Codex Gamicus
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1983 was the year when the American home gaming market began to crash (see North American video game crash of 1983), with more game systems and games than the market could support, and quality control from the console companies being absent. In Japan, the Nintendo Famicom would make its debut.

Business[ | ]

  • The US arcade game market's revenues drop to $6.4 billion in 1983[1] (equivalent to $15.2 billion in 2024).

Notable Releases[ | ]

Games[ | ]

Arcade
  • March: Bally Midway releases Journey, the first game with digitized sprites.
  • May: SEGA releases Astron Belt, the first laserdisc video game, which uses pre-rendered, computer-animated film footage as backdrops, overlaid with sprite graphics.
  • May: Atari brings Star Wars to the arcades in the form of a 3D vector graphics simulation of the movie's attack on the Death Star sequence and featuring digitized samples of voices from the movie.
  • June: Data East releases Bega's Battle, one of the first video games to use cel-animated video instead of computer generated graphics. It was also the first game to use full motion video cut scenes.
  • June: Cinematronics releases Dragon's Lair, one of the first video games to use cel-animated video instead of computer generated graphics.
  • December: Libble Rabble is released by Namco.[2] It runs on the Namco Libble Rabble hardware, Namco's second arcade system board to use a 16-bit processor.
Computer

Console Hardware[ | ]

Key Events[ | ]

References[ | ]

Video game releases[ | ]

Name Release Date Category Region(s) Platform(s)
10-Yard Fight 1983 Video Game International Arcade
3D Crazy Coaster 1983 Video Game North America Vectrex
3D Narrow Escape 1983 Video Game North America Vectrex
3D Time Trek 1983 Video Game United Kingdom Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Commodore 16, Commodore Plus/4, Commodore VIC-20
A.D. 2083 1983 Video Game North America Arcade
Action Force 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Advanced Dungeons and Dragons: Treasure of Tarmin 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Air Battle 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Alpha Beam with Ernie 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
AnimAction 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Antarctic Adventure 1983 Video Game North America ColecoVision
Arabian 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Art Master 1983 Video Game North America Vectrex
Artillery Duel 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600, ColecoVision
Astérix (1983) 1983 Video Game Europe Atari 2600
Astron Belt May, 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Atic Atac 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Atlantis 1983 Video Game North America Magnavox Odyssey 2
Atlantis 1983 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Aztarac 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Bank Heist 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Baseball (1983) December 7, 1983 Video Game Japan Family Computer
Battlezone 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
BC's Quest for Tires 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Beamrider 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600, Intellivision, ColecoVision
Beany Bopper 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Benji's Space Rescue 1983 Video Game United Kingdom Commodore 64
Big Bird's Egg Catch 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Bio-Attack 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Birdie King 2 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Blaster 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Blobbers 1983 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
Blockade Runner 1983 Video Game North America Intellivision
Blue Max 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Blue Print 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600, Atari 5200
Boing 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Bokosuka Wars 1983 Video Game Japan Sharp XI
Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600, ColecoVision
Bump 'n' Jump 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600, Intellivision, ColecoVision
Bumper Bash 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Burgertime 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600, Intellivision
Burning Desire 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Busy Police 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Buzz Bombers 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Cabbage Patch Kids: Adventures in the Park 1983 Video Game North America ColecoVision
Cakewalk 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Catch the Ball/Noughts and Crosses 1983 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Centipede 1983 Video Game North America Intellivision, ColecoVision
Chack'n Pop 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Champion Base Ball 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Chase the Chuck Wagon 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Chez Maxime 1983 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
China Syndrome 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Chuck Norris Superkicks 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600, ColecoVision
Cliff Hanger 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Cloak & Dagger 1983 Video Game North America Arcade, Atari 5200
Clowns 1983 Video Game International Commodore 64
Condor Attack 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Congo Bongo 1983 Video Game Japan Arcade
Cookie Monster Munch 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Cosmic Chasm 1983 Video Game North America Arcade
Cosmic Corridor 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Crackpots 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Crash Dive 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Cross Force 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Crossbow (1983) 1983 Video Game North America Arcade
Crystal Castles 1983 Video Game North America Arcade
Cube Quest 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Deep Scan 1983 Video Game International Atari 2600
Defender 1983 Video Game North America Intellivsion, ColecoVision
Demolition Herby 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Demon Attack 1983 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
Demon Attack 1983 Video Game North America Magnavox Odyssey 2
Demon Attack 1983 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Dice Puzzle 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Dig Dug 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Digger 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Discs of TRON 1983 Video Game North America Arcade
Dolphin 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Domino Man 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Donkey Kong June 1, 1983 Video Game International Atari 8-bit
Donkey Kong July 15, 1983 Video Game Japan Family Computer
Donkey Kong Jr. 1983 Video Game North America Intellivision, ColecoVision
Donkey Kong Jr. July 15, 1983 Video Game Japan Famicom
Donkey Kong Jr. Math December 12, 1983 Video Game Japan Family Computer
Dracula (1983) 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Dragon's Lair June 19, 1983 Video Game North America Arcade
Dragonfire 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600, Intellivision, ColecoVision
Electronic Table Soccer 1983 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Elevator Action 1983 Video Game International Arcade
Enduro 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Evolution 1983 Video Game North America ColecoVision
Exciting Soccer 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Exerion 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Fathom 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600, Intellivision, ColecoVision
Final Approach 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Flash Gordon 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Food Fight 1983 Video Game North America Arcade
Frankenstein's Monster 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Frantic Freddy 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Frogger 1983 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
Frogger 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600, Atari 5200, ColecoVision
Front Line 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600, ColecoVision
Frostbite 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Galaxian 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600, ColecoVision
Gangster Alley 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Gas Hog 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Gateway to Apshai 1983 Video Game North America ColecoVision
Gauntlet (1983) 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Ghost Manor 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
GI Joe: Cobra Strike 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Gigolo 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Glacier Patrol 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Glib 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Granny's Garden 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Gravitar 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Great Escape 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Guzzler 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Gyruss 1983 Video Game North America Arcade
Halloween 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Happy Trails 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Harbor Escape 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Heads Up 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Helicopter Rescue 1983 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
High Way Race 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Hoccer 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Hunchback 1983 Video Game North America Arcade
Ice Trek 1983 Video Game North America Intellivision
James Bond 007 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Journey 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Joust 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Jr. Pac-Man 1983 Video Game North America Arcade
Jumpman Junior 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Jungle Fever 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Jungle Hunt 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600, ColecoVision
Juno First 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
K.C. Munchkin 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
K.C.'s Krazy Chase 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Kangaroo 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Karate 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Keystone Kapers 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Killer Bees 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Kool-Aid Man 1983 Video Game North America Intellivision, Atari 2600
Krull September, 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Kung Fu Superkicks 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Lady Bug 1983 Video Game North America Intellivision
Laser Gates 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Laser Volley 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Lode Runner 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
London Blitz 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
M.A.C.H. 3 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Major Havoc 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Malagai 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Mangia 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Mario Bros. 1983 Video Game North America Arcade, Atari 2600
Marvin's Maze 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Master Builder 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Masters of the Universe: The Power Of He-Man 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Mega Force 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Mega Zone 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Melody Blaster 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Melody Master 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Mind Strike 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Miner 2049er II 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Minestorm 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Mogul Maniac 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Montezuma's Revenge 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Moon Patrol 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Moonsweeper 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Moria 1983 Video Game International OpenVMS
Morse 1983 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Motocross (Intellivision) 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
MotoRace USA 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Mountain King 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Mr. Basic Meets Bits n Bytes 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Mr. Do! 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Mr. Do!'s Castle 1983 Video Game North America Arcade
Ms. Pac-Man 1983 Video Game North America Atari 5200
N-Sub 1983 Video Game Europe Sega SG-1000, Sega SC-3000
N-Sub 1983 Video Game Japan Sega SG-1000, Sega SC-3000
Neutron Star 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Nightmare (Magnavox Odyssey 2) 1983 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
No Escape 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Norseman 1983 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
Nova Blast 1983 Video Game North America Intellivision
Obelix 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Ocean City Defender 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Oscar's Trash Race 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Out of Control 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Pac & Pal 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Pac-Man 1983 Video Game North America Intellivision
Pengo 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600, Atari 5200
Pepsi Invaders 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Phozon 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Picnic 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Piece o' Cake 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Pinball (1984) 1983 Video Game International Arcade
Pinball (Intellivision) 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Plaque Attack 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Polar Rescue 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Pole Position 1983 Video Game North America Vectrex
Pole Position II 1983 Video Game North America Arcade
Ponpoko January, 1983 Video Game North America Arcade
Popeye 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600, Intellivision
Popeye 1983 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Power Lords 1983 Video Game North America Magnavox Odyssey 2
Power Lords 1983 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
Pressure Cooker 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Professor Pac-Man 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Q*Bert 1983 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
Q*Bert 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Intellivision, ColecoVision, Commodore 64
Q*Bert 1983 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Q*Bert's Qubes 1983 Video Game North America Arcade
Quadrun 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Quest for Quintana Roo 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Quick Step 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Raft Rider 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Reach for the Stars 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Real Sports Soccer 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Real Sports Tennis 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Revenge of the Beefsteak Tomatoes 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
River Raid 1983 Video Game North America Intellivison
Robin Hood 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Robot Tank March 24, 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Route 16 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Rubik's Cube 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Safecracker 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Scooby Doo's Maze Chase 1983 Video Game North America Intellivision
Scuba Diver 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Seamonster 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Seaquest 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Secret of the Pharaohs 1983 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Senjyo 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Shuttle Orbiter 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Sir Lancelot 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Sky Skipper 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Smurfs Save the Day 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Snoopy and the Red Baron 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Solar Fox 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Solar Storm 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Sorcerer 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Sorcerer's Apprentice 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Space Shuttle 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Space Tunnel 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Space War (Atari) 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Space Warp 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Spacemaster X-7 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Spelunker 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Spider Fighter 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Spiderdroid 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Spike’s Peak 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Spitfire Attack 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Spy Hunter (1983) 1983 Video Game North America Arcade
Squish 'Em 1983 Video Game North America Atari, Commodore 64
Star Castle 1983 Video Game North America Vectrex
Star Fox (1983) 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Star Raiders 1983 Video Game North America Atari 5200
Star Trek 6.8 1983 Video Game North America Commodore PET
Star Trek 64 1983 Video Game North America Commodore 64
Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator 1983 Video Game North America Arcade
Star Wars July, 1983 Video Game North America Arcade
Star Wars: Jedi Arena 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - Death Star Battle 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Star Wars: The Arcade Game 1983 Video Game North America Arcade
Stinger 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Stonkers 1983 Video Game United Kingdom ZXSpectrum
Strawberry Shortcake: Musical Matchups 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Stronghold (1983) 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Stuntman 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
SubRoc-3D 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Subterranea 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Super Bee 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Super Cobra 1983 Video Game Europe Magnavox Odyssey 2
Super Cobra 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Super Doubles Tennis 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Super Rider 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Survival Run 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Swordquest: Fireworld February, 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Swordquest: Waterworld February, 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Swords & Serpents 1983 Video Game North America Intellivision
Tag Team Wrestling 1983 Video Game International Undefined
Tapper 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Task Force 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Taz 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Texas Chainsaw Massacre 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
The Activision Decathlon March 18, 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600, ColecoVision
The Dreadnaught Factor 1983 Video Game North America Intellivision
The Glob 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
The Great Wall Street Fortune Hunt 1983 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
The Heist 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
The Mousing Cat 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
The Quest for the Rings 1983 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey 2
Thunderground 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Time Pilot 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Tooth Protectors 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Trans American Rally 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Trek Adventure 1983 Video Game North America Commodore 64
Tropical Trouble 1983 Video Game North America Intellivision
Truckin 1983 Video Game North America Intellivision
Tunnel Runner 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600
Turbo April 4, 1983 Video Game North America Intellivision
Turtles 1983 Video Game North America Magnavox Odyssey²
Turtles 1983 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey²
Tutankham 1983 Video Game North America Atari 2600, ColecoVision, Intellivision
TX-1 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
UFO 1983 Video Game Brazil Magnavox Odyssey²
UFO 1983 Video Game Japan Magnavox Odyssey²
Up'n Down 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Vastar 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Video Jogger 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Video Reflex 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Wacko 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Wall Ball 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Wall Defender 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
War Room 1983 Video Game North America ColecoVision
White Water 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
World Series Major League Baseball 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Worm Whomper 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
X-Man 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined
Z-Tack 1983 Video Game Undefined Undefined


Hardware releases[ | ]

Name Release Date Category Region(s)
Family Computer July 15, 1983 Home Console Japan
Family Computer Controller July 15, 1983 Peripheral, Controller Japan
MSX 1983 Home Computer International
Nintendo Entertainment System July 15, 1983 Home Console Japan
SG-1000 July 15, 1983 Console Japan
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