Video Games From the 1970s: History's Best Sellers

Revisiting 1970s presents a grand parade of games history, marked by retro grooves and analog innovation and enduring fan favorites. Unrivaled hits including Telstar, Color TV-Game, and Atari 2600 took top honors in living rooms and storefronts alike. Master craftsmen from industry leaders like Coleco and Nintendo led the vanguard, engineering high-caliber releases that defined the laid-back, radical spirit of the seventies. Dive into the full historical rankings below to see which standout creations won the day.

1. Telstar

   Released in 1976 by Coleco

   On June 1, 1976, the landscape of home entertainment changed as Coleco, a company then primarily known for leather goods and plastics, officially entered the video game market with the release of the Telstar. This launch was a pivotal moment in the first generation of video game consoles. Capitalizing on the public's fascination with Atari's Home Pong, Coleco's strategy was to offer a similar experience at a more accessible price point. The Telstar's arrival was made possible by General Instrument's groundbreaking AY-3-8500 chip, which integrated the circuitry for several Pong variants onto a single microprocessor. This innovation dramatically lowered manufacturing costs, allowing Coleco to aggressively price the Telstar and capture a significant share of the burgeoning home console market.

2. Color TV-Game

   Released in 1977 by Nintendo

   On June 1, 1977, Nintendo, a company then known primarily for playing cards and toys, took its first pivotal step into the world of electronic entertainment. This date marks the Japanese release of the Color TV-Game 6, the company's first-ever home video game console. Developed in partnership with Mitsubishi Electric, this dedicated console was a direct response to the burgeoning popularity of arcade and home versions of Pong. Its launch represented a major strategic shift for Nintendo, planting the seed for what would become a global video game empire. The Color TV-Game was the essential training ground that paved the way for the Famicom and all subsequent Nintendo hardware.

3. Atari 2600

   Released in 1977 by Atari

   On September 11, 1977, Atari Inc. fundamentally altered the landscape of home entertainment with the release of the Atari Video Computer System (VCS), later rebranded as the Atari 2600. This date marks the pivot from dedicated, single-game home consoles like Pong to a dynamic new paradigm: a programmable, microprocessor-based system that used swappable game cartridges. For a launch price of $199, consumers received the console, two joystick controllers, a pair of paddle controllers, and the Combat game cartridge. This launch didn't just introduce a new product; it introduced the very concept of a home video game library, setting the stage for the second generation of consoles and igniting a cultural phenomenon that would define the late 1970s and early 1980s.

4. Magnavox Odyssey²

   Released in 1978 by Magnavox/Philips

   On December 1, 1978, Magnavox released the Odyssey², its second major entry into the home video game market it had pioneered. This launch was a strategic move to compete in the burgeoning second generation of consoles, a field increasingly dominated by the Atari 2600. Arriving just in time for the holiday season, the Odyssey² was marketed not just as a gaming device, but as a more sophisticated home entertainment and learning hub. Its release marked a significant moment, introducing a microprocessor-based system with a unique, integrated alphanumeric keyboard. This feature represented a bold vision for the future of home consoles, attempting to bridge the gap between pure arcade fun and the educational potential of early home computers.

5. Intellivision

   Released in 1979 by Mattel

   On December 3, 1979, the battle for the living room officially began as Mattel Electronics released its Intellivision console in a calculated test market run in Fresno, California. This date marks a pivotal moment in gaming history, representing the first serious challenge to Atari's dominance. The name, a portmanteau of "intelligent television," broadcasted Mattel's strategy: to offer a more sophisticated and graphically superior experience. The Fresno launch was a strategic move to gauge consumer interest before a nationwide rollout, effectively firing the first shot in what would become the industry's first true console war, setting the stage for a new era of competition and technological advancement.