1986 in video gaming

1986
1986 in games

Notable events of 1986 in video gaming. See also history of computer and video games.

[edit] Events

Namco releases Sky Kid Deluxe, Hopping Mappy, Toy Pop, The Return of Ishtar, which is the sequel to Tower of Druaga, Genpei ToumaDen, and Rolling Thunder.
August 6 — Metroid by Makoto Kanoh, the first in the Metroid series.
February 21 — The Legend of Zelda (designed by Shigeru Miyamoto for Nintendo, Famicom), the first in The Legend of Zelda series, a spiritual forerunner of console role-playing games
Arkanoid (Taito, arcade), spawned many sequels and remakes
Bubble Bobble (Taito, arcade), spawned many sequels
Dragon Quest (Enix, Famicom), usually considered the foremost console role-playing game, the first in a series that has been phenomenally successful in Japan

Namco releases the Namco System '86 arcade system board
Atari releases the Atari 7800 home console two years after its original test release date
Sega releases the Sega Master System home console in the United States; releases the Out Run arcade game
Sharp releases the Twin Famicom home console
Nintendo releases the Famicom Disk System (an add-on for the Famicom) in Japan only