25. Paperboy (1984)
It’s a shame working an actual paper route isn’t as fun as Atari’s Paperboy. After choosing your difficulty level, the player is asked to complete a route on bicycle for seven days. The user gains a final score and a notification that reads: “Paperboy Wins Award For Outstanding Paper-Delivery”. Easier said than done, of course.
Dodging the neighborhood obstacles while tossing papers into the mailboxes of the bright “subscriber” homes is challenging enough, but the real fun comes when you run up your score by terrorizing non-subscriber homes via property damage. Smashing windows with papers and destroying flower beds is quite satisfying.
The cabinet also has a unique bicycle handlebar control scheme that makes the arcade version of Paperboy the most satisfying version you can play.
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24. X-Men (1992)
In a time before online play (or even owning a console that could accommodate more than two controllers), offering a multiplayer experience was the only gimmick an arcade game needed to really suck in the quarters. X-Men didn’t wow anyone with its gameplay. However, the mere fact that you and five of your friends could take control of one of your favorite mutants (or the Dazzler) and take the fight to an endless supply of Sentinels makes this game a standout at any retro arcade.
The major knock against the game is that it is not based on the popular X-Men cartoon from 1992, but instead on the failed pilot “X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men” (produced in 1989). If you’re looking to play as favorites like Gambit or Rogue, you will be sorely disappointed.
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23. 1943: The Battle at Midway (1987)
How bizarre is it that a game produced in Japan (that is loosely based on the Battle of Midway) tasks the player with destroying Japanese aircraft en route to sinking a Japanese warship? That’s super weird right? Anyway…
As a sequel, 1943 improved on 1942 in nearly every way. Two players can now play simultaneously, the action is faster, there are more upgrades, more items, more variety in enemies. The controls are as tight as ever, and the series’ signature “loop” button that temporarily takes the player off of the 2D plane of action is a brilliant way to simulate World War II dogfights.
You’re more likely to see 1942 in a retro arcade, but 1943 is where it’s at.
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22. Golden Axe (1989)
Essentially, Double Dragon meets Conan the Barbarian, with a very light class and magic system sprinkled in for additional flavor. Players can choose between one of three different characters — each of whom wield a different form of magic. The story is light but compelling enough, drawing the player into an epic journey to defeat the evil Death Adder. The high fantasy setting is well served by the music and graphics, and the combat is still fun and responsive even all of these years later. There are better side scrolling beat ‘em ups, but not many.
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21. Virtua Cop (1994)
Sega’s Virtua Cop was one of the first light gun rail shooters to incorporate full 3D polygonal graphics as opposed to the digitized sprites that were the norm in the genre. This allowed for a more kinetic, cinematic presentation and some interesting tweaks to light gun gameplay. It was mind blowing in 1994 to be able to target specific limbs that, for example, disarm a criminal instead of killing them. The game would be improved upon mechanically in sequels, but the original has a certain charm that is still enjoyable. A lot of that is due to the story which, while still being an over the top crime thriller, hasn’t gone completely insane in the same way the sequels will.
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20. Cruis’n USA (1994)
You could make the argument that this spot on the list should be given to the more graphically impressive Dayton USA. If you’re into something that more realistically simulates competitive driving, then that’s the series for you.
On the other hand, if you want to tear through ridiculous racetrack interpretations of various United States cities and landmarks in an eclectic collection of vehicles that include a muscle car and a school bus, then Cruis’n USA is the twin racer for you. It’s not as crazy as a cart racer or something like Hydro Thunder, but there’s a silly charm to everything that elevates the experience.
Also…you can change the radio station. How cool is that?
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19. R-Type (1987)
R-Type is a classic horizontal shmup — and is inarguably one of the games that helped popularize the entire genre. The enemies and level design have an appropriately alien feeling, with a couple of the 8 stages looking practically Giger-esque. Unlike other shoot ‘em ups, the deliberate pace of the scrolling screen ‘ups the atmosphere. It lets the player take in these richly detailed environments. The additional mechanic of “The Force” can be attached to the player’s ship. The multiple applications adds an extra layer of depth beyond the mindless pray and spray of the numerous R-Type copycats.
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18. Ivan “Ironman” Stewart’s Super Off-Road (1989)
Up to three players can grab the wheel of an off-road truck and see if they have what it takes to outrace “Ironman” Ivan Stewart. The isometric perspective of the course is sure to give first-time players a headache as they try to make sense of the controls. The upgrade system can be equally confusing as you spend earned cash to improve your truck between races. However, with a little practice this is one of the most fun and unique racing games in the arcade.
The nice part is, once you know what you’re doing, you can get plenty of play from a single quarter. If you manage to defeat all of the computer controlled trucks…you can continue on to the next race for free!
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17. After Burner (1987)
No disrespect to the standup cabinet version After Burner, but here we are specifically highlighting the deluxe cockpit edition. The name of the game here is immersion. After Burner isn’t going to trick anyone into thinking they’re in an actual flight simulator. However, the dual speakers on either side of your head pumping beautiful stereo sound into the cockpit (combined with the horizontal and vertical movement of the unit) is sure to get anyone’s blood pumping.
The player takes an F-14 from the deck of the Sega Enterprise aircraft carrier. You then are immersed in a 18-stage combat competition. The actual gameplay isn’t the deepest in the world, but the presentation elevates this shooter immensely.
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16. Metal Slug (1996)
Metal Slug has some of the best sprite animation of all-time. Smooth and expressive, brimming with charm and personality, there was clearly a lot of love that went into the development of this chaotic run and gun bullet fest. Amid the explosions and bloodshed, there are constant sight gags. You’re likely to die at least a couple of times because you’re too busy laughing to notice that missile coming from a hidden enemy with a rocket launcher.
Par for the course with this game, though, as it is quite difficult. Beneath the silly presentation is a gauntlet of 6 missions designed to eat through quarters. Still, that doesn’t take away from what is an incredibly fun and polished experience.
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15. Lucky & Wild (1993)
Inspired by the “buddy cop” movie trend of the ’80’s and ’90’s, Lucky & Wild is an over-the-top combination racing and shooting game. Players go through each stage attempting to arrest the “boss” within the time allotted, shooting at any and everything that moves. The sprite work is excellent and the game is brimming with personality, though what really sets it apart is the unconventional co-op.
Lucky & Wild is a rarity in that the co-op is asymmetrical. While player one can both drive and shoot, player two can only fire their weapon. This brilliant decision actually helps immensely with immersion, creating tension between both players that always exists in the movies that the game is parodying. If you see this in a retro arcade, grab a friend and get playing. And don’t forget to remind them that “you’re gettin’ too old for this.”
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14. Time Crisis II (1997)
Time Crisis was one of the more innovative first person light gun rail shooters of its era. The addition of a pedal to the cabinet was a total game changer, adding a cover system to the light gun shooter and allowing players to reload their weapons on the fly. It also, as the name implies, added a ticking clock element to every stage, with players having a limited amount of time to clear each level. These two conflicting gameplay decisions – using cover to move cautiously yet needing to rush through the stage – added immensely to the tension and thrills.
Time Crisis II is more or less the same game, with an even crazier story and the addition of cooperative gameplay. It might not have been as successful as the original, but it is the better game — and one of the best classic arcade games of all time.
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13. Tetris
There have been countless versions of Tetris released, by dozens of companies both legally and otherwise. The version that you’ll see most often in a retro arcade these days is the 1988 Atari cabinet, but that is beside the point.
Tetris is already one of the most enduring, addictive games ever made. In an arcade setting, though, there is an additional source of dopamine added to the mix. Unlike when you’re playing on your Gameboy at home or even on your Switch with Tetris 99, at an arcade your score is public. On display for all to see, with your initials attached on the leaderboard. Think you’re good enough to get to the top in your local arcade? Okay, prove it.
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12. Galaga (1981)
The ultimate fixed shooter game, Galaga isn’t complicated. A sequel to Galaxian which itself was a spiritual successor to Space Invaders. You control a ship on a fixed plane at the bottom of the screen and fire away at the invading enemies who arrive in waves. You then take turns dive bombing and attacking the player. Like most great arcade games, the gameplay is simple — though there is more strategy required than would be apparent at first glance. Accuracy has an effect on your score, for example, so it’s in your best interest to not just spam the fire button. The difficulty ramps up nicely with each screen, and it never feels cheap or unfair. Galaga is unquestionably a classic.
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11. NBA Jam: Tournament Edition (1994)
Now this list is heating up. Midway’s NBA Jam is an absolute joy to play. Instead of trying to be any kind of realistic simulation of the sport of basketball, Jam focuses purely on fun and action. Everything is exaggerated. Players jump higher, slam elbows into each other, dunk from the 3 point line and literally light the nets on fire.
The game is stripped down to 2 on 2, though with the Tournament Edition version of the game each team has a roster of 3 players to choose from. Jam is also fully licensed (a rarity in its time) so you have your pick of the best of the NBA of 1994. Before NFL Blitz or NHL Hitz or NBA Street there was NBA Jam.
Boomshakalaka!
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10. Rampage (1986)
It’s a game where you choose between a giant Gorilla, Wolf or Lizard. The player then progresses through each stage by razing a city and eating as many people, tanks, helicopters and police cars as monsterly possible. Can’t go wrong there. Each stage is a day, and there are 128 days to play. As such, there’s plenty of variety to facilitate your wanton destruction. Like many games on this list, Rampage has inspired a number of remakes and sequels. The original, though, is as fun as ever. Especially when you’ve got three people on the machine at the same time.
Additionally, that Rampage movie with Dwayne Johnson wasn’t half bad. Honestly.
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9. Final Fight (1987)
Final Fight isn’t that different from the other beat ‘em ups of its era. You control a large muscle bound tough guy who wanders through a dilapidated Warriors-esque city smashing hundreds of street toughs. If you’re lucky, you make it through all six stages and save the girl. Pretty boilerplate.
Final Fight does a lot of the same things the other games do, only better. It’s over the top and campy in all the right places – one of the playable characters is a former pro wrestler turned Mayor, the final boss is thrown out of a window – and the actual gameplay itself just feels better than a Double Dragon, for example. Some of that is down to the excellent sound design. The punches and kicks really land.
Either way, Final Fight isn’t just a beat ‘em up, it’s one of the best beat ‘em ups.
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8. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time (1991)
One of the greatest licensed games of all time, Turtles in Time is a fantastic beat ‘em up that perfectly captures the essence of the Saturday morning cartoon. There’s so much personality here. The turtles throw out one liners, enemies are tossed at the screen with a fun 3D effect, and the music is superlative. Best of all, the difficulty is actually quite forgiving — meaning you and three of your friends can actually manage to get through to the end of the game without spending the entirety of your allowance.
Turtles in Time built off the success of the previous TMNT game and improved every single element. The only thing the 1989 arcade game has that Turtles in Time doesn’t is the amazing live action picture of April O’Neil smiling on the side of the cabinet. She just looks so happy to be there.
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7. Crazy Taxi (1999)
The game that prepared millennials for the impending gig economy. Crazy Taxi is an open world racing game that drops your chosen driver into a city clearly inspired by San Francisco and tasks you with completing as many fares as possible in a given amount of time. The pace is frantic, and you are given plenty of ramps to hit, boxes to drive through, and quirky customers to ferry — all while The Offspring and Bad Religion blare on the rocking soundtrack.
Pro tip…just like with Waze, blindly following the big green arrow is not always the most direct way to get to your destination!
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6. Tapper (1983)
Here’s another simple idea that makes for a fun and challenging arcade classic. You take the role of a bartender, slinging beers at thirsty patrons and catching the empty glasses that come back down the bar. Let a glass break or a patron reach the keg at the end of the bar, and you lose. Clear the bar with prompt service and you progress to the next screen. If you’re lucky, a customer will leave you a tip.
The cabinet actually has a physical tap that you pull to fill the glasses, and that tactile experience is extremely satisfying. Fun fact: The original versions of the game were sponsored by Anheuser-Busch. Later cabinets saw you serving up ice cold root beer which sort of takes away from some of the charm.
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5. BurgerTime (1982)
Here’s a game that is difficult to explain, but actually quite simple. You’re a chef named Peter Pepper — stacking up an order of burgers while dodging hot dogs, pickles and eggs. Don’t worry though, your edible enemies can be stopped as long as you have some salt to throw. If you run out of salt, just grab some ice cream, french fries or coffee.
Makes sense to me. BurgerTime is an underrated gem — a very very weird and charming game that should be held up on the same level of other classics like Donkey Kong and Pac-Man.
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4. Mortal Kombat II (1993)
Arguably the best entry in the series, and certainly the one that defined it, Mortal Kombat II built off of the popularity of the first entry and upped the ante across the board. More characters, more levels, more fatalities, and more gore. Mortal Kombat II was a phenomenon.
There’s a plot, of course. Things pick up where the last left off — and introduces a new villain for the cannon hero and previous tournament winner Lui Kang to challenge. It’s a flimsy excuse for the tournament structure, but it’s there for those who care about such things.
More important than that though were the improvements made to the actual Kombat. The mechanics were improved, they made it easier to perform combos, and overall it was a more competitive and balanced game to play with friends. A legit co-op arcade classic.
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3. Donkey Kong (1981)
This early platformer was Nintendo’s attempt at creating a game to rival the popularity of Pac-Man. It worked. Donkey Kong was a monster hit and changed video games forever. One of the first games with an actual plot, players take control of Mario nee Jumpman, who is trying to rescue his dear Pauline from the clutches of Donkey Kong. Along the way, Mario jumps over barrels, grabs magic hammers, avoids springs and rides elevators.
It was all quite complicated for 1981. Nintendo has obviously been producing Donkey Kong products ever since, but the original game remains the most iconic
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2. Street Fighter II (1991)
Another game that changed video games forever. We’re starting to see a trend here at the end of the list. Let’s lump in all of the versions of this game that were released, as each had incremental changes and can’t be considered full sequels.
Street Fighter 2 wasn’t obviously the first fighting game – far from it – but it popularized the genre, led to an explosion of copycats, and saved a sagging arcade industry.
Oh, and it defined many of the mechanics in the genre that we take for granted today. Enjoy combos in your fighting games? They basically invented those right here in Street Fighter 2. Like having a diverse roster with unique move-sets? Normalized in Street Fighter 2. It is hard to underestimate the impact that this game has had on the entire video game industry.
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1. Pac-Man (1980) // Ms. Pac-Man (1982)
One of the most influential games of all time. Unquestionably. Not only is it one of the highest grossing games of all-time, it completely changed what an arcade game could be. Before Pac-Man, games didn’t even have clearly defined main characters. Using only a joystick and nothing else, the straightforward gameplay cycle is easy to understand but difficult to master. It’s a perfect entry-level game that can appeal to any audience.
Ms. Pac-Man, more of what we would today call an expansion rather than a sequel, is equally as important. It took the original and refined it, tweaking the mechanics and adding some story elements to the formula. From a gameplay perspective, it’s just better. Also possibly the first time a video game had a female main character.
They’re similar enough, though, that they both sit atop this list as the best retro arcade games of all-time.
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