Games Released in 1982

983 new games debuted in 1982 across 10 platforms, with Arcade seeing 53 releases. December was the busiest month, with 53 releases. Ms. Pac-Man was the most popular release of the year.

Which days had the most releases?

December 31 was the busiest single day of 1982 with 41 releases.

41 releases

December 31

31 releases

February 1

8 releases

December 1

8 releases

November 1

Which month had the most releases?

The busiest release month of 1982 was December, totaling 53 titles.

How did each season compare?

Q4 was the busiest quarter of 1982 with 78 releases.

Q1 (Jan–Mar)

48 releases

Most popular release in Q1

Ms. Pac-Man

In 1982, a sequel to the incredibly popular Pac-Man was introduced in the form of his girlfriend, Ms. Pac-Man. This sequel continued on the "eat the dots/avoid the ghosts" gameplay of the original game, but added new features to keep the title fresh. Like her boyfriend, Ms. Pac-Man attempts to clear four various and challenging mazes filled with dots and ever-moving bouncing fruit while avoiding Inky, Blinky, Pinky and Sue, each with their own personalities and tactics. One touch from any of these ghosts means a loss of life for Ms. Pac-Man. Ms. Pac-Man can turn the tables on her pursuers by eating one of the four Energizers located within the maze. During this time, the ghosts turn blue, and Ms. Pac-Man can eat them for bonus points. The Energizer power only lasts for a limited amount of time, as the ghost's eyes float back to their center box, and regenerate to chase after Ms. Pac-Man again. Survive a few rounds of gameplay, and the player will be treated to humorous intermissions showing the growing romantic relationship between Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man, leading all the way up to the arrival of "Junior".

Q2 (Apr–Jun)

40 releases

Most popular release in Q2

Moon Patrol

Moon Patrol is a side-scrolling shooter that puts players at the controls of a six-wheeled moon rover that can jump and shoot. The goal is to move through the entire course as quickly as possible while shooting enemies for additional points. Cannons are mounted on the front and top of the vehicle, and both fire simultaneously when the fire button is pressed. Rocks, mines, and pits in the course prevent you from just holding to the right for maximum speed. Rocks and mines can be shot, but pits must be jumped. Some enemies fire shots that create new pits in the course, forcing players to react quickly.

Q3 (Jul–Sep)

28 releases

Most popular release in Q3

Pitfall!

Pitfall! is a video game designed by David Crane for the Atari 2600 and released by Activision in 1982. The player controls Pitfall Harry and is tasked with collecting all the treasures in a jungle within 20 minutes while avoiding obstacles and hazards.

Q4 (Oct–Dec)

78 releases

Most popular release in Q4

River Raid

Mission: Code Name River Raid. Jet down the river. Break the enemy blockade and blast the bridges to halt enemy troop advances. Terrain: Code Name River of No Return. An ever-changing, ever-challenging waterway. Expect huge islands, narrow channels and treacherous bays crawling with enemy choppers, tankers and jets. Weaponry: Code Name StratoStrafer. Your B1 StratoWing Assault Jet has been retrofitted with sophisticated, rapid-fire guided missiles. Your craft is super-sensitive to the stick. Accelerate, slow or bank radically with only a touch. Tactics: Jet low to the river to avoid radar. Stop periodically at depots to refuel. A warning claxxon will alert you. Top speed! Best of luck!

Which platforms saw the most releases?

Arcade received 53 new titles in 1982, holding the most releases. The runner up was Atari 2600 with 39 new titles.

Arcade53 releases

Atari 260039 releases

Apple II28 releases

Atari 8-bit17 releases

Intellivision11 releases

Game & Watch8 releases

TRS-808 releases

DOS7 releases

Texas Instruments TI-995 releases

Epoch Cassette Vision4 releases

What genres were most popular?

Arcade was the dominant genre in 1982 with 106 titles. Shooter followed closely with 45.

Arcade106

Shooter45

Puzzle22

Platform20

Adventure17

Strategy15

Sport14

Simulator9

Racing5

Card & Board Game4

1981 1983

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