Even in the prehistoric era, games were an important part of social interaction among human beings. We've seen evidence of early games and although not all survived over the years, some have won against the test of time. Keep reading to discover 10 classic games from our time (in no particular order) that have remained successful and will most likely continue their success for years to come.
10. Donkey Kong
The legendary Shigeru Miyamoto, Japanese video game designer, producer and the current co-representative of Nintendo, gave birth to the iconic Donkey Kong in 1981. As time has passed, multiple variations of the game cropped up everywhere and it remains one of the most played and most identified games in the world. Not only did it launch the first ever jump-and-run platform genre, this game arguably established Nintendo as the gaming powerhouse that it is today.
9. The Sims
In the year 2000, a new contender hit the PC gaming market with a bang. The Sims went on to become one of the best selling games in franchise history. Allowing you to write your own story as you build (or destroy) dream houses, relationships and careers, the game takes its inspiration from many sources including, the concept of a virtual dollhouse as well as the U.S. consumer culture. After its success along came the add on’s which only enhance, enlighten and amuse your sims' lives.
8. Monopoly
Let’s go all the way back to 1993 when Lizzie Magie patented a board game. That game is known worldwide today as Monopoly. Unfortunately, she didn’t get much credit as it wasn’t until around 1932 when Charles Darrow cashed in on the evolution and popularity of the game. First called 'The Landlords Game', Darrow secured a copyright for his enhanced edition and went on to acquire a patent from the U.S Patent Office. The city of London was the first setting of the licensed Monopoly game, but today its streets and collection points span to hundreds of cities of all over the world. Designed to educate the masses about income, inequality and reflect progressive political views, this game is one to teach kids and adults alike!
7. Tetris
Hitting the gaming scene in the 1980s, Tetris is a game that nearly everyone has played at least once in their life. The simple nature of this game is where its charm lies as all you need to do is fit those little shapes together on screen. Easy right? Not always as players quickly find out. So how did Tetris get its name? 'Tetris' derives from the Greek prefix 'tetra', because the pieces of the game are called tetrominoes, and 'tennis', because this was the preferred sport of its creator Alexey Leonidovich Pajitnov.
6. Pokemon
Pokémon marked it's 20th anniversary in 2016 and it looks like the success won't be dying out anytime soon. They're 'gotta chatch 'em all' approach fuelled (or perhaps even started) the digital collectibles trend. Trading cards, video games and an abundance of merchandise flew off the shelves and TV series and movies had a massive dedicated audience. Today's kids and even adults still love these pocket monsters.
5. Mario Kart
The series of go-kart racing video games come from gaming giant Nintendo when they established the first series in 1992. Kicking off and setting the standard for racing games to come, soon after its release a flood of character packed driving games flocked to the market. Nothing will ever beat the original though, so if you like chucking eggs at high speed vehicles, then Mario Kart is the game for you!
4. Guess Who
The two-player character guessing game incorporates memory, skill and a whole lot of recognisable faces that the world has come to know and love. Select a card of your choice from the 24 friendly faces and let the guessing game begin! 'Yes' or 'no' is all you can say to eliminate candidates from that colourful board of players. There’s no guessing though when it comes to recognising this game as a classic and a must in every family home!
3. Grand Theft Auto
Today Grand Theft Auto represents a multi-billion-dollar franchise. The first ever version was released by Microsoft in 1997 then made its way over to PlayStation in 1988. Modelled on fictional cities Liberty City, Vice City and San Andreas, they were made to symbolise New York, Miami and the state of California. Action and adventure, thrill and tragedy, role play and racing and mission driven, it is easy to get lost in the open city world of Grand Theft Auto where nearly anything is possible.
2. Pac-man
Initially released as Puc-Man, the original name comes from the Japanese word “Paku” which means to chomp. Chomping pretty much sums up everything about Pac-Man. Possibly the most recognisable game ever, Pac-Man will always be fun!
1. Final Fantasy
Finally, we have Final Fantasy. Science fiction and a world full of fantasy make up the first ever game in the long series was created in 1987. Each instalment is a stand-alone story that encompasses genres such as role playing, fighting, rhythm and more. The game to truly escape from reality and deep dive into fantasy which can be played on all major gaming consoles.
Whether you consider yourself a hardcore gamer or just enjoy a casual game with friends and family, we have a host of video games as well as toys and boardgames to encourage a little friendly competition available at auction. Do you have any games that have already stood the test of time and moved from being playthings to collectibles? Then you could make a profit by selling them on auction. The first step is to register here to become a seller and who knows? You may be pleasantly surprised by what your games are worth.
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