Home hardware
The machines that brought the arcade home — described by the technology that defined each generation, from single-button joysticks to the first analog sticks.
late 1970s – early 1980s
The first consoles to swap games on cartridges, moving beyond built-in paddle games. Simple, blocky graphics, but the idea that would define home gaming was set: one machine, many games.
mid – late 1980s
The generation that revived home gaming. 8-bit hardware pushed detailed sprites and scrolling worlds, and the D-pad became the standard way to move a character.
early 1990s
More colour, more speed, more buttons. The 16-bit generation blurred the gap between the arcade and the living room and gave rise to some of the most loved games of the era.
mid – late 1990s
The generation that went 3D. 32- and 64-bit machines rendered polygon worlds, optical discs held far bigger games, and the analog stick made moving through space feel natural.