-
01
Radio Shack Astro Thunder
A tabletop VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display) game released in the 1980s, branded by Tandy/Radio Shack.
-
02
Entex Stargate
Based on the arcade game Stargate (aka Defender II), this was part of Entex's series of high-quality licensed games.
-
03
Epoch Missile Invader
A Japanese handheld game similar to Space Invaders, made by Epoch in the late '70s.
-
04
Entex PacMan2
A lesser-known Pac-Man variant from Entex, not officially licensed by Namco, but clearly inspired.
-
05
Entex Turtles
Based on Konami's arcade game Turtles (1981), with dual-joystick gameplay on a tabletop unit.
-
06
Entex Super Cobra
A faithful tabletop adaptation of Konami's arcade shooter Super Cobra (1981).
-
07
Bandai Electronics Flight Time
Handheld flight simulator game with LED indicators and score tracking. Released in the early '80s.
-
08
Parker Brothers Bank Shot
A unique octagonal electronic billiards game with bright red buttons and a very small screen.
-
09
Entex Arcade Defender
A table-style adaptation of the legendary arcade game Defender, by Williams.
-
10
Gakken Invader 2000
A visually striking red tabletop Space Invaders-style game released by Gakken in Japan.
-
11
Hungry Monster
Tandy's Pac-Man inspired tabletop game
-
12
Frogger
The iconic yellow tabletop Frogger from Coleco
-
13
Caveman
Another Tandy game, with side-scrolling dinosaur action
-
14
Galaga X6
By Epoch, this is a classic mini-version of the arcade shooter.
-
15
Cosmic 2000: Fire Away
Also from Tandy, a Space Invaders-style vertical shooter
-
16
Hungry Pac II
From Actronics, another Pac-Man clone with a flashy LED maze
-
17
Astro Wars
Grandstand's VFD-based vertical shooter
-
18
Alien Chase
A vertical shooter from Tandy featuring starships and explosions
-
19
Crazy Climber
By Bandai, based on the arcade classic where you scale skyscrapers.
-
20
Munchman
Grandstand's take on Pac-Man with that unmistakable yellow case
-
21
Ms. Pac-Man
-
22
Cosmic Combat
Space Invaders–style vertical shooter with glowing blue display
-
23
Dracula
Spooky vampire action game with red graphics and coffin-style design
-
24
Championship Electronic Golf
Handheld golf simulation with a simple green LCD layout
-
25
Galaxian
Vertical space shooter with classic 3-button control and radar grid
-
26
TRON
Disney sci-fi tie-in with glowing light cycle sequences
-
27
Split Second
3D electronic game with multiple light-based reflex challenges
-
28
Epoch-Man (Pocket Size)
Retro maze game + digital watch/calendar hybrid
-
29
Space Attack
Arcade-inspired invader defense with missile control and red crank
-
30
Auto Race
Minimalist racing sim using sliders to navigate virtual speed lanes
30 Hand-Held Electronic Toys from the 80s That Lit Up Our Lives (Literally)
I still remember the day my aunt got me the Donkey Kong mini arcade machine for my birthday. It looked - and sounded - absolutely nothing like the real arcade game, but I loved it like it was made of gold. It didn't even have a real screen! It was just some backlit lights in the shape of Mario, Donkey Kong, and pixel-ish barrels that blinked in sequence so you could pretend to climb platforms. And it was everything.
For a while, I collected as many handheld games as I could get my hands on. Tiger Electronics, Game & Watch, cheap knockoffs - if it beeped and fit in a backpack, I wanted it. Until one day, when I turned 13 and decided I was "too old" for video games. I gave all of them away.
What a fool I was.
Let's revisit the glory days of glitchy, clunky, low-battery handhelds that taught us patience, timing, and how to play Tetris on a screen the size of a matchbox.
Trending Now
23 Lord of the Rings Memes for OG Fans Who Were There 3000 Years Ago (October 23, 2025)
01
40 Portraits Capture Young Women’s Real-Life Styles From the 1990s
02
Harry Potter Memes for Hogwarts Students Enjoying a Fall Feast at the Great Hall
03
32 Disney Memes That Are Just as Magical as the Parks
04
31 Lord of the Rings Memes for Tolkien Fans Whose Love of the Halflings Leaf Had Clearly Clouded Their Judgment
05