Gaming

Retro Arcade Games

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Source:Community curated
Updated:3/7/2026
15/15
Game
Release Year
Developer
Genre
Known For
Pac-Man
1980NamcoMazeBest-selling arcade game of all time, 99.99% of cabinets still working, spawned Ms. Pac-Man, ghost AI personalities (Blinky, Pinky, Inky, Clyde)
Space Invaders
1978TaitoFixed shooterCaused a 100-yen coin shortage in Japan, kickstarted the golden age of arcades, descending alien rows that speed up as you destroy them
Donkey Kong
1981NintendoPlatformerIntroduced Mario (as Jumpman) and Donkey Kong, designed by Shigeru Miyamoto, first platformer with a narrative, barrel-jumping mechanic
Galaga
1981NamcoFixed shooterSequel to Galaxian, dual-ship capture mechanic, swooping dive-bomb attack patterns, one of the most ported arcade games ever
Asteroids
1979AtariMultidirectional shooterVector graphics pioneer, thrust-and-rotate physics, infinite wraparound screen, highest-grossing Atari arcade game
Centipede
1981AtariFixed shooterDesigned by Dona Bailey — one of the first female game designers, trackball controls, mushroom-filled playfield, flea/spider/scorpion enemies
Frogger
1981KonamiActionCross the road and river without dying, deceptively simple but brutally hard, pop culture icon, logs and turtles as stepping stones
Dig Dug
1982NamcoMaze / strategyInflate enemies until they pop, dig tunnels through dirt, Pookas and Fygars, one of the most creative kill mechanics in gaming history
Defender
1981Williams ElectronicsSide-scrolling shooterNotoriously difficult, complex controls with five buttons + joystick, rescue humanoids from alien abduction, smartbomb panic button
Q*bert
1982GottliebAction / puzzleIsometric pyramid, change tile colors by hopping, comic-book-style swearing speech bubble, distinctive @!#?@! exclamation
Missile Command
1980AtariShooter / strategyCold War nuclear anxiety in game form, trackball-aimed anti-missile defense, no way to truly win — only delay inevitable destruction
Tempest
1981AtariTube shooterEarly color vector graphics, spinning geometric tube levels, rotary knob controller, Dave Theurer's masterpiece, psychedelic visual style
BurgerTime
1982Data EastPlatformer / puzzleChef Peter Pepper assembling giant burgers by walking over ingredients, enemy hot dogs / pickles / eggs, pepper spray weapon
Joust
1982Williams ElectronicsPlatformer / actionTwo-player co-op on flying ostriches, flap-button physics, lance jousting combat, buzzards as enemies, lava troll hand
Dragon's Lair
1983Advanced Microcomputer SystemsInteractive movieFirst laserdisc arcade game, Don Bluth hand-drawn animation, Dirk the Daring rescuing Princess Daphne, cost 50 cents per play (double standard)

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How is the Retro Arcade Games List list ranked?

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