If we look around, there would hardly be a single person who doesn’t know about the classic arcade retro games, as we all have played them in our childhood. The experience of playing the best old arcade games was truly one of a kind. The reason why people were spending so much time playing these vintage arcade video games was the thrills and excitement these games were offering to them.
One might be wondering that out of all the available ones, which would be the best arcade retro games there are. We are here to answer this question for you. Below we have come up with an extensive list of the 7 best arcade retro games.
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So, without wasting any further time, let’s jump straight into it.
A Little History of Arcade Games
Many gaming enthusiasts of today’s age don’t know much about the arcade retro games, what they meant and how much excitement they were bringing into the lives of the gamers of that time. Before gaming consoles and PCs came into being, there used to be arcade games that kept gamers awake all night.
The concept of arcade games came into being as early as the late 1930s when the first coin-operated pinball machine launched. Later, a student of Stanford University devised a machine to accept coins and play Spacewar. This was a miracle for the gamers and gaming was never the same for them.
7 Best Arcade Retro Games
For the oldies born before 2000, they are well aware of the classic retro games. But for the generation born after this period, here is the extensive list of top arcade retro games one can play on PC or otherwise.
1. Pac-Man
With the release of Pac-Man, arcade gaming saw the biggest booms it had ever experienced. The gamers of 1980 were the first ones to play this classic arcade retro game. The main idea of the game is the Pac-Man consuming all the dots coming its way and avoiding the ghosts. The different colored ghosts are named Inky, Blinky, Pinky, and Clyde.
The real battle here is of high scores, where people used to relentlessly play Pac-Man over the high scores. The popularity of the Pac-Man has gotten it to many platforms. Not so long ago, I played its desktop version.
One of the most interesting facts about this game is that it does not have an end. Yes, you have heard it right: no end. You can literally play it all day and night and you won’t reach an end.
2. Galaga
If we call Galaga the updated version of the Space Invaders, it won’t be wrong. Because the antagonists we face here are more active. Namco developed this game, and it is the sequel to Galaxian. Your task in this game is to control a starship and destroy the Galaga forces. During all that time, you will also need to avoid the enemy’s projectiles.
To have additional firepower and become a dual fighter, the player needs to rescue his ship captured by enemies.
Due to its continuous transformation, it is one of those games which is played on almost every type of console available.
3. Donkey Kong
For the gamers of the 1980s, the most important moment in gaming unfolded when Donkey Kong launched. It is one of those vintage arcade video games which gives you a snapshot of the golden age of gaming. What you do in this game is try to dodge the obstacles coming your way, and try to reach the top of the twisted tower and save the princess from Donkey Kong — the main antagonist.
The effort put by Shigeru Miyamoto paid off big time, and Donkey Kong was a big hit in the North America Market. One of the main reasons for the success of Donkey Kong was the huge number of sales of games for home consoles.
4. Space Invaders
If we talk about the highest-grossing game of all time, it is Space Invaders. It is one of those games which are very simple, yet very addictive. The player in this game is tasked with stopping the space invaders by shooting at them, avoiding the blast from invaders coming his way.
The more you kill the invader, the more will be the speed of the enemy wall coming towards you. This feature of the game was initially a programming mistake, but later, the game designer left the game as it was.
5. Street Fighter II
Beating your mate in a video game is the ultimate fun as it allows you to brag about it in front of him for the entire day. One such game in which you can battle with your fellow players is Street Fighter II. This game is a sequel to Street Fighter, and it came in 1991. Even if you play this game for a single time, you get the idea of why this game has so much longevity.
The simple thing you do in this game is to select your favorite character and have a fight with the character selected by your opponent.
The updated modern interface and gaming modes have successfully engaged the attention of gamers to this day.
6. Missile Command
Next up on the list is another best of best arcade retro games out there: Missile Command. The game is known for its colorful characters, tight controls, and killer soundtracks.
This game is a “shoot ‘em up” arcade video game, in which the player is required to defend six cities from ballistic missiles by using anti-ballistic missiles. The anti-ballistic missiles are launched from three bases. Protecting the cities seems a tough job, but what comes with a tough job is a hell lotta fun.
Numerous clones and remakes of the game are there in the market. Missile Command is considered to be one of the greatest arcade retro games of all time.
7. Mario Bros.
Completing this list of the best arcade retro games without including the name of Mario Bros would not be just with our readers. So, here it is, Mario Bros: my favorite arcade retro game of all time. The goal of the player in the game is to knock the creatures that are emerging from sewers upside-down and kick them away.
The classic collaboration of Shigeru Miyamoto and Gunpei Yokoi in this game speaks volumes about the quality of this game. The adventure this game offers is what makes it one of the best old arcade games.
FAQs About the Best Arcade Retro Games
Below we have answered some frequently asked questions about the best arcade retro games.
Some people might consider this biased, but facts and figures will assure it that Pac-Man is the most successful arcade game of all time. When Pac-Man launched, that time marked the biggest shakeup in gaming.
During the golden age of arcade video games, Space Invaders was the highest-grossing entertainment product, while Pac-Man is considered to be the highest-grossing arcade game.
If you are up to buying a new, or even used, arcade game, you will see that their prices greatly vary. The price of an arcade game depends on many factors such as the type of game, its condition, and the rarity of the arcade machine.
An average arcade machine ranges from $500 to $7,500. Classic arcade games like Pac-Man and Mario Bross are going to cost you from $2,000 to $3,000.
The price of any item is inversely proportional to its availability. In simple terms, if that particular item is very rare, its price will go up. The same is the case with arcade machines.
Another reason why these machines for classic arcade games cost so much is the fact that their maintenance cost is higher than traditional games. There is another factor of their testing and updating on a regular basis, which adds to the cost of arcade machines.
Do you know you can make your own retro games? Check out the procedure here.
Conclusion
While many people may consider the arcade game outdated. Still there are some individuals who like to buy and collect these games. Maybe they still like to play them or they are buying these classic arcade retro games out of nostalgia, whatever the reason is, it’s happening around us.
For people who do not have much knowledge about classic arcade retro games, it is necessary for them to know about the greatest arcade retro games of all time. Above we have discussed the 7 best arcade retro games. We guarantee you that playing these best old arcade games will not disappoint you.
