Video Game History
Ongoing coverage on Video Game History.
Latest coverage
How Mario and Donkey Kong’s Evolution Helped Build Nintendo’s Lasting Legacy
This article analyzes the evolution of Nintendo's iconic characters, Mario and Donkey Kong, from their arcade origins to modern multimedia stars. It highlights how their adaptability, coupled with Nintendo's innovation in game design and expansion into other media like film and theme parks, has cemented their lasting legacy and influence on the gaming industry.
Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance Still Feels Like the Perfect Send-Off for the Classic Flight Sim Era
Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance is still considered a perfect send-off for the classic flight simulation era. The game's enduring appeal lies in its immersive gameplay and its place in the history of the genre.
Star Wars: X-Wing (1993) – The Rebel Flight Sim That Started It All
Star Wars: X-Wing, released in 1993, is celebrated as the foundational space combat simulation that launched a beloved franchise. Its successor, Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance, also marks a significant anniversary, highlighting the enduring legacy of these classic flight simulators.
Beloved YouTuber The Gaming Historian moves on from making videos with a 'parting gift': A ton of ancient Nintendo court docs you can browse on the Internet Archive
YouTuber Norman Caruso, known as The Gaming Historian, is retiring from video creation due to burnout after a decade and a half of producing documentaries. As a parting gift, he has released a large collection of scanned court documents from a 1982 legal case between Universal Studios and Nintendo regarding the game Donkey Kong.
Star Wars: Dark Forces (1995) – The Shooter That Changed Star Wars Games
Star Wars: Dark Forces, released in 1995, is analyzed as a groundbreaking first-person shooter that significantly impacted the Star Wars gaming landscape. The article reflects on the game's release and its place in video game history, contrasting it with the current state of the industry.
Retroquiz – Tidiga svenska spel
This article presents a quiz focused on early Swedish video games, highlighting titles like Backpacker and Svea Rike. It emphasizes the long history of game development in Sweden and encourages readers to test their knowledge of the country's gaming past.
Playing With History launches soon – Here’s how to get a copy
Playing With History, a book based on a popular feature series exploring historical video games, is launching soon. The book, featuring over 200 pages of new content and interviews, will be available physically and digitally. Late pledges are open on Kickstarter until a few days before shipping begins in late May 2026.
Game History and Preservation
The "Stop Killing Games" initiative has gained traction, reaching the EU Parliament to advocate for game preservation. This movement combats apathy and the loss of digital art, highlighting the importance of saving video game history, including titles from the 1980s.
Svenska spelundret – stor temavecka hos FZ!
This week's feature on FZ celebrates the Swedish video game industry, covering its history from early titles like Svea Rike to modern successes such as Valheim and Arc Raiders. The coverage includes lists of top Swedish games, historical retrospectives, and discussions on current and upcoming titles.
Game History and Preservation
Fans have successfully backed up and validated 385 terabytes of video game data from Myrient, a significant effort in game preservation. Separately, the 40-year-old arcade shoot 'em up Gradius has been recreated using pure ASCII characters.
Legendary Gaming Map Hits 25 Years, Sparks Massive Nostalgia Wave
A Reddit post celebrating the 25th anniversary of a legendary gaming map has sparked a massive nostalgia wave across the community. The post highlights how great game design, even from 2001, transcends technological limitations and creates lasting cultural touchstones. This event underscores the growing importance of video game history and the enduring appeal of well-crafted virtual spaces.
Evening Postmortems/Retrospectives
31 years ago, Square Enix released Final Fantasy VII, a landmark title in video game history. The game is celebrated for its groundbreaking graphics, compelling narrative, and lasting impact on the RPG genre.
Diskutera – Det bästa Mario-spelet jag vet är...
This article discusses the legacy of the Super Mario franchise as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. It prompts readers to share their favorite Mario game, acknowledging the vast library of titles including Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, Super Mario 64, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Odyssey, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, as well as Mario's ventures into other genres.
In appreciation of Super Mario Bros. 2, the series' forgotten stepchild
This article reflects on Super Mario Bros. 2, a lesser-discussed entry in the popular franchise, in honor of MAR10 Day. It aims to bring attention to this often-overlooked installment of the Super Mario series.
Videogame Museum has acquired the ″mythical″ Nintendo PlayStation which led to the PS1
A "mythical" Nintendo PlayStation prototype, a collaboration between Nintendo and Sony that predated the PlayStation 1, has been acquired by a videogame museum. This artifact represents a pivotal moment in gaming history, showcasing the origins of Sony's console dominance.
Diskutera – Det viktigaste Xbox-spelet är...
This article discusses which Xbox game has had the most significant impact, with Halo being a prominent candidate. It highlights the importance of games for consoles, referencing titles like Gears of War, Fable, and Forza Motorsport released over Xbox's 25-year history.
The rare Nintendo PlayStation hardware prototype that was never released has been acquired by The National Videogame…
The National Videogame Museum has acquired the oldest known Nintendo PlayStation hardware prototype, the Sony MSF-1. This rare device was a development system for Sony's planned CD-ROM add-on for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, a collaboration that ultimately led to the creation of the original PlayStation.
The United States' National Videogame Museum has acquired the "mythical" Nintendo PlayStation which led to the PS1's creation
The United States' National Videogame Museum has acquired a rare Nintendo PlayStation prototype, an early development system for Sony's planned Super Nintendo CD attachment. This artifact represents a significant piece of gaming history, marking the initial collaboration between Nintendo and Sony before their eventual split and Sony's development of the original PlayStation console.
Zelda fyller 40 – Fragzone-fredag firar!
This Fragzone-fredag episode celebrates the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda, a franchise that has been pivotal for Nintendo. The discussion will cover the best, most important, and strangest games in the series.
FZ berättar historien om Resident Evil – från herrgård till Requiem
This article chronicles the 30-year history of Capcom's Resident Evil series, from its survival horror origins in 1996 to its future with Resident Evil Requiem in 2026. It details the evolution of the franchise through various installments, including remakes and spin-offs, highlighting its shifts between horror and action genres and its impact on the industry.