15 Childhood Games from the ’80s Kids Today Wouldn’t Recognize
Many games from the 1980s have disappeared, and most kids today have never heard of or played them.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 5 min read
The 1980s were full of outdoor games and low-tech toys that shaped how children played and socialized. These games often relied on imagination, physical movement, or simple materials. Most have faded from playgrounds and neighborhoods, making them unfamiliar to kids growing up today.
1. Jacks
Gottfried Lindauer on Wikimedia Commons
Jacks is a hand-eye coordination game played with small metal or plastic pieces and a rubber ball. The goal is to pick up a certain number of jacks after bouncing the ball once. It was often played on the ground or pavement. Kids today rarely see or play this game outside of museums or retro sets.
2. Red Rover
Kyra Malicse on Wikimedia Commons
Red Rover is a playground game where two lines of children hold hands and call one player to run and break through their linked arms. The game requires strength, timing, and strategy. It was often played at recess or in large yards. Due to safety concerns, it is almost never played today.
3. Clackers
Santishek on Wikimedia Commons
Clackers were two hard acrylic balls attached to a string that kids would swing up and down until they hit each other. The noise and movement made it fun but sometimes dangerous. Injuries and broken toys led to safety warnings. Most modern children have never seen or heard of them.
4. Mall Madness
Philafrenzy on Wikimedia Commons
Mall Madness was an electronic board game where players moved around a shopping mall to buy items and win by spending all their money first. It included a battery-operated speaker that gave instructions like “Go to the food court” or “Sale at the shoe store.” The game reflected 1980s mall culture and was especially popular among preteens. Kids today rarely play physical board games like this, especially ones centered on shopping malls.
5. Micro Machines
Moxmarco on Wikimedia Commons
Micro Machines were tiny toy cars and playsets that kids collected and raced across tables or custom tracks. They were much smaller than regular toy cars, which made them easy to carry and collect in large numbers. Many kids created their own racetracks using books, furniture, or pieces of cardboard. Today’s kids are more likely to play with digital racing games than with these miniature physical toys.
6. Speak & Spell
Tomhannen on Wikimedia Commons
Speak & Spell was an educational electronic toy that used a built-in voice to help kids learn how to spell words. It featured a keypad and a robotic voice that would say a word, then ask the player to spell it. The device was both fun and educational, and it stood out for using early speech technology. Most children today use tablets or apps for learning and have never seen a Speak & Spell.
7. Pick-Up Sticks
Mokkie on Wikimedia Commons
Pick-Up Sticks involved dropping a bundle of thin sticks and carefully removing one stick at a time without moving the others. It taught patience and steady hands. The game was quiet and required full attention. Most kids today have never played it or seen it in stores.
8. Paper Fortune Tellers
cogdogblog on Wikimedia Commons
Also called “cootie catchers,” these folded paper games revealed funny fortunes or answers to questions. Kids decorated them and used them during school or playtime. They were creative and easy to make. Most children today don’t learn the folding steps or use them.
9. Four Square
Seaneffel on Wikimedia Commons
Four Square was a ball game played with four players in painted squares on the pavement. It required quick reflexes and simple rules. The game was easy to set up and became common at schools. Today, it’s much less common, especially in schools with limited outdoor space.
10. Tetherball
Bogdan on Wikimedia Commons
Tetherball involved hitting a ball on a rope around a pole, trying to wrap it fully before the opponent. It was often installed in schoolyards. The game tested coordination and speed. Many schools no longer have tetherball setups, so most kids never play it.
11. Skip-It
Saskatoon Public Library on Wikimedia Commons
Skip-It was a plastic ankle loop with a counter and a weighted end that spun as kids jumped over it. It encouraged movement and rhythm. It was often seen in commercials and on playgrounds. Modern toys have replaced it with electronic and screen-based alternatives.
12. Marbles
Saral Shots on Wikimedia Commons
Marbles involved shooting small glass balls to knock others out of a ring. It was a mix of skill and luck. Some marbles had names and were traded among friends. Today’s kids usually don’t play with physical marbles outside of apps or digital versions.
13. Donkey Kong (Handheld Game)
Christo on Wikimedia Commons
The Donkey Kong handheld game was a small, clamshell-style device made by Nintendo before the Game Boy. It had a basic LCD screen and simple controls, but it was exciting at the time. Players helped Mario jump over barrels and reach the top to rescue the character. Modern kids are used to high-resolution graphics and advanced gameplay, so this early portable game would seem very outdated to them.
14. Chinese Jump Rope
Werner on Wikimedia Commons
This game used a long elastic loop held around the legs of two players while a third jumped in patterns. The routine changed with different rhymes or levels. It was common in playgrounds and didn’t require special equipment. It’s rarely played today, especially as kids move away from outdoor games.
15. Lite Bright
thomas ambridge on Wikimedia Commons
Lite-Brite was a toy with a light box and colored plastic pegs used to create glowing designs. It encouraged creativity and color learning. Kids could follow patterns or make their own. Although some versions still exist, few kids today use them regularly.