What was the first video-game magazine, launched in the United States in 1981?

Electronic Games was the first video-game magazine, launching in the United States in 1981.

Bill Kunkel, Joyce Worley, and Arnie Katz founded the magazine, which first appeared in winter 1981. It covered arcade games, home consoles, and computer games at a time when electronic entertainment had only recently become a mainstream hobby. Its arrival helped establish video games as a subject worthy of regular reviews, news, previews, and criticism.

Electronic Games is sometimes confused with Computer Gaming World, which began publication in 1981 as well. Computer Gaming World focused on computer games, while Electronic Games covered the broader electronic-game market, including arcade and console titles. The exact claim can therefore depend on whether a source means the first dedicated video-game magazine or the first computer-game magazine.

The publication introduced awards and industry coverage that anticipated later gaming magazines. It continued through the early 1980s and is remembered as a pioneer of video-game journalism.