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Insert your quarters and get ready to relive the golden age of gaming! Join us as we count down our picks for the greatest video arcade games of all time! From classic maze runners and space shooters to legendary beat 'em ups and fighting games, these titles defined generations of gaming. Which of these iconic cabinets ate up most of your coins?
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00:00The average Donkey Kong game doesn't last a minute. It's absolute brutality.
00:04Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best video arcade games ever.
00:09For this list, we are not including mechanical games like skee-ball and air hockey.
00:17Number 20. Gauntlet.
00:18This was one of the first multiplayer dungeon crawl arcade games.
00:22Gauntlet was designed for four players.
00:24Well done.
00:25Treasure 100 points.
00:27There are four fantasy-inspired characters you can use.
00:30Thor, a warrior.
00:31Thyra, a Valkyrie.
00:32Merlin, a wizard.
00:34And Quester, an elf.
00:35It's nice to be able to mix it up, isn't it?
00:37As for the enemies, various monsters and such.
00:43In addition to defeating those, you have to navigate mazes and gather treasures.
00:47By 1986, Gauntlet was topping all sorts of charts.
00:51It was actually originally called Dungeons, partly inspired by Dungeons & Dragons,
00:54but the name Gauntlet certainly made its own mark.
01:00Number 19. Daytona USA.
01:02Buckle up for this one.
01:03For racing game lovers, it's hard to beat Daytona USA.
01:06Gentlemen, start your engine.
01:09Sure, Sega's 1986 game OutRun was plenty of fun and a significant checkpoint in racing game history,
01:15but eight years later, Daytona USA took things to another level.
01:18It was critically acclaimed from the start for various aspects such as graphics, music, and driving mechanics.
01:24Obviously, it was a massive commercial success as well.
01:27After crossing the finish line, it'd be hard not to want to restart that engine at least one more time.
01:32Now, years later, Daytona USA remains not only one of the most iconic racing games ever,
01:37but one of the most iconic arcade games of any kind.
01:40Welcome to Victory Lane.
01:42You made it!
01:43Number 18. Metal Slug.
01:45To the future we go with this run-and-gun game.
01:48Metal Slug is set in 2028.
01:50That's over three decades after this game first popped up in arcades.
01:56Basically, this game centers on Peregrine Falcon Strike 4 soldiers fighting to stop a coup led by the rebel army.
02:02There are a lot of enemies, weapons, and overall action.
02:06Some humor is sprinkled in too, which fans can appreciate.
02:09It's been known to be difficult, but if you're up for a challenge and you like a side-scrolling shoot
02:13-em-up,
02:13Metal Slug delivers.
02:21Number 17.
02:23Double Dragon.
02:24In this co-op game, you'll play as either Billy Lee or his twin brother, Jimmy.
02:32Billy Lee's name comes from Bruce Lee and his character Billy Lowe in the film Game of Death.
02:37Double Dragon is one of the defining beat-em-up arcade games,
02:40setting the stage for a golden age in the genre that occurred in the late 80s and 90s.
02:49In the game, you encounter a bunch of enemies who you fight using a variety of moves, punches, kicks, and
02:55some dirtier tricks.
02:56It's not Bruce Lee's style, or any real martial arts style for that matter, but it sure is a blast
03:01in the arcade.
03:08Number 16.
03:09Dig Dug.
03:09This maze game may have a weird premise, but it sure has a reputation for being addictive too.
03:18In Dig Dug, you're armed with an air pump, which you can use to inflate the enemies to the point
03:23of explosion.
03:24Yeah, it's strange, but fun.
03:26Look no further than the arcade in Hawkins, Indiana, where Dig Dug is a meaningful game to both Dustin and
03:31the high score holder Mad Max.
03:32Good luck beating that.
03:34There's no way that's Mad Max.
03:35Yeah, girls don't play video games.
03:37And even if they did, you can't get 750,000 points on Dig Dug.
03:41In addition to its gameplay, Dig Dug is known for its layered strategy.
03:45The memorable name lives on all these years later, after its introduction in 1982.
03:56Number 15.
03:57NBA Jam.
03:58As far as sports arcade games go, how can it get more legendary than NBA Jam?
04:05Sure, it's not by any means a realistic representation of basketball, but that's actually what makes this game so awesome.
04:11You can make your player jump to superhuman heights before executing an extraordinary slam dunk or block.
04:17As for fouls, no such thing in this game.
04:20Elbows and shoves are fair game.
04:22Developed by Midway, the physics-defying NBA Jam allows for up to four players.
04:26In 1993, this game was setting records with its earnings.
04:29As time distances us from those days, the fact that NBA Jam features all-stars who are now Hall of
04:35Famers only makes its legendary status feel as potent as ever.
04:41Number 14.
04:43Pong.
04:43Simplicity can be brilliant.
04:45In essence, Pong is two players controlling their respective paddles on opposing sides of the screen, trying to make contact
04:51with a small ball to return it.
04:57If you miss and the ball goes beyond your paddle, the other player gets the point.
05:01The ball can bounce off the top and bottom of the screen and move with significant speed, so you've got
05:06to make sure your geometry, reaction time, and hand-eye coordination are on point.
05:14But it's easy to get fully absorbed in this game, in the best way possible.
05:18Developed and published by Atari in the early 70s, Pong became one of the earliest symbols of arcade gaming.
05:23And over here is our crowning achievement in amusement technology.
05:27An electronic version of what you call table tennis.
05:30Your primitive paddles have been replaced by an electronic-
05:33Hey, that's just Pong. Get with the times, man.
05:35Number 13.
05:36Defender.
05:37It'd be difficult to defend not having this horizontally-scrolling shooter game on our list.
05:45Defender, which came out in February of 1981, is considered the first side-scrolling shoot-em-up.
05:50But it's not just pioneering.
05:52It's quite good, too.
05:56Defender is a game where you control a spaceship and protect astronauts on an unnamed planet from droves of invading
06:02aliens.
06:03With all the intense space action, quick reflexes and strategic thinking sure are important.
06:08Beyond the fun gameplay, Defender has a cool design with color graphics and explosion effects that stand the test of
06:14time.
06:17Number 12.
06:18The Simpsons.
06:19Less than two years after The Simpsons first graced our televisions, there was a Simpsons-inspired arcade game.
06:29And all these years later, as the legacy of The Simpsons in the world of television has only grown,
06:34the arcade game has persisted as a memorable part of many people's gaming journeys.
06:38This beat-em-up game, developed and published by Konami, allows up to four players.
06:44Here we go.
06:46Whether you're Homer, Marge, Bart, or Lisa, you're gonna have to fight your way past enemies to rescue Maggie.
06:52With iconic characters, each with their own unique attack methods, along with good graphics and animation,
06:56The Simpsons arcade game sure can make you say,
06:59Woohoo!
07:00As Homer so often does.
07:01Woohoo!
07:02Number 11.
07:04Mortal Kombat 2.
07:05The whole Mortal Kombat franchise is well-known for a reason.
07:08But if we're picking just one of its arcade games, we're going with Mortal Kombat 2.
07:12Round one fight.
07:16Following the first one, which was certainly good in its own right,
07:19the 1993 sequel enhanced the gameplay and added more when it comes to the mythology, characters, and fighting moves.
07:26Gotcha!
07:27The lead programmer even said that Mortal Kombat 2 included everything they wanted to put into the original
07:33and did not have time for.
07:34With striking graphics, eye-catching animation, and intense action,
07:38Midway's MK2 was an instant success financially, culturally, and critically.
07:43The violence and gore brought controversy, but that notoriety really just added to its legendary status.
07:49I rule this world.
07:51Number 10.
07:52Galaga.
07:52A sequel to the successful 1979 game Galaxian,
07:56Galaga introduced a few new features to the well-established formula,
07:59creating a bigger and even better game.
08:03New to the sequel was the ability for players to become captured by the boss, Galaga, via his tractor beam.
08:11Hot off the heels of space invaders, Galaga's success led to many copycats looking to get in on the shoot-'em
08:16-up craze,
08:17and with its legacy still being felt today, Galaga earns its spot in gaming history.
08:24Number 9.
08:25Star Wars Trilogy Arcade.
08:27Star Wars is no stranger to the arcade scene,
08:29even with the first arcade game going as far as being a pioneer in 3D gaming.
08:39Trilogy Arcade, though, is the game that capped off the 90s in style,
08:43and is considered one of the decade's best.
08:45Shoot down the one on Vader's side first.
08:47It's a real shooter in which the players re-enact major scenes and battles from the film trilogy,
08:52including the popular Battle of Hoth and the Endor speeder bike chase.
08:55No matter what world we're battling on, or what ship we're flying,
08:58Star Wars is more important to gaming than we realize.
09:08Number 8.
09:09Frogger.
09:10George Costanza may not be able to accomplish a real-life version of the game on the New York streets,
09:14but we'll never beat his high score.
09:16Oh, I was unstoppable!
09:20Perfect combination of Mountain Dew and mozzarella.
09:23It's the right amount of grease on the joystick.
09:26Considered a classic from the golden age of arcade games,
09:29Frogger has been played by pretty much everyone.
09:35The player controls a frog as it makes its way across a road and river,
09:39avoiding fatal obstacles.
09:41Frogger was a sensation,
09:42becoming one of the most popular arcade games of the 80s,
09:45and when it made a transition to home consoles,
09:47it sold 20 million copies.
09:49Still enjoyed today in its various ports and remakes,
09:52Frogger will always be a video gaming icon.
09:54Number 7.
09:55Asteroids.
09:56One of video games' most popular titles,
09:58Asteroids was a true pop culture phenomenon.
10:05Using hardware previously seen in Lunar Lander,
10:07the object of the game is to control your spaceship and shoot oncoming asteroids,
10:12while trying to avoid the resulting debris.
10:17The game was immensely popular upon release,
10:20earning arcade operators roughly 500 million dollars,
10:22and some even had to install larger coin boxes in order to accommodate the game's demand.
10:27Even with its simplistic graphics,
10:29Asteroids is a timeless classic.
10:34Number 6.
10:36Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Turtles in Time.
10:38This badass beat-em-up game based on the popular 80s cartoon series
10:41came to us when Konami was still cool.
10:44Yes, we're still harping on that joke.
10:48The game allowed up to four players to control the popular turtles,
10:51as they beat up enemies in the sewers,
10:53and other various memorable settings set throughout time.
10:58Praised for staying true to the characters,
11:00the game was also a blast,
11:01due to its exciting cooperative gameplay,
11:03and its memorable soundtrack.
11:10Number 5.
11:11Centipede.
11:11In this classic fixed shooter game,
11:13you control the bug blaster and shoot the segments of a centipede,
11:16while avoiding enemy fleas,
11:18spiders,
11:19and scorpions.
11:24Oh yeah,
11:25and be aware of those mushrooms.
11:27The trackball,
11:27that ball controller you roll with your fingers,
11:30just fits so well for this game,
11:31allowing you to control quick and precise movements in all directions.
11:37Combine that with the fantastic graphics and responsiveness on screen,
11:41and you've got a really interactive and engaging arcade game.
11:44That's what Centipede is.
11:45Of course,
11:46the unique and honestly kind of bizarre concept,
11:49is a significant element of its brilliance as well.
11:53Number 4.
11:54Space Invaders.
11:56Space Invaders almost single-handedly launched the video game industry,
11:59from a niche entertainment product,
12:01to a worldwide phenomenon.
12:06The player controls a spaceship,
12:08as it shoots attacking alien ships from above,
12:10and this simple concept,
12:12changed the industry forever.
12:14The aliens have since become synonymous with video gaming in general,
12:17and it soon became the highest grossing entertainment product of its time.
12:23Suffice it to say,
12:24Space Invaders helped secure video gaming as a global industry,
12:27and changed the world forever.
12:33Number 3.
12:34Donkey Kong.
12:35Created by famous video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto,
12:38Donkey Kong was Nintendo's first breakout hit,
12:40and is one of the most influential video games of all time.
12:47Donkey Kong introduced both the titular villain,
12:50and the gaming juggernaut Mario to the world.
12:56Thanks to its challenging and exciting platforming gameplay,
12:59it's now known as an early example of the now famous genre.
13:02Spawning numerous sequels,
13:03spinoffs,
13:04and even inspiring a whole documentary movie,
13:06Donkey Kong was a major influence in video gaming,
13:09and a pop culture marvel.
13:15Number 2.
13:16Street Fighter 2.
13:17If there's a gamer out there who doesn't know what a Hadouken or a Sonic Boom is,
13:21they probably shouldn't be called a gamer until they've played this.
13:27A true masterpiece in every sense of the word,
13:30Street Fighter 2 was a major game changer,
13:32with iconic characters,
13:33competitive gameplay,
13:35and complex combos for pros.
13:42It's also more notable for having more re-releases than any other arcade game,
13:46bringing in new characters,
13:47and refining the character balance with every new iteration.
13:50All in all,
13:51Street Fighter revolutionized the fighting game genre,
13:53and redefined the arcade scene as we know it.
14:04Before we continue,
14:05check out this single from Sound Mojo's Aria,
14:08Songs from Iran,
14:09reimagining Persian melodies as modern rock,
14:12metal,
14:12and pop songs.
14:13Check out the full track and album below.
14:30Number 1.
14:31Ms. Pac-Man.
14:32Pac-Man may be one of the most popular video game characters of all time,
14:36but it's his wife that not only has the better game,
14:38but the best arcade game ever.
14:44The goal of these games,
14:45as we're sure you know,
14:46is to get the character to eat the dots while traversing a maze,
14:49and avoiding the famed ghosts.
14:54However,
14:55what sets Ms. Pac-Man apart,
14:56is that her game has multiple mazes,
14:58forcing the player to quickly change and adapt new strategies as they progress.
15:02Because of these new mazes,
15:03the game is still incredibly fun to play today,
15:05as it was decades ago,
15:07making it our pick for the best arcade game of all time.
15:13Which of these arcade games ate up the most of your coins?
15:15Or,
15:16your parents' coins?
15:17Let us know in the comments.
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