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Experts Tell Us the Best 80s Arcade Games

This article showcases our top picks for the Best 80s Arcade Games. We reached out to industry leaders and experts who have contributed the suggestions within this article (they have been credited for their contributions below).

We are keen to hear your feedback on all of our content and our comment section is a moderated space to express your thoughts and feelings related (or not) to this article This list is in no particular order.

Arcade 1Up Arcade1Up Pac-Man 40th Anniversary Special Edition

This product was recommended by Marc Bromhall from Surf Gear Lab

It’s so simple but yet so addictive. The reason why it’s addictive is that it’s not too difficult to play. It’s only the higher levels much later on in the game which become difficult. Anyone can play this game from a small child through to adults.


My Arcade Contra Micro Player

This product was recommended by Tony Grenier from Instrumental Global

This is my favorite arcade game as it is a very exciting run and gun type of game. The adventure has diversity as the background changes, as well as the type of enemies. What is very engaging about this one is that the guns also change giving more power to the characters. When starting the game, there is a certain combination that you need to follow so you’d have unlimited lives. When playing this game, I always try that cheat code.


My Arcade Micro Player Mini Arcade Machine

This product was recommended by Vinod Ravisankar from Vionix Studio

A lot of gamers miss the old days when games used to be fun but simple. We all remember the craze for arcade machines and kids just crowding around one to get a chance to play. It was simple to enter the coin and smash buttons. The best arcade games from the 80’s have to be the pacman. Other games like Frogger and Tetris also had their fair share of fanbase. Visit the following link to buy a Pacman arcade machine. You do not have to worry about carrying and making space for it because it is a mini arcade machine.. It takes way less space than traditional machines.


Premium Bartop Arcade Console

This product was recommended by Lisa Bernstein from PRmediaNow

It’s a home console in an arcade format, featuring a 19-inch display, 11 pre-loaded games, 100-watts of powerful stereo audio, authentic arcade controllers and a premium wood cabinet; and just as you would on a traditional home console, new officially licensed modern and retro games can be added and purchased through the iiRcade Game Store.


Golden Axe (Sega Genesis / Mega Drive) – Reproduction Video Game Cartridge

This product was recommended by Javier Martinez from Comprar una Guitarra

This game was created by Sega at the end of the 80s and it was available first for Arcade Machines and later on for Master System and Mega Drive. It was a revolutionary game as you could select one of three different characters, every one of them with their own techniques set in some kind of middle age era. Your mission was destroy all your enemies and their bosses using at the same time weapons and magic and even you were able to ride few different kind of dragons.


Donkey Kong

This product was recommended by Sherry Morgan from Petsolino

This was my all-time favorite arcade game when I was a kid. Donkey Kong was a real arcade phenomenon during the day and even has its newest version which you can play on the Nintendo Switch now. And I think that this old game is still playable to this day. It’s the damsel in distress for me that is the real highlight, with Mario trying to save her from the eponymous Donkey Kong that has taken the Princess captive at the top. I’m quite proud of myself for letting this game be played by my kids, very nostalgic.


Ms. Pacman Arcade Machine – Walmart

This product was recommended by Leo Young from OptimizedFamily

Pac-Man will always be regarded as a great arcade game. Imagine my surprise when I discovered an authentic Arcade machine at Walmart. Every neighborhood kid’s first arcade game was Pac-Man. When I saw this, I felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me. What’s fantastic about these Walmart arcade games is that the next generation can see what our video games were like. Despite its high cost, it is an excellent game to have in a basement or gaming room.


Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 + Arcade Game Series

This product was recommended by Brandon Wachs from SharkEyes

I used to enjoy playing Pacman and Tetris on my Gameboy when I was younger. Sometimes I stayed up late just to beat my own high score. I wish I could play those games again, but I’m currently too busy to do so.


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Written by Zak Parker

Journalist, writer, musician, professional procrastinator. I'll add more here later.

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