Patient Gamers

Hmm. I think that it's hard to find games that really stand up on their own, and haven't had been outclassed in the intervening 35 years. I can think of a lot of games that I enjoyed then, but that's when they were competing against 1980s games and technology. Honestly, you got some of the ones that I'd have suggested, like Tetris and Pac-Man, and even there...I mean, original Tetris is perfectly playable, but I'd probably recommend Tetris Effect: Connected to a new player. Might as well have the extra glitz.

considers

Shmups have generally gotten more fast-moving and bullet-hell oriented. If you prefer slower shmups, you might enjoy playing 1942 or 1943: The Battle of Midway.

I agree with @emb@lemmy.world that Super Mario Brothers 3 for the NES is pretty decent, though I've never played fully through the game. Side-view platformers really did have their heyday in the 1980s and early 1990s, and that was a strong game.

kagis

These guys show marketshare of video game genres by year; platformers were really big in the 1980s:

https://savvystatistics.com/video-game-genres-by-year-1980-2016/

The arcade Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1989) is probably fun if you can get some friends together. Probably need to emulate it with MAME or similar. I don't think that the beat-em-up genre has changed all that much or seen many entrants since.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jLO1upcd8w

The Simpsons would be a stronger arcade beat-em-up recommend, but that's 1991, a bit out of your timeframe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNpuIHbK3-I

Arcades really peaked in the 1980s, before home console systems and computers started cutting into them. There were some things that arcade games were better at than computers and consoles, like having custom-to-a-game input hardware. If you are willing to get ahold of some arcade-style hardware, like an arcade-style joystick (US-style Happ, or Japanese-style Sanwa), you could play some games that were designed around having a full-size arcade joystick.

There are trackball and spinner games as well.

I think that light gun games are out, unless you're willing to obtain a CRT. Maybe someone's made something that can deal with LCD/LED displays.

kagis

Apparently so: https://sindenlightgun.com/

There were a number from the 1980s:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_light-gun_games

• Atari Paperboy (there were various ports but the arcade version is the best one IMO). It's fun, unique with no real successor (more are like Frogger).
• Ghosts n Goblins, the 1985 original (there are modern instalments but I think the original is just as fun, just hard af for a filthy casual like me).

I was gonna say Monkey Island but that's actually 1990. SimyCity was 1989, I'm not sure if that's worth playing these days compared to SimCity 2000 or something. Mario 2 (US) and 3 are probably still good.

Qbert, Space Fury, Looping

I don't know how many of these hold up in their own right these days, but these are the formative games I played before 1990.

• Reach for the Stars - The first 4X game. It created and introduced me to a genre that I still love today!

• Dragonstrike - A dragon riding flight simulator set in the D&D setting of Krynn. It was release in 1990 though, so it's only here if we fudge a little

• Pools of Radiance - The first D&D CRPG. I know for sure this one doesn't hold up, but it was amazing back in the day!
• Tunnels & Trolls Crusaders of Khazan - Another CRPG, this one also from 1990. It sticks out in my memory mostly because I found a "gatling bow" which would empty your quiver by firing all of your arrows at a target when you took a shot. I also found a never ending quiver. It was game breaking. I'd hit things with 30 arrows per shot and just annihilate everything.
• Kings Quest IV Perils of Rosella. A real time adventure/puzzle/RPG game. First game I played with a dedicated female protagonist!
• Sid Meier's Railroad Tycoon - Another "Made in 1990" game. It was the first (and IMO, still the best) game in the Railway Tycoon series and I believe it was also the first game in the "Tycoon" genre
• Sim City - The first in the Sim City series, and the first of the "Sim" titled games. I loved it back in the day, even even got to play it at school. It doesn't hold up very well against later games in the series though.

Dragon Quest 3 (and the two previous games) are great on NES. DQ2 is one of the hardest RPGs, though, as the developers admitted they never play tested the final dungeon. First turn AOE insta deaths, mini bosses that respawn, etc. there's a reason they're remaking them, though.

Those were inspired by Ultima and Wizardry, though, if you want even older RPGs. Actually, most SSI AD&D games were fantastic, too, and you can access them legally via steam now if you don't want to futz with DOS, although my favorite Eye of the Beholder games are slightly newer at 1991.

For games that "hold up" look at arcade games. So install mame and go nuts. Or buy one of those cheap "3000in1" arcade joystick systems which plug into your tv. Arcade games really are better played with the arcade "ball stick" and buttons.

Then if you insist on PC, anything by Sid Meier, and then all the quest games by Sierra.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Magic_(Atari_2600)

I really love Samurai Warrior: The Battles of Usagi Yojimbo on the C64

Or, let's say, I like the idea of playing Usagi Yojimbo. Because that game is frickin' hard. I could usually defeat the first few ninjas but I never got close to the end of the game.

It has a nice honour system. You can't just run around with your sword drawn. You have to be polite and bow to other people. Killing innocents reduces your honour. And when it's depleted you kill yourself.

I was really amazed when the character Usagi Yojimbo appeared in an episode of the Ninja Turtles. In my mind he only existed in that game. A modern version could be nice.

The game of GO

Here's an unusual one: Midi Maze for the Atari ST

Not BEFORE 1990, but not after either: Stunt Island

Ultima V

E:

Bomb Jack

Klax

Lode Runner

From the early 80’s: Qix, Pooyan, and BurgerTime were some of my favorites.

Dungeon keeper, emperor: rise of the middle kingdom, Rome, theme hospital, zeus/atlantis, pharaoh/cleopatra why yes, i am big on world builders.

A good place to look for good pre 90s games is the arcade cabinet games. There's a bunch of shumps that are really good and I think smash TV is pre 1990 and is great.

If you didn’t like LoZ, you’re discarding a lot of games from that era. Resources were scarce, so games didn’t hold your hand with in-game tutorials, quest markers, etc. Game magazines with tips were really popular, as were official game guides from game publishers.

That being said, you might enjoy early 90s versions. For example, Phantasy Star IV (1993, Sega Genesis) feels more modern than its predecessors, it’s one of my favorites.

Dragon Quest 4 (1990, NES) is the pinnacle of the series on 8-bit. You’ll still have to guess and get lost, but it has many modern features. Playing it first will permanently spoil you for the previous ones.

Shining Force (1992, Sega Genesis) is also a pleasant turn-based strategy game with modern, although simple, mechanics. Shining Force 2 is even better.

Starflight came out in 1986, and if you liked Mass Effect, you should give it a try. IMO it has a deeper and more interesting implementation of the space/planet exploration mechanics, not to mention a solid story to tie it all together.

The UI looks dated, of course, but it's straightforward enough to use. It influenced the Star Control games, another series that holds up (but just barely misses the 1990 cutoff).

nethack, super startrek (basic), space quest, infocom games, ultima,

one of my favorite games of all time is called Rags To Riches on commodore64. you play a homeless guy getting your life together getting a job and education with very addictive gameplay in my opinion.

there is a pico8 remake you can play oline but the og is better. https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?tid=29519

Mr.Do! Is quite fun.

H.E.R.O. can become addicting if you don't mind initially learning its tricks through trial and error (the harder path is always the correct one). It can get pretty flow-state when you get a handle on it.

The early Space Quest games from Sierra are fun if you don't mind using a text parser. As is Quest for Glory.

Finally, a Mind Forever Voyaging by Infocom still holds up supremely well if you don't mind pure text adventures. The short story included in the manual alone is worth the read.

Edit: oh, and Street Rod is still a very fun american graffiti inspired racing game.

I’ve been replaying the Metroid series, as well as the Castlevania series, and I love both.

Pong is pretty lit

BBC - Radio 4 - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy https://share.google/rvSbuN9n4gnVMKY2c

Atari Real Sports Tennis, no lie it’s great