Video Game Sales Wiki
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1980 saw the video game industry rapidly expand with the release of a number of influential games. Namco's Pac-Man expanded the arcade market to new audiences, while the Atari VCS (Atari 2600) port of Space Invaders revived and expanded the home console market.

The year's highest-grossing video game worldwide was Taito's Space Invaders for the third year in a row, including the arcade original and Atari VCS port, becoming the first killer app and the first video game to sell over a million units. The year's best‑selling home system was Nintendo's handheld Game & Watch.

Financial performance[]

Japan overtakes the United States as the leading developer of arcade video games, with Japanese games accounting for the largest share of the worldwide industry.[1][2][3] In the United States, the Atari VCS leads the home video game market with a 44% share.[4]

The following table lists the annual sales and revenue generated by the electronic games industry this year, including video games and electro‑mechanical games. See sections below for breakdown of revenue estimates.

Industry Products Market Unit sales
(est.)
Annual revenue (est.) Ref
Nominal Inflation
Electronic games United States 23,674,400+ $9,139,750,000 $35,000,000,000
Japan 227,500+ $3,498,800,000 $13,000,000,000
Arcade games Worldwide 732,500+ $12,510,000,000 $48,000,000,000
Arcade Arcade games United States 490,000+ $7,500,000,000 $29,000,000,000 [5][6][7]
Japan 227,500 $3,400,000,000 $13,000,000,000 [8][9][10]
Arcade video games United Kingdom 15,000+ $1,100,000,000 $4,800,000,000 [11][12][13]
Australia $110,000,000 $420,000,000 [11]
Other markets $400,000,000 $1,500,000,000
Electro‑mechanical games Worldwide 168,800+ $2,500,000,000 $9,500,000,000
Arcade Electro‑mechanical games United States 150,000+ $1,500,000,000 $5,700,000,000 [7][14][5]
Japan 18,800 $1,000,000,000 $3,800,000,000 [15]
Video games Worldwide 24,373,100+ $11,753,550,000 $45,000,000,000
Arcade Arcade video games United States 340,000 $6,000,000,000 $23,000,000,000 [6][16]
Japan 208,700 $2,300,000,000 $8,800,000,000 [15]
United Kingdom 15,000 $1,100,000,000 $4,800,000,000 [17]
Australia $110,000,000 $420,000,000 [11]
Other markets $400,000,000 $1,500,000,000
Worldwide 563,700+ $9,910,000,000 $38,000,000,000
Console Video game consoles United States 2,200,000 $493,000,000 $1,900,000,000 [6][18]
United Kingdom 125,000+ $35,000,000 $130,000,000 [19][20]
Anglosphere 2,325,000+ $528,000,000 $2,000,000,000
Dedicated consoles United States 270,000 $18,000,000 $69,000,000
Cartridge consoles United States 1,650,000 $475,000,000 $1,800,000,000
United Kingdom 125,000 [20]
Console game cartridges United States 9,600,000 $141,400,000 $540,000,000 [21]
United Kingdom 500,000 $42,000,000 $160,000,000 [19][20]
Console market United States 11,800,000 $634,400,000 $2,400,000,000
United Kingdom 625,000 $77,000,000 $290,000,000 [19][20]
Anglosphere 12,425,000 $711,400,000 $2,700,000,000
Handheld Handheld games United States 11,207,000 $1,000,000,000 $3,800,000,000 [22][6]
Japan $98,800,000 $380,000,000 [23]
Handheld LCD games United Kingdom $28,000,000 $107,000,000 [19]
Handheld games Worldwide 11,207,000+ $1,126,800,000 $4,300,000,000
Computer Computer games United States 177,400 $5,350,000 $20,000,000
Video games United States 23,524,400 $7,639,750,000 $29,000,000,000
Japan 208,700+ $2,398,800,000 $9,200,000,000
United Kingdom 640,000+ $1,205,000,000 $4,599,000,000
Electronic games Worldwide 26,138,500+ $14,353,550,000 $55,000,000,000

Electronic games[]

Highest-grossing games[]

The following titles were the highest-grossing electronic games worldwide in 1980, including video games (VG) and electro-mechanical games (EM games) across arcades and homes. See sections below for breakdown of revenue estimates.

Rank Title Company Worldwide revenue (est.) Genre Type Platform
Nominal Inflation
1 Space Invaders [24] Taito $2,900,000,000 $11,000,000,000 Shmup VG Multi-platform
2 Galaxian Namco $1,500,000,000 $5,700,000,000
3 Pac-Man Namco $1,000,000,000 $3,800,000,000 Maze VG Arcade
4 Asteroids Atari $900,000,000 $3,400,000,000 Shmup
5 Firepower Williams $360,000,000 $1,400,000,000 Pinball EM
6 Astro Fighter Data East / Sega $340,000,000 $1,300,000,000 Shmup VG
7 Crazy Climber Nichibutsu $300,000,000 $1,100,000,000 Platformer
8 Space Invaders Deluxe Taito $280,000,000 $1,100,000,000 Shmup
9 Monaco GP Sega $260,000,000 $990,000,000 Racing
10 Moon Cresta Nichibutsu $200,000,000 $760,000,000 Shmup
11 Missile Command Atari $110,000,000 $420,000,000
12 Gorgar Williams $100,000,000 $380,000,000 Pinball EM
Rip Off Cinematronics $100,000,000 $380,000,000 Shmup VG
Space Invaders Bally $100,000,000 $380,000,000 Pinball EM
Tail Gunner Cinematronics $100,000,000 $380,000,000 Shooter VG
16 Piccadilly Circus Konami $90,000,000 $310,000,000 Medal EM
Sheriff (Bandido) Nintendo $90,000,000 $310,000,000 Shooter VG
18 Atari Football Atari $83,000,000 $320,000,000 Sports VG Multi-platform
19 Cosmic Alien Universal $80,000,000 $310,000,000 Shmup VG Arcade
Dual Sega $80,000,000 $310,000,000 Action
Flash Williams $80,000,000 $310,000,000 Pinball EM
Space Wars Cinematronics $80,000,000 $310,000,000 Shooter VG
Star Fire Exidy $80,000,000 $310,000,000
Targ Exidy $80,000,000 $310,000,000 Maze

Best-selling video games[]

The following titles were the year's best-selling video games worldwide in terms of unit sales, across arcade and home markets. See sections below for breakdown of sales estimates.

No. Title Platform Company Unit sales (est.) Genre
1 Space Invaders Arcade, Atari VCS, Apple II Taito 1,457,655 Shmup
2 Vermin Game & Watch Nintendo 1,000,000 Action
Fire (Fireman) Game & Watch Nintendo 1,000,000
Combat Atari VCS Atari 1,000,000 Shooter
5 Breakout Atari VCS Atari 256,265 Block
6 Ball (Toss-Up) Game & Watch Nintendo 250,000 Action
Flagman (Flag Man) Game & Watch Nintendo 250,000
Judge Game & Watch Nintendo 250,000
9 Atari Football Arcade, Atari VCS Atari 248,502 Sports
10 Bowling Atari VCS Atari 245,670
11 Las Vegas Poker & Blackjack Intellivision Mattel 200,000 Card
12 Night Driver Atari VCS Atari 161,352 Racing
13 Air-Sea Battle Atari VCS Atari 160,093 Shooter
14 Circus Atari Atari VCS Atari 148,756 Action
15 Pac-Man Arcade Namco 120,000 Maze
16 Galaxian Arcade, Apple II Namco 110,000 Shmup
17 Sea Battle Intellivision Mattel 100,000 Strategy
Armor Battle Intellivision Mattel 100,000 Shooter
Auto Racing Intellivision Mattel 100,000 Racing
Major League Baseball Intellivision Mattel 100,000 Sports
NBA Basketball Intellivision Mattel 100,000
NFL Football Intellivision Mattel 100,000
Space Battle Intellivision Mattel 100,000 Shmup
U.S. Ski Team Skiing Intellivision Mattel 100,000 Sports

Arcade games[]

Highest-grossing arcade games[]

The following titles were the highest-grossing arcade games worldwide in 1980, including video games and electro-mechanical games. See sub-sections below for breakdown of revenue estimates.

Rank Title Company Worldwide revenue (est.) Genre Type Generation
Nominal Inflation
1 Space Invaders Taito $2,400,000,000 $9,200,000,000 Shmup Video 8-bit
2 Galaxian Namco $1,500,000,000 $5,700,000,000
3 Pac-Man [25] Namco $1,000,000,000 $3,800,000,000 Maze
4 Asteroids Atari $900,000,000 $3,400,000,000 Shmup
5 Firepower Williams $360,000,000 $1,400,000,000 Pinball Electro-mechanical
6 Astro Fighter Data East / Sega $340,000,000 $1,300,000,000 Shmup Video 8-bit
7 Crazy Climber Nichibutsu $300,000,000 $1,100,000,000 Platformer
8 Space Invaders Deluxe Taito $280,000,000 $1,100,000,000 Shmup
9 Monaco GP Sega $260,000,000 $990,000,000 Racing Video Discrete
10 Moon Cresta Nichibutsu $200,000,000 $760,000,000 Shmup Video 8-bit
11 Missile Command Atari $110,000,000 $420,000,000
12 Gorgar Williams $100,000,000 $380,000,000 Pinball Electro-mechanical
Rip Off Cinematronics $100,000,000 $380,000,000 Shmup Video Discrete
Space Invaders Bally $100,000,000 $380,000,000 Pinball Electro-mechanical
Tail Gunner Cinematronics $100,000,000 $380,000,000 Shooter Video Discrete
16 Piccadilly Circus Konami $90,000,000 $310,000,000 Medal Electro-mechanical
Sheriff (Bandido) Nintendo $90,000,000 $310,000,000 Shooter Video 8-bit
18 Atari Football Atari $80,000,000 $310,000,000 Sports Video 8-bit
Cosmic Alien Universal $80,000,000 $310,000,000 Shmup
Dual Sega $80,000,000 $310,000,000 Action
Flash Williams $80,000,000 $310,000,000 Pinball Electro-mechanical
Space Wars Cinematronics $80,000,000 $310,000,000 Shooter Video Discrete
Star Fire Exidy $80,000,000 $310,000,000 Shooter Video 8-bit
Targ Exidy $80,000,000 $310,000,000 Maze
25 EVR Race Nintendo $67,000,000 $260,000,000 Medal Electro-mechanical

Best-selling arcade games[]

The following titles were the year's best-selling arcade games worldwide in terms of unit sales, including EM games and video games. See sections below for breakdown of sales estimates.

No. Title Company Unit sales (est.) Genre Type
1 Pac-Man Namco 120,000 Maze VG
2 Galaxian Namco 95,000 Shmup
3 Asteroids Atari 46,865
4 Crazy Climber Nichibutsu 20,000 Platformer
5 Missile Command Atari 19,549 Shmup
6 Firepower Williams 17,410 Pinball EM
7 Space Invaders Bally 11,400
8 Space Invaders Deluxe Taito 10,370 Shmup VG
9 Cosmic Alien Universal 10,000 Shmup
Moon Cresta Nichibutsu 10,000
Super Speed Race Taito 10,000 Racing
12 Sheriff (Bandido) Nintendo 8,000 Shooter
13 Silverball Mania Stern 7,000 Pinball EM
14 Space Invaders Taito 6,000 Shmup VG
15 Galaxy Stern 5,130 Pinball EM
16 Radar Scope Nintendo 4,424 TPS VG
17 Astro Fighter Data East / Sega 4,000 Shmup
18 Armor Attack Cinematronics 3,994
19 Heiankyo Alien Denki Onkyō 3,000 Maze
Rally-X Namco 3,000 Driving
21 Big Game Stern 2,713 Pinball EM
22 Crane Sega 2,000 Crane EM
Kunitori Gassen Konami 2,000 Medal
Pitch In Namco 2,000 Sports
Sasuke vs. Commander SNK 2,000 Shooter VG

Arcade markets[]

The following table lists the year's top-grossing arcade games in various markets.

Market Top game Company Cabinet sales Gross revenue (est.) Genre
Annual Cume Nominal Inflation Ref
Japan Pac-Man Namco 100,000[26] 100,000 $800,000,000 $3,100,000,000 [27] Maze
United States Asteroids Atari 46,565[28] 56,565[29] $900,000,000 $3,400,000,000 [30][31] Shmup
United Kingdom Space Invaders Taito 85,000[13] $1,000,000,000 $3,800,000,000 [32]
Australia Space Invaders Taito 3,000+[33] $110,000,000 $420,000,000 [34]
Other markets Space Invaders Taito 150,000+[28] $400,000,000 $1,500,000,000 [35]

Japan[]

In Japan, the following titles were the highest-grossing arcade games in 1980. The list includes video games (VG) and electro-mechanical games (EM games).

No. Title[36][37] Co. Rankings[36] Cabinets (est.)[n 1][28] Revenue (est.)[n 2][n 3] Genre Type
1 2 3 Pt. Units Sales Pt. Revenue
1 Pac-Man [26] Namco 62 46 17 125 100,000 100,000 295 $800,000,000 Maze VG
2 Galaxian [39] Namco 44 25 18 87 100,000 50,000 200 $560,000,000 Shmup
3 Crazy Climber Nichibutsu 14 19 30 63 20,000 20,000 110 $300,000,000 Platform
4 Moon Cresta Nichibutsu 3 24 15 42 10,000+ 10,000 72 $200,000,000 Shmup
5 Monaco GP Sega 11 4 11 26 20,000 52 $160,000,000 Racing
6 Piccadilly Circus [40] Konami 5 8 1 14 10,000 32 $90,000,000 Medal EM
7 EVR Race [41][42] Nintendo 5 4 1 10 10,000 24 $67,000,000
8 Rally-X Namco 1 6 3 10 3,000+ 3,000 18 $50,000,000 Driving VG
9 Harness Race Sega 4 1 3 8 3,000+ 17 $48,000,000 Medal EM
10 TV Poker[n 4] Sigma[n 5] 4 2 1 7 2,000+ 17 $48,000,000
11 Kunitori Gassen [40] Konami 4 1 2 7 2,000+ 2,000 16 $45,000,000
12 Heiankyo Alien Denki Onkyō 1 4 4 9 3,000+ 3,000 15 $42,000,000 Maze VG
13 Crane Sega 3 1 2 6 2,000+ 2,000 13 $36,000,000 Crane EM
14 PT Reach Mahjong Irem 4 0 0 4 1,000+ 1,000 12 $34,000,000 Medal
15 Pitch In Namco 0 1 5 6 2,000+ 2,000 7 $20,000,000 Sports
16 Black Jack Sega 1 2 0 3 1,000+ 1,000 7 $20,000,000 Medal
17 EVR Basketball Nintendo 1 2 0 3 2,000+ 7 $20,000,000
18 Super Speed Race Taito 0 2 2 4 10,000 10,000 6 $17,000,000 Racing VG
19 Faro / Faro II Sega 1 1 1 3 1,000+ 1,000 6 $17,000,000 Medal EM
Janken Game Konami 1 1 1 3 1,000+ 1,000 6 $17,000,000
21 Astro Zone Taito 2 0 0 2 1,000+ 1,000 6 $17,000,000 Shooter VG
22 The Derby Sigma[n 6] 2 0 0 2 1,000+ 6 $17,000,000 Medal EM
23 Sasuke vs. Commander SNK 0 0 5 5 2,000+ 2,000 5 $14,000,000 Shooter VG
24 Winners Circle[n 7] Sigma[n 8] 1 1 0 2 1,000+ 1,000 5 $14,000,000 Medal EM
25 TV Slot[n 9] Sigma[n 10] 1 0 2 3 1,000+ 1,000 5 $14,000,000 Medal EM
26 Missile Command Sega 0 2 1 3 1,000+ 1,000 5 $14,000,000 Shmup VG
27 Space Invaders [43] Taito 0 1 3 4 400,000 5 $14,000,000 Shmup VG
28 Kentucky Derby Universal 0 2 1 3 2,000+ 5 $14,000,000 Medal EM
29 Shoot Away Namco 0 2 0 2 1,000+ 1,000 4 $11,000,000 FPS EM
Space Firebird Nintendo 0 2 0 2 1,000+ 1,000 4 $11,000,000 Action VG
31 King of Kings Universal 0 2 0 2 2,000+ 4 $11,000,000 Medal EM
32 Big & Small Universal 0 0 3 3 1,000+ 1,000 3 $8,000,000 Medal EM
Space Panic Universal 0 0 3 3 1,000+ 1,000 3 $8,000,000 Platform VG
34 Le Mans 24[n 11] Leijac 0 1 1 2 1,000+ 1,000 3 $8,000,000 Medal EM
Radar Scope Nintendo 0 1 1 2 1,000+ 1,000 3 $8,000,000 TPS VG
Sekai Senryaku[n 12] Leijac 0 1 1 2 1,000+ 1,000 3 $8,000,000 Medal EM
37 Moon Alien Nichibutsu 1 0 0 1 300+ 300 3 $8,000,000 Shmup VG
Piccadilly Queen[n 13] Leijac 1 0 0 1 300+ 300 3 $8,000,000 Medal EM
Space Tactics Sega 1 0 0 1 300+ 300 3 $8,000,000 FPS VG
The Great Ocean Cup Ketsu Shoji 1 0 0 1 300+ 300 3 $8,000,000 Medal EM
41 Clay Champ Namco 0 2 0 2 1,000+ 1,000 2 $6,000,000 FPS EM
Deep Scan Sega 0 0 2 2 1,000+ 1,000 2 $6,000,000 Shooter VG
N-Sub Sega 0 0 2 2 1,000+ 1,000 2 $6,000,000 Shmup VG
Tranquilizer Gun Sega 0 0 2 2 1,000+ 1,000 2 $6,000,000 Shooter
45 New York, New York Sigma[n 14] 0 1 0 1 300+ 300 2 $6,000,000 Shmup VG
Polaris Taito 0 1 0 1 300+ 300 2 $6,000,000 Shmup
Super Star Universal 0 1 0 1 300+ 300 2 $6,000,000 Medal EM
The End Konami 0 1 0 1 300+ 300 2 $6,000,000 Shmup VG
49 Mogura Taiji TOGO 0 0 2 2 9,000 2 $6,000,000 Mole EM
50 Super Machine Universal 0 1 0 1 1,000+ 2 $6,000,000 Medal EM
51 Asteroids Taito 0 0 1 1 300+ 300 1 $3,000,000 Shmup VG
Crazy Balloon Taito 0 0 1 1 300+ 300 1 $3,000,000 Maze
Kero Kero Pakkun[n 15] Komaya 0 0 1 1 300+ 300 1 $3,000,000 Action EM
Manhattan Data East 0 0 1 1 300+ 300 1 $3,000,000 Platform VG
Pachipot 100[n 16] Apollo[n 17] 0 0 1 1 300+ 300 1 $3,000,000 Medal EM
Phoenix Taito 0 0 1 1 300+ 300 1 $3,000,000 Shmup VG
Punto Banko Sega 0 0 1 1 300+ 300 1 $3,000,000 Medal EM
54 Astro Fighter Data East 0 0 1 1 2,000+ 1 $3,000,000 Shmup VG
55 Dai Ressha Aoi[n 18] Kasco 0 0 1 1 1,000+ 1 $3,000,000 Sim EM
Submarine Namco 0 0 1 1 1,000+ 1 $3,000,000 FPS
Total [8][44] 197 197 197 591 700,000+ 227,500 1,182 $3,400,000,000
Video games 140 139 124 403 681,000 208,700 822 $2,300,000,000
EM games 57 58 73 188 19,000+ 18,800 360 $1,000,000,000

United States[]

In the United States, the following titles were the highest-grossing arcade games of 1980. The list includes video games (VG) and electro-mechanical games (EM games).

Rank Title[45][46] Company Cabinet sales Gross revenue (est.) Genre Type
Annual Cume Gross[47][48] Ref
1 Asteroids Atari 46,565[28] 56,565[29] $900,000,000 [30][31] Shmup VG
2 Galaxian Namco 45,000[49] 45,000 $900,000,000 [50][51]
3 Space Invaders Taito 6,000[28] 72,000[49] $900,000,000 [52][51]
4 Firepower Williams 17,410 17,410[53] $360,000,000 [54] Pinball EM
5 Astro Fighter Sega $300,000,000 Shmup VG
6 Space Invaders Deluxe Taito 10,370 12,370[55] $300,000,000 [48][51]
7 Pac-Man Namco 20,000[56] 20,000 $200,000,000 [57][51] Maze
8 Gorgar Williams 14,000[58] $100,000,000 Pinball EM
9 Space Invaders Bally 11,400 11,400[59] $100,000,000 Pinball EM
Rip Off Cinematronics $100,000,000 Shmup VG
11 Monaco GP Sega $100,000,000 Racing VG
12 Tail Gunner Cinematronics $100,000,000 Shooter
13 Missile Command Atari 18,549 18,549[29] $100,000,000 [29][51] Shmup
14 Flash Williams 19,505[60] $80,000,000 Pinball EM
15 Atari Football Atari 11,306[29] $80,000,000 Sports VG
16 Targ Exidy $80,000,000 Maze
17 Dual Sega $80,000,000 Action
18 Star Fire Exidy $80,000,000 Shooter
19 Space Wars Cinematronics 10,000[61] $80,000,000
20 Cosmic Alien Universal 10,000 10,000[55] $80,000,000 [48] Shmup
21 Bandido (Sheriff) Nintendo 4,000[2] 4,000 $50,000,000 Shooter
22 Sprint II Atari 8,200[29] $50,000,000 [51] Racing
23 Radar Scope Nintendo 3,424 3,424[55] $40,000,000 [62][63] TPS
24 Lunar Lander Atari 4,830[29] $30,000,000 [51] Lander
25 Carnival Sega $30,000,000 Shmup
26 Moon Alien Nichibutsu $30,000,000
27 Meteor Stern 423[64] 8,362[64] $30,000,000 [7] Pinball EM
28 Silverball Mania Stern 7,000 7,000[65] $30,000,000
29 Galaxy Stern 5,130[64] 5,130 $20,000,000
30 Stellar Wars Williams 5,503[66] $20,000,000
31 Armor Attack Cinematronics 3,994 3,994[55] $20,000,000 Shmup VG
32 Big Game Stern 2,713[64] 2,713 $10,000,000 Pinball EM
33 Space Zap Game-A-Tron 1,385 1,385[55] $7,000,000 Shmup VG

United Kingdom[]

Rank Title Company Cabinet sales Gross revenue (est.) Genre
Annual Cume Nominal Inflation Ref
1 Space Invaders Taito 85,000[13] $1,000,000,000 $3,800,000,000 [32] Shmup
2 Astro Fighter Data East 4,000[2] 4,000 $40,000,000 $150,000,000 [67] Shmup
Sheriff Nintendo 4,000[2] 4,000 $40,000,000 $150,000,000 [67] Shooter
4 Space Intruders Subelectro 2,500[67] $20,000,000 $69,000,000 [67] Shmup
5 Space Firebird Nintendo 200[2] 200 $2,000,000 $8,000,000 [67]
Arcade video games 15,000[12][13] 100,000[12] $1,100,000,000 $4,800,000,000

Home market[]

Best-selling home systems[]

Rank System(s) Manufacturer Type Generation Sales Ref
1 Game & Watch Nintendo Handheld 4-bit 2,750,000 [68]
2 Atari VCS (Atari 2600) Atari, Inc. Console Gen 2 1,250,000 [69]
3 TRS-80 Tandy Computer 8-bit 290,000 [70]
4 Intellivision Mattel Console Gen 2 200,000 [69][71]
5 Atari 400 / Atari 800 Atari, Inc. Computer 8-bit 200,000 [70]
6 Commodore PET Commodore Computer 8-bit 90,000
7 Apple II Apple Inc. Computer 8-bit 79,500 [72]
8 HP 9800 / HP series 80 Hewlett-Packard Computer 8-bit 11,300
9 North Star Horizon North Star Computer 8-bit 8,200
10 TI-99/4 TI Computer 8-bit 8,100
11 IBM 5110 / 5120 IBM Computer 6,000 [73]
12 Intertec Superbrain Intertec Data Computer 5,800
13 Exidy Sorcerer Exidy Systems Computer 3,000
Annual sales
Video game consoles Console 2,200,000 [6]
Personal computers Computer 724,000 [70]

Best-selling home video games[]

The following titles were the best-selling home video games in 1980. See sub-sections below for breakdown of sales and revenue estimates.

No. Title Platform Company Sales (est.) Gross revenue (est.) Genre Ref
1 Space Invaders Multi-platform Taito 1,448,655 $50,200,000 Shmup
Space Invaders Atari VCS Taito 1,443,655 $50,000,000 Shmup [74][75][76]
Super Invader Apple II M. Hata 5,000 $200,000 Shmup
2 Vermin Game & Watch Nintendo 1,000,000 $60,000,000 Action [68]
3 Fire (Fireman) Game & Watch Nintendo 1,000,000 $45,000,000
4 Combat Atari VCS Atari 1,000,000 $20,000,000 Shooter [69][77]
5 Breakout Atari VCS Atari 256,265 $6,000,000 Block [74][76]
6 Ball (Toss-Up) Game & Watch Nintendo 250,000 $13,000,000 Action [68]
7 Flagman (Flag Man) Game & Watch Nintendo 250,000 $11,000,000
Judge Game & Watch Nintendo 250,000 $11,000,000
9 Atari Football Atari VCS Atari 248,502 $3,200,000 Sports [74][76]
10 Bowling Atari VCS Atari 245,670 $5,600,000
11 Las Vegas Poker & Blackjack Intellivision Mattel 200,000 $6,000,000 Card
12 Night Driver Atari VCS Atari 161,352 $4,300,000 Racing
13 Air-Sea Battle Atari VCS Atari 160,093 $3,700,000 Shooter
14 Circus Atari Atari VCS Atari 148,756 $4,000,000 Action
15 Sea Battle Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $4,000,000 Strategy
16 Armor Battle Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $3,000,000 Shooter
Auto Racing Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $3,000,000 Racing
Major League Baseball Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $3,000,000 Sports
NBA Basketball Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $3,000,000
NFL Football Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $3,000,000
Space Battle Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $3,000,000 Shmup
U.S. Ski Team Skiing Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $3,000,000 Sports

Console games[]

In the United States, the following titles were the year's best-selling home console games.

Rank Title Platform(s) Developer Sales (est.) Revenue (est.) Genre Ref
1 Space Invaders Atari VCS Taito 1,443,655 $50,000,000 Shmup [74][75][76]
2 Combat Atari VCS Atari 1,000,000 $20,000,000 Shooter [69][77]
3 Breakout Atari VCS Atari 256,265 $6,000,000 Block [74][76]
4 Atari Football Atari VCS Atari 248,502 $3,200,000 Sports [74][76]
5 Bowling Atari VCS Atari 245,670 $5,600,000
6 Las Vegas Poker & Blackjack Intellivision Mattel 200,000 $6,000,000 Card [78][69][71]
7 Night Driver Atari VCS Atari 161,352 $4,300,000 Racing [74][76]
8 Air-Sea Battle Atari VCS Atari 160,093 $3,700,000 Shooter [74][76]
9 Circus Atari Atari VCS Atari 148,756 $4,000,000 Action [74][76]
10 Sea Battle Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $4,000,000 Strategy [79][76]
11 Major League Baseball Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $3,000,000 Sports [80][76]
NFL Football Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $3,000,000 Sports
Space Battle Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $3,000,000 Shmup [81][76]
Armor Battle Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $3,000,000 Shooter [79][76]
Auto Racing Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $3,000,000 Racing [80][76]
NBA Basketball Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $3,000,000 Sports [80][76]
U.S. Ski Team Skiing Intellivision Mattel 100,000 $3,000,000 Sports
18 Street Racer Atari VCS Atari 89,269 $1,200,000 Racing [74][76]
19 Video Olympics Atari VCS Atari 36,028 $800,000 Sports

Computer games[]

In the United States, the following titles were the best-selling Apple II computer games in 1980. Points represent software sales on Softalk charts.[82]

Rank Title Developer Points
[82]
Sales (est.)
[n 19][82][83]
Revenue (est.)
[n 20][84][85]
Genre Ref
1 Flight Simulator SubLogic 312.55 16,000 $500,000 Flight sim [84]
2 Galaxian Namco 254.56 15,000 $500,000 Shmup
Star Cruiser (Galaxian) Nasir Gebelli 157.34 10,000 $300,000 Shmup [86]
Alien Rain (Apple Galaxian) Tony Suzuki 97.22 5,000 $200,000 Shmup [87][85]
3 Wizard and the Princess On-Line Systems 247.90 10,000 $300,000 Adventure [83][88]
4 Bill Budge's Space Album Bill Budge 217.64 10,000 $300,000 Shmup
5 Sargon II Hayden Software 202.98 10,000 $300,000 Chess
6 Asteroids in Space Quality Software 194.14 10,000 $300,000 Shmup
7 Mystery House On-Line Systems 124.08 10,000 $300,000 Adventure [89]
8 Odyssey Synergistic 169.71 8,000 $200,000 RPG
9 Super Invader M. Hata / Taito 150.47 8,000 $200,000 Shmup [90][91][92]
10 Adventure Microsoft 143.49 7,000 $200,000 Adventure
11 Temple of Apshai Automated 138.91 7,000 $200,000 RPG [90][93][94]
12 Rescue at Rigel Automated 111.98 6,000 $200,000 RPG
13 Dogfight Bill Basham 108.88 5,000 $200,000 Shmup
14 Hellfire Warrior Automated 95.58 5,000 $200,000 RPG
15 Computer Quarterback SSI 85.08 4,000 $100,000 Sports
16 Morloc's Tower Automated 83.96 4,000 $100,000 Adventure
17 Cyber Strike Nasir Gebelli 82.16 4,000 $100,000 FPS
18 Wilderness Campaign Synergistic 73.63 4,000 $100,000 RPG
19 Akalabeth: World of Doom California Pacific 22.12 3,000 $100,000 RPG [95][91]
20 Hi-Res Football On-Line Systems 69.48 3,000 $90,000 Sports
21 Head On M. Hata / Sega 63.94 3,000 $90,000 Driving
22 Computer Bismarck SSI 60.61 3,000 $90,000 Strategy
23 Datestones of Ryn Automated 60.31 3,000 $90,000 RPG
24 Galactic Empire Broderbund 51.79 3,000 $90,000 Strategy
25 Planetoids (Asteroids) Adventure 50.89 3,000 $90,000 Shmup
26 Computer Ambush SSI 49.17 2,000 $60,000 Strategy
27 Bill Budge's Trilogy California Pacific 44.38 2,000 $60,000 Arcade
28 Galactic Revolution Broderbund 37.17 2,000 $60,000 Strategy
29 Gammon Gambler Personal Software 31.88 2,000 $60,000 Board
30 Scot Adams Adventures Adventure 31.25 2,000 $60,000 Adventure
31 Tuesday Night Football Shoestring 28.44 1,000 $30,000 Sports
32 Tranquility Base Stoneware 24.06 1,000 $30,000 Space
33 ABM MUSE 23.15 1,000 $30,000 Shmup
34 B-1 Nuclear Bomber Avalon Hill 21.02 1,000 $30,000
35 Galactic Trader Broderbund 20.24 1,000 $30,000
36 Cosmos Mission Astar International 19.99 1,000 $30,000
37 Midway Campaign Avalon Hill 17.43 900 $30,000
38 Ghost Town: Adventure #9 Adventure 17.26 900 $30,000
39 Apple Adventure Apple Computer 16.60 800 $20,000
40 Planet Miners Avalon Hill 15.67 800 $20,000
Annual 3,574.55 177,400 $5,350,000

Notes[]

  1. Number of arcades in Japan[38] X top three distribution percentage in surveyed arcades[36] = number of arcade cabinets on location (est.)
  2. Earning points for rankings:
    • Rank #1 = 3 points
    • Rank #2 = 2 points
    • Rank #3 = 1 point
  3. 1,182 points[36] equivalent to $3.4 billion[8] = $2.8 million per point (est.)
  4. TV ポー カー TV Pōkā
  5. シグマ Shiguma
  6. シグマ Shiguma
  7. ウイナーズ サーク ル Uināzu Sākuru
  8. シグマ Shiguma
  9. T V スロット TV Surotto
  10. シグマ Shiguma
  11. ル・マン24
  12. 世界戦略WORLD WAR Sekai Senryaku World War, "World Strategy: World War"
  13. ピカデリークイーン
  14. シグマ Shiguma
  15. ケロケロパックン
  16. パチポット100 Pachipotto 100
  17. アポロ Aporo
  18. 大列車葵撃 Dai Ressha Aoi Geki, "Great Train Aoi Geki"
  19. 97.22 points equivalent to 5,000 units (Apple Galaxian in December 1980) = 50 units per point (est.)
  20. Average price: $30

References[]

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  3. https://archive.org/details/coin-slot-location-1980-autumn/Coin%20Slot%20Location%20-%20Volume%201%20Issue%201%20-%20Autumn%201980/page/n50
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External links[]