Games Released in 1988

1,272 new games debuted in 1988 across 10 platforms, with Family Computer seeing 140 releases. December was the busiest month, with 107 releases. Super Mario Bros. 3 was the most popular release of the year.

Which days had the most releases?

February 1 was the busiest single day of 1988 with 53 releases.

53 releases

February 1

22 releases

December 31

16 releases

December 1

14 releases

January 1

Which month had the most releases?

The busiest release month of 1988 was December, totaling 107 titles.

How did each season compare?

Q4 was the busiest quarter of 1988 with 182 releases.

Q1 (Jan–Mar)

158 releases

Most popular release in Q1

Contra

Contra is the NES port of the homonymous 1987 arcade game. It is a run and gun action game developed and published by Konami. The NES port was originally released in North America, and it lacks the cutscenes and other details present in the Japanese version which was released a week later.

Q2 (Apr–Jun)

105 releases

Most popular release in Q2

Blaster Master

You've fallen down a hidden manhole into a world of creatures so terrifying they'd scare the rats away. You can panic and perish, or blast your way through an endless maze of tunnels, searching for the secret passages to your escape. And that's the easy part. Because the Masters of the Caverns lay waiting - prehistoric creatures so powerful, so gigantic, they literally fill your screen! So load your arsenal and get ready for Blaster Master.

Q3 (Jul–Sep)

125 releases

Most popular release in Q3

The NewZealand Story

Tiki, a sneaker-wearing kiwi who must save his lover Phee Phee and several of his other kiwi chick friends who have been kiwi-napped by a large blue leopard seal. The player has to navigate a scrolling maze-like level, at the end of which they release one of Tiki's kiwi chick friends trapped in a cage.

Q4 (Oct–Dec)

182 releases

Most popular release in Q4

Super Mario Bros. 3

Super Mario Bros. 3, the third entry in the Super Mario Bros. series and Super Mario franchise, sees Mario or Luigi navigate a nonlinear world map containing platforming levels and optional minigames and challenges. The game features more diverse movement options and new items alongside more complex level designs and boss battles.

Which platforms saw the most releases?

Family Computer received 140 new titles in 1988, holding the most releases. The runner up was Arcade with 59 new titles.

Family Computer140 releases

Arcade59 releases

Family Computer Disk System52 releases

Nintendo Entertainment System42 releases

Sega Master System/Mark III34 releases

MSX29 releases

Commodore C64/128/MAX28 releases

PC-8800 Series28 releases

PC-9800 Series24 releases

DOS22 releases

What genres were most popular?

Shooter was the dominant genre in 1988 with 119 titles. Adventure followed closely with 117.

Shooter119

Adventure117

Arcade115

Platform93

Sport76

Role-playing65

Simulator41

Strategy40

Puzzle33

Hack and slash28

1987 1989

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