From Space Invaders to Doom to Halo to Starfield, some of the greatest video games are set in space. These games sparked the ‘Arcade Boom’ of the 80s and the dawn of online multiplayer gaming, leading to thousands of players descending on the biggest virtual space battle in history. This episode tells the story of Space Games, from how the Space Race of the 1960s inspired the world’s first video game to how the modern-day “race to the stars” inspires the wildly imaginative video games of today.
From Sonic the Hedgehog to Lara Croft, Jump & Run games have been the genesis of some of the world’s most iconic and beloved characters. Jump & Run Games gave us the world’s first gaming mascot—Pacman—and ignited the fiercely fought console wars that pitted Nintendo against Sega. This episode tells the story of Jump & Run Games, from the invention of Pacman in 1980 to the modern era, where a brave plumber named Mario has become even bigger than Mickey Mouse.
From The Legend of Zelda to Grand Theft Auto, video games have created immersive worlds that welcome both our most heroic dreams and our darkest fantasies. Fantasy Games have sparked moral panic, brought gaming out to the streets, and inspired creativity in a new generation. This episode tells the story of Fantasy Games, from how the tabletop game Dungeons & Dragons inspired fifty years of game design, to how games like Minecraft let us create vast worlds, block by block, from our imaginations.
From Street Fighter II to Mortal Kombat, fighting games have always tapped into our most primal instincts. These ultra-competitive titles hold a legendary place in video game history: they drove gaming innovation, sparked a national outcry, and continue to influence film and TV to this day. This episode tells the story of Fighting Games, from the genre’s iconic origin in Japanese martial arts to its evolution into boxing, wrestling, and beyond.
