Perhaps you spent an impressive amount of time as a youth enjoying the bright lights and exciting, immersive experience of end-of-the-pier games and are longing to bring back that classic arcade experience now that you are an adult.
Alternatively, maybe you are a relative newcomer to the world of arcade games and are interested in learning about the most popular titles that have stood the test of time.
Either way, continue reading to learn about some of the classic arcade games that are still popular today.
1. Pac-Man
Firstly, even for people who have never so much as entered a retro-style arcade before in their life, the game Pac-Man will at least ring a bell.
Arguably one of the most prolific classic arcade games of all time, Pac-Man is considered by most to be the game that got everyone, no matter their age or gender, into video games. Its simple structure and addictive gameplay make it easy to play but difficult to master. It’s sound effects are some of the most classic in all of arcade noises. Notorious gaming world record holder Billy Mitchell, was the first to claim achieving the top score of 3,333,360 points.
2. Dance Dance Revolution
A slightly more modern Japanese staple of the arcade, Dance Dance Revolution was a pioneer in the crossover between music and video gaming, with its dance mat now being among the most recognised and popular arcade interfaces out there. This is a perfect example of a game that is great in the arcades, playing with your friends, and is difficult to replicate at home. A lot of arcade games can be emulated near perfect at home, but some have interfaces which can only really be experienced in the arcade. Driving games can be experienced by having a steering wheel at home, but games like the Deluxe version of Out Run had a hydraulic car you sat in which just can’t be experienced at home. Other games such as Star Wars, Paperboy and Battlezone all had unique interfaces which can only be really experienced in an arcade.
Online gaming, however, has been the main advantage of modern home gaming. Arcades give you a physical social experience but online gaming at home can connect you to other players all around the world. There is such a variety of online games as well, such as multi-player role playing games, sandbox games, online quizzes and also online gambling. Take a look for yourself, and register with jackpot jill casino online for a wide range of slot games, some of which will inject new excitement into your gaming experience (but may not help you lose as many calories as jumping around on Dance Dance Revolution).
3. Streets of Rage 2
There were, in fact, until late 2020 three separate incarnations of the Streets of Rage game, and perhaps, unusually, the second release is normally cited as the superior version. Beat ’em ups, or ‘Fight and go right’ games, have always had a special place in the hearts of arcade dwellers. Classics like Golden Axe and Final Fight led the way. But for many, Streets of Rage (number 2 in particular) is the king of the genre.
It is known by amateur gamers and professional ones alike as the leading arcade game in the ‘brawler genre’, essentially meaning games classified as an action game whereby the protagonist has to fight a huge number of various enemies with either melee weapons or else entirely unarmed.
In 2020, Streets of Rage 4 was released, much to retro fans’ excitement and trepidation, and even the early reviews depicted a gripping and immersive level of gameplay to rival number 2. That modern entry shows just how strong this particular franchise is.
4. The House of the Dead
Finally, to round of our short list of varied style games, The House of the Dead was a one or two-player light gun shooter game and was perhaps one of the most well-known and culturally significant video arcade games of the 1990s.
Imagine the archetypal spooky mansion, fill it from the roof to the foundations with zombies and other scary half-dead creatures, and you will be nearly there. And what really stands out for House of the Dead fans is the intricate ‘scientist gone mad’ storyline.
The good news is that, as of November 2022, The House of the Dead has been remastered for modern home video consoles and can now be played on the PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X and also on PCs.