History's Best Selling Video Games of 1977

In the colorful era of the 1970s, 1977 saw a swell surge of retro grooves and analog innovation in the world of games! Leading the charge were mighty, top-selling marvels like Color TV-Game and Atari 2600, capturing the public’s fancy in grand fashion. Distinguished creators from industry leaders like Nintendo and Atari proved their mettle with essential classics, delivering craftsmanship that defined the laid-back, radical spirit of the seventies. Step right up and inspect our complete, rank-ordered historical archive below!

1. 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.

2. 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.