In 1984, Tetris emerged from behind the Iron Curtain and remains one of the most popular games ever. But Tetris isn’t the only game that was developed in the USSR. When the arcade craze went global in the 80’s, the Soviet military saw the propaganda potential in state-produced games and got to work. Military facilities produced around 70 of these hilariously practical games that focused primarily on strength, military prowess and Russian tradition.
If you ever make your way to St. Petersburg, you must spend an evening at the Museum of Soviet Arcade Games, where three true geek heroes have rounded up a basement full of mostly-functional restored Soviet video games. Begun in 2012 as a way to preserve Russian and gaming history, the curators have rounded up about 60 cabinets, many of which represent the last example of that game in the world.
Continue reading Turnip Strength, Tarragon Soda and Submarines: Soviet Arcade Games Live On
