What it is
How it came to be
How many it sold
Why it resonated
Impact today
Historical content researched and generated by Gemini 2.5 Pro.
History's Best Selling Video Games of 1987
Step back in time to explore the definitive collection of iconic games releases from 1987. Discover the standout creations that defined pop culture, captured consumer imagination, and shaped history during this unforgettable era.
-
PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16
Released in 1987 by NEC/Hudson SoftOn October 30, 1987, the Japanese video game market was shaken by the arrival of the PC Engine. Launched by electronics giant NEC in collaboration with Hudson Soft, this console entered a landscape dominated by Nintendo's Famicom. Its debut was significant not just for its challenge to the incumbent, but for the technology it introduced. The PC Engine was remarkably compact yet packed a graphical punch that surpassed existing 8-bit systems, thanks to its 16-bit graphics processing unit. This release marked the true beginning of the next generation of console hardware, setting a new benchmark for performance and hinting at the future of gaming with its innovative, card-based media and the promise of a forthcoming CD-ROM peripheral.