5 Video Games From The '80s That Completely Missed The Mark

March 19, 2026 - 08:31

The 1980s are often remembered as a golden age for video games, a time of pixelated pioneers and arcade legends. However, not every cartridge from that era deserves a spot in the hall of fame. For every classic, there was a high-profile misfire that left players frustrated and disappointed.

Leading the list is the infamous E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial for the Atari 2600. Rushed to market in just five weeks, the game was nearly unplayable, with a confusing pit-filled landscape that trapped the iconic character. Its commercial failure was so monumental it was famously buried in a New Mexico landfill.

Superman on the Atari 2600 also struggled, turning the Man of Steel’s flight into a tedious exercise in screen-swapping confusion. Back to the Future on the NES offered a punishingly difficult and repetitive side-scroller that failed to capture the film’s charm. Meanwhile, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on the NES baffled players with its unclear objectives and punishing mechanics, making it a lesson in unfair design. Finally, Karate Kid on the NES frustrated fans by offering a shallow, clunky experience that bore little resemblance to the beloved movie. These titles serve as a reminder that even in gaming's brightest eras, there were notable stumbles along the way.