Acclaimed Video Games

The top 1,000 most recommended games across 902 critic lists from 140 publications.

Updated: January 21, 2026

Most Acclaimed Video Games of 1984

Filters

8 of 8

#1 Elite (1984) (#178)

Acornsoft, David Braben, Frontier Developments, Ian Bell | 6, DOS | Space Combat | 23 lists

#2 Marble Madness (1984) (#423)

Atari Games | ARC, 4, DOS | Racing / Platform | ~36m | 10 lists

#3 Impossible Mission (1984) (#779)

Epyx | 5 | Puzzle / Platform | ~3h | 5 lists

#4 Jet Set Willy (1984) (#808)

Software Projects | 3 | Platform | ~2h | 5 lists

#5 Excitebike (1984) (#900)

Nintendo | ARC, PC88, NES | Racing | ~48m | 6 lists

#6 King's Quest I: Quest for the Crown (1984) (#930)

Sierra On-Line | 3, DOS, MAC | Adventure | ~2h | 4 lists

#7 Knight Lore (1984) (#944)

Ashby Computers and Graphics Ltd. | 4 | Action-Adventure | ~2h | 4 lists

#8 Boulder Dash (1984) (#954)

First Star Software | ARC, 7, CV | Maze / Puzzle | ~3h | 6 lists

#178

Acornsoft, David Braben, Frontier Developments, Ian Bell

CPC, A2, BBCM, C64, DOS, MSX, ZXS

Space Combat

23 lists

Elite 1984

#423

Atari Games

AMI, A2, ARC, AST, C64, DOS

Racing / Platform

~36m

10 lists

Marble Madness 1984

#779

Epyx

CPC, A2, BBCM, C64, ZXS

Puzzle / Platform

~3h

5 lists

Impossible Mission 1984

#808

Software Projects

A8, C64, ZXS

Platform

~2h

5 lists

Jet Set Willy 1984

#900

Nintendo

ARC, NES, PC88

Racing

~48m

6 lists

Excitebike 1984

#930

Sierra On-Line

AMI, A2, MAC, AST, DOS

Adventure

~2h

4 lists

King's Quest I: Quest for the Crown 1984

#944

Ashby Computers and Graphics Ltd.

CPC, BBCM, MSX, ZXS

Action-Adventure

~2h

4 lists

Knight Lore 1984

#954

First Star Software

CPC, A2, ARC, A8, CV, C64, FM7, PC88, ZXS

Maze / Puzzle

~3h

6 lists

Boulder Dash 1984

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