Video Games Released in 1986

1986 in Review:

1986 was another significant year for the video game industry, marked by the release of several important games and the continued growth of the console market. Here are some key events that took place:

1. The Nintendo Entertainment System in Australia: The NES was released in Australia in 1986, further expanding the console’s reach and popularity.
2. The Legend of Zelda: “The Legend of Zelda” was released for the NES in 1986 and would become one of the most iconic video games of all time. The game introduced an open-world structure and non-linear gameplay, setting a new standard for adventure games.
3. Sega releases the Sega Master System in the US: After a successful launch in Japan and Europe, Sega released the Sega Master System in the US in 1986, but it would struggle to compete with the popularity of the NES.
4. Dragon Quest: “Dragon Quest” was released in Japan in 1986 and would become one of the most successful video game franchises of all time. The game was known for its traditional role-playing game mechanics and would inspire many similar games.
5. Bubble Bobble: “Bubble Bobble” was released in 1986 and would become a popular arcade game. The game featured simple gameplay and colorful graphics, appealing to a wide audience.
6. Sierra On-Line releases King’s Quest III: “King’s Quest III” was released in 1986 and would become a popular adventure game. The game featured innovative graphics and a deep, branching narrative.

Overall, 1986 was a year of continued growth and innovation in the video game industry, with important games and consoles further cementing the medium’s place in popular culture.

Video Games Released in 1986:

Here is our enormous collection of video games released in 1986 and detailed information on each. As always, new games are added to this collection regularly.

Click on a game listing to find out much more about it.