110 Of Probably The Best Arcade Games Ever

What is the Most Liked Arcade Game?

One old arcade game that has consistently garnered widespread acclaim and popularity is Pac-Man. Created by Toru Iwatani and released by Namco in 1980, Pac-Man still remains a cultural phenomenon.

Pac-Man has simple yet addictive gameplay, combined with iconic characters and catchy music; what’s not to like? The yellow, pizza-shaped character navigating mazes while eating pellets and avoiding ghosts has captured the hearts of both casual and avid gamers.

There are several more notable names: Donkey Kong, Street Fighter, Contra, Mario Bros; the list goes on. 

So, what makes these games so iconic? We talked to Gediminas Tarasevičius from the Lithuanian Game Developers’ Association (Lietuvos Žaidimų Kūrėjų Asociacija), who answered our questions on old arcade games.

Here’s what Gediminas thinks makes a game timeless: “For a game to become unique, iconic, and timeless, the mechanics used for its developments have to be genuinely engaging, paired together with impeccable audiovisual qualities and technological means.” It turns out it’s not that simple, right? And here we thought…

We were super curious to find out which would be the favorite video games of a professional developer. Gediminas’ choices: “If we’re talking about big video games, then it’s definitely Deus Ex, and if it’s arcade games, then 1982 River Raid.”

What is the Oldest Video Arcade Game?

Video gaming is a $250 billion market today. However, it all began in 1908 with a humble arcade game called SkeeBall that combined bowling and basketball. Then came PinBall in the 1930s with its digital displays that made the game even more interactive.

The first video arcade game was Spacewar!, designed by MIT students in the 70s. The game pitted two warring spaceships against each other, where players had to shoot and destroy the opponent.

If you are a serious gamer thinking of taking up gaming as a career, Gediminas has some advice for you. “As with anything that you take up—whether it’s a hobby or a profession—a genuine passion for it, high personal motivation, and stubbornness are vital. With that, sooner or later, you are bound to make it happen!” So, start sprucing up your game room to become a professional gamer. 

We also heard through the grapevine that Gediminas’ association is responsible for the Lithuanian branch of Global Game Jam. Since it might be that you are hearing about this event for the first time, we’ve asked Gediminas to tell us a bit more about it.

“Global Game Jam is an international event for game developers and enthusiasts where the participants create a video game based on the topic disclosed before the event’s beginning. Before that, the topic is held secret, so it’s really only at the event that the participants will know it. Probably the most fun and challenging part of the event is the time slot given for contestants—48 hours to create a game from scratch. Since it’s a very limited time, the developers have to make up for the lack of it by employing the best of their creativity and thinking of innovative ways to make it happen.” 

Doesn’t it sound fun? Visit Global Game Jam’s page if you are interested. You can enter it from anywhere in the world!

We thank Gediminas for his time and his intel on the world of gaming! Now, scroll on down below and check out the rest of the legendary arcade games!