First game in each genre (1958-2000)

[ommadawnyawn2]

How's this for a list? I'm open to arguments for or against any game, some I'm not really familiar with beyond youtube and descriptive texts, or even just texts for a few. 

1950s-1970s
Beneath-apple-manor-apple-ii 1978 - rogue-like rpg.jpg
Dungeon 1975 - 2d rpg, dungeon crawler, td view.jpg
Empire 1977 or 1974_ (the sci-fi game) - tbs wargame.png
Flag-capture-a2600 1977 - 2d puzzle misc.jpg
FS1_Flight_Simulator aii 1979 - 3d flight sim.jpg
Gran_Trak_10_1974 arc - 2d racing.jpg
Hamurabi 1968 - tbs, proto c&m.PNG
Heavyweight Champ arc 1976 - 2d fighting.jpg
Heiankyo Alien arc 1979 - 2d trapping.jpg
Hunt the Wumpus 1972 - text adv.PNG
Lemonade-stand-apple-ii (originally from 1973) - edutainment, business sim (next=MULE).png
Manbiki Shounen 1979 - 2d stealth action.png
maze-war-1973 or 1974 edit - fps aka 3d maze shooter.jpg
Moria 1975 - 3d rpg - proper 3d=Betrayal At Krondor.png
MUD1 mainframe 1978 - mmo rpg precursor, text-based.png
Pin Pong arc 1974 - pinball.jpg
Road Race 1976 - 3d racing, full 3d=?Speed Freak (1979).jpg
Space Invaders arc 1978 - fixed shooter ss shooter.png
SpaceWar! 1962 - thrust-like aka gravity shooter and arena shooter, action.jpg
Spasim mainframe 1974 - mmo (32p) space flight & combat sim, trading.jpg
Superman-atari-2600 1979 - 2d open world Action adventure.jpg
Tennis_For_Two_on_a_DuMont_Lab_Oscilloscope_Type_304-A 1958 - 2d sports.jpg
Wild Gunman arc 1974 - light gun & fmv action.PNG

1980s
Adventure-atari-2600 1980 - 2d zelda-like action adv.jpg
Aliens-the-computer-game-c64 1986 - 2d squad tactics, tactical shooter.jpg
Artillery-commodore-petcbm 1980 - artillery (tb).png
Battlezone arc 1980 - vehicle combat sim.jpg
Below the Root C64 1984 - 2d platform adventure aka metroidvania.jpg
Berzerk-arcade 1980 - 2d maze shooter.jpg
Bosconian arc 1981 - 2d free-roaming shooter.jpg
Buck Rogers - planet of zoom arc 1982 - rail shooter.jpg
Carrier-command-amiga 1988 - 3d rts.jpg
Dance_Aerobics nes 1987 - rhythm.jpg
Defender arc 1980 - looping shoot em up.jpg
Defender-of-the-crown-amiga 1986-1987 - tbs+rtt or action hybrid.jpg
Digital Devil Story - Megami Tensei NES 1987 - 3d jrpg (partially non-linear), more 3d=lucienne's quest 1995.jpg
Donkey Kong arc 1981 - ss platformer (w jumping)
Dragon Ball - Daimaou Fukkatsu nes 1988 - card battle (rpg board game hybrid).jpg
Dungeons-of-daggorath-trs-80-1982 - 3d action rpg.jpg
Forbidden-forest-c64 1983 - cabal-like tps (2.5d, no turning).jpg
Front_Line_Arcade_1982 - run 'n gun (top down view).jpg
Gateway-to-apshai-c64 (1983 atari 8-bit) - 2d Action RPG.jpg
F-15 Strike Eagle Atari 8-bit etc. 1986 - 3d flight combat sim.jpg
Habitat_1987 - graphical mmorpg.jpg
I, Robot arc 1984 - 3d tps.jpg
Island-of-Kesmai 1985 - ascii mmorpg.jpg
Jump Bug arc 1981 - 2d hop 'n bop platformer.jpg
King's Quest pc 1984 - quest adventure (avatar-based graphic adv).jpg
Knight-lore-zx-spectrum 1984 - isometric action adventure.jpg
Kung-Fu Master arc 1984 - 2d beat 'em up side view.jpg
Little-computer-people-apple-II or c64 1985 - life sim.png
maze wars+ 1986 - online fps.PNG
Mercenary-c64 & atari 8-bit 1985 - 3d open world Action Adventure.jpg
Mystery-house-apple-ii 1980 - 2d graphic adv.jpg
Phantasy-star-sms 1987 - 2d jrpg.jpg
Populous-dos etc 1989 - god sim rts.jpg
prince-of-persia-apple-ii 1989 - 2d pop-like aka cinematic platformer.jpg
Q-Bert arc 1982 - isometric platformer.jpg
Qix_arc 1981 - action puzzle.png
Reach-for-the-stars-apple-ii 1983 - 4x tbs.jpg
Renegade arc 1986 - 2d beat 'em up tilted view.jpg
Scramble arcade 1981 - scrolling shooter aka shoot 'em up (horizontal).jpg
Sea-battle-intellivision 1980 - RTT w manual combat.jpg
Sharkeys-3d-pool-zx-spectrum st amiga 1989 - 3d sports.jpg
Spelunker_atari 8-bit 1983 - 2d action platformer, maze.png
Tetris 1984 - falling block & matching puzzle.png
The-castles-of-dr-creep-c64 1984 - 2d puzzle platformer, coop.jpg
The-house-of-usher-atari-8-bit 1980 - 2d survival horror.png
The-pharaohs-curse-c64 1983 - 2d collectathon platformer.jpg
the-sentry aka sentinel-commodore-64 1986 - 3d puzzle misc.jpg
Thexder pc-88 1985 - 2d mech action.jpg
Total-eclipse-c64 etc 1988 - 3d action adv (zelda-like).jpg
Utopia intv 1981 - construction & mgmt, proto-city builder.jpg
Warroid msx 1985 - 2d arena fighting (along w mail order monsters), side view.jpg
Wibarm-pc-98 1986 - 3d mech action (2d hybrid).jpg
wizards-crown-c64 1986 - srpg or trpg.jpg
Xain'd Sleena arc 1986 - 2d run 'n gun (side view).jpg

1990s
Alone in the Dark pc 1992 - 3d survival horror (action adv).jpg
alpha waves aka continuum-dos 1990 - 3d platformer.jpg
Cyber Troopers Virtual On arc 1995 - 3d arena fighting.jpg
Diablo pc win 1996 - diablo-like action rpg, isometric action rpg, mp arpg.jpg
Dune-ii dos 1992 - 2d rts (basebuilding, resource gath, scouting, direct unit ctrl).jpg
Future-cop-lapd-pc 1998 (precinct assault mode) - moba.jpg
Grand-theft-auto-dos 1997 - 2d crime sim, open world-ish.jpg
Hired-guns-amiga 1993 - 3d squad tactics.jpg
Nightmare-creatures-windows & ps1 1997 - 3d beat em up hack n slash.jpg
pocket-monsters-midori-game-boy 1996 - trainer rpg, raising sim.png
Quarantine PC 1994 - 3d crime sim, open world-ish.jpg
Rampart arc 1990 - tower defense.jpg
Simulcra-st ami 1990 - 3d platformer, collectathon.jpg
System Shock pc 1994 - 3d platform adv aka metroidvania.jpg
Tecmo's Deception ps1 1996 - 3d trapping+action rpg.jpg
Tenchu-stealth-assassins-ps1 1998 - 3d stealth action (action adventure_).jpg
Toejam & Earl md 1991 - rogue-lite aka action rogue-like, collectathon, maze.jpg
Tomb_Raider_(1996) pc - 3d cinematic platformer.png
Ultima-underworld-the-stygian-abyss-dos - 3D Action RPG (fp view).jpg
Under a Killing Moon pc 1994 - 3d graphic adv.jpg
Virtua Fighter arc 1993 - 3d fighting.jpg

2000s
Hogs-of-war-ps1 2000 - 3d artillery (tb)

[Snake]

Looks like a pretty good start so far!

As for suggestions?  I think there may be some Japanese RPG's that pre-date Phantasy Star. Dragon Quest on Famicom and MSX was 1986, but I'm guessing there are even older ones on PC.

Don't know if I caught any genres that were peripheral specific, like Light-Gun games, Rolling Track Ball games, or the foot-based Nintendo Power Pad.

[lurker]

Jul 11, 2023 8:56:39 GMT -5 ommadawnyawn2 said:

How's this for a list? I'm open to arguments for or against any game, some I'm not really familiar with beyond youtube and descriptive texts, or even just texts for a few. 

1950s-1970s
Beneath-apple-manor-apple-ii 1978 - rogue-like rpg.jpg
Dungeon 1975 - 2d rpg, dungeon crawler, td view.jpg
Empire 1977 or 1974_ (the sci-fi game) - tbs wargame.png
Flag-capture-a2600 1977 - 2d puzzle misc.jpg
FS1_Flight_Simulator aii 1979 - 3d flight sim.jpg
Gran_Trak_10_1974_Flyer arc - 2d racing.jpg
Hamurabi 1968 - tbs, proto c&m.PNG
Heavyweight Champ arc 1976 - 2d fighting.jpg
Heiankyo Alien arc 1979 - 2d trapping.jpg
Hunt the Wumpus 1972 - text adv.PNG
Lemonade-stand-apple-ii (originally from 1973) - edutainment, business sim (next=MULE).png
Manbiki Shounen 1979 - 2d stealth action.png
maze-war-1973 or 1974 edit - fps aka 3d maze shooter.jpg
Moria 1975 - 3d rpg - proper 3d=Betrayal At Krondor.png
MUD1 mainframe 1978 - mmo rpg precursor, text-based.png
Pin Pong arc 1974 - pinball.jpg
Road Race 1976 - 3d racing, full 3d=?Speed Freak (1979).jpg
Space Invaders arc 1978 - fixed shooter ss shooter.png
SpaceWar! 1962 - thrust-like aka gravity shooter and arena shooter, action.jpg
Spasim mainframe 1974 - mmo (32p) space flight & combat sim, trading.jpg
Superman-atari-2600 1979 - 2d open world Action adventure.jpg
Tennis_For_Two_on_a_DuMont_Lab_Oscilloscope_Type_304-A 1958 - 2d sports.jpg
Wild Gunman arc 1974 - light gun & fmv action.PNG

1980s
Adventure-atari-2600 1980 - 2d zelda-like action adv.jpg
Aliens-the-computer-game-c64 1986 - 2d squad tactics, tactical shooter.jpg
Artillery-commodore-petcbm 1980 - artillery (tb).png
Battlezone arc 1980 - vehicle combat sim.jpg
Below the Root C64 1984 - 2d platform adventure aka metroidvania.jpg
Berzerk-arcade-flyer-01 1980 - 2d maze shooter.jpg
Bosconian arc 1981 - 2d free-roaming shooter.jpg
Buck Rogers - planet of zoom arc 1982 - rail shooter.jpg
Carrier-command-amiga 1988 - 3d rts.jpg
Dance_Aerobics nes 1987 - rhythm.jpg
Defender arc 1980 - looping shoot em up.jpg
Defender-of-the-crown-amiga 1986-1987 - tbs+rtt or action hybrid.jpg
Digital Devil Story - Megami Tensei NES 1987 - 3d jrpg (partially non-linear), more 3d=lucienne's quest 1995.jpg
Donkey Kong arc 1981 - ss platformer (w jumping)
Dragon Ball - Daimaou Fukkatsu nes 1988 - card battle (rpg board game hybrid).jpg
Dungeons-of-daggorath-trs-80-1982 - 3d action rpg.jpg
Forbidden-forest-c64 1983 - cabal-like tps (2.5d, no turning).jpg
Front_Line_Arcade_1982 - run 'n gun (top down view).jpg
Gateway-to-apshai-c64 (1983 atari 8-bit) - 2d Action RPG.jpg
Gunship-c64 1986 - 3d flight combat sim.jpg
Habitat_1987 - graphical mmorpg.jpg
I, Robot arc 1984 - 3d tps.jpg
Island-of-Kesmai 1985 - ascii mmorpg.jpg
Jump Bug arc 1981 - 2d hop 'n bop platformer.jpg
King's Quest pc 1984 - quest adventure (avatar-based graphic adv).jpg
Knight-lore-zx-spectrum 1984 - isometric action adventure.jpg
Kung-Fu Master arc 1984 - 2d beat 'em up side view.jpg
Little-computer-people-apple-II or c64 1985 - life sim.png
maze wars+ 1986 - online fps.PNG
Mercenary-c64 & atari 8-bit 1985 - 3d open world Action Adventure.jpg
Mystery-house-apple-ii 1980 - 2d graphic adv.jpg
Phantasy-star-sms 1987 - 2d jrpg.jpg
Populous-dos etc 1989 - god sim rts.jpg
prince-of-persia-apple-ii 1989 - 2d pop-like aka cinematic platformer.jpg
Q-Bert arc 1982 - isometric platformer.jpg
Qix_arc 1981 - action puzzle.png
Reach-for-the-stars-apple-ii 1983 - 4x tbs.jpg
Renegade arc 1986 - 2d beat 'em up tilted view.jpg
Scramble arcade_flyer 1981 - scrolling shooter aka shoot 'em up (horizontal).jpg
Sea-battle-intellivision 1980 - RTT w manual combat.jpg
Sharkeys-3d-pool-zx-spectrum st amiga 1989 - 3d sports.jpg
Spelunker_atari 8-bit 1983 - 2d action platformer, maze.png
Tetris 1984 - falling block & matching puzzle.png
The-castles-of-dr-creep-c64 1984 - 2d puzzle platformer, coop.jpg
The-house-of-usher-atari-8-bit 1980 - 2d survival horror.png
The-pharaohs-curse-c64 1983 - 2d collectathon platformer.jpg
the-sentry aka sentinel-commodore-64 1986 - 3d puzzle misc.jpg
Thexder pc-88 1985 - 2d mech action.jpg
Total-eclipse-c64 etc 1988 - 3d action adv (zelda-like).jpg
Utopia intv 1981 - construction & mgmt, proto-city builder.jpg
Warroid msx 1985 - 2d arena fighting (along w mail order monsters), side view.jpg
Wibarm-pc-98 1986 - 3d mech action (2d hybrid).jpg
wizards-crown-c64 1986 - srpg or trpg.jpg
Xain'd Sleena arc 1986 - 2d run 'n gun (side view).jpg

1990s
Alone in the Dark pc 1992 - 3d survival horror (action adv).jpg
alpha waves aka continuum-dos 1990 - 3d platformer.jpg
Cyber Troopers Virtual On arc 1995 - 3d arena fighting.jpg
Diablo pc win 1996 - diablo-like action rpg, isometric action rpg, mp arpg.jpg
Dune-ii dos 1992 - 2d rts (basebuilding, resource gath, scouting, direct unit ctrl).jpg
Future-cop-lapd-pc 1998 (precinct assault mode) - moba.jpg
Grand-theft-auto-dos 1997 - 2d crime sim, open world-ish.jpg
Hired-guns-amiga 1993 - 3d squad tactics.jpg
Nightmare-creatures-windows & ps1 1997 - 3d beat em up hack n slash.jpg
pocket-monsters-midori-game-boy 1996 - trainer rpg, raising sim.png
Quarantine PC 1994 - 3d crime sim, open world-ish.jpg
Rampart arc 1990 - tower defense.jpg
Simulcra-st ami 1990 - 3d platformer, collectathon.jpg
System Shock pc 1994 - 3d platform adv aka metroidvania.jpg
Tecmo's Deception ps1 1996 - 3d trapping+action rpg.jpg
Tenchu-stealth-assassins-ps1 1998 - 3d stealth action (action adventure_).jpg
Toejam & Earl md 1991 - rogue-lite aka action rogue-like, collectathon, maze.jpg
Tomb_Raider_(1996) pc - 3d cinematic platformer.png
Ultima-underworld-the-stygian-abyss-dos - 3D Action RPG (fp view).jpg
Under a Killing Moon pc 1994 - 3d graphic adv.jpg
Virtua Fighter arc 1993 - 3d fighting.jpg

2000s
Hogs-of-war-ps1 2000 - 3d artillery (tb)

Would Tennis for Two qualify?

[ommadawnyawn2]

Jul 11, 2023 10:59:11 GMT -5 Snake said:

Looks like a pretty good start so far!

As for suggestions?  I think there may be some Japanese RPG's that pre-date Phantasy Star. Dragon Quest on Famicom and MSX was 1986, but I'm guessing there are even older ones on PC.

Don't know if I caught any genres that were peripheral specific, like Light-Gun games, Rolling Track Ball games, or the foot-based Nintendo Power Pad.

If you have any details on that I'm all ears. My thinking was that I would define JRPGs something like this:
-Story and character driven with both aspects predefined (not user defined chars nor letting the player affect major events)
-Linear or mostly linear progression (main areas and/or plot points)
-Anime/manga aesthetics
-Maybe simplified or streamlined compared to computer RPGs although I'm not sure where to draw the line there
-TB combat and preferably party-based (same as other RPGs, this is to distinguish from Action RPGs)

For me FF1 and DQ1-2 don't really qualify if I apply this, so I would say it became more of a separate subgenre with these games I listed but I haven't played other really early ones. 

Edit: I did include a light gun & fmv game in the 1974 version of Wild Gunman! But a track ball game could be interesting. 


lurker You're saying it shouldn't? I count it but it's arguable if it's really a video game or not, being played on an oscilloscope. 

[ommadawnyawn2]

1950s-1970s


1980s part 1

[ommadawnyawn2]

1980s part 2


1990s

[ommadawnyawn2]

As a follow-up, here are the first popular games for each genre:

minirevver.weebly.com/the-first-popular-game-in-each-genre.html


Which ones have you played? Have they been improved upon by later games?