1984 in video gaming

Business

 * The US arcade game market's revenues decline to $4.5 billion in 1984 (equivalent to $ in 2024).

Events

 * 16-bit processors are increasingly used in arcade machines, resulting in much more detailed and faster graphics.
 * Japanese developers, with their recently aroused interest in the RPG genre, created the action role-playing game genre, combining the RPG genre with arcade-style action and action-adventure elements.

Arcades

 * June: This trend of combining RPG elements with arcade-style action mechanics was popularized by The Tower of Druaga, an arcade game released by Namco in June 1984, paving the way for action role-playing games.
 * June: I, Robot is released, as the first commercially released polygonal 3D arcade game (and one of the first in general, along with Plazma Line).
 * July: Data East releases Technōs Japan's Karate Champ, which is credited with establishing and popularizing the one-on-one fighting game genre.
 * August: Namco releases Pac-Land, an influential side-scrolling platform game.
 * Irem releases Kung-Fu Master, which lays the foundations of the beat 'em up genre, combining side-scrolling platform and fighting game elements with multiple enemies.
 * December: Namco releases an early action role-playing game called Dragon Buster, the first game to feature a life meter, called "Vitality" in-game.
 * December: Atari Games releases Marble Madness, the first arcade game to use the Yamaha YM2151 FM synthesis sound chip, which is subsequently used in many arcade system boards in the 1980s.

Computers

 * Plazma Line is released, as the first commercially released polygonal 3D computer game, and one of the first in general.
 * October: Dragon Slayer, originally released for the FM-7 computer in October 1984, is often considered to be the first true action role-playing game.
 * December: Hydlide, is an action role-playing game that introduced innovations such as the ability to switch between attack mode and defense mode, quick save and load options through passwords, and a health regeneration mechanic.