The Best Arcade Games Of All Time

Arcade games are a central part of a simple era fondly looked back on by many. We’ve compiled a list of what we consider the best arcade games ever.

13:55 23 June 2020

Nerds weren’t always cool – at least not before a certain television series came and changed the science of the matter. Even so, nerd-hood has for as long as memory serves been classified by two major integers: the humble comic book and the arcade game. Fond is the memory that recalls images of machine buttons fingered with desperate and anger-infused abandon, the merry and even fantasised-about metallic clamour caused by a coin hitting arcade machine metal-bottom and the brain damaging glow of the bright flashing lights of the beloved metal-encased spew-er of quality arcade gaming entertainment.

 

But lest we digress and embarrass ourselves, let us move on to our list of favourite arcade games; nay, experiences; of all time.

 

Frogger

 

Frogger at first glance appeared the impersonation of simplicity – which was of course the deceptive nature of what made arcade games special in the first place. But not Frogger. Bringing a loveable little frog to lily-pad safety as it made its merry way across incoming traffic and precariously floating logs was a thing of utmost precision. One mistake was it all took to ensure death by drowning, or worse, death by tyre.

 

But disappointments aside, Frogger’s retro-style game legacy lives on – even today. What a younger generation of gamers probably doesn’t realise is that “Crossy Road” is no more than a riff on Frogger. Assimilate that for size!

 

Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3

 

That’s right – that’s Kombat with a “K”. Also, ‘twas a time for being impressed by fighting to the death. Mortal Kombat 3 not only looked better than its two predecessors, but it also made provision for eight players. It was a world filled with friendship, brutality, and most importantly, the survival of the fittest. But most importantly – Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 embodied the absolute height of the 2D era in arcade-style gaming and it can still be enjoyed on Nintendo.

 

Donkey Kong

 

Donkey Kong, in retrospect, should in all fairness top any ‘best of arcade games’ list worth the paper it’s printed on. Not only was Donkey Kong famously difficult to play, it was also famously impossible to put down, which in today’s gaming lingo basically spells the epitome of success in video games development.

 

In fact, Donkey Kong was one of the very first platforming video games ever launched. And considering that this was a genre that would ultimately go on to completely redefine video games in the 80s and 90s, Donkey Kong can without as much as a haughty shimmer of a whim be called a classic game in every conceivable sense of the word. It’s as good as apostas esportivas no Brasil and just as exciting too.

 

Super Street Fighter II Turbo

 

This was practically the last edition of the Street Fighter series of games before the franchise started working on its Alpha series. Turbo was of a better quality than Street Fighter II while still having made provision for all 16 the original playable characters. Super Street Fighter II Turbo was the best of both worlds. Street Fighter II Turbo was the best of everyone’s worlds.