#2: Pac-Man (1980)
There was a time when the most famous video game character in the world was a yellow circle with an appetite. Released by Namco in Japanese arcades in 1980 and later distributed in North America by Midway, Pac-Man helped turn arcade gaming into a pop-culture carnival. Toru Iwatani designed a game that moved away from spaceships and sports, giving players a maze, ghosts, dots, fruit, and a character with instant appeal. The genius was in the personality. Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde were not just obstacles; they felt like little pursuers with moods.
