Before home consoles became ubiquitous, arcades reigned supreme as the meccas of video gaming. While arcades are a rare sight today, many fondly remember feeding endless quarters into towering cabinets for just a few minutes of gameplay. Arcades birthed iconic characters and franchises like Donkey Kong and Street Fighter. Some games have faded into obscurity, while others remain beloved. Whether for their impact on game design or enduring playability, these are our picks for the greatest arcade games ever made.
If you’re looking for more modern gaming experiences, check out our lists of the best PS5 games, best Xbox Series X games, and best PC games.
Ms. Pac-Man
While the original Pac-Man was a groundbreaking success and remains the highest-grossing arcade game ever, Ms. Pac-Man surpasses it in nearly every aspect. Released just a year after the original, Ms. Pac-Man retains the addictive core gameplay of navigating mazes, collecting pellets, and evading ghosts. However, it introduces new maze designs and enhanced ghost AI, creating a more challenging and engaging experience. These improvements didn’t compromise the simple, pick-up-and-play nature of the original. Furthermore, Ms. Pac-Man stands as one of the earliest prominent female video game characters, a significant milestone in gaming history.
Ms. Pac-Man (1982) – Gameplay
Galaga
Space shooters were plentiful in the arcade era, requiring a unique element to stand out. Galaga, considered an unofficial sequel to Space Invaders, achieved this distinction. While sharing the core concept of maneuvering a ship to fire at descending aliens, Galaga added vibrant colors, diverse enemy attack patterns, and challenging swarms. The increased difficulty heightened engagement. Innovative features like the dual-fighter mechanic, achieved by allowing a ship to be captured and subsequently rescued, added a strategic layer. Galaga’s influence is evident in modern shoot-’em-up games.
Wii: Virtual Console – Galaga Trailer
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong is often the first game that comes to mind when discussing classic arcade titles. It marked the beginning of the legendary rivalry between Mario (then known as Jumpman) and Donkey Kong. A simple platformer by today’s standards, Donkey Kong was revolutionary for its time. It was among the first games to incorporate a narrative, and its escalating difficulty, introducing new hazards and enemies in each stage, presented a captivating challenge. While its gameplay may feel dated now, its impact on the gaming industry and Nintendo’s subsequent dominance in the home console market cannot be overstated.
Arcade Longplay [499] Donkey Kong
Street Fighter II
Arcades fostered a culture of social gaming, with multiplayer experiences taking center stage. Fighting games, emphasizing head-to-head competition, were especially popular. Street Fighter II reigned supreme in this genre. It introduced iconic World Warriors like Ryu, Cammy, and Blanka, who remain staples of the franchise. The game revolutionized fighting game mechanics with its innovative special move system, requiring specific stick and button combinations, adding a layer of strategic depth beyond simple button mashing. The combo system rewarded skilled players who mastered their characters. Street Fighter II consistently drew crowds in arcades, and the wait was always worth it.
Street Fighter 2 gameplay HD
Space Invaders
While Galaga represents the evolution of the space shooter genre, Space Invaders remains a landmark title. It was a pioneering shoot-’em-up for its time, with intuitive gameplay centered around shooting advancing aliens. However, a layer of strategy emerged in prioritizing targets. Eliminating the outer rows slowed the descent of the alien formation, but as their numbers dwindled, the remaining aliens increased in speed. Achieving a high score in Space Invaders was a badge of honor in the early days of gaming.
Classic Game Room – SPACE INVADERS for Atari 2600 review
The Simpsons Arcade Game
Beat-’em-ups emerged as a popular arcade genre, with titles like Final Fight and Streets of Rage establishing the formula of choosing characters, battling through hordes of enemies, and progressing through side-scrolling levels. The Simpsons Arcade Game, while not reinventing the genre, refined the formula and immersed it in the immensely popular world of The Simpsons. Its vibrant visual style translated seamlessly to the arcade format. Players enjoyed controlling Marge, Homer, Lisa, and Bart, each with unique combos, traversing iconic locations, and battling memorable bosses. Notably, the game supported four simultaneous players, a rarity for arcade cabinets. After a period of licensing limbo, The Simpsons Arcade Game was digitally rereleased on PS3 and Xbox 360.
Missile Command
Arcade games often featured unique control schemes. Missile Command utilized a trackball for precise and rapid cursor movement. The objective was to defend cities from incoming missiles by launching counter-missiles, detonated at the cursor’s position. Strategic aiming and timing were crucial for intercepting missiles before impact. The challenge lay in manipulating the trackball to quickly position the cursor while accounting for projectile travel time. This created a uniquely stressful and engaging experience.
Atari 2600 Longplay [005] Missile Command
The House of the Dead
Lightgun games emerged in the later years of the arcade era, offering experiences difficult to replicate at home. The House of the Dead stood out among lightgun titles like Time Crisis, particularly for its zombie-centric gameplay. Its gothic atmosphere, grotesque enemies, dynamic camera work, and over-the-top cheesy storyline have earned it cult classic status.
