Duck Hunt
Why you can trust Windows Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Developer: Nintendo
Platforms: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
Release Date: April 21, 1984
Why this game mattered: Duck Hunt introduced the Light Gun for the NES and brought the video arcade into our living rooms like never before. It was a simple game with simple graphics, but it showcased the power of home game consoles and was a party favorite around the world.
Fun fact: The laughing dog is so beloved by Nintendo fans that he was added as a character to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. I think he's a smug little pup myself — always laughing at me when I miss the ducks — but people love him.
Future games influenced by this title: Duck Hunt proved that arcade shooters could work on a home console and allowed games like Time Crisis, Virtual Cop, and Operation Wolf to invade our homes. Games like Duck Hunt also inspired the desire for virtual reality to immerse ourselves in shooting games on another level. Superhot VR is a perfect homage to the shooters of the '80s and '90s.
Where you can play it today: Have a Wii U somewhere close by? Great! You can play Duck Hunt on the Virtual Console.
