Five Groundbreaking Games That Redefined Fun in 1987

March 27, 2026 - 15:38

The year 1987 stands as a watershed moment in video game history, a period where developers pushed creative boundaries and introduced concepts that felt genuinely revolutionary. Amidst the 8-bit era, these titles didn't just entertain; they expanded the very language of interactive entertainment.

Street Fighter introduced the world to special moves executed with complex joystick motions, laying the foundational combat system for an entire genre. Mega Man perfected the non-linear "stage select" freedom, allowing players to tackle robot masters in any order, with each victory granting a new weapon. Final Fantasy brought cinematic storytelling and deep character progression to home consoles, proving RPGs could have mass appeal.

Meanwhile, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link boldly transformed its top-down predecessor into a side-scrolling action-RPG hybrid, adding depth with experience points and magic spells. And from the arcades, After Burner delivered an unprecedented sensation of speed and flight with its thrilling cockpit-style hydraulic cabinet, making players feel like true fighter pilots.

Each of these titles introduced a core idea that would be refined and echoed for decades, cementing 1987 as a year where the future of gaming truly began.