History's Best Selling Video Games of 1983

Make way for the hits of 1983! This remarkable era stood as a testament to the tubular 80s arcade boom and the march of first-rate games. Crowd-pleasers such as Family Computer/Nintendo Entertainment System shared the spotlight with mega-bestsellers Sega SG-1000 and essential classics. Brought to you by top-notch makers from industry leaders like Nintendo and Sega, these trailblazing products sparked mega-hit frenzies and Saturday morning excitement and earned a permanent place in cultural lore. Check out the complete rank-ordered ledger below to relive the finest releases of the year.

1. Family Computer/Nintendo Entertainment System

   Released in 1983 by Nintendo

   On July 15, 1983, Nintendo released the Family Computer, or Famicom, in Japan, a date that marks a pivotal turning point in video game history. Launched on the very same day as Sega's SG-1000, the Famicom entered a competitive but burgeoning market. Nintendo, already a dominant force in the arcades with hits like *Donkey Kong*, aimed to bring that same quality experience into the home. Despite a rocky start that required an early product recall to fix a motherboard issue, the Famicom's superior hardware and compelling launch titles quickly allowed it to outsell its rivals. This initial success in Japan was the crucial first step in a global campaign that would see its redesigned counterpart, the NES, single-handedly resurrect the North American video game industry from the ashes of the 1983 crash.

2. Sega SG-1000

   Released in 1983 by Sega

   On July 15, 1983, the landscape of home video gaming was altered forever, not by one, but by two monumental releases in Japan. On this historic date, Sega, an established giant in the arcade world, launched its very first home video game console: the SG-1000. In an extraordinary twist of fate, this was the exact same day its future arch-rival, Nintendo, released the Famicom. This simultaneous launch was no mere coincidence; it was the opening shot in what would become the most famous console war in history. The SG-1000's debut on this day represents Sega's bold entry into the living room, transforming the company from an arcade-only powerhouse into a direct competitor for home entertainment dominance.