One of the fun memories that I have in my teenage years, especially during the summer, was going to the arcade with my friends. There are so many great games out there where I would spend my time and money trying to get further each time I played. There were some friends that worked at some of the arcades that my friends and I would go to. They would hook us up with some free tokens. That made that time even sweeter. This is one of the hardest lists I have made here at The Art of Fatherhood. Also, just a note there is no order from fifth to first. These five games are equally awesome. What are your top five? Let me know in the comment section below.
Top Five Arcade Games Of All Time
Pac-Man
One of the OGs in the arcade world. This is one that made arcades what they are today. Pac-Man arcade was not just in arcades, but you saw them in pizza shops, movie theaters and even gas stations. Pac-Man mania was a legit thing. There were cartoons about Pac-Man. In addition, Pac-Man was made into one the best cereals of all time. Getting back to the game, it was a game where you think it is easy, until you run out of power pellets. That is when things get real. Loved playing that game with my dad or friends.
Mortal Kombat II
One of my favorite games of all time is Mortal Kombat II. To me it is the best game in the MK series. I loved playing in the arcade with friends or other people who thought that they could beat me. Raiden and Scorpion were my go to guys. I tried the different mystery moves to get to different portals or play against secret characters. Playing the Sega Genesis version was fun at home, but before today’s technology, nothing, I mean nothing could prepare you for playing MK II in the arcade.
Daytona USA
Move over Mario Kart. Step aside Gran Turismo. Daytona USA was THE BEST racing game at the arcade. Daytona USA was so much fun. The arcade that I went to in my town had eight consoles where you and seven other buddies would see who would win the race. The sounds were on point. You felt as close as you possibly could to what it would feel like to drive a race car in the world of NASCAR. I loved playing this game. The adrenaline spikes playing that game will live on forever!
Star Wars Trilogy
You all know me. So you must trust your feelings and know that a Star Wars game has to be on this list. The Star Wars Trilogy game was so much fun. You got to follow Luke, Han, Leia and Chewie and recreate some memorable parts of the Star Wars Trilogy. You would try to blow up the Death Star followed by taking down some AT-ATs on Hoth. At times you would face off against Boba Fett or Darth Vader. Just like Pac-Man you could see this game at arcades and other places. When I lived in New Jersey, there was a burger joint that had this game. Needless to say that I would play the game each time I went into that restaurant.
X-Men Arcade
Just like Daytona USA, X-Men Arcade was a go to game when you were hanging with a few friends. I enjoyed playing the game with my friends as long as they knew I had to be Wolverine. There was one friend who loved playing as Colossus just so they could keep on doing his mutant yell! The company did a great job of bringing the comic book series to life in this game. Many quarters were used playing this game to see if we all could beat Magneto and save the world.
YO IF I CAN’T GUESS YOUR NUMBERS 1 AND 2 THEN I’LL EAT MY OWN HAT
WAIT WHY AM I HAVING TO EAT MY OWN HAT
NO NBA JAM?!
Hope it is a tasty hat!
https://youtu.be/-JRF7OzQDvU?is=VmOrDmc2Iu_aU3mu
I have my thoughts…
…which I’ll keep to myself.
Hey we are friends. I can take it. haha
Great list. Art. I always put the original nba jam on this too.
Good call.
Oh man, I would have had Forgotten Worlds and Double Dragon on there. Maybe only because I put a STUPID amount of quarters into them at Comic Cottage in Long Beach NY.
Good choices there!
No Centipede? No Space Invaders? No Tetris? No Galaga? You need to do an Old School take as well. 🙂
Good list there!
I continue to remember two old school games. One was really good although lo-fi: Wizard of Wor. The other was not good but still memorable: Looping (killer balloons and a maze!).
Good list there, Greg.
Art, I agree how could you not put NBA JAM or NFL Biltz. Also, Street Fighter II Champion Edition. Also, for racing I would say Rush.
I love NBA Jam and NFL Blitz. I just played more of it at home than the arcade. All great picks by you, Jun.
For me it would be these 5, in no particular order: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Simpsons, Street Fighter II, Pac-Man and NBA Jam!
Very good list!
Track and Field, Galaga, vs Excitebike / Duck Hunt (they had them on the same machine), Ms. PAC -Man (I had regular pac man on the Atari at home), skeeball
Great list, Brent!
Ninja Turtles, Pac-Man, NBA Jam, Mortal Kombat II, and Wrestle Fest. However, Shadow Dancer deserves an honorable mention.
Love this list!
The Trilogy game was/is one of my favorites!
Yes!!!
IMPERIAL TROOPS HAVE ENTERED THE BASE IMPERIAL TROOPS HAVE ENTERED THE BASE…. ❤️
So good!
I played that robotron whatever year that year is game and the controls and visuals had me hooked!! I never played it till recently and now I wanna buy one lol
That is awesome!
In no particular order (my favorite):
Ms. Pac-Man
Galaga
Mortal Kombat
Air Hockey
Any, and all, pinball machines (but not all are awesome, there’s definitely good-better-best options 😂)
Great list!
Thanks, Art! I love a good arcade 😄
Me too.