There’s was something magical about an old-school arcade.
Kids roamed the dimly lit aisles, bright screens enticing them to waste all their quarters. Crowds gathered around the games, cheering on the players. Tinny, electronic soundtracks blasted from each machine you passed.
Sadly those days have passed, with people preferring to play games in the comfort of their homes. Although times have changed, certain ’90s arcade games were too good to be forgotten.
To help you reminisce about the good old days, we put together a list of some of the best 90s arcade games of all time.
These games are sure to spark memories of hours of fun with your friends.
Street Fighter II
Street Fighter II was an arcade phenomenon, a ground-breaking success that led the way for other fighting games.
Its colorful graphics were more advanced than other games, with an energetic soundtrack adding to the excitement.
The premise of this game is simple. Street Fighter II is a 1 vs 1 fighter game. Players have 8 characters to choose from, each with their own unique strengths and fighting styles. Once the player has defeated all 8 characters, they go on to face 4 boss characters.
Street Fighter II has a great learning curve, with players gradually mastering different combos and developing fighting strategies. Excited spectators loved to watch players fight for glory, cheering on their favorite characters.
This game is sure to get your competitive juices flowing. Are you up for the challenge?
NBA Jam
In the ’90s, NBA Jam was a firm favorite in any arcade. This fast-paced, 2 on 2 basketball thriller, certainly wasn’t short on action.
The game mechanics were wildly unrealistic, like scoring slam dunks from the free-throw line, but this only added to the fun. The hilarious commentary by Tim Kitzrow brought this game to life, with iconic lines like “He’s on fire!” and “Boomshakalaka!” etched in our brains forever.
Those chaotic, adrenaline-fuelled games, where the laws of physics were abandoned, are treasured memories for all fans of NBA Jam.
Dance Dance Revolution
Dance Dance revolution transformed arcades forever. The first game to bring showmanship into arcades, Dance Dance Revolution created quite a stir.
Players compete in a co-ordinated dance battle, stepping on arrows that light up in time to the music. They score points based on the accuracy and timing of their movements. One of the few arcade games to test a player’s physicality, Dance Dance Revolution demands endurance and quick reflexes.
The game takes an impressive amount of skill to master, transforming talented players into local legends. Passers-by can’t resist stopping to watch, tapping their feet along with the catchy music.
Dance Dance Revolution remains one of the most popular arcade games to date. Why not head down to your local arcade center and see if you’ve still got what it takes to beat this fan-favorite?
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time
Riding on the success of the cartoon show, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time was an instant hit.
One of the best beat ‘em up games of all time, the engaging storyline and graphics and level design were celebrated.
Kids would save up their pocket money and spend a small fortune on their campaign to defeat the evil Foot clan. A catchy theme tune guided you through this side-scroller masterpiece. Time travel added an extra edge to each level as you pass through periods like the Jurassic era and the Wild West.
Cries of “Cowabunga, dude!” were heard across the arcade as players defeated a boss and progressed to a new level. It’s little wonder that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are still as popular as ever in the 21st century.
Mortal Kombat II
Few games have garnered as much attention and infamy as the Mortal Kombat franchise.
Mortal Kombat joined the fighting game boom in the early 90s but it rose to fame as a result of its violent graphics. Credited with corrupting the youth, Mortal Kombat was the subject of much controversy that led to Senate hearings and outraged newspaper articles.
Feeding off of this infamy, the Mortal Kombat franchise became hugely popular.
Mortal Kombat II built on the success of the original, adding cutting-edge graphics and flashy new characters. The gory finishing moves were always a crowd pleaser and the detailed storytelling outshone other games in this genre.
Anyone who has played this game will remember the deep voice of the announcer rumbling “Finish him!” prompting the winner to deliver a fatal blow to his opponent.
Mortal Kombat will long be remembered as the king of arcade games.
Crazy Taxi
Crazy Taxi is an adrenaline-fuelled, pedal-to-the-metal driving game. Playing as 1 of 4 cab drivers, you race against the clock to collect and deliver as many passengers as possible.
Traffic laws are immediately abandoned and raw speed is king, as you race around the city. If you drive erratically, which is basically guaranteed, the cast of quirky passengers is sure to point it out.
The edgy music will keep your spirits up as you execute Crazy Drifts to generate extra speed.
Crazy Taxi is a no holds barred, sucker-punch of adrenaline, and what could be better than that?
House of the Dead 2
House of the Dead 2 is a Shoot ’em up horror game that has players dripping with sweat in a matter of minutes.
Players must shoot their way through increasingly difficult levels to locate the source of a zombie outbreak and rescue a missing agent. Enemies become smarter as you progress, forcing to you adapt and develop new strategies.
The graphics in House of the Dead 2 are definitely a winner, immersing viewers in this post-apocalyptic world. You’ll need multiple bullets to take down each zombie, so your aim had better be sharp!
The Best 90s Arcade Games Will Always Hold a Soft Spot in Your Heart
The 90s was the golden era of arcade gaming, solitaire, producing many crowd-pleasing classics.
This list of the best 90s Arcade games is sure to stir up nostalgia and make you miss those fun-filled afternoons of mashing buttons at your local arcade.
Why not head down to your local arcade and relive your glory days?
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