My first system was a 1970's Apple. Freaky expensive by today's standards for what it was... but when you had the only one known in your city at the time, it was quite understandable (and very rare). Even a demo would freak people out, because no-one had ever seen a PC before!

But the very first cpu game I recall ever being INSTANTLY(!) recognized as a cult classic upon its release was 'WIZARDRY: the Proving Grounds' (1980?) on its 5.25" paper shrouded and thus 'bendable' floppy disk! Simplistic graphics, no color other than monochrome green, with rich, complicated play, it was the first I recall in history, and believe everything since was built and continuously evolved from it. I think of it as the 'Grandfather' of all games. Frankly, surprised not to see it here.

Anyone here actually remember that crazy old game? Trying to kill the evil wizard Werdna, which was Andrew spelled backwards & named after one of the designers, lol.

Anyway, I am curious what games you guys remember as computer classics from the very early days. Anything previous to Wizardry that you can recall that set future gaming trends?

(What's a CPU game?)

I also don't think "iconoclastic" means what he thinks it means.

Edit: typo.

There actually is a remake of that game available here (albeit maybe more expensive than it ought to be):
https://www.gog.com/en/game/wizardry_proving_grounds_of_the_mad_overlord

While the graphics are fancier, you can have it display, either in the corner or as an overlay, what the original graphics looked like.

You might also wish to check out Ultima 1 or its predecessor Akalabeth for a different early take on the RPG genre.

isn't that a game?

There's a game called "Iconoclasts" (I don't know of one called "Iconoclastic"), but it's not of any relevance whatsoever. It's not like how the noun "Metroid" over time aided to generate the adjective "metroidvania", iconoclast/iconoclastic were already existing terms. I'm not even sure what descriptive term the OP intended to use (an odd portmanteau of "iconic" and "classic", perhaps?); whatever the case, it certainly shouldn't have been this one.

Metroidvania is also a portmanteau of the words "Metroid" and "Castlevania."

Iconoclastic is indeed a real word, but it refers to someone who strongly opposes or challenges widely accepted beliefs or traditions. It’s often used in a religious context, for example, Martin Luther was considered an iconoclast in his time. The word literally means “destroyer of icons.”

I’m guessing the OP actually meant to say "iconic"?

I was aware, thanks. The point was that Metroid->Metroidvania is a noun that generated a gaming specific term, but iconoclasts is just some preexisting term that has no relevancy with the original post, so because it just so happens to be the name of another game means nothing; I didn't consider it worthwhile to define what an iconoclast is. The portmanteau I suggested was just a guess for fun.

I think he meant too. Being iconoclastic would be impossible for a first game (though what is a CPU game? it's not like they're were games that used a gpu back then, as it would be a long time in the future before gpu's were invented) to tear down an established image or idea of a computer game, as computer games weren't an established thing for a long time to come, just like the OP said.

So 'iconoclastic' should be read as 'iconic' in the title. But what about cpu game? What are you contrasting it to @StupidSignUp?