Tron

Tron was created in 1982 as a game companion to the Disney film of the same name, with production handled by Bally Midway. Instead of a single game mode, it offered players four distinct minigames, between which the game switched progressively by level – a fairly bold approach at a time when arcade machines were typically focused on a single mechanic.

The best-known section is Light Cycles, in which the player steers a light-trailing motorcycle that leaves an impenetrable wall behind it and tries to force the opponent into crashing into their own or someone else's trail. The game also includes a tank battle in a maze, collecting bits in a section near the I/O Tower, and a final confrontation with the artificial intelligence MCP, in which the player destroys energy cores. The individual missions flow loosely into one another and reflect the film's story, so the machine felt more like an interactive experience than just a collection of high scores.

Tron was among the highest-grossing arcade machines of 1982, and its visual style of neon lines on a dark background defined the aesthetic of the computer world for years to come. The Light Cycles section in particular took on a life of its own and inspired countless later games featuring a trail behind a vehicle, from home-console clones to modern independent titles.

Why play it: Four distinct minigames in one machine and iconic light cycles make Tron one of the most original arcade experiences of the 1980s.