Games Released in September 1986

34 new games debuted in September 1986, with Family Computer being the most active platform. September 1 was the busiest day, with 22 releases. Castlevania was the most popular release of the month.

Which days had the most releases?

September 1 saw the most activity with 22 releases.

22 releases

September 1

3 releases

September 27

3 releases

September 18

3 releases

September 3

SunMonTueWedThuFriSat

Mon, Sep 1

22 releases

Tue, Sep 2

2 releases

Wed, Sep 3

3 releases

Thu, Sep 4

1 release

Fri, Sep 5

2 releases

Sat, Sep 6

No releases

Sun, Sep 7

No releases

Mon, Sep 8

2 releases

Tue, Sep 9

No releases

Wed, Sep 10

No releases

Thu, Sep 11

No releases

Fri, Sep 12

2 releases

Sat, Sep 13

No releases

Sun, Sep 14

No releases

Mon, Sep 15

No releases

Tue, Sep 16

No releases

Wed, Sep 17

1 release

Thu, Sep 18

3 releases

Fri, Sep 19

2 releases

Sat, Sep 20

1 release

Sun, Sep 21

1 release

Mon, Sep 22

1 release

Tue, Sep 23

No releases

Wed, Sep 24

No releases

Thu, Sep 25

2 releases

Fri, Sep 26

2 releases

Sat, Sep 27

3 releases

Sun, Sep 28

2 releases

Mon, Sep 29

No releases

Tue, Sep 30

No releases

How did each week compare?

The first week of September was the busiest with 30 releases.

Week 1 (September 1–7)

30 releases

Most popular release in Week 1

Enduro Racer

The player rides the dirt bike through five stages and must avoid other riders as well rocks and trees. They can also jump over them with assist from the logs. The game's most definitive feature was the 'Wheelie' feature that allowed players to pull up the handlebars on the cabinet to perform the wheelie.

Week 2 (September 8–14)

4 releases

Most popular release in Week 2

Hudson's Adventure Island

Hudson's Adventure Island, also known simply as Adventure Island and released in Japan as Takahashi Meijin no Bouken-jima, is a side-scrolling platform game produced by Hudson Soft that was first released in Japan for the Famicom and MSX on September 12, 1986. It was later released in North America for the Nintendo Entertainment System on September 1988 and in the PAL region in 1992 under the title of Adventure Island Classic. Adventure Island is an adaptation of the arcade game Wonder Boy, originally published by Sega for developer Escape (now known as Westone Bit Entertainment). Adventure Island was followed by a series of sequels that were independently developed by Hudson Soft.

Week 3 (September 15–21)

8 releases

Most popular release in Week 3

Moonmist

Moonmist is an interactive fiction computer game written by Stu Galley and Jim Lawrence and published by Infocom in 1986. The game was released simultaneously for many platforms, including the IBM PC, Apple II, Amiga, Atari ST and Commodore 64. It is Infocom's twenty-second game. Galley and Lawrence previously wrote Seastalker for Infocom. The player's character is a young detective, asked by friend Tamara Lynd to investigate her new home of Tresyllian Castle in Cornwall, England. Tamara has recently become engaged to the castle's lord, Jack Tresyllian. She was very happy until she began seeing what appeared to be The White Lady, a ghost who has allegedly haunted the castle for centuries. As if seeing a ghost wasn't nerve-racking enough, she's also begun to fear for her life. Is Tamara's imagination just overly excited from living in a large old castle, or is someone really trying to kill her? And if her life is in danger, is it from a ghost or someone using it as a disguise?

Week 4 (September 22–28)

10 releases

Most popular release in Week 4

Castlevania

Step into the shadows of the deadliest dwelling on earth. You've arrived at Castlevania, and you're here on business: To destroy forever the Curse of the Evil Count. Unfortunately, everybody's home this evening. Bats, ghosts, every kind of creature you can imagine. You'll find 'em all over the place, if they don't find you first. Because you've got to get through six monstrous floors before you even meet up with the Master of the House. Your Magic Whip will help, and you'll probably find a weapons or two along the way. But once you make it to the tower, you can count on a Duel to the Death. The Count has waited 100 years for a rematch.

Which platforms saw the most releases?

Family Computer received 12 new titles in September 1986. The runner up was Nintendo Entertainment System with 9 new titles.

Family Computer12 releases

Nintendo Entertainment System9 releases

Arcade6 releases

Amstrad CPC4 releases

Sega Master System/Mark III4 releases

Apple II3 releases

Family Computer Disk System3 releases

MSX3 releases

Amiga2 releases

Atari ST/STE2 releases

What genres were most popular?

Arcade was the dominant genre in September 1986 with 22 titles. Platform followed closely with 16.

Arcade22

Platform16

Adventure13

Shooter11

Puzzle8

Racing7

Strategy5

Sport4

Role-playing3

Simulator3

1986 Review

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