The 26 Best Arcade Games of All Time

Mini-golf, go-karts, pizza, and a handful of tokens to spend on your favorite arcade games served as staples of millennial birthday parties and family get-togethers. 

The late eighties and early nineties marked the heyday of arcade life. Kids loaded their pockets with a few quarters and played their favorite machines until they ran out of luck (or money). 

Arcade Gaming

Before gaming consoles appeared in every household, most kids could only get their hands on new games at the arcade. The rise of home gaming put arcades on the backburner, regaled to birthday parties as kids spent most of their time playing games at home. 

But the modern era sees arcade games making a fierce comeback, especially with older gamers searching for a tiny slice of nostalgia. 

As more and more arcade bars pop up across the country, it’s time to explore the best arcade games of all time. 

The Best Vintage Arcade Games

Vintage arcade games are the most iconic. Many of these retro game classics were ported to consoles for new generations to enjoy, but we will always remember them from our days in the arcade. We might not remember that others started their journey in the arcade, as they spawned so many memorable console sequels. 

Regardless of how they are remembered, these vintage arcade games started it all.

Pac-Man (and Ms. Pac-Man)

We couldn’t let the Pac family take up two spots, but both games deserve mentioning. The Pac-Man series is one of the most iconic in gaming history.

Pac-Man hit the scene in 1980 and was one of the first major arcade games to gain popularity. Its sequel, Ms. Pac-Man, appeared in 1982 with slight changes to gameplay, including changing maze layouts that made the game more challenging and engaging. 

Donkey Kong

The original video game villain first appeared in arcade games in 1981. The original Donkey Kong (sometimes called Donkey Kong Classic), featured a proto-Mario character facing off against a giant gorilla to rescue a trapped princess.

Although the game mechanics were a little choppy, the super hammer made it all worthwhile. The hammer is so iconic that it’s still one of the most sought-after weapons in Nintendo’s fighter hit, Super Smash Brothers.

(Super) Mario Brothers

The Super Mario Brothers franchise is the most iconic in gaming history, but not everyone remembers that it all started in 1983 with an arcade game called “Mario Brothers”. 

Fans will most likely remember the gameplay from this arcade hit due to its presence in Super Mario Brothers 3. If they started the last level their partner completed, they could battle for each other’s cards.

The battle was the concept for the original Mario Brothers arcade game, where you could hit the pow to paralyze enemies and then kick them to kill them.

Super Mario Brothers came to arcade cabinets as well. In 1986, Nintendo released the Vs Super Mario Brothers edition of the console classic and ported it to arcades across the country.

The Simpsons Arcade Game

The Simpson Arcade Game, released in 1991, is as ridiculous as it is fun. You can play as either Marge, Homer, Bart, or Lisa as you fight off Mr. Burn’s goons and rescue the Simpson’s baby, Maggie.

Each character comes with a unique weapon and fighting style. While Marge fights off foes with her beloved vacuum cleaner, Bart hits them on the head with a skateboard, and Lisa whips them with her jump rope. 

Homer sticks to the classics, using fists and feet to defeat his enemies.

X-Men

The 1992 side-scrolling classic X-Men let you choose between six iconic Marvel characters and play with a bunch of your friends, as long as you all had quarters to spare.

I loved playing as Storm, creating havoc amongst my enemies with her hurricane that destroyed everything in its wake. You can also play as Wolverine, Cyclops, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Dazzler. 

Each character has a unique super mutant power that would help clear the screen if the situation got dire.

Frogger

Frogger, released in 1981, became an arcade classic due to its mass appeal to gamers of all ages. 

Players controlled a frog as he tried to cross a busy street. Using the joystick to dodge traffic, the player had to move left, right, up, and down to avoid getting hit by vehicles. 

Frogger was featured in pop culture in the show Seinfeld, where George had to use his Frogger skills to get a vintage arcade cabinet across a busy street in real life.

Time Crisis

Time Crisis is a first-person shooter that came out in 1995. As a light gun shooter, this game used gun-shaped controllers to allow players to aim and fire at targets on the screen. Time Crisis was one of the first games that allowed players to reload their weapons and use cover as a game mechanic.

The original Time Crisis spawned a plethora of sequels. Though most notable as an arcade game, it was also ported to PlayStation, and in 2009, the first mobile version, Time Crisis Strike, appeared.

Space Invaders

Space Invaders is a timeless classic. First appearing in 1978, it’s one of the oldest games on this list and one of the most iconic.

Space Invaders is a shooting game. Players operate a fixed cannon and shoot at the invaders coming from above. The aliens move across the screen, and then down one level, slowly getting closer and closer to the cannon. They move faster and faster as the game progresses, and the game ends if they reach the bottom.

Galaga

Galaga, produced by Namco and released by Midway in 1981, was a major competitor to Space Invaders. Technically a sequel of Galaxian, released in 1979, this game blew both its original and its top competitors out of the water.

Although it’s also a fixed shooter, the better graphics and the varied enemy formations made it more fun and challenging than its predecessors.

Asteroids

Asteroids, released in 1979 by Atari, is another shooting game similar to Galaga and Space Invaders, but with one huge difference.

For the first time, players could move their spaceship around the battlefield. 

The dynamic position offered a new layer of difficulty to shooting games. Players could thrust forward to dodge asteroids, change direction, and shoot anything in their path. 

This layered approach to gameplay quickly made Asteroid a favorite, and it outsold Space Invaders to become one of the best-selling arcade games ever.

Centipede

Centipede was Atari’s version of Space Invaders. As a fixed shooter, the game featured a centipede that crawled across the screen, slowly descending toward the bug blaster canon.

A key difference from Space Invaders is that Centipede included additional bad guys – fleas that would fall from the creature. Although the fleas wouldn’t kill you, they would add mushrooms to the screen which aided the centipede, making it harder to kill. 

The game included additional foes, like spiders and scorpions, each with different behaviors and movement styles. These unique enemies increased the difficulty, making the game more fun for players. 

Punch-Out!!

Punch-Out!! was the first successful boxing arcade game. Developed by Nintendo and released in 1984, this game allowed players to box with the greats!

The gameplay was unique for the time. Players could view their character from behind, at the bottom of the screen, but the character was made in a green grid pattern, that allowed players to see through him to watch the competitors move. Timing was a key aspect of this game, so it was important to see what the computer-operated opponent was doing!

Punch-Out!! was also available on the NES console as Mike Tyson’s Punchout, and sequels were available on Super Nintendo.

Dig Dug

Dig Dug is a maze-digging game released in 1982. To advance, players must defeat each enemy in the maze by either pumping them with air until they explode or crushing them with falling rocks.

Players can move through the maze by digging the dirt out to find enemies. The character, Dig Dug, can move up and down in the holes he’s created to get to his foes. Enemies can chase you through the dirt, and appear in an open space to attack.

Street Fighter 2

Street Fighter is better than Mortal Kombat. I said what I said. 

Although Mortal Kombat, as a franchise, sold more console games than Street Fighter, Street Fighter destroyed Mortal Kombat in arcade cabinet sales.

It could be because Street Fighter is less gory than Mortal Kombat, so some places wouldn’t even consider the game. 

However, Street Fighter is an amazing game in its own right. Traveling to different countries to win competitions with the end goal of beating Bison added a complex story to an otherwise simple gaming concept.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The late eighties and early nineties was the era of the Ninja Turtle. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were everywhere, including the arcade.

The first Ninja Turtle arcade game was released by Konami in 1989. A beat ‘em up style game, players could choose their Ninja Turtle (Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael, named after famous Renaissance artists) and fight Shredder’s forces of foot soldiers as they try to rescue their friend April and their mentor Splinter.

Cruis’n USA

The car games where you sit in an actual seat, hold a realistic steering wheel and push real pedals to go were some of the best reasons to visit an arcade. Cruise’n USA delivered on this concept.

Released in 1994, this epic racing game featured tracks in iconic locations across the country. Although there weren’t a lot of car options, this game was one of the most popular arcade games in the mid-90s.

Modern Arcade Games

As a kid in the heyday of arcade gaming, I think the vintage games are the best. Today’s game makers focus more on online console gaming than arcade cabinets because that’s where the money is. 

However, a handful of arcade games made after 2000 deserve a mention. Here are the best modern arcade games.

DDR

Dance Dance Revolution, affectionately shortened to DDR, is pushing the definition of “modern”. It came out in Japan in 1998, and the first version arrived in the US in 1999. 

However, it was one of the most popular arcade games throughout the 2000s and even into the present day, so it counts.

DDR was one of the first movement arcade games on the scene. Players needed to use their feet to follow the dance video on the screen. The game was also made available for home use. Early versions were available on the PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo 64, and PC.

Marvel vs Capcom

Marvel vs. Capcom puts a fun spin on fighting games. It’s a cross-over between two of the most iconic fighting teams of a generation, Capcom’s Street Fighter and Marvel’s X-Men.

Although the concept originally appeared in 1996 with the arcade game X-Men vs Street Fighter, it was perfected with Marvel Vs. Capcom II: New Age of Heroes, which was released in 2000. 

The concept was well-received and spawned a variety of franchises which were mostly released for console gaming.

Star Wars Battle Pod

Star Wars Battle Pod is a truly immersive arcade game experience. In the pod version of the game, players sit in a dome-like structure that mimics the inside of a ship. There, they fight the forces of the Empire, following famous space battles from the movie franchise. 

The pod almost encloses the player, making the gaming experience similar to watching a movie on Imax. There’s also an open version, which has the same gameplay but doesn’t provide the same atmosphere as the enclosed game.

Star Wars Battle Pod was released in 2014 and showed that modern arcade games are still relevant, but they need to offer something players can’t get at home.

Mario Kart Arcade

Mario Kart Arcade brings the fun of the Mario Kart series to life with immersive arcade elements. This game is a sit-down car-like version of the console classic. Characters get to steer with a true-to-life steering wheel and can accelerate and brake using pedals, rather than controller buttons.

The game mechanics serve as the primary difference between the arcade and console versions, as all the courses, characters, and power-ups are similar to the game you know and love. 

Ghost Squad

Ghost Squad is one of the best modern arcade shooters on the market. Released in 2004, it featured a more realistic gun mechanic than many of its predecessors. The gun/controller has a stock, recoil, iron sights, and an operational fire selector switch. It even offers a calibration mode!

The realistic qualities of the game helped it become a major arcade hit. A sequel was released in 2012, and the game was also ported to the Nintendo Wii in 2007.

Jurassic Park Arcade

The 2015 version of the Jurassic Park Arcade game offers stunning graphics, surround sound, and Imax-like immersion. The deluxe version of the cabinet even includes moving seats, which gives players a full-body experience.

The game is a shooter at heart. Players must traverse the treacherous Isla Nublar to capture each dinosaur species before the island is destroyed and the species are lost forever. 

They don’t come willingly.  You must fight off dinosaur foes while dodging the island’s many dangers. 

Non-Video Game Arcade Games

Arcades feature far more than video games. Some of my best memories involve playing the other fun offerings you can find at arcades across the country. 

Though technically not video games, these arcade games are still classics. 

Pinball

Pinball is such an iconic game the classic rock band The Who wrote a song about it.  Featuring flashing lights, the spring to start the game, a dynamic moving ball, and masterful tilting and pushing buttons to keep the ball in play, it’s an exhilarating thrill ride of early arcades. 

There are thousands of pinball games, and I don’t think any are more extraordinary than the one before it. It’s impossible to choose a brand of pinball for the list of the best arcade games, but the genre itself deserves a spot.

Skee-Ball

In Skee-Ball, you roll a little ball up a ramp, trying to get it into smaller and smaller holes to gain more points. 

It’s a game of skill and strategy. Do you go for gold, trying to get the ball into the corner pockets for 100 points, or do you aim center, steadily gaining 40-50 points each roll?

Skee-Ball is an arcade staple. Although I found it boring as a child, now that I’m an adult, I understand why it was my parent’s favorite.

Air Hockey

The arcade jocks all hang out around the air hockey table. It’s the king of the arcade!

The two-player competition features discs that lightly float on air blowing out of the goals. When hit, the disc speeds across the table, bouncing off walls, zipping back and forth until finally, a player scores a goal. 

The first player to 6 wins the game, and the title of Arcade King, until the next match.

Claw Machine

The claw machine is a staple of arcades, grocery stores, and small diners across the country. It tests your skill in using a joystick (or just push buttons) to move a claw around a cage, hoping to center it just right above the prize you are after (usually a stuffed animal toy).

Claw machines aren’t as easy as they seem. The claw is usually flimsy, and if you don’t get the angle just right, it won’t close over the toy. Others don’t even close all the way, so you can’t go after a narrow part of your prize.

It doesn’t mean they are unwinnable though – they are just harder than they appear.

What is the Most Famous Arcade Game?

Fame is subjective, so it’s hard to choose one of these iconic arcade games and call it the “most famous.” 

Pac-Man sold the most copies, and it was the most important of its time. However, will it still be famous in another 10-20 years? Though the imagery of a small yellow head chomping up dots and running from ghosts is seared into pop culture, I’d argue that its relevance is slowly fading. It used to be the most popular arcade game, but is it still?

Mario Brothers is another that comes to mind. Although one of the most famous video game franchises in the world and a pop culture icon, is it ever even remembered as an arcade game? Can we say it’s the most famous if no one even knows it was an arcade game?

Other top contenders would be Frogger, Space Invaders, and Donkey Kong, which are all well known for being arcade games but also going the way of Pac-Man, circling the drain of our collective cultural memory. 

For now, I will give the title to Pac-Man, but who knows what the answer will be in another twenty years?

Modern Arcades

Arcades and their games are making a comeback in new and unexpected ways. Here’s a look at how the arcade game concept has adapted for modern audiences.

Retro Arcade Bars

The famous bar Dave & Busters brought arcades back into the limelight and helped us take a stroll down memory lane. These “adult fun centers” mixed bar food, tasty adult beverages, and our favorite arcade classics for a night of booze and gaming fun.

Dave & Busters shifted toward a family-friendly focus, a move that helps newer generations appreciate arcades more, but also limits the fun atmosphere of an adult-only bar. However, the franchise’s success spawned smaller, locally owned arcade bars all over the country.

Lancaster PA, one of the hippest cities in Pennsylvania, is home to an adorable vintage arcade bar called Decades, and Savannah Ga is home to The Portal, a tiny bar filled with retro pinball machines and a few classic arcade games. Small bars like this are popping up all over the country!

Arcade Machines for Home Use

Instead of going to an arcade, many people are deciding to bring the arcade home to them. Vintage arcade classics are now a hip man-cave trend. 

These machines aren’t cheap. At approximately three grand per cartridge, it’s unaffordable for most. However, collectors and arcade enthusiasts are buying them for at-home use.

If you don’t care about the vintage look of the console, you can play old arcade games with your new gaming console. The Nintendo Switch allows you to play a variety of old arcade games.

Arcade Emulators

Instead of spending money on an arcade cabinet or a library of arcade games on a console, some people use an emulator to play. 

Emulators are computer programs that people build as a sort of game simulator. It’s the exact same game, but it has been reprogrammed to work as a download file for your PC.

Many emulators are safe to download and use, but you must be careful. This market is not regulated and not always legal, so do your research to ensure you are getting a safe, legal download before deciding to use an emulator.

An Ever-Evolving Industry

The arcade and gaming industry is constantly evolving. Modern technology makes at-home gaming more accessible and comfortable for most people, so arcades must adapt to stay relevant. 

Gamers can play most classics at home and have put interesting spins on old ways to play with apps like Discord and the ability to modify old games with emulators.

What will arcades of the future be? Will they be limited to the family fun centers that they are now – small game rooms adjacent to mini-golf courses? 

Or will they be pioneers of new, immersive gaming experiences, places where you can experience 3D gaming, virtual reality, and games as interactive as laser tag? 

Only time will tell.