1988

Year

B

1988 [Edit] [Talk]

Nintendo Power Volume 1 - Scan — *Nintendo Power* Vol. 1.

This page consists of Nintendo-related events that occurred in 1988.

Timeline[]

July: The first issue of Nintendo Power magazine is published.
September 26: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is released in Europe.
October 9: Super Mario Bros. 2 is released for the NES to critical reception.
October 19: Gold Cliff, the last Game & Watch game before the Game Boy, was released.
October 23: Super Mario Bros. 3 is released in Japan to critical acclaim, becoming the best selling video game that was never bundled with a system.
December 1: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is released in North America. It is a side scrolling platform rather than the top down view of the original Zelda game.

Third party publisher guide[]

Japan (debuts)

Publisher	First game	System	Release date
Koei	Nobunaga no Yabou: Zenkokuban	FC	1988-03-18March 18, 1988
UPL	Ninja Kun: Ashura no Shou	FC	1988-05-27May 27, 1988
Hect	Shogun	FC	1988-05-27May 27, 1988
Natsume	Touhou Kenbunku	FC	1988-11-10November 10, 1988
Asmik	Gambler Jiko Chuushinha	FC	1988-11-11November 11, 1988
Varie	Nakajima Satoru: F-1 Hero	FC	1988-12-09December 9, 1988
Kyugo Boueki	Airwolf	FC	1988-12-24December 24, 1988

Character debuts[]

Nintendo Power: Nester
Super Mario Bros. 2: Clawgrip
Super Mario Bros. 3: Larry Koopa, Morton Koopa Jr., Wendy O. Koopa, Iggy Koopa, Roy Koopa, Lemmy Koopa, Ludwig von Koopa

Births[]

February 13: Erica Mendez - Voice actress of Bernadetta von Varley in Fire Emblem: Three Houses
February 19: Miyu Irino - Japanese voice actor of Sora in the Kingdom Hearts franchise
March 12: Aleks Le - Voice actor of Akira Howard in Astral Chain
April 10: Haley Joel Osment - American voice actor of Sora in the Kingdom Hearts franchise
April 15: Manami Numakura - Voice actress
May 27: Ayaka Suwa - Voice actress of Elise in Fire Emblem Fates
June 9: Lauren Landa - Voice actress of Female Robin in Fire Emblem Awakening
June 21: Mari Kikuma - Voice actress of Marie in Splatoon
July 11
- Allegra Clark - Voice actress of Dorothea Arnault in Fire Emblem: Three Houses
- Yuka Iguchi - Voice actress
July 12: Risa Taneda - Voice actress for Yuri Kozukata
July 19: Cherami Leigh - Voice actress of Caeda in the Fire Emblem series
August 16: Marcella Lentz-Pope - Voice actress for Female Corrin in Fire Emblem Fates
September 9: Ai Kakuma - Voice actress of Edelgard in Fire Emblem: Three Houses
September 14: Shizuka Ishigami - Voice actress
September 25: Mariya Ise - Voice actress
October 19: Junya Enoki - Voice actor
October 27
- Kelsey Hutchison - Voice actress of Princess Peach in Super Mario Strikers
- Juri Nagatsuma - Voice actress of Dorothea Arnault in Fire Emblem: Three Houses
November 11: Mikako Komatsu - Voice actress
December 6
- Nobunaga Shimazaki - Voice actor of Male Corrin in Fire Emblem Fates
- Hitomi Niida - Trumpeter for Super Mario Odyssey
December 14: Ayumu Murase - Voice actor
December 31: Chris Niosi - Voice actor of Byleth in the early versions of Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Games released in 1988[]

Nintendo Entertainment System[]

Please select a region.

141 games were released in Japan.

Title	Publisher	Release Date	Source
Family Circuit	Namco	1988-01-06January 6, 1988	[1]
Satsui no Kaisō: Soft House Renzoku Satsujin Jiken	HAL Laboratory	1988-01-07January 7, 1988	[2]
Wai Wai World	Konami	1988-01-14January 14, 1988	[3]
Sukeban Deka III	Toei Animation	1988-01-22January 22, 1988	[4]
Ripple Island	Sunsoft	1988-01-23January 23, 1988	[5]
Donald Land	Data East	1988-01-29January 29, 1988	[6]
Jumbo Ozaki no Hole in One Professional	HAL Laboratory	1988-02-01February 1, 1988	[7]
Paris-Dakar Rally Special!	CBS/Sony Group	1988-02-01February 1, 1988	[8]
Kamen Rider Club: Gekitotsu Shocker Land	Bandai	1988-02-03February 3, 1988	[9]
Guardic Gaiden	Irem	1988-02-05February 5, 1988	[10]
Contra	Konami	1988-02-09February 9, 1988	[11]
Dragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e...	Enix	1988-02-10February 10, 1988	[12]
Karaoke Studio Senyou Cassette Vol. 2	Bandai	1988-02-18February 18, 1988	[13]
Matsumoto Tōru no Kabushiki Hisshōgaku	Imagineer	1988-02-18February 18, 1988	[14]
Tantei Jingūji Saburō: Yokohama-kō Renzoku Satsujin Jiken	Data East	1988-02-26February 26, 1988	[15]
Tetsuwan Atom	Konami	1988-02-26February 26, 1988	[16]
Ballblazer	Pony Canyon	1988-03-04March 4, 1988	[17]
Arkanoid II	Taito	1988-03-08March 8, 1988	[18]
Predator	Pack-In-Video	1988-03-10March 10, 1988	[19]
Tsurikichi Sanpei: Blue Marlin Hen	Victor	1988-03-17March 17, 1988	[20]
Napoleon Senki	Irem	1988-03-18March 18, 1988	[21]
Nobunaga no Yabō: Zenkokuban	Koei	1988-03-18March 18, 1988	[22]
Tanigawa Kōji no Shōgi Shinan II: Meijin e no Michi	Pony Canyon	1988-03-18March 18, 1988	[23]
Fighting Golf	SNK	1988-03-24March 24, 1988	[24]
Golgo 13: Dai 1 Shou: Kamigami no Koukon	Vic Tokai	1988-03-26March 26, 1988	[25]
Olympus no Tatakai: Ai no Densetsu	Imagineer	1988-03-28March 28, 1988	[26]
Takeda Shingen	HOT B	1988-03-28March 28, 1988	[27]
Fleet Commander	ASCII	1988-03-29March 29, 1988	[28]
Fudo Myouoden	Taito	1988-03-29March 29, 1988	[29]
Be-Bop High School: Kōkōsei Gokuraku Densetsu	Data East	1988-03-30March 30, 1988	[30]
Dokuganryu Masamune	Namco	1988-04-05April 5, 1988	[31]
Double Dragon	Technos Japan	1988-04-08April 8, 1988	[32]
Jekyll Hakase no Hōma ga Toki	Toho	1988-04-08April 8, 1988	[33]
Moero!! Pro Tennis	Jaleco	1988-04-15April 15, 1988	[34]
Ikari II: Dogosoken	K Amusement Leasing	1988-04-16April 16, 1988	[35]
Captain Tsubasa	Tecmo	1988-04-28April 28, 1988	[36]
Elysion	Tokyo Shoseki	1988-04-28April 28, 1988	[37]
Sensha Senryaku: Sabaku no Kitsune	Kemco	1988-04-28April 28, 1988	[38]
Deep Dungeon III: Yūshi he no Tabi	Square	1988-05-13May 13, 1988	[39]
Meitantei Holmes: Kiri no London Satsujin Jiken	Towa Chiki	1988-05-13May 13, 1988	[40]
Kamen no Ninja: Akakage	Toei Animation	1988-05-20May 20, 1988	[41]
Namco Classic	Namco	1988-05-27May 27, 1988	[42]
Ninja-kun: Ashura no Shō	UPL	1988-05-27May 27, 1988	[43]
Salad no Kuni no Tomato Hime	Hudson Soft	1988-05-27May 27, 1988	[44]
Shogun	Hect	1988-05-27May 27, 1988	[45]
Saint Seiya: Ōgon Densetsu Kanketsu Hen	Bandai	1988-05-30May 30, 1988	[46]
Cosmo Police Galivan	Nihon Bussan	1988-06-03June 3, 1988	[47]
Chou-Wakusei Senki MetaFight	Sunsoft	1988-06-17June 17, 1988	[48]
1943: The Battle of Valhalla	Capcom	1988-06-20June 20, 1988	[49]
Yōkai Dōchūki	Namco	1988-06-24June 24, 1988	[50]
Sanada Jū Yūshi	Kemco	1988-06-27June 27, 1988	[51]
Kyūkyoku Harikiri Stadium	Taito	1988-06-28June 28, 1988	[52]
Super Black Onyx	Bullet Proof Software	1988-07-14July 14, 1988	[53]
Best Play Pro Yakyū	ASCII	1988-07-15July 15, 1988	[54]
Densetsu no Kishi Elrond	Jaleco	1988-07-15July 15, 1988	[55]
Jarinko Chie: Bakudan Musume no Shiawase Sagashi	Konami	1988-07-15July 15, 1988	[56]
Hitler no Fukkatsu: Top Secret	Capcom	1988-07-20July 20, 1988	[57]
Maison Ikkoku	Bothtec	1988-07-21July 21, 1988	[58]
Kai no Bōken	Namco	1988-07-22July 22, 1988	[59]
Kakefu Kimi no Jump Tengoku: Speed Jigoku	Vic Tokai	1988-07-22July 22, 1988	[60]
Nekketsu Koukou Dodge Ball Bu	Technos Japan	1988-07-26July 26, 1988	[61]
Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2	Taito	1988-07-26July 26, 1988	[62]
Great Tank	SNK	1988-07-29July 29, 1988	[63]
Hiryu no Ken II: Dragon no Tsubasa	Culture Brain	1988-07-29July 29, 1988	[64]
Sangokushi: Chūgen no Hasha	Namco	1988-07-29July 29, 1988	[65]
Super Real Baseball '88	VAP	1988-07-30July 30, 1988	[66]
Taiyou no Shinden: Asteka II	Tokyo Shoseki	1988-08-03August 3, 1988	[67]
Eggerland: Meikyū no Fukkatsu	HAL Laboratory	1988-08-09August 9, 1988	[68]
Moero!! Pro Yakyuu '88: Kettei Ban	Jaleco	1988-08-10August 10, 1988	[69]
Tatakae!! Ramenman: Sakuretsu Chōjin 102 Gei	Shinsei	1988-08-10August 10, 1988	[70]
The Money Game	SOFEL	1988-08-10August 10, 1988	[71]
Mito Kōmon II: Sekai Manyūki	Sunsoft	1988-08-11August 11, 1988	[72]
Dragon Ball: Daimaō Fukkatsu	Bandai	1988-08-12August 12, 1988	[73]
Famicom Wars^{(JPJapanese: ファミコンウォーズ Romaji: Famikon Wōzu)}	Nintendo	1988-08-12August 12, 1988	[74]
Final Lap	Namco	1988-08-12August 12, 1988	[75]
Mad City	Konami	1988-08-12August 12, 1988	[76]
Soccer League - Winner's Cup	Data East	1988-08-12August 12, 1988	[77]
Hototogisu	Irem	1988-08-19August 19, 1988	[78]
Super Pinball	Coconuts Japan	1988-08-23August 23, 1988	[79]
Kame no Ongaeshi: Urashima Densetsu	Hudson Soft	1988-08-26August 26, 1988	[80]
Super Dyna'mix Badminton	VAP	1988-08-26August 26, 1988	[81]
Ys	Victor	1988-08-26August 26, 1988	[82]
Famicom Meijinsen	SNK	1988-09-02September 2, 1988	[83]
Maniac Mansion	Jaleco	1988-09-13September 13, 1988	[84]
Konamik Sports in Seoul	Konami	1988-09-16September 16, 1988	[85]
Reigen Doushi	Pony Canyon	1988-09-16September 16, 1988	[86]
Kujaku Ō	Pony Canyon	1988-09-21September 21, 1988	[87]
Donald Duck	Kemco	1988-09-22September 22, 1988	[88]
8 Eyes	SETA	1988-09-27September 27, 1988	[89]
Erika to Satoru no Yume Bōken	Namco	1988-09-27September 27, 1988	[90]
Knight Rider	Pack-In-Video	1988-09-30September 30, 1988	[91]
Viva! Las Vegas	Epic/Sony Records	1988-09-30September 30, 1988	[92]
Daisenryaku	Bothtec	1988-10-11October 11, 1988	[93]
The Black Bass II	HOT B	1988-10-18October 18, 1988	[94]
Cobra Command	Data East	1988-10-21October 21, 1988	[95]
Genpei Tōma Den	Namco	1988-10-21October 21, 1988	[96]
Super Mario Bros. 3^{(JPJapanese: スーパーマリオブラザーズ3 Romaji: Sūpā Mario Burazāzu 3)}	Nintendo	1988-10-23October 23, 1988	[97]
America Daitōryō Senkyo	Hect	1988-10-28October 28, 1988	[98]
San Goku Shi	Koei	1988-10-30October 30, 1988	[99]
Tōhō Kenbun Roku	Natsume	1988-11-10November 10, 1988	[100]
American Football: Touch Down Fever	K Amusement Leasing	1988-11-11November 11, 1988	[101]
Gambler Jiko Chūshinha	Asmik Ace	1988-11-11November 11, 1988	[102]
Saiyūki World	Jaleco	1988-11-11November 11, 1988	[103]
Family Quiz: 4-nin wa Rival	Athena	1988-11-16November 16, 1988	[104]
Kaijū Monogatari	Namco	1988-11-18November 18, 1988	[105]
Deja Vu: Akumu wa Hotouni Yatte Raita	Kemco	1988-11-22November 22, 1988	[106]
Moero!! Junior Basket: Two on Two	Jaleco	1988-11-22November 22, 1988	[107]
Family Mahjong II: Shanghai e no Michi	Namco	1988-11-25November 25, 1988	[108]
Takeshi no Sengoku Fūunji	Taito	1988-11-25November 25, 1988	[109]
Chūgoku Senseijutsu	Jaleco	1988-11-29November 29, 1988	[110]
Alien Syndrome	Sunsoft	1988-12-02December 2, 1988	[111]
Hanjuku Hero	Square	1988-12-02December 2, 1988	[112]
Momotaro Dentetsu	Hudson Soft	1988-12-02December 2, 1988	[113]
Totsuzen! Macho Man	Vic Tokai	1988-12-02December 2, 1988	[114]
Godzilla: King of the Monsters	Toho	1988-12-09December 9, 1988	[115]
King of Kings	Namco	1988-12-09December 9, 1988	[116]
Satoru Nakajima: F-1 Hero	Varie	1988-12-09December 9, 1988	[117]
Ninja Ryuukenden	Tecmo	1988-12-09December 9, 1988	[118]
'89 Dennō Kyūsei Uranai	Jingukan Polaris	1988-12-10December 10, 1988	[119]
Fighting Road	Toei Animation	1988-12-13December 13, 1988	[120]
Captain Silver	Tokuma Shoten	1988-12-16December 16, 1988	[121]
Gradius II	Konami	1988-12-16December 16, 1988	[122]
Kaguya-hime Densetsu	Victor	1988-12-16December 16, 1988	[123]
Kyūkyoku Harikiri Stadium '88 Senshuu Shin Data Version	Taito	1988-12-16December 16, 1988	[124]
The Triathron	K Amusement Leasing	1988-12-16December 16, 1988	[125]
Cycle Race: Road Man	Tonkin House	1988-12-17December 17, 1988	[126]
Final Fantasy II	Square	1988-12-17December 17, 1988	[127]
Top Rider	Varie	1988-12-17December 17, 1988	[128]
Family Trainer: Fūun! Takeshi Jō 2	Bandai	1988-12-20December 20, 1988	[129]
Fantasy Zone II: Opa-Opa no Namida^{(JPJapanese: ファンタジーゾーンII オパオパの涙 Romaji: Fantajī Zōn tsū: Opa-Opa no Namida)}	Sunsoft	1988-12-20December 20, 1988	[130]
Pro Yakyū: Family Stadium '88 Nendoban	Namco	1988-12-20December 20, 1988	[131]
Rollerball	HAL Laboratory	1988-12-20December 20, 1988	[132]
Ginga Eiyū Densetsu	Kemco	1988-12-21December 21, 1988	[133]
Tetris	Bullet Proof Software	1988-12-22December 22, 1988	[134]
Moero!! Pro Soccer	Jaleco	1988-12-23December 23, 1988	[135]
Airwolf	Kyugo Boueki	1988-12-24December 24, 1988	[136]
Akira	Taito	1988-12-24December 24, 1988	[137]
Pro Yakyū? Satsujin Jiken!	Capcom	1988-12-24December 24, 1988	[138]
RockMan 2: Dr. Wily no Nazo	Capcom	1988-12-24December 24, 1988	[139]
Shōkōshi Cedie	Fuji Television	1988-12-24December 24, 1988	[140]
Guevara	SNK	1988-12-26December 26, 1988	[141]

58 licensed and 3 unlicensed games were released in North America.

Title	Publisher	Release Date	Source
Karnov	Data East	1988-01January 1988	[142]
Renegade	Taito	1988-01January 1988	[143]
Contra	Konami	1988-02February 1988	[144]
Gun.Smoke	Capcom	1988-02February 1988	[145]
R.C. Pro-Am	Nintendo	1988-02February 1988	[146]
Town & Country Surf Designs: Wood & Water Rage	LJN	1988-02February 1988	[147]
Dragon Power	Bandai	1988-03March 1988	[148]
Ice Hockey	Nintendo	1988-03March 1988	[149]
Freedom Force	Sunsoft	1988-04April 1988	[150]
Ikari Warriors II: Victory Road	SNK	1988-04April 1988	[151]
Major League Baseball	LJN	1988-04April 1988	[152]
City Connection	Jaleco	1988-05May 1988	[153]
Rambo	Acclaim	1988-05May 1988	[154]
Double Dragon	Tradewest	1988-06June 1988	[155]
Metal Gear	Ultra Games	1988-06June 1988	[156]
R.B.I. Baseball	Tengen	1988-06June 1988	[157]
Bases Loaded	Jaleco	1988-07July 1988	[158]
Defender II	HAL Laboratory	1988-07July 1988	[159]
Gauntlet	Tengen	1988-07July 1988	[160]
Iron Tank: The Invasion of Normandy	SNK	1988-07July 1988	[161]
Legendary Wings	Capcom	1988-07July 1988	[162]
Life Force	Konami	1988-08August 1988	[163]
Adventure Island	Hudson Soft	1988-09September 1988	[164]
Galaga: Demons of Death	Bandai	1988-09September 1988	[165]
Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode	Vic Tokai	1988-09September 1988	[166]
Jackal	Konami	1988-09September 1988	[167]
Jeopardy!	GameTek	1988-09September 1988	[168]
Lee Trevino's Fighting Golf	SNK	1988-09September 1988	[169]
Milon's Secret Castle	Hudson Soft	1988-09September 1988	[170]
Wheel of Fortune	GameTek	1988-09September 1988	[171]
Xevious	Bandai	1988-09September 1988	[172]
1943: The Battle of Midway	Capcom	1988-10October 1988	[173]
Donkey Kong Classics	Nintendo	1988-10October 1988	[174]
Ghostbusters	Activision	1988-10October 1988	[175]
Joust	HAL Laboratory	1988-10October 1988	[176]
MagMax	FCI	1988-10October 1988	[177]
Mickey Mousecapade	Capcom	1988-10October 1988	[178]
Millipede	HAL Laboratory	1988-10October 1988	[179]
Pac-Man	Tengen	1988-10October 1988	[180]
Racket Attack	Jaleco	1988-10October 1988	[181]
Seicross	FCI	1988-10October 1988	[182]
Spy vs. Spy	Kemco	1988-10October 1988	[183]
Super Mario Bros. 2	Nintendo	1988-10October 1988	[184]
Anticipation	Nintendo	1988-11November 1988	[185]
Blaster Master	Sunsoft	1988-11November 1988	[186]
Bubble Bobble	Taito	1988-11November 1988	[187]
Cobra Command	Data East	1988-11November 1988	[188]
Dr. Chaos	FCI	1988-11November 1988	[189]
Super Mario Bros. & Duck Hunt	Nintendo	1988-11November 1988	[190]
Super Team Games	Nintendo	1988-11November 1988	[191]
Bionic Commando	Capcom	1988-12December 1988	[192]
Blades of Steel	Konami	1988-12December 1988	[193]
Bump 'n' Jump	Vic Tokai	1988-12December 1988	[194]
Castlevania II: Simon's Quest	Konami	1988-12December 1988	[195]
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom	Mindscape	1988-12December 1988	[196]
Othello	Acclaim	1988-12December 1988	[197]
Paperboy	Mindscape	1988-12December 1988	[198]
Platoon	Sunsoft	1988-12December 1988	[199]
Rampage	Data East	1988-12December 1988	[200]
Robowarrior	Jaleco	1988-12December 1988	[201]
Skate or Die	Ultra Games	1988-12December 1988	[202]
Superman	Kemco	1988-12December 1988	[203]
Xenophobe	Sunsoft	1988-12December 1988	[204]
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link	Nintendo	1988-12December 1988	[205]

21 games were released in Europe.

Title	Publisher	Release Date	Source
Metroid	Nintendo	1988-01-15January 15, 1988	[206]
Rad Racer	Nintendo	1988-01-15January 15, 1988	[207]
Wild Gunman	Nintendo	1988-02-15February 15, 1988	[208]
Ice Hockey	Nintendo	1988-04-15April 15, 1988	[209]
R.C. Pro-Am	Nintendo	1988-04-15April 15, 1988	[210]
Athletic World	Nintendo	1988-06-15June 15, 1988	[211]
Gumshoe	Nintendo	1988-06-15June 15, 1988	[212]
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link	Nintendo	1988-09-26September 26, 1988	[213]
Gradius	Konami	1988-11-30November 30, 1988	[214]
Top Gun	Konami	1988-11-30November 30, 1988	[215]
Castlevania	Konami	1988-12-19December 19, 1988	[216]
The Goonies II	Konami	1988-12-19December 19, 1988	[217]
Super Mario Bros. / Duck Hunt	Nintendo	1988-12December 1988	[218]
Airwolf	Acclaim	19881988	[219]
California Games	Milton Bradley	19881988	[220]
City Connection	Jaleco	19881988	[221]
Dragon Ball: Le Secret Du Dragon	Bandai	19881988	[222]
Galaga	Bandai	19881988	[223]
Iron Tank	SNK	19881988	[224]
Metal Gear	Konami	19881988	[225]
Stadium Events	Bandai	19881988	[226]

Family Computer Disk System[]