Games Released in December 1983

64 new games released in December 1983, with Commodore C64/128/MAX being the most active platform. December 31 was the busiest day, with 39 new releases.

Top Platform

Commodore C64/128/MAX

New Releases

64

Busiest Day

December 31

Space Ace

What was the most popular game of December 1983?

Space Ace

In Space Ace you play the heroic Ace who must stop the evil Commander Borf from taking over the Earth! Borf plans to reduce all of humankind to infants and take over the planet.

Which days had the most releases?

December 31 saw the most activity with 39 releases.

Game cover
Game cover

39 releases

December 31

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Game cover

18 releases

December 1

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Game cover

2 releases

December 15

Game cover

1 release

December 2

SunMonTueWedThuFriSat

Thu, Dec 1

18 releases

Fri, Dec 2

1 release

Sat, Dec 3

No releases

Sun, Dec 4

No releases

Mon, Dec 5

1 release

Tue, Dec 6

No releases

Wed, Dec 7

1 release

Thu, Dec 8

No releases

Fri, Dec 9

No releases

Sat, Dec 10

No releases

Sun, Dec 11

No releases

Mon, Dec 12

1 release

Tue, Dec 13

No releases

Wed, Dec 14

No releases

Thu, Dec 15

2 releases

Fri, Dec 16

No releases

Sat, Dec 17

No releases

Sun, Dec 18

No releases

Mon, Dec 19

No releases

Tue, Dec 20

No releases

Wed, Dec 21

No releases

Thu, Dec 22

No releases

Fri, Dec 23

1 release

Sat, Dec 24

No releases

Sun, Dec 25

No releases

Mon, Dec 26

No releases

Tue, Dec 27

No releases

Wed, Dec 28

No releases

Thu, Dec 29

No releases

Fri, Dec 30

No releases

Sat, Dec 31

39 releases

How did each week compare?

The fifth week of December was the busiest with 39 releases.

Week 1 (December 1–7)

21 releases
3D Deathchase

Most popular release in Week 1

3D Deathchase

Deathchase is a 1983 computer game written for the ZX Spectrum by Mervyn Estcourt and published by Micromega in the UK and Ventamatic in Spain. It is commonly known by the incorrect name of "3D Deathchase", perhaps due to the prominent "3D" on the inlay, and that some magazines incorrectly referred to this title. The player controls a motorcycle-riding mercenary as he pursues two other motorcycles, one blue and one yellow, through a forest. Each enemy motorcycle destroyed is worth $1000 (i.e. points) to the player. The player's motorcycle is equipped with forward-firing guns with which to shoot its quarry. The projectiles can be controlled mid-flight simply by steering the bike. If both enemy motorcycles are destroyed, the player moves to a night version of the same level. If both enemy motorcycles on that level are destroyed, the player moves on to a daytime level of the next stage (with more trees to avoid). There are also tanks and helicopters which appear on the horizon and can be shot for bonus points. The game takes place over eight stages. When stage eight is completed, the game returns to the start.

Week 2 (December 8–14)

1 release
Donkey Kong Jr. Math

Most popular release in Week 2

Donkey Kong Jr. Math

The game features one and two player modes, both of which are single screen. In the first mode, the objective is to enter math answers in order to receive points. These questions include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. In the two player mode, two players control two characters as they race to create a math formula to reach the number shown by Donkey Kong, incorporating platform gameplay. The mechanics are similar to Donkey Kong Junior; players climb vines to reach higher areas in order to collect numbers scattered around the area. In order to complete mathematics problems, players must collect at least three things: the first number, the symbol necessary to reach the number shown by Donkey Kong, and the second number. When the game features a high number, such as 66, players must collect multiple numbers and mathematics symbols in order to reach this. For example, players could choose a nine, a multiplication symbol, and a seven, followed by an addition symbol and a three to reach the number 66. The two player game have two different levels, Calculate A and Calculate B. Calculate B is more challanging, not only the goal is a negative number, but giving players the set number.

Week 4 (December 22–28)

1 release
Stunt Man

Most popular release in Week 4

Stunt Man

Stuntman is broken down into three timed stages. The first stage has the stuntman climbing ropes in order to get to a helicopter while also dodging flying birds. The second stage has the stuntman climbing ropes again but now arms him with a sword and requires him to defeat the flying devilfaces before he can make his escape. The third stage has the stuntman climbing ropes again dodging enemies, but he must also grab a hold of all of the balloons on the stage before he make his getaway. The stages then repeat in this order two more times with the later stages increasing the challenge by adding more enemies. After completing the nine stages, the game repeats at the next highest speed level. There are six speed levels in total and the desired speed level may be chosen from the beginning also.

Which platforms saw the most releases?

Commodore C64/128/MAX received 18 new titles in December 1983. The runner up was Atari 8-bit with 11 new titles.

Commodore C64/128/MAX18 releases
Atari 8-bit11 releases
Apple II9 releases
Arcade7 releases
Atari 26006 releases
ZX Spectrum4 releases
PC-8800 Series2 releases
FM-72 releases
VC 40002 releases
Family Computer2 releases

What genres were most popular?

Arcade was the dominant genre in December 1983 with 28 titles. Shooter followed closely with 18.

Arcade28
Shooter18
Platform11
Puzzle9
Strategy7
Adventure5
Simulator3
Sport2
Racing2
Pinball2
1983 Review
NovJan