When I was a kid the best arcade games from the 80s were the pinnacle of gaming. This was especially the case throughout the 1980’s when arcade games were way ahead of home based video games. The experience of playing an arcade game could not be replicated in the home to full effect for quite some time, although many publishers tried their best to make great home conversions with some success but there were also some absolutely awful home ports too. For many a lot of the best 80s arcade games mentioned in this article will bring back a lot of fond nosatlgia.
My Memories of Playing Arcade Games From the 80’s and 90’s
As a kid I only really got to play arcade games when we went to the coast although in the early 90s arcade cabs did start to appear at my local sports centre and youth club. Below is my own personal top 21 80s arcade games. This list reflects my arcade memories from growing up but also from some games that I have embraced and now absolutely adore as an adult. Let’s get stuck in.
More 80s Gaming Fun:
- 80s Gaming Memories
- The Best 80s Arcade Racing Games
- 10 Addictive Retro Games
- The Best 80s Arcade Fighting and Beat Em Up Games
My 21 Best 80s Arcade Games
1. Star Wars Arcade – Atari 1983
Star Wars by Atari is one of my first gaming memories and one of the games that started my love of video games. I would always play the sit down cabinet version on trips to the coast and I loved it. I was and still am a big Star Wars fan so to play a game where you got to pilot an X-Wing Fighter and attack the Death Star was an absolute dream. The music, vector graphics and speech effects too made this pure escapism for any young (or old) Star Wars fan. I still get to play it now at gaming expos throughout the year and it is still as much fun now as it was back then.
You can read more about Star Wars by Atari here.
2. Operation Wolf – Taito 1987
What can I say, I love this arcade game so much that I have it in my retro gaming room! Yes I was lucky enough to acquire an Operation Wolf cab in 2018. Back in the late 80s action films from Arnie and Sly Stallone were so popular and this arcade game was the closest you could get to experience an 80’s action film in video game form.
The machine gun that would shake you to your core along with the onslaught of baddies to shoot and throw grenades at made this a hugely popular arcade game back in the late 80s and is still popular today when it appears at gaming expos.
3. Outrun – Sega 1986
I love Outrun. It is an iconic game in fact a gaming classic with its famous music and of course the iconic Ferrari but it is also highly playable. You want to get to the end of the race; you want to try the different routes and you want to get better at OutRun. It is probably the most well-known and recognizable racing game in the world.
4. Robotron 2084 – Williams 1984
Robotron 2084 is one of the titles that as a kid/teenager I never once played. Originally released in 1982 I guess I completely ignored this for probably more gimmicky style games in the 80s. But as an adult and first playing this on a modded Xbox I quickly fell in love with the game. Protect the Human family from the Robotrons by destroying them all to move to the next wave. Each wave very quickly gets harder and you really have to keep playing this game to improve and beat your best score.
You can read my full article on Robotron 2084 here.
The graphics might not look like much now, but they are colourful with some wonderful sound effects and this game is so playable and can become very addictive too. I’m no master of this games in fact I am probably very average, but it is one game I will always play on my MAME arcade cab at home and enjoy the challenge so much of attempting to beat my high score. This game is pure twin stick fun.
You can find out more about my Home Arcade Room Here
5. Final Fight – Capcom 1989
The game that could have been the sequel to Street Fighter (it was going to be called Streetfighter 89) was a scrolling beat em up that as a teenager I absolutely adored. A lot like WrestleFest the sprites are huge and look fantastic. This was so much fun to play (it still is) and I always played as Haggar as I loved his more powerful wrestling moves. I would have been playing this around the same time I was playing WWF WrestleFest and it was definitely one of my go to games when I was in the arcades at the time. This is a game I will still play at home on MAME and usually a 2 player game with my son. Other than the decent Mega CD conversion the console and home ports never reached the standard of the arcade version.
6. Chase HQ – Taito 1988
For me this was a youth club classic roughly back around 1991/1992. I would take my coins with my on a Friday night buy a can of coke and usually spend the rest on this Taito classic arcade racer.
Adapting the standard racing format to involve chasing and smashing into criminal cars was a great idea. Add in a nitro button to give you a speed boost when required made this a lot of fun. I would go on to to get the Amiga home conversion which I enjoyed but it couldn’t match the arcade cab set up with the steering wheel, pedal and gear stick. If I ever get the opportunity to own of one of these in the future and have the space, I would love to add it to my collection.
7. Galaga – Namco 1981
Another early 80’s classic that I didn’t really play back in the day. Now I will play it all the time. It is a great game to switch off mentally and just play. I don’t find it as frustrating as Space Invaders and although I do enjoy its predecessor Galaxian, I will always turn to Galaga to chill out and shoot some enemy spaceships.
I will also quite often play the Gameboy version too which I very much enjoy. Simple early 80’s fun but you still have to have your wits about you without it being too difficult. Another cab I would happily own if I ever have the space and money to acquire one.
8. Centipede – Atari 1981
I love Centipede as it has been a game that I have seen my Son grow to love over the last few years. To see a young lad enjoying a game from long before he was born just shows how important playability is. To get the full experience you need to play an original cab with the trackball and the 2-player mode is such fun too. Shoot the centipede as it breaks up making it trickier as it descends down the screen whilst dodging spiders too. An arcade classic.
9. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Konami 1989
Back in the day this arcade game was like playing the cartoon of the time. Play with your mates and take on the Shredder and the Foot Clan this is a Konami classic which captures a moment in time when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Hero Turtles in the UK) were massive. The bright colourful graphics along with the speech and sound effects made this a great scrolling beat em up and you could have up to 4 players. This was a cab that we were lucky enough to have for a short time in our local sports centre and was our first stop after school.
10. Zoo Keeper – Taito 1983
The aim of Zoo Keeper is simple keep the animals in their enclosures. You do this by moving around the screen rebuilding the enclosure as you move (clockwise or anti clockwise). Some animals will escape which you must either avoid by jumping over them or catching them when the Zoo Keeper’s net becomes available.
Once the timer runs out you move on to the next level. There are also a variety of levels that involve jumping to the top of the screen (similar to Donkey Kong) and bonus levels too. This is a great arcade game that can often be overlooked.
11. Gyruss – Konami 1983
It was a tricky decision to pick Gyruss over Tempest as I love both games as they are pretty similar tube shooter style games. I went with Gyruss as it is the game I play the most (I don’t have a spinner on my home arcade cabs to play Tempest). Gyruss has great graphics for a game from 1983 and the music is also great.
It is a fantastic shooter to play with light outs and the volume turned up. One of my favourite arcade shooters.
12. Ms Pac-Man – Midway 1982
Pac-Man is a legendary arcade game that is still highly relevant to his day. However, I always prefer to play Ms Pac-Man. I like the speed of the game and I like the maze changes too. Yes it was originally a modification kit of the original game but out of the two this is my go to Pac-Man game.
13. Afterburner – Sega 1987
Top Gun in 80s arcade form pretty much describes Afterburner. With it unique flight stick control and plenty of enemies to shoot this game is pure fun. The standard cab is fun but its the full sitdown cockpit cabinet where the real fun is to be had (as seen in Terminator 2).
14. Time Pilot – Konami 1982
Time Pilot is a classic arcade game that I play all the time. It’s an easy to play game where frantic joystick reflexes and a fire button is all you need. It’s a great old-school arcade shooter. Technique and plenty of practice is the key as you aim to clear each stage and travel through time to the next level.
With most of these games from this era it’s all about scoring points. I love spending some time playing this game and looking to achieve a better high score for myself.
You can read my full article on Time Pilot here.
15. Burger Time – Data East 1982
Burger Time Arcade’s gameplay is simple, but it requires strategy and quick reflexes to succeed. The player controls a chef named Peter Pepper who must assemble giant burgers while avoiding enemy food items, such as eggs, hot dogs, and pickles, who are chasing him. This is one of those arcade games I have come to really love as I have gotten older.
The more you play Burger Time the better you get as you work out the enemy patterns and the best routes around each level.
You can read more about Burger Time here.
16. Track and Field – Konami 1983
Playing Track and Field with friends at gaming conventions is a blast! The game’s competitive gameplay, simple controls, varied events, and fast-paced action make it a hit among groups of friends. It’s always exciting to see who can achieve the highest score or outperform their opponents in different events. Additionally, the game’s nostalgic appeal adds to the fun, bringing back fond memories of playing arcade games as a group back in the 80s. Button bashing fun at its best.
17. Scramble – Stern 1981
My love for this early horizontal scrolling arcade shooter actually comes from playing the Vectrex version of the game first. This is such a fun and challenging arcade game where you have to shoot, bomb and dodge enemies whilst also bombing fuel tanks to replenish your own fuel before it runs out.
If you have never tried Scramble, I highly recommend you try it.
18. Donkey Kong – Nintendo 1981
Donkey Kong is a legendary game that should probably make any list of the best arcade games of the 80s. This is where we first met Mario (then known as Jump Man) for goodness sake. Seriously though this is a game that you have to really master. I never have mastered Donkey Kong but I still love playing it at home and whenever I see it at a gaming convention.
19. Qix – Taito 1981
Qix is a very simple game where you try to fill the screen by drawing lines across it with your marker whilst avoiding the Qix and Sparks enemies. I love this game as I can just switch off and play it (usually with a beer on a Saturday afternoon). Simple, addictive and I really enjoy just playing multiple games to see how far I can get.
20. Tapper – Sega 1984
Tapper is one of those arcade games that can be so frustrating and stressful whilst still being a lot of fun to play. Trying to serve all the customers whilst collecting, empty glasses and tips is one hell of a challenge as you make your way through the levels but it always keeps me coming back. A classic 80s arcade game from Sega.
Did you know there were both Budweiser and Root Beer versions of Tapper?
21. Golden Axe – Sega 1989
A game that I love playing both in the arcade and also on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. Golden Axe is a scrolling beat em up with a difference – it features swords and sorcery. Each level consists of several screens in which the player must defeat waves of enemies before facing a boss character at the end. An iconic Sega game that would transition from arcade to the hugely popular 16-bit console.
The Best 80s Arcade Fighting and Beat Em Up Games
The Best Arcade Games From the 80s
I hope you have enjoyed reading through my personal choices for the best Arcade Games From the 80s. I’m sure you could have a very different list to mine and it is always interesting to see what arcade games are special to different people.
Keep it Retro.
Daz
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