1989 in video games

1989 saw many sequels and prequels in video games, such as Phantasy Star II, Super Mario Land, Super Monaco GP, along with new titles such as Big Run, Bonk's Adventure, Final Fight, Golden Axe, Strider, Hard Drivin' and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The year also saw the release of the Sega Genesis and TurboGrafx-16 in North America, and the Game Boy worldwide along with Tetris and Super Mario Land.

The year's highest-grossing arcade games in Japan were Namco's Final Lap and Sega's Tetris, while the highest-grossing arcade video games in the United States were Double Dragon, Super Off Road and Hard Drivin' among dedicated arcade cabinets and Capcom Bowling and Ninja Gaiden among arcade conversion kits. The year's bestTemplate:Nbhselling home system was the Nintendo Entertainment System (Famicom) for the sixth year in a row, while the year's best-selling home video games were Super Mario Bros. 3 in Japan and RoboCop in the United Kingdom.

Financial performance

Highest-grossing arcade games

Japan

In Japan, the following titles were the highest-grossing arcade games of 1989.

Rank	Gamest<ref>Template:Cite magazine alternate url</ref>		Game Machine<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
	Title	Manufacturer	Dedicated arcade cabinet	Software conversion kit
1	Tetris	Sega	Final Lap	Tetris (Sega)
2	Winning Run	Namco	Chase H.Q.	World Stadium
3	Super Monaco GP	Sega	Operation Thunderbolt	Truxton
4	Power Drift	Sega	Winning Run (deluxe)	Image Fight
5	Image Fight	Irem	Out Run (deluxe)	Shanghai II
6	Final Lap	Namco	Top Landing	Kyukyoku Tiger (Twin Cobra)f
7	Tenchi wo Kurau	Capcom	Power Drift (deluxe)	Shanghai
8	Ghouls 'n Ghosts	Capcom	Super Monaco GP (deluxe)	Sichuan
9	Turbo OutRun	Sega	Metal Hawk	Birdie Try
10	Chase H.Q.	Taito	Turbo OutRun	Galaga '88

Hong Kong and United Kingdom

In Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, the following titles were the top-grossing arcade games of each month.

Month	Hong Kong (Bondeal)			United Kingdom
	Dedicated cabinet	Conversion kit	Template:Abbr	Title	Manufacturer	Template:Abbr
February	rowspan="3" Template:Unknown	rowspan="3" Template:Unknown		Strider	Capcom	<ref name="TGM">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
March
April
November	Hard Drivin'	Burning Force	<ref name="RePlay148">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	colspan="2" rowspan="3" Template:Unknown
December	Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles	Pang	<ref name="RePlay148"/>
		Burning Force	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

United States

In the United States, the following titles were the highest-grossing arcade games of 1989.

Rank	AMOA<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>		RePlay<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>		AMAA<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
	Dedicated arcade cabinet	Conversion kit	Dedicated cabinet	Conversion kit
1	Double Dragon	Capcom Bowling	Super Off Road	Ninja Gaiden	Hard Drivin'
2	Bad Dudes Vs. DragonNinja, Operation Thunderbolt, Super Off Road, John Elway's Quarterback	Ninja Gaiden, Shinobi, Tetris (Atari) Cabal	Hard Drivin'	Cabal	Tetris (Atari)
3			Operation Thunderbolt	Golden Axe	Cabal, Crime Fighters, Chase H.Q., Operation Thunderbolt
4			Chase H.Q.	WWF Superstars
5			Narc	Capcom Bowling
6	colspan="2" rowspan="6" Template:N/A	S.T.U.N. Runner, Super Monaco GP, Turbo OutRun, Big Run	Mechanized Attack, Midnight Resistance, Caliber .50
7	Superman, U.S. Classic
8
9	rowspan="3" Template:N/A		rowspan="3" Template:N/A
10	Mechanized Attack, Midnight Resistance
11

Best-selling home systems

Rank	System(s)	Manufacturer	Type	Generation	Sales
					Japan	USA	Europe	Korea	Worldwide
1	Nintendo Entertainment System	Nintendo	Console	8-bit	1,520,000<ref name=":2">Template:Cite journal</ref>	9,200,000<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref>	180,000+<ref name=":3">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	20,000<ref name="Korea">Template:Cite book</ref>	10,920,000+
2	Game Boy	Nintendo	Handheld	8-bit	1,480,000<ref name=":2" />	1,000,000<ref name=":0" />	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	2,500,000<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
3	Commodore 64	Commodore	Computer	8-bit	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	citation	CitationClass=web }} {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
4	PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16	NEC	Console	16-bit	920,000<ref name=":2" />	300,000<ref name=":4">Template:Cite news</ref>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	1,220,000+
5	NEC UltraLite / PC-88 / PC-98	NEC	Computer	8-bit / 16-bit	{{#expr:2,500*0.41 round −1}},000<ref name=":02">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=":6">Template:Cite book</ref>	115,800+<ref name=":5">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	1,145,800+
6	Mega Drive / Genesis	Sega	Console	16-bit	600,000<ref name=":2" />	500,000<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	1,100,000
7	Macintosh	Apple Inc.	Computer	16-bit	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	1,100,000<ref name=":222" />
8	IBM Personal Computer (IBM PC)	IBM	Computer	16-bit	Template:Unknown	748,600+<ref name=":5"/>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	748,600+
9	Mark III / Master System	Sega	Console	8-bit	200,000<ref name="Tanaka">Template:Cite book</ref>	Template:Unknown	350,000<ref name=":3" />	130,000<ref name="Korea" />	680,000+
10	Amiga	Commodore	Computer	16-bit	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	600,000<ref name=":222" />

Best-selling home video games

Japan

The following titles were the top ten best-selling home video games of 1989 in Japan, according to the annual Family Computer Magazine (Famimaga) charts.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Rank<ref name=":1" />	Title	Developer(s)	Publisher(s)	Genre(s)	Sales	Platform(s)
1	Super Mario Bros. 3	Nintendo R&D4	Nintendo	Platformer	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Famicom
2	Tetris	BPS / Nintendo R&D1	BPS / Nintendo	Puzzle	Template:Unknown	FC / GB
3	Famista '89: Kaimaku Ban!	Namco	Namco	Sports (baseball)	rowspan="2" Template:Unknown	Famicom
4	SD Gundam World Gachapon Senshi 2	Human Entertainment	Bandai	Strategy
5	Dragon Ball 3: Goku Den	TOSE	Bandai	RPG / card battle	< 760,000<ref name="shueisha">Template:Cite book</ref>
6	Mother (EarthBound Beginnings)	Ape Inc.	Nintendo	RPG	citation		CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
7	Kyuukyoku Harikiri Stadium: Heisei Gannenhan	Taito	Taito	Sports (baseball)	rowspan="2" Template:Unknown
8	Famicom Jump: Hero Retsuden	TOSE	Bandai	Action RPG
9	Famista '90	Namco		Sports (baseball)	rowspan="2" Template:Unknown
10	Family Stadium '88	Namco

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, RoboCop for the ZX Spectrum was the best-selling home video game of 1989.<ref name="CVG98">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The following titles were the best-selling home video games of each month in the United Kingdom during 1989.

Month	Title	Developer	Publisher	Platform(s)	Template:Abbr
Template:Dts	Operation Wolf	Taito	Ocean Software	Computers	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Dts					<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Dts					<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Dts	RoboCop	Data East	Ocean Software	8-bit micros	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Dts					<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Dts					<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Dts				Computers	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Dts					<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Dts	Crazy Cars	Titus	Titus	8-bit micros	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Dts				Computers	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Dts	Paperboy	Atari Games	Elite	8-bit micros	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Dts	Chase H.Q.	Taito	Ocean Software	Computers	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1989	RoboCop	Data East	Ocean Software	ZX Spectrum	<ref name="CVG98" />

United States

In the United States, the following titles were the best-selling home video games of each month in 1989.

Month	Bundle	Standalone	Platform	Template:Abbr
Template:Dts	Template:Unknown	Super Mario Bros. 2	NES	<ref name="CE1">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Dts	Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>			<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Dts	rowspan="7" Template:Unknown			<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Dts	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Dts	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Dts	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Dts	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Dts	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Dts	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Dts	Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>			<ref name="CE10">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Template:Dts	Template:Unknown	Zelda II: The Adventure of Link	NES	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Template:Dts	Tetris		Game Boy	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Top-rated games

Major awards

Japan and United Kingdom

Award	3rd Gamest Awards (Japan, December 1989)<ref>Template:Cite magazine alternate url</ref>	4th Famitsu Best Hit Game Awards (Japan, February 1990)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	4th Famimaga Game Awards (Japan, February 1990)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>		7th Golden Joystick Awards (UK, April 1990)<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
	Arcade	Console	Famicom	Game Boy	8-bit computer	16-bit computer
Game of the Year	Tetris (Sega)	Final Fantasy II		Tetris	The Untouchables	Kick Off
Critics' Choice Awards	Gain Ground Image Fight Super Monaco GP Winning Run	Idol Hakkenden (Famicom) Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (Famicom) Gunhed (PC Engine) Sweet Home (Famicom) Far East of Eden: Ziria (PCD) Dragon Ball 3: Goku Den (Famicom) Pachio-kun 2 (Famicom)	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Coin-Op Conversion	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Chase H.Q.	Hard Drivin'
Best Game Design / Planning	Template:N/A	Daichi-kun Crisis: Do Natural (PC Engine)	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Playability	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Final Fantasy II	Tetris	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Scenario / Story	Template:N/A	Famicom Detective Club 2 (Famicom)	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Production	Strider HiryūI (Strider)	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Graphics	Darius II	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Myth	Shadow of the Beast
Best Music / Sound	Valkyrie no Densetsu	Mother (EarthBound Beginnings)	Final Fantasy II	Tetris	Chase H.Q.	Future Wars
Best Game Company	Namco	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Ocean Software
Special Award	CP System	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Originality / Original Game	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Final Fantasy II	Tetris	Populous
Best Character / Character Design	Valkyrie (Valkyrie no Densetsu)	Quinty (Mendel Palace)	SD Gundam World Gachapon Senshi 2	Pinball: 66 Hiki no Wani Daikoushin	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Group	Tetris Blocks (Tetris)	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Action Game	Strider HiryūI (Strider)		Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari (Famicom)		Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Shooting Game	Area 88		TwinBee 3: Poko Poko Daimaō (Famicom)		Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Adventure Game	Template:N/A		Yūyūki (Famicom Disk System)		Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best RPG	Template:N/A	Final Fantasy II (Famicom)			Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Simulation Game	Template:N/A		N/A		Carrier Command	M1 Tank Platoon
Best Sports Game	Template:N/A		Famista '89: Kaimaku Ban! (Famicom)		N/A
Best PC Leisure Product	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	N/A		Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

United States

Award	Electronic Gaming Monthly (December 1989)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (February 1990)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>			2nd Nintendo Power Awards (May/June 1990)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	Computer Entertainer Awards of Excellence (December 1989)<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
	Console	Console	Computer	Arcade	NES	Console	Computer
Game of the Year	Ghouls 'n Ghosts (Sega Genesis)	The Legendary Axe (TG16)	Populous	S.T.U.N. Runner	Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Genesis Game of the Year		Thunder Force II (Genesis)	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Ghouls 'n Ghosts	Template:N/A
Master System Game of the Year	Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	SpellCaster	Template:N/A
Nintendo Game of the Year	Ninja Gaiden (NES)	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES)		Template:N/A
TurboGrafx Game of the Year	The Legendary Axe (TurboGrafx-16)		Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Dungeon Explorer	Template:N/A
Computer Entertainment Programs of the Year	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Shadow of the Beast (Amiga) Prince of Persia (Apple II) Powerdrome (Atari ST) Windwalker (C64/C128) Budokan (DOS) Cosmic Osmo (Mac)
Best Coin-Op Conversion	Template:N/A	Ghouls 'n Ghosts (Genesis)	Arkanoid	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Multiplayer Game	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Crime Fighters	Tecmo Bowl	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Hardware	Sega Genesis	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Theme / Fun	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Play Control	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Mega Man 2	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Most Challenge	Phantasy Star (Master System)	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Ninja Gaiden	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Graphics	Ghouls 'n Ghosts (Sega Genesis)	Thunder Force II (Genesis)	David Wolf	Template:N/A	Mega Man 2	Template:N/A	Shadow of the Beast (Amiga)
Best Music / Sound	Fighting Street (TurboGrafx-CD)			Template:N/A		Template:N/A
Developer / Software House	Sega, Konami, Acclaim, Sunsoft, Tecmo	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Character / Hero	Mega Man (Mega Man 2)	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Link (Zelda II: The Adventure of Link)	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Sequel	Mega Man 2 and Ghouls 'n Ghosts (tie)	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Original / Special / Innovative	Template:N/A	A Boy and His Blob (NES)	Star Saga One	Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters	Template:N/A	Romance of the Three Kingdoms	Populous
Best Action / Combat / Arcade-Style Game	Template:N/A	Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES)	Hostage	Dynamite Duke	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Blood Money
Best Adventure / Fantasy	Template:N/A	Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES)	Manhunter: New York	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	The Third Courier
Best RPG	Ultima III: Exodus (NES)	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Simulation Game	Template:N/A	Alien Crush (TG16)	Vette!	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Vette!
Best Sports Game	World Class Baseball Tommy Lasorda Baseball Baseball Simulator 1.000	Tommy Lasorda Baseball (Sega Genesis)	Zany Golf	Cyberball	Template:N/A	Goal! (NES) Tommy Lasorda Baseball (GEN)	TV Sports: Football (Amiga) John Madden Football (Apple II) Kings of the Beach (C64) Grave Yardage (MS-DOS) PlayMaker Football (Mac)
Best Driving Simulator	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Hard Drivin'	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Flying Game	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Metal Hawk	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Strategy / Wargame	Template:N/A	A Boy and his Blob (NES)	SimCity	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Sands of Fire
Best Action-Strategy Game	Template:N/A	Mega Man 2 (NES)	Lords of the Rising Sun	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Video Game Controller	Joycard Sansui SSS	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Coolest Boss / Best Group	Loki (Ghouls 'n Ghosts) Jagu (The Legendary Axe)	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Movie to Game	Batman: The Video Game	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A
Best Ending in a Video Game	Ninja Gaiden	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Template:N/A	Ninja Gaiden	Template:N/A	Template:N/A

Critically acclaimed titles

Famitsu and CVG reviews

In Japan, the following 1989 video game releases entered Famitsu magazine's "Platinum Hall of Fame" for receiving Famitsu scores of at least 35 out of 40.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Title	Platform	Score (out of 40)	Developer(s)	Publisher	Genre
Makai Toushi SaGa (Final Fantasy Legend)	Game Boy	35	Squaresoft	Squaresoft	Role-playing
Ys I & II	PC Engine CD-ROM²	35	Nihon Falcom / Alfa System	Hudson Soft	Action role-playing

In the United Kingdom, the following titles were Computer and Video Games (CVG) magazine's highest-rated games of 1989.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Home video games			Arcade games
Title	Platform	Score	Rank	Title
Chase H.Q.	ZX Spectrum	97%	1	S.T.U.N. Runner
Super Mario Bros. 2	Nintendo Entertainment System	97%	2	Super Monaco GP
Indianapolis 500: The Simulation	PC	96%	3	Winning Run
Populous	Amiga	96%	4	Hard Drivin'
Ghouls 'n Ghosts	Sega Mega Drive	96%	5	Narc
F29 Retaliator	Amiga	96%	rowspan="7" Template:N/A	rowspan="7" Template:N/A
Gunhed (Blazing Lazers)	PC Engine
Xenon 2: Megablast	Amiga
It Came from the Desert	Amiga	95%
Damocles	Atari ST
Tetris	Game Boy
RoboCop	ZX Spectrum

English-language reviews

Notable video game releases in 1989 that have accumulated overall critical acclaim from at least four contemporary English-language sources include:

Title	Genre	Publisher	Platform	Number of reviews
Apache 3	Rail shooter	Data East	Arcade	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Arthur: The Quest for Excalibur	Interactive fiction	Infocom	Amiga	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Big Run	Racing	Jaleco	Arcade	4<ref name="arcade"/>
Blazing Lazers	Shoot 'em up	Hudson Soft	TurboGrafx-16	4<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Chase H.Q.	Action-racing	Ocean Software	ZX Spectrum	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Chase HQ II: Special Criminal Investigation	Action-racing	Taito	Arcade	6<ref name="arcade"/>
Crack Down	Run & gun shooter	Sega	Arcade	5<ref name="arcade"/>
Dragon Breed	Scrolling shooter	Irem	Arcade	6<ref name="arcade"/>
Dungeon Explorer	Action role-playing	Hudson Soft	TurboGrafx-16	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Dynasty Wars	Beat 'em up	Capcom	Arcade	4<ref name="arcade"/>
F-16 Combat Pilot	Combat flight simulation	Digital Integration	Amiga	7<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="F16Zero">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
			Atari ST	4<ref name="F16Zero" /><ref name="F16TGM" /><ref name="F16TheOne" /><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
			DOS	4<ref name="F16Zero" /><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="F16TGM">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="F16TheOne">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Forgotten Worlds	Shoot 'em up	U.S. Gold	Amiga	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="FWTGM">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="FWCVG">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="FWACE">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
			Commodore 64	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
			ZX Spectrum	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="ysrnry">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Ghouls 'n Ghosts	Platformer	Capcom	Arcade	6<ref name="arcade"/>
		Sega	Mega Drive/Genesis	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
		U.S. Gold	Amiga	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Golden Axe	Beat 'em up	Sega	Arcade	6<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
			Mega Drive/Genesis	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Hard Drivin'	Racing simulation	Atari Games	Arcade	5<ref name="arcade"/>
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure	Graphic adventure	Lucasfilm Games	DOS	4<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Interphase	Shooter	Image Works	Atari ST	5<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="InterphaseTGM">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="InterphaseZero">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="InterphaseCVG">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
			Amiga	9<ref name="InterphaseTGM" /><ref name="InterphaseZero" /><ref name="InterphaseCVG" /><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Mechanized Attack	Rail shooter	SNK	Arcade	4<ref name="arcade"/>
Midnight Resistance	Run & gun shooter	Data East	Arcade	4<ref name="arcade"/>
Myth: History in the Making	Platformer	System 3	Commodore 64	4<ref name="MythTGM">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Ninja Gaiden (Shadow Warriors)	Beat 'em up	Tecmo	Arcade	4<ref name="arcade"/>
Ninja Gaiden (Shadow Warriors)	Hack & slash	Tecmo	NES	5<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Operation Thunderbolt	Light gun shooter	Taito	Arcade	5<ref name="arcade"/>
Phantasy Star II	Role-playing	Sega	Mega Drive/Genesis	8<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Populous	God	Electronic Arts	Amiga	9<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
The Revenge of Shinobi	Hack & slash	Sega	Mega Drive/Genesis	10<ref name="The Role of Computers">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Mega, issue 9, page 23, Future Publishing, June 1993</ref><ref>MegaTech, EMAP, issue 5, page 78, May 1992</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
R-Type II	Shoot 'em up	Irem	Arcade	6<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
SimCity	City-building	Maxis	Amiga	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Strider	Hack & slash	Capcom	Arcade	5<ref name="arcade"/>
		U.S. Gold	Amiga	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="StriderACE">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="StriderZero">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="StriderOne">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
			Atari ST	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Stunt Car Racer	Racing	MicroStyle	Amiga	7<ref name="SCRZap" /><ref name="SCRCU" /><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="SCRZero">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
			Atari ST	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
			Commodore 64	4<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="SCRZap">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="SCRCU">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Super Mario Land	Platformer	Nintendo	Game Boy	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine The magazine's review score is a composite of four reviews: 8, 8, 7, 8.</ref>
Super Monaco GP	Racing simulation	Sega	Arcade	5<ref name="arcade"/>
The Untouchables	Action-adventure	Ocean Software	Amiga	4<ref name="ZeroUntouchablesAmigaST">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
			Atari ST	4<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
			ZX Spectrum	4<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Willow	Platformer	Capcom	Arcade	4<ref name="arcade"/>
Winning Run	Racing simulation	Namco	Arcade	4<ref name="arcade"/>
Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap	Platform-adventure	Sega	Master System	10<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="VideoGames">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Xenon 2: Megablast	Shoot 'em up	Image Works	Amiga	8<ref name="XenonTGM" /><ref name="XenonCVG" /><ref name="XenonZero" /><ref name="XenonACE" /><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
			Atari ST	7<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="XenonTGM">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="XenonCVG">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="XenonZero">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="XenonACE">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Ys: The Vanished Omens	Action role-playing	Sega	Master System	7<ref>ACE, issue 26, page 144</ref><ref name="cvg_ys">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Electronic Gaming Monthly, issue 1, p. 45</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Sega Pro, issue 6, p. 31</ref><ref>S: The Sega Magazine, issue 2, p. 6-7</ref><ref name="tgm_ys">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Ys I & II	Action role-playing	Hudson Soft	TurboGrafx-CD	7<ref name="gtm_falcom_156">Template:Cite journal (cf. {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }})</ref><ref name="cgw_ys">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="Dragon172">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="egm15">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="GamePro">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Events

• The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is held at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 7–10. Nintendo announces that it would release 40 new NES titles through its licensees in 1989, while Sega announces 20 titles that include several translations of arcade games. Peripherals unveiled and demonstrated at this event include Broderbund's U-Force, Beeshu's Zoomer, and Nintendo's Power Pad. The next CES is held in Chicago in June.<ref name="GameProNews1">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
• CSG Imagesoft and Sony hold regional Super Dodge Ball contests in Los Angeles (July 15–16 and 29–30), Chicago (August 5–6), New York City (September 9–10 and 16–17), Boston (September 23–24), and Seattle (October 14–15). Finalists from each region enter the "Super Dodge Ball World Cup" in Seattle on October 27–28, where the winners receive an assortment of Sony products as prizes.<ref name="GameProNews2">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
• In August, Capcom donates $50,000 worth of video game equipment and Capcom titles to pediatric wards of California hospitals.<ref name="GameProNews3">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
• Sega of America ends its Master System distribution deal with Tonka,<ref name="GameProNews5">Template:Cite magazine</ref> and appoints former Atari Corporation President Michael Katz as its new president in October.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="GameProNews6">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

• Konami launches the "Crumble Competition", in which participants win a free Konami title from rub-off cards found in specially marked packages of Chips Ahoy! and Oreo cookies. Konami also collaborates with Ralston Purina to create a breakfast cereal based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.<ref name="GameProNews5"/>
• On October 3, Nintendo and Fidelity Investments announce plans to jointly develop a home trading system for financial services.<ref name="GameProNews5"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• NEC promotes the TurboGrafx-16 with contests held at local shopping centers in Los Angeles (October 6–8), Trumbull, Connecticut (October 21–22), Chicago (October 27–31), Wayne, New Jersey (November 11–12), Marlborough, Massachusetts (November 18–19) and Atlanta (December 2–3).<ref name="GameProNews4">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The Los Angeles contest is won by 17-year-old Jim Hakola of Lakewood, California, who scored 220,080 points on Blazing Lazers.<ref name="GameProNews5"/>
• Corey Sandler and Tom Badgett's Ultimate Unauthorized Nintendo Game Strategies, the first in Bantam Books' "Game Mastery" series, is released in November.<ref name="GameProNews6"/>
• PepsiCo awards over 4,000 Game Boy systems via an under-the-cap contest across a variety of Pepsi soft drinks.<ref name="GameProNews6"/>
• The Galaxy of Electronic Games show, produced by Pinnacle Productions, opens at the San Jose Convention Center in November 17–19. The show features a display of more than 300 computer and video games and a 2,500 square foot area of arcade games.<ref name="GameProNews3"/>
• On December 2, the world premiere of the Universal Pictures film The Wizard is held at the Cineplex Odeon Theatre in Universal City, California.<ref name="GameProNews7">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The film – starring Fred Savage, Luke Edwards, Jenny Lewis, Christian Slater and Beau Bridges – tells the story of two brothers who travel to a video game tournament.<ref name="GameProNews4"/>

Hardware releases

File:Game-Boy-FL.jpg

The original Game Boy.

• August 14 – The Mega Drive is released in North America as the Sega Genesis.
• August 29 – NEC's PC-Engine released in North America as the TurboGrafx-16.
• October 11 – Atari Corporation releases the Lynx handheld console with color and backlighting.
• Nintendo releases the Game Boy handheld console.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Mattel releases the Power Glove controller for the NES home console.

Game releases

• February – Atari Games releases the Hard Drivin' arcade game, with filled polygon 3D graphics, physics simulation, and a force-feedback steering wheel.
• March 21 – Sega releases Phantasy Star II, a landmark title for the role-playing video game genre.
• April 21 – Nintendo releases Super Mario Land on the Game Boy, introducing Princess Daisy to the Mario series.
• May – Sega releases Golden Axe, the first game in the Golden Axe series.
• May 12 – Konami releases Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for NES, one of the first video games based on the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series, being released after the show's second season.
• June 5 – Bullfrog releases Populous, one of the first commercially successful god games.
• June – Lucasfilm Games releases puzzle game Pipe Mania, which lives on in other titles as a visual representation of computer or security system hacking.
• July 11 – Capcom releases Mega Man 2 in more countries (US).
• July 27 – Nintendo releases Mother in Japan, the first of a trilogy of role-playing games produced by celebrity writer Shigesato Itoi.
• August – Nintendo of America introduces Enix's Dragon Warrior franchise to North America.
• August 26 – Nintendo releases the Zelda Game & Watch.
• September – Atari Games releases S.T.U.N. Runner in arcades, a 3D polygonal vehicle combat/racing game.
• September 14 – Capcom releases DuckTales for NES based on the Disney animated TV series of the same name.
• October 3 – Broderbund releases Prince of Persia for the declining Apple II. Ports to other systems turn the game into a hit.
• October 3 – Maxis releases Will Wright's SimCity, the first of the "Sim" games and a revolutionary real-time software toy.
• December 6 – Strategic Studies Group releases Warlords which was one of the first fantasy turn-based strategy game.
• December 15 – Hudson Soft releases Bonk's Adventure, introducing the TurboGrafx-16 mascot and starting the Bonk franchise.
• December 15 - Tecmo releases Bad News Baseball in Japan. US release to follow in January 1990.
• December 15 – Techno Soft releases Herzog Zwei for the Mega Drive in Japan, laying the foundations for the real-time strategy genre.
• December 22 – Konami releases Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, the third and final game from series for NES.
• Tengen releases an unlicensed version of the Tetris video game, which is recalled after Nintendo sues Tengen.
• Wes Cherry writes Solitaire<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and Robert Donner writes Minesweeper, which are bundled with Microsoft Windows starting from version 3.
• Psygnosis releases a platformer Shadow of the Beast, demonstrating the capabilities of the Amiga and helping sales of the computer.
• Sega releases Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap.
• Spectrum Holobyte's Vette! for PC and Macintosh features a 3D flat-shaded rendition of San Francisco.
• Three-Sixty Pacific releases computer wargame Harpoon.
• Atari Corporation supports the aging Atari 2600 with a new batch of cartridges, including Secret Quest.

Business

• Hasbro, Inc. acquires elements of Coleco Industries, Inc.
• Trinity Acquisition Corporation founded (renamed THQ in 1990)
• Nintendo withdraws from the Japan Amusement Machinery Manufacturers Association (JAMMA) on February 28.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Nintendo of America, Inc. v. Tengen:

1. Nintendo sues Tengen over the Tetris video game copyrights. Tengen loses and recalls all its Tetris games.
2. In November, Nintendo sues Tengen over production of unlicensed Nintendo games. Tengen loses. (Tengen originally sued Nintendo on December 12, 1988, for antitrust violations.)

• Nintendo v. Camerica Ltd. Nintendo sues Camerica over patent violations of the Game Genie for the NES console. Camerica wins the suit.
• UK publisher Martech goes out of business.

See also

• 1989 in games