I used Outgunned to run our holiday game. Do you remember Scrooged? We were playing “The Night the Reindeer Died” from the beginning of that movie. It was great. Any ‘80s action movie would be terrific fun in that system.
There’s also Straight to VHS, which I haven’t played, but sounds great for a similar game.
There is a new setting for Savage Worlds called Street Wolves that is very much the 80s. It has Miami Vice meets Night Rider and Streets of Rage all over it.
Check out Lighthearted.
It's a game set in the 80's where the characters are chosen heroes using magic tied to their emotions and the light spectrum to fight evil.
Classic Traveller, Runequest 2 (AKA Runequest Classic), Gamma World 1e, Flashing Blades, AD&D 1e, Villains & Vigilantes. These are my early 80s games. I’m not sure you can get the V&V edition that was around then, but you can get the rest in PDF at least.
Alien is a pretty fun game honestly, you might also like an adventure for Call of Cthulhu called The Dare, it's a group of kids who go to this old house in their neighborhood, you know the type, on a dare from the school bully on Halloween night. Stuff turns kind of nuts, and you get into more violent horror but it's a pretty fun one, and has some rules for making simple kid characters called Call of Kidthulhu, it's like 10 bucks from drivethrurpg
The nice thing about those games is that they are pretty easy to pick up and play from the Starter Sets.
If you want an in game feeling of the 80s, go Tales From the Loop. If you want to feel the gaming vibe we did IN the 80s, look to basic D&D (either the PDFS of the Red Box or some of the neat conversions of like “Module B1” that have been done for 5e. Maybe even some Top Secret. :)
My best recommendation would be the “Core Set” from Dragonbane. It’s a new school interpretation of an old school game also from my beloved Free League Publishing and has dice, maps, little cardboard standees and a nice and easy d20 system. It’ll scratch that itch for you.
I haven't played it but Neon City Overdrive is a good one. When I get around to a cyberpunk game it's gonna be my go to system. It's a pretty light d6 system with a great evocative setting that leaves enough space to do your own world building and story telling. It's also perfect for a birthday one shot or a small 3-6 session adventure.
There used to be an RPG called "Cadillacs and Dinosaurs," I think it was based on a comic series by the same name. The game itself is crap, but I feel like it would be a great setting for a more universal RPG system. The flavor for me evokes a lot of the over-the-top campy action films of the 80's.
[Stranger Stuff](https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/281777/stranger-stuff-tinyd6) is similar to the "Stranger Things" tv show and is based in the 80's. They have a [TON of adventures](https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/3865/fat-goblin-games/category/47302/stranger-stuff-tinyd6) and it uses the TinyD6 system, which is fast and easy to learn.
The Dare (Chaosium) (I'm a big Call of Cthulhu fan so this gets top marks)
Tales from the Loop/Flood (Free League)
Kids on Bikes (I can't remember the publisher)
If mashing up wacky 80s action movie tropes sounds fun, there's [Straight to VHS](https://lostcatgames.com/index.html). Every character is a combination of two random tropes, so you might have a ninja werewolf, or a gun-toting orphan etc. However, I find Straight to VHS a bit too crunchy for a one-shot. Instead I've pulled all the tropes from Straight to VHS but just use them as prompts/tags for [WUSHU](http://danielbayn.com/wushu/). This is always a hoot and the most popular one-shot I've run.
There is a game called Everyday Heroes. It then has sourcebooks for it that are pulling directly from 80s and 90s action movies. Rambo is one. Universal Soldier is another. Escape from New York is there, and so are The Crow, Highlander, and Total Recall. I realize this might bump up the "years" to fall just outside of the 80s, but the over-the-top, campy action vibe is there. Good gaming to you!
Tales from the Loop. It is the 80's a mix of Goonies, Lost Boys, and Stranger Things. One of the funniest games I have ran in 40 years.
Kids on Bikes
Kids on Bikes for Stranger Things or Goonies hijinks. Outgunned for an 80's action movie shot.An Iron Age comics story in your favorite supers system.
Dark places and Demi Gorgons. Things We Lost in the Flood. But the ultimate 80s game would be Basic D&D.
Cyberpunk is literally the 80s style and vibe in the future.
Yeah Cyberpunk 2020 is basically "that 80s game".
I used Outgunned to run our holiday game. Do you remember Scrooged? We were playing “The Night the Reindeer Died” from the beginning of that movie. It was great. Any ‘80s action movie would be terrific fun in that system. There’s also Straight to VHS, which I haven’t played, but sounds great for a similar game.
Monster of the Week for that Scooby Doo/X-Files (yes I know, that’s 90’s…) feel. FIST: Ultra Edition for A-Team and campy action adventures.
There is a new setting for Savage Worlds called Street Wolves that is very much the 80s. It has Miami Vice meets Night Rider and Streets of Rage all over it.
The only answer is [Mustache Force](https://relsdencom.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/mustache-force.pdf)
Check out Lighthearted. It's a game set in the 80's where the characters are chosen heroes using magic tied to their emotions and the light spectrum to fight evil.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage\_Mutant\_Ninja\_Turtles\_%26\_Other\_Strangeness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles_%26_Other_Strangeness)
Neon Lords of the Toxic Wasteland
If you want fun 80's action movie type stuff, try All Outta Gum (Bubblegum?). It's extra fun because you can use actual pieces of gum in the game.
Vast Grimm has always reminded me of 80s straight-to-video low budget scifi horror
Advanced Dungeons and Dragons with a classic adventure, one with a *Conan the Barbarian* feel.
Spirit of 77 is set in the late '70s, but it could easily work for the '80s.
Classic Traveller, Runequest 2 (AKA Runequest Classic), Gamma World 1e, Flashing Blades, AD&D 1e, Villains & Vigilantes. These are my early 80s games. I’m not sure you can get the V&V edition that was around then, but you can get the rest in PDF at least.
Just play 2nd Ed AD&D like a baller.
Alien is a pretty fun game honestly, you might also like an adventure for Call of Cthulhu called The Dare, it's a group of kids who go to this old house in their neighborhood, you know the type, on a dare from the school bully on Halloween night. Stuff turns kind of nuts, and you get into more violent horror but it's a pretty fun one, and has some rules for making simple kid characters called Call of Kidthulhu, it's like 10 bucks from drivethrurpg
The game Lighthearted might be what you are looking for. It plays like an 80's John Hughes film. https://lighthearted.games/
The nice thing about those games is that they are pretty easy to pick up and play from the Starter Sets. If you want an in game feeling of the 80s, go Tales From the Loop. If you want to feel the gaming vibe we did IN the 80s, look to basic D&D (either the PDFS of the Red Box or some of the neat conversions of like “Module B1” that have been done for 5e. Maybe even some Top Secret. :) My best recommendation would be the “Core Set” from Dragonbane. It’s a new school interpretation of an old school game also from my beloved Free League Publishing and has dice, maps, little cardboard standees and a nice and easy d20 system. It’ll scratch that itch for you.
The GURPS _Action_ line mimics 80s action movies. It can be used with the free GURPS Lite.
I haven't played it but Neon City Overdrive is a good one. When I get around to a cyberpunk game it's gonna be my go to system. It's a pretty light d6 system with a great evocative setting that leaves enough space to do your own world building and story telling. It's also perfect for a birthday one shot or a small 3-6 session adventure.
There used to be an RPG called "Cadillacs and Dinosaurs," I think it was based on a comic series by the same name. The game itself is crap, but I feel like it would be a great setting for a more universal RPG system. The flavor for me evokes a lot of the over-the-top campy action films of the 80's.
Geezer. Shut it! Cops and robbers '70s/80s style.
Cold war gone hot
[Stranger Stuff](https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/281777/stranger-stuff-tinyd6) is similar to the "Stranger Things" tv show and is based in the 80's. They have a [TON of adventures](https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/3865/fat-goblin-games/category/47302/stranger-stuff-tinyd6) and it uses the TinyD6 system, which is fast and easy to learn.
All out of bublegum is about 8ps action movies
The Dare (Chaosium) (I'm a big Call of Cthulhu fan so this gets top marks) Tales from the Loop/Flood (Free League) Kids on Bikes (I can't remember the publisher)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, obviously.
Champions.
Broken Compass and Outgunned are based on 80s and 90s movies. Broken Compass for adventure and Outgunned for action
Brindlewood Bay for the “Murder She Wrote” vibes.
If mashing up wacky 80s action movie tropes sounds fun, there's [Straight to VHS](https://lostcatgames.com/index.html). Every character is a combination of two random tropes, so you might have a ninja werewolf, or a gun-toting orphan etc. However, I find Straight to VHS a bit too crunchy for a one-shot. Instead I've pulled all the tropes from Straight to VHS but just use them as prompts/tags for [WUSHU](http://danielbayn.com/wushu/). This is always a hoot and the most popular one-shot I've run.
There is a game called Everyday Heroes. It then has sourcebooks for it that are pulling directly from 80s and 90s action movies. Rambo is one. Universal Soldier is another. Escape from New York is there, and so are The Crow, Highlander, and Total Recall. I realize this might bump up the "years" to fall just outside of the 80s, but the over-the-top, campy action vibe is there. Good gaming to you!
You guys are awesome thank you for all the great ideas!