The Games, released by Gottlieb in 1984, serves as a spirited, alphanumeric tribute to the Olympic spirit. Designed by industry veterans John Trudeau and Shing Lam, the machine captures the competitive intensity of global athletics through a classic solid-state lens. The playfield is a study in precision, utilizing a pair of flippers to navigate a layout that demands both patience and timing. With its quartet of pop bumpers and a classic spinning target that rewards aggressive accuracy, the game forces players to balance the need for high-velocity scoring with the tactical control required to navigate its captive balls and strategic kick-out hole.
The centerpiece of the experience is the Vari-target, a signature Gottlieb inclusion that transforms every shot into a high-stakes test of force. Unlike static targets, the Vari-target tracks the depth of your strike, forcing you to dial in your flipper tension to maximize the point yield. Complementing this is the spinning target, which stands as the machine’s primary engine for quick, rhythmic scoring; savvy players know that keeping the spinner alive is the most efficient path to climbing the leaderboard. Larry Day and Douglas Norgard’s artwork ties the theme together, leaning into the bold, colorful aesthetic of 80s sports broadcasting.
For those looking to dominate the scoreboard, strategy remains straightforward but demanding: master the rhythm of the spinning target. While the captive balls offer a satisfying mechanical weight to the gameplay, the spinner acts as the engine of your score, providing the most consistent return on investment. With only 1,768 units produced, The Games remains a rare, focused relic of the mid-80s era—a machine that eschews complex modes in favor of a pure, athletic test of ball control and target management.