Arcade Game

What Is an Arcade Game?

An arcade game is a video game housed in its own proprietary cabinet, featuring a bespoke control scheme and a screen (or potentially more than one). They are traditionally coin (or token) operated and have existed since the beginnings of the video game industry, long before consoles entered the home.

While consoles and gaming in the home have since eclipsed the arcades, these cabinets were once the best way to play shooters, racers, platformers, beat ’em ups, fighting games, and more. In the modern day, arcades exist as nostalgic novelties with older games.

However, new arcade games, such as large-scale ports of mobile games, are still being released, and they focus on winning prizes instead of the core gameplay experience.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. What Is an Arcade Game?
2. Key Takeaways
3. History of Arcade Games
4. How Arcade Games Work
5. Types of Arcade Games
6. Arcade Games Pros & Cons
7. The Bottom Line
8. FAQs

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. What Is an Arcade Game?
2. Key Takeaways
3. History of Arcade Games
Show Full Guide
4. How Arcade Games Work
5. Types of Arcade Games
6. Arcade Games Pros & Cons
7. The Bottom Line
8. FAQs

History of Arcade Games

The history of arcade games stretches back to the medium’s origins, even before the first arcade game in the 1970s.

Here’s the entire timeline from its start to the present day:

How Arcade Games Work

There are a few nuances in how arcade games work, and that’s because most of the cabinets are proprietary to that particular game.

Generally speaking, there will be a printed circuit board with the contents of the software on it, and this is connected to a monitor (or several monitors) with the controls attached. In the early days of the arcades, these boards were large and traditionally rigged up to Cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitors, which were larger and bulkier than the flatscreen panels of today.

Because the controls sometimes radically differed between games, some arcade titles could feature a standard joystick and button combination. However, other arcade cabinets could feature light guns, racing wheels and pedals, trackballs, dance pads, and more. Playing games in the arcade can be more of an experience than the traditional gaming mediums on a PC, console, or smartphone for this reason.

Regardless of the control scheme and panel tech used in the arcade games, though, is the fact that they tend to be coin (or token) activated.

Arcade bars have become popular recently, with chains such as Barcade, A4Cade, EightyTwo, Logan Arcade, and more. These venues primarily exist to serve customers food and drink, with the main draw for customer retention being a suite of arcade and console games to play during your stay.

Types of Arcade Games

There are many different types of arcade games owing to the versatile nature of the medium.

Joystick & Button, Racing, Air Combat, Light Gun & Music Arcade Games

First of all, there are your standard joystick and button machines, used for genres such as platformers, beat ’em ups, action titles, and more.

Then, there are racing arcade games, which are built around simulating the feeling of racing actual vehicles. This usually means a car or kart, complete with a bucket seat, pedals, gears, and a steering wheel. More modern arcade racing games can even feature virtual reality (VR) headsets, which can further heighten immersion.

Motorcycle racing and air combat arcade games feature cabinets designed to mimic real controls. Players sit on plastic replicas of motorcycles, jets, or planes, using handlebars with brakes and accelerators. Notable examples include Manx TT, After Burner Climax, and Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII.

Light gun arcade games have been a fan favorite since their inception. Though early versions were primitive, the core gameplay remains unchanged – you use a plastic gun to shoot on-screen targets. Popular light gun games for the arcade include Time Crisis 2, House of the Dead 2, and Virtua Cop.

Music arcade games thrived from the late 1990s into the 2000s. Dance Dance Revolution became a massive hit, using a dance pad with directional inputs to match music beats. In the mid-2000s, Guitar Hero Arcade adapted Guitar Hero 3: Warriors of Rock for arcades, featuring a plastic guitar controller to match on-screen notes. More recently, Taiko no Tatsujin offers a drumming experience in sync with music. These games remain arcade staples worldwide.

Pinball remains a popular arcade game even in 2025. As one of the earliest arcade games, it has stayed relevant for nearly a century. Modern machines feature advanced lights, sound effects, and digital displays. Licensed machines from Williams, Bally, and Stern – like Godzilla, Jurassic Park, and Jaws – are common in arcades across the U.S.

Home Arcade Adaptations

While you previously had to play arcade games on their original hardware in specific venues, many releases would later find their way authentically to the home. Modern compilations available on today’s video game consoles, such as PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox, mean you can get (largely) the same experience from the comfort of your home.

You can also download individual arcade releases from the digital storefronts available on these consoles as well. Popular releases include the Namco Museum Arcade Pac and Midway Arcade Treasures.

Arcade1Up Machines

If you want the whole arcade experience in your home, however, there is another option to consider. Arcade1Up is a company that specializes in recreating authentic-looking and feeling arcade games in a much more affordable package than purchasing real cabinets. This means having the proper control schemes and presentation, as you remember.

Some of the company’s best current models include the Time Crisis Deluxe Multi Arcade, Mortal Kombat 30th Anniversary, Star Wars Arcade, and Midway Legacy 30th Anniversary.

You can even get The Fast & The Furious, complete with a racing wheel and pedals.

Arcade Games Pros & Cons

The Bottom Line

Arcade games were the cornerstone of the industry and the medium as a whole in their heyday throughout the 1970s and into the 2000s. While their relevance now is downplayed, you can still go to an arcade in the US (or around the world) and play many of these timeless classics just as you remember.

Arcade bars are more popular than ever, and many arcade games can be played authentically through your console, PC, or handheld, so the influence of these types of games will never indeed fade away.

FAQs