that could result from the gameplay at

that could result from the gameplay at

that could result from the gameplay at least one thing in gaming has stayed

least one thing in gaming has stayed

least one thing in gaming has stayed constant number 9 tank while the games

constant number 9 tank while the games

constant number 9 tank while the games may have been revolutionary the titles

may have been revolutionary the titles

may have been revolutionary the titles could have used some work tank was a

could have used some work tank was a

could have used some work tank was a two-player game where friend’s battled

two-player game where friend’s battled

two-player game where friend’s battled each other avoiding mines and a maze

each other avoiding mines and a maze

each other avoiding mines and a maze while trying to shoot the other player

while trying to shoot the other player

while trying to shoot the other player the joystick controls were considered

the joystick controls were considered

the joystick controls were considered realistic and engrossing for the time

realistic and engrossing for the time

realistic and engrossing for the time even being used six years later for the

even being used six years later for the

even being used six years later for the arcade game battlezone it was so popular

arcade game battlezone it was so popular

arcade game battlezone it was so popular that the game was ported to the Atari

that the game was ported to the Atari

that the game was ported to the Atari 2600 with the name Kombat number 8c wolf

known for its large periscope attachment

known for its large periscope attachment Seawolf had players looking through said

Seawolf had players looking through said

Seawolf had players looking through said periscope in order to blast enemy ships

periscope in order to blast enemy ships

periscope in order to blast enemy ships in underwater mines which were used as

in underwater mines which were used as

in underwater mines which were used as an obstruction sea wolf is notable for

an obstruction sea wolf is notable for

an obstruction sea wolf is notable for being one of the first games with the

being one of the first games with the

being one of the first games with the high-score challenge an aspect which

high-score challenge an aspect which

high-score challenge an aspect which would be prevalent in most arcade games

would be prevalent in most arcade games

would be prevalent in most arcade games in subsequent years it would also come

in subsequent years it would also come

in subsequent years it would also come to serve as one of video gaming x’ most

to serve as one of video gaming x’ most

to serve as one of video gaming x’ most well known features number 7 lunar

well known features number 7 lunar

well known features number 7 lunar lander

this game sees the player attempting to

this game sees the player attempting to pilot the titular Lander onto the

pilot the titular Lander onto the

pilot the titular Lander onto the surface of the Moon while the game

surface of the Moon while the game

surface of the Moon while the game wasn’t wildly popular it did introduce a

wasn’t wildly popular it did introduce a

wasn’t wildly popular it did introduce a few new features such as the insertion

few new features such as the insertion

few new features such as the insertion of more coins in order to continue

of more coins in order to continue

of more coins in order to continue playing a mainstay of arcade games ever

playing a mainstay of arcade games ever

playing a mainstay of arcade games ever since the vector graphics were also the

since the vector graphics were also the

since the vector graphics were also the catalyst for asteroids which well we’ll

catalyst for asteroids which well we’ll

catalyst for asteroids which well we’ll get to that later proving the influence

get to that later proving the influence

get to that later proving the influence that this one had on the medium

number six breakout designed by Apple

number six breakout designed by Apple Steve Wozniak you could say that this

Steve Wozniak you could say that this

Steve Wozniak you could say that this game was the breakout star of his career

game was the breakout star of his career

game was the breakout star of his career no no all right the player controls a

no no all right the player controls a

no no all right the player controls a paddle at the bottom of the screen

paddle at the bottom of the screen

paddle at the bottom of the screen attempting to keep a ball bouncing two

attempting to keep a ball bouncing two

attempting to keep a ball bouncing two hit bricks at the top if this sounds

hit bricks at the top if this sounds

hit bricks at the top if this sounds familiar that’s because the game is

familiar that’s because the game is

familiar that’s because the game is still being played today as it has

still being played today as it has

still being played today as it has spawned many copycats including the

spawned many copycats including the

spawned many copycats including the fantastic arkanoid it also served as the

fantastic arkanoid it also served as the

fantastic arkanoid it also served as the inspiration for the Apple 2 computer

inspiration for the Apple 2 computer

inspiration for the Apple 2 computer proving its enormous influence number

proving its enormous influence number

proving its enormous influence number five computer space officially released

five computer space officially released

five computer space officially released in November of 1971 computer space is

in November of 1971 computer space is

in November of 1971 computer space is universally recognized as the world’s

universally recognized as the world’s

universally recognized as the world’s first commercial coin-operated video

first commercial coin-operated video

first commercial coin-operated video game

the player controls a rocket ship and

the player controls a rocket ship and must use thrusters and rotational

must use thrusters and rotational

must use thrusters and rotational buttons in order to avoid fire from

buttons in order to avoid fire from

buttons in order to avoid fire from attacking flying saucers

game was not a success at the time due

game was not a success at the time due to its steep learning curve but the fact

to its steep learning curve but the fact

to its steep learning curve but the fact that this is the world’s first arcade

that this is the world’s first arcade

that this is the world’s first arcade game is enough to warrant it a spot in

game is enough to warrant it a spot in

game is enough to warrant it a spot in history

number four Galaxian hey look color

number four Galaxian hey look color finally one of the most important video

finally one of the most important video

finally one of the most important video games ever Galaxian set the groundwork

games ever Galaxian set the groundwork

games ever Galaxian set the groundwork for many of the succeeding decades most

for many of the succeeding decades most

for many of the succeeding decades most popular games like space invaders the

popular games like space invaders the

popular games like space invaders the player controls the spaceship battling

player controls the spaceship battling

player controls the spaceship battling aliens who are shooting from above but

aliens who are shooting from above but

aliens who are shooting from above but with the added twist of various kamikaze

with the added twist of various kamikaze

with the added twist of various kamikaze enemies not only was this the first game

enemies not only was this the first game

enemies not only was this the first game to feature enemies with distinct

to feature enemies with distinct

to feature enemies with distinct personalities but it also revolutionized

personalities but it also revolutionized

personalities but it also revolutionized color graphics added the lives remaining

color graphics added the lives remaining

color graphics added the lives remaining feature and included more pronounced

feature and included more pronounced

feature and included more pronounced background music than any game before it

background music than any game before it

background music than any game before it to say Galaxian was influential would be

to say Galaxian was influential would be

to say Galaxian was influential would be a massive understatement

number three asteroids won in video

number three asteroids won in video games most popular titles asteroids was

games most popular titles asteroids was

games most popular titles asteroids was a true pop-culture phenomenon using

a true pop-culture phenomenon using

a true pop-culture phenomenon using hardware previously seen in lunar lander

hardware previously seen in lunar lander

hardware previously seen in lunar lander the object of the game was to control

the object of the game was to control

the object of the game was to control your spaceship and shoot oncoming

your spaceship and shoot oncoming

your spaceship and shoot oncoming asteroids while trying to avoid the

asteroids while trying to avoid the

asteroids while trying to avoid the resultant debris the game was immensely

resultant debris the game was immensely

resultant debris the game was immensely popular upon release earning arcade

popular upon release earning arcade

popular upon release earning arcade operators roughly 500 million dollars

operators roughly 500 million dollars

operators roughly 500 million dollars and some even had to install larger coin

and some even had to install larger coin

and some even had to install larger coin boxes in order to accommodate the game’s

boxes in order to accommodate the game’s

boxes in order to accommodate the game’s demand

asteroids was praised for its graphics

asteroids was praised for its graphics and gameplay and many consider it one of

and gameplay and many consider it one of

and gameplay and many consider it one of the finest arcade titles number two pong

– some of our younger viewers we can see

– some of our younger viewers we can see why you might wonder how this game did

why you might wonder how this game did

why you might wonder how this game did well however in November of 1972 this

well however in November of 1972 this

well however in November of 1972 this little game changed the world often

little game changed the world often

little game changed the world often considered to be the first commercially

considered to be the first commercially

considered to be the first commercially successful video game pong premise is

successful video game pong premise is

successful video game pong premise is simple in that two players compete

simple in that two players compete

simple in that two players compete against each other in a simulated table

against each other in a simulated table

against each other in a simulated table tennis match the game inspired many

tennis match the game inspired many

tennis match the game inspired many other companies to take notice and

other companies to take notice and

other companies to take notice and create pong clones which in turn forced

create pong clones which in turn forced

create pong clones which in turn forced Atari to begin creating bigger better

Atari to begin creating bigger better

Atari to begin creating bigger better games effectively beginning the video

games effectively beginning the video

games effectively beginning the video game industry say what you will but

game industry say what you will but

game industry say what you will but without pong there would arguably be no

without pong there would arguably be no

without pong there would arguably be no video games today number one space

video games today number one space

video games today number one space invaders space invaders almost

invaders space invaders almost

invaders space invaders almost single-handedly launched the video game

single-handedly launched the video game

single-handedly launched the video game industry from a niche entertainment

industry from a niche entertainment

industry from a niche entertainment product to a worldwide phenomenon

the player controls the spaceship as it

the player controls the spaceship as it shoots attacking alien ships from above

shoots attacking alien ships from above

shoots attacking alien ships from above and the simple concept changed the

and the simple concept changed the

and the simple concept changed the industry forever

industry forever

industry forever the aliens have since become synonymous

the aliens have since become synonymous

the aliens have since become synonymous with video gaming in general and it soon

with video gaming in general and it soon

with video gaming in general and it soon became the highest-grossing

became the highest-grossing

became the highest-grossing entertainment product of its time

entertainment product of its time

entertainment product of its time roughly the equivalent of Grand Theft

roughly the equivalent of Grand Theft

roughly the equivalent of Grand Theft Auto 5 today suffice it to say that

Auto 5 today suffice it to say that

Auto 5 today suffice it to say that space invaders helped secure video

space invaders helped secure video

space invaders helped secure video gaming as a global industry and change

gaming as a global industry and change

gaming as a global industry and change the world forever do you agree with our

the world forever do you agree with our

the world forever do you agree with our list I must go back what arcade games

list I must go back what arcade games

list I must go back what arcade games from the 70s do you consider to be the

from the 70s do you consider to be the

from the 70s do you consider to be the best for more influential top 10s

best for more influential top 10s

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