The 1980s: A Decade that Redefined Video Games

Video games may have been born in the 1970s, but they didn’t kick off until the following decade. The 1980s was a revolutionary period for the industry, and the decade acted as a springboard for the sprawling offshoot of entertainment that’s worth approximately $214.2 billion in 2023.

Along with being a period of lightning-fast innovation in graphics and gameplay, many ideas for genres, characters, and stories emerged in the era. Now, it’s easy to see the influence of the iconic period on the gaming industry of today.

The Origins of MMO Graphics and Creative Direction

MMO games are well-known among modern audiences thanks to their exceptional rise during the smartphone era of the 2010s. The MMO games of today all exist online and allow players to fight or cooperate with other players from around the globe. These titles come in a range of themes, with some based on history and others inspired by movies. You’d be excused for thinking that mobile gaming inspired this form of game, but its origins date back much further.

One of the first offerings in the MMO genre was Neverwinter Nights, which was released on AOL in 1991. However, most gamers agree that the first true MMO was The Realm Online, which was released in 1996. At this point, there wasn’t even an acronym for these titles. The games may not have originated in the 1980s, but they did take a lot of inspiration from the games and graphics of the previous decade.

In the 1980s, game designers were limited in that they could only use basic pixel art for characters and environments. However, some offerings like Multi-User Dungeons allowed players to move around in text-based worlds and interact with each other. This pioneered the idea of shared online spaces, setting the early foundations for today’s MMOs.

Dungeons & Dragons and Pop Culture

One of the most important influences for today’s games that emerged in the 1980s was Dungeons & Dragons. The tabletop role-playing game was invented in 1974, but it became a widespread craze in the 1980s. The Wizards of the Coast offering gave players a chance to become different characters and make decisions based on an agreed storyline. There’s no doubt that this was a precursor to the in-depth open-world titles that exist today.

The influence of D&D on titles in the MMO genre is obvious, but it also inspired a range of other fantasy titles. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, for instance, required the player to make a vast number of decisions throughout the game’s main story. These had a significant effect on what happened next, with different players having widely altered experiences in the game. That’s perhaps why it’s considered one of the best console titles ever made.

1980s art and culture are visible throughout the entire entertainment industry, but its influence has arguably been biggest in gaming. Some of the best titles of today simply wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for the great work that happened in the 1980s.