In the early 1980s, video games were more than just entertainment—they were a cultural revolution. Arcades were bustling with players eager to conquer the latest Pac-Man or Space Invaders challenge, while home consoles like the Atari 2600 brought this excitement into living rooms. However, this golden age was not to last. By 1983, the video game industry was in crisis. The market was oversaturated with low-quality titles, consumer interest waned, and the industry faced a devastating crash that nearly ended the gaming revolution as quickly as it had begun.

The video game crash of 1983 left the industry in shambles, with many wondering if gaming had been nothing more than a fleeting fad. Yet, despite this bleak period, the mid-to-late 1980s saw a slow but steady recovery, led by innovations from companies like Nintendo. The release of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) played a crucial role in reviving the industry, but it was not until the 1990s that a true renaissance began to take shape—driven by an unlikely hero: Pokémon.