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Since gaming has started gaining momentum, a lot of gaming genres have started emerging strongly, but arcade games are still lacking pace. Even with thousands of renowned games to offer, arcade gaming has been totally cornered by other gaming genres. But still, if someone is interested in playing arcade games, the options are endless. Below are the options one must check out:
Pac-Man is one of the OG games that one shouldn’t miss if they are interested in playing arcade games. Released in 1980, this maze game has built a fanbase that includes players from every age group. It has kind of opened a new gate for the arcade game with this simple-to-understand gameplay style and bright color characters.
The playing process is simple: control the Pac-Man, and let it eat the dots, but once it clashes with the ghosts, it dies. The controls and the design of this game are simple enough that players can easily understand it with just a few tries.
Now that the OG game is done, let’s come to a comparatively recent version of an arcade game that has made a massive fanbase worldwide: the Mortal Kombat series. It is hard for a gamer not to have heard about the Mortal Kombat series. The series was started in 1992, and as time passed, this franchise has become more recognized for its explicit depiction of violence and gore.
Since Mortal Kombat has brought Fatalities, the special moves that bring brutal death, the popularity of this franchise has escalated to a new height, though this feature is controversial enough. So, if one hasn’t tried this one, 2025 has just started, and it’s the best time to check it out.
Nintendo’s Donkey Kong is a popular arcade game that many players must have heard about at least. Released in 1981, this game was one of the first platform games that introduced newly added mechanics of jumping over obstacles and climbing ladders.
Most interestingly, this game features a Jumpman, who’s actually Mario, who’s on a mission to rescue a princess from a giant ape, named Donkey Kong. The design of the game, along with its gameplay style, has marked a new opening for the gaming world.
Once again, let’s jump to a new arcade game, House of The Dead: Scarlet Dawn. This is the latest entry in the series, released in 2018. This horror-themed rail shooter game received average reception after its launch, though a lot of players must not have heard about it. The best part is that these games feature almost all the exciting features, including intense zombie-shooting action, challenging boss battles, and impressive graphics. Additionally, the developer has added motion capture to make the game more realistic.
While listing the best arcade games to try in 2025, one can hardly miss the Street Fighter franchise, especially Street Fighter II. Released in 1991, this game has taken the gaming world by storm. Street Fighter II is often hailed as one of the greatest arcade games that has popularized the fighting game genre.
The primary reason behind its success is its complexity of gameplay and a wide range of characters, and most importantly, all of them have their own distinct fighting styles and special moves. This is tough to master or even understand, but somehow this has become the USP of the game.
Well, this is not the Minecraft that players know. It took time, but as a sandbox game, Minecraft has made its steady fanbase that, even after thirteen years, is only in increasing motion. Therefore, Mojang Studios was sure that the arcade game would also not disappoint them.
Indeed, the arcade version of the game is not as popular as Minecraft is, but it is one of the most popular arcade games of recent times, which allows co-op play of up to 4 players. Players can collect gems or fight enemies to complete the levels. So, when one is in search of a good arcade game, it is better not to forget Minecraft Dungeons Arcade.
Centipede is the 1981-released vertical shooting arcade game that combines action and strategy elements together to create an engaging gameplay experience for gamers. The gameplay is simple. Players only need to shoot and destroy the centipede that comes from the top of the screen while avoiding other obstacles like spiders and scorpions. The colorful visuals and fast-paced gameplay are what make it appealing to gamers. Centipede has a vast fanbase, which includes female players as well.
The next game that deserves a mention on this list is Tekken 7. The Tekken series has multiple successful entries, but the 2015 installment has gathered the most love from gamers. While initially this series was introduced as one of the arcade games, later the developer team widened its boundaries to console and PC to get more gamers. Tekken 7 presents a stunning world with impressive graphics and characterization. The character roster that the game presents is full of powerful yet cool characters. Therefore, players who have yet to play a good arcade game shouldn’t miss this opportunity.
The Halo games are not arcade games, but this 2018-released Halo: Fireteam Raven has broken the tradition and become an arcade game that players can enjoy playing with their squad. While this game is different from the conventional Halo games, it still uses a similar in-game world, impressive graphics, and an engaging storyline. This game can be played alone, but it’s better if players try fighting the villain with a squad.
This is the final game that one should give a try if they are curious about experiencing an arcade game. Initially released in 2010, this game features various renowned characters from the Sonic and other Sega gaming universes. Players can choose any of these characters to start their journey on the action-packed racetracks. This is a must-try game for those who love playing racing games.
These are some of the best arcade games one must give a try if they are eager to experience the thrill of playing games from one of the most ignored genres.
