MSX

MSX, where Japanese home computer history gets playable

MSX arrived as a standardized home computer and game system, announced in 1983 and officially released that October. It was most at home in Japan, but it also turned up in other countries, with a library that stretches from 1980 to 2015 in our catalog. That is a long run for a machine with a standards committee behind it, and a surprisingly lively one too. You can feel the era in the games, all sprites, speed, and stubborn charm.

What MSX is

MSX was designed as a shared hardware standard, meant to make different makers play nicely together. Microsoft conceived the project, ASCII Corporation announced it, and the system was especially popular in Japan. Few MSX-based machines reached the United States, but in Japan the format became a serious home for game development. Before Nintendo's Family Computer took over the conversation, studios like Konami and Hudson Soft were already making games for it. That matters, because the machine was never short on ambition, or on cartridges full of ideas.

The platform has 247 games in our catalog, and the names attached to it say a lot. Konami leads the way here with 78 games, followed by Compile, T&E Soft, Pony Canyon, and Nihon Falcom Corp. The library ranges from early 1980s curiosities to later releases, so MSX can feel both quaint and oddly busy. It is a format built for people who like seeing how a system grew up while it was already at work.

Where to start in our catalog

If you want a quick tour through MSX history, begin with Antarctic Adventure, Aleste, Aleste 2, A-Ressha De Ikou, and Arkanoid II: Revenge Of Doh. Each shows a different side of the machine, from brisk action to slower, more considered play. Then move to 1942, After Burner, Aliens, and AcroJet if you want to lean into the arcade leanings that suited MSX so well. The catalog has room for racing, shooting, puzzle play, and the sort of game that makes you mutter at the screen in a very specific way.

For a slightly deeper cut, try A1 Spirit: The Way to Formula-1, Albatross - Tournament Golf -, Albatross II: Masters' History, Aleste Gaiden, and Arctic. Those titles show how broad the platform could be without losing its identity. MSX games often feel compact, efficient, and eager to get on with it, which is convenient when you have 247 games to explore. No need to bring a map, but a little curiosity helps.

FAQ