Best Arcade Games

Battlezone

Released: Nov 1, 1980

Critic rating: 80.0 / 100

Rating: E

Genres: Shooter, Simulator, Arcade

Platforms: Commodore VIC-20, Arcade, Atari 8-bit, Commodore C64/128/MAX, ZX Spectrum, Atari Lynx, Atari ST/STE, DOS, Apple II

Game modes: Single player

Battlezone is an arcade game from Atari released in November 1980.

Nuclear Throne

Released: Dec 5, 2015

Critic rating: 84.0 / 100

Rating: E10+

Genres: Shooter, Adventure, Indie, Arcade

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative

Nuclear Throne is an action roguelike-like by Vlambeer about mutants fighting their way through a post-apocalyptic world.

Top Gunner

Released: Oct 1, 1986

Critic rating: 78.2 / 100 • 28 votes

Genres: Shooter, Racing, Arcade

Platforms: Arcade, Commodore C64/128/MAX, ZX Spectrum, DOS, Amstrad CPC

Game modes: Single player, Co-operative, Split screen

Overhead run'n gun-style shoot-'em-up.

Creature in the Well

Released: Sep 6, 2019

Critic rating: 73.8 / 100

Rating: E

Genres: Fighting, Puzzle, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Pinball, Adventure, Indie, Arcade

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Game modes: Single player

Creature in the Well is a top-down, pinball-inspired hack and slash dungeon crawler.

Dead or Alive 3

Released: Nov 15, 2001

Critic rating: 80.0 / 100

Rating: T

Genres: Fighting, Arcade

Platforms: Xbox

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative

Dead or Alive 3 is the third installment in the popular fighting series Dead or Alive.

Infernax

Released: Feb 14, 2022

Critic rating: 76.7 / 100

Rating: M

Genres: Platform, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Indie, Arcade

Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative

Infernax is the adventures of a great knight who returns to his homeland only to find it plagued with unholy magic.

Re-Volt

Released: Aug 18, 1999

Critic rating: 78.2 / 100 • 112 votes

Rating: E

Genres: Racing, Sport, Arcade

Platforms: Arcade, Nintendo 64, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, PlayStation, Dreamcast

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Split screen

Re-Volt is an R/C car racing game from Acclaim, originally released in 1999.

Blazing Chrome

Released: Jul 11, 2019

Critic rating: 77.3 / 100

Rating: T

Genres: Shooter, Platform, Indie, Arcade

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative

Blazing Chrome is a classic co-op run 'n gun with an original arcade feel.

Track & Field

Released: Oct 17, 1983

Critic rating: 80.0 / 100

Rating: E

Genres: Sport, Arcade

Platforms: Arcade

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer

Track & Field is an Olympic-themed arcade game.

SoulCalibur IV

Released: Jul 29, 2008

Critic rating: 81.8 / 100

Rating: T

Genres: Fighting, Arcade

Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer

"Swords will be honed and weapons optimized as the world renowned weapon-based fighting series Soulcalibur unveils a fourth installment.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle

Released: Aug 29, 2013

Critic rating: 70.5 / 100

Rating: T

Genres: Fighting, Arcade

Platforms: PlayStation 3

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer

Adapted from Hirohiko Araki’s smash manga hit, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, the game takes characters spanning all eight incredible story arcs of the manga and pits them against each other in an epic one-on-one fighting game.

FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage

Released: Jul 22, 2007

Critic rating: 80.0 / 100

Rating: T

Genres: Racing, Arcade

Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox 360

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Split screen

An enhanced version of the PlayStation 2 game FlatOut 2.

Skullgirls

Released: Apr 10, 2012

Critic rating: 78.8 / 100

Rating: T

Genres: Fighting, Indie, Arcade

Platforms: PlayStation 3, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Xbox 360

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer

Skullgirls is a fast-paced 2-D fighting game that puts players in control of fierce warriors in an extraordinary Dark Deco world.

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime

Released: Sep 9, 2015

Critic rating: 83.4 / 100

Rating: E10+

Genres: Shooter, Puzzle, Simulator, Adventure, Indie, Arcade

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is a frantic 1- or 4-player couch co-op action space shooter set in a massive neon battleship.

Osmos

Released: Aug 18, 2009

Critic rating: 80.0 / 100

Rating: E

Genres: Puzzle, Simulator, Strategy, Indie, Arcade

Platforms: Linux, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac

Game modes: Single player

Enter the ambient world of Osmos: elegant, physics-based gameplay, dreamlike visuals, and a minimalist, electronic soundtrack.

Moto Racer

Released: Aug 1, 1997

Critic rating: 78.0 / 100 • 33 votes

Rating: E

Genres: Racing, Arcade

Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation

Game modes: Single player

Moto Racer is an arcade style motorcycle racing game developed by Delphine Software International and published by Electronic Arts for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation.

Mega Man V

Released: Jul 22, 1994

Critic rating: 77.9 / 100 • 25 votes

Rating: E

Genres: Platform, Adventure, Arcade

Platforms: Nintendo 3DS, Game Boy

Game modes: Single player

Mega Man V, known as Rockman World 5, is a video game developed and published by Capcom for the Game Boy handheld game console.

SnowRunner

Released: Apr 28, 2020

Critic rating: 81.0 / 100

Rating: E

Genres: Racing, Simulator, Adventure, Arcade

Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative

SnowRunner is an off-road driving simulation game that focuses on navigating challenging terrain using a variety of heavy vehicles.

Dome Keeper

Released: Sep 27, 2022

Critic rating: 80.0 / 100

Rating: E10+

Genres: Tactical, Indie, Arcade

Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Web browser, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative

Defend against waves of alien monsters in this unique roguelike action mining game.

Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara

Released: Feb 4, 1996

Critic rating: 75.0 / 100

Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Arcade

Platforms: Arcade, Sega Saturn

Game modes: Single player, Co-operative, Split screen

Shadow over Mystara is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up with role-play elements that make it stand out from other similar games released at the time.

Peglin

Released: Aug 27, 2024

Critic rating: 70.0 / 100

Rating: E

Genres: Puzzle, Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Adventure, Indie, Arcade

Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, PlayStation 5, Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Game modes: Single player

Peglin is a Pachinko Roguelike - Fight enemies by collecting special orbs and popping pegs to deal damage.

Double Dragon II: The Revenge

Released: Nov 1, 1988

Critic rating: 77.9 / 100 • 78 votes

Rating: E10+

Genres: Fighting, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure, Arcade

Platforms: Arcade

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative

The original arcade version of "Double Dragon II" is essentially an improved version of the first game.

Anomaly Agent

Released: Jan 24, 2024

Critic rating: 80.0 / 100

Rating: T

Genres: Fighting, Platform, Adventure, Indie, Arcade

Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Game modes: Single player

Anomaly Agent is a cyberpunk action-platformer featuring fluid combat, a time-bending story, quirky characters and a catchy synthwave soundtrack!

Alien Shooter 2: Reloaded

Released: Sep 7, 2006

Critic rating: 77.8 / 100 • 27 votes

Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Indie, Arcade

Platforms: Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS

Game modes: Single player

During the first half of the 21st century, the war on terror became a global phenomenon, as more blatant and frenzied attacks struck deeper into the lives of common people.

Fruit Ninja

Released: Apr 20, 2010

Critic rating: 83.3 / 100

Rating: E

Genres: Arcade

Platforms: Web browser, Windows Phone, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Legacy Mobile Device

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Split screen

Fruit Ninja is a juicy action game with squishy, splatty and satisfying fruit carnage!