PITFALL! (Atari 2600)
Pitfall Harry must navigate the jungle and collect treasures, all while avoiding obstacles and hazards, in the Atari 2600 classic Pitfall! Released on this day in 1982, Pitfall! was one of the best-selling games for the Atari 2600, with over 4 million copies sold. Inspiring numerous sequels and ports across a variety of other consoles, it is often considered to be the title which defined the side-scrolling platformer genre. The number 1 video game on Billboard for 64 weeks in a row, Pitfall! also introduced the jungle setting to video games, a setting which was copied later by other series like Tomb Raider. Many game mechanics were also utilized in other series, like Prince of Persia.
HITMAN: CONTRACTS (PC/PS2)
The third installment in the stealth video game series Hitman, Hitman: Contracts was released on this day in 2004 for both Playstation 2 and PC. Often bundled with other titles from the series, Contracts recreates four levels from Hitman: Codename 47 and intertwines storylines from missions in Hitman: Blood Money, while maintaining its own story. The game’s soundtrack also samples music from the earlier titles, but strives to create a darker, more psychological tone to reflect the atmosphere of Contracts. The game received mixed, but generally positive reviews upon release.
PSYCHONAUTS (Xbox)
Another platformer on our list, Psychonauts received high critical praise upon release, despite minimal retail sales. Following Raz, a gifted psychic boy who runs away from the circus to join a summer camp for those destined to be “Psychonauts;” a spy with psychic abilities. He uncovers a sinister plot that only he can stop, and the game centers around exploring exploring the minds of various characters he meets in his training as a ‘Psycadet.’ Majesco Entertainment suffered great financial losses due to this title, despite the praise it received; forcing them from the video game market. The game developed a cult following, and a sequel was finally announced at The Game Awards in December of 2015.
Some other titles released on this day:
- Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryu to Hikari no Tsurugi (Japan) – NES – 1990
- Mother 3 (Japan) – Gameboy Advance – 2006
- Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness/Time – DS – 2008
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2 – iOS – 2010
My Life, or Something Like It 
Loved Pitfall on the Atari 2600 when I was a kid.