Summary
- Arcade gaming is still alive and well, with high-profile arcades featuring modern games with immersive controls for a fun experience.
- Classic franchises like Jurassic Park and House of the Dead continue to release new arcade games that offer thrilling adventures and intense gameplay.
- Arcade games like Virtua Fighter 5 and King of Fighters 13 provide engaging fighting mechanics, making them popular choices for competitive players.
Visiting the local arcade to spend a couple of hours playing the coolest, new arcade games is something that many people enjoyed during their childhood. There's something about the fun atmosphere, exciting graphics, and nostalgic vibes that have fans of arcade games continuing to visit to play. The latest and greatest best, new arcade games are still being released in arcades and are even being adapted for consoles and PCs.
Though the bulk of arcade games were invented back at the end of the past century, there are still new arcade games coming out that either continue the story of fan-favorite classic franchises or are games of new concepts entirely. With technology advancing and gaming getting more interactive than ever, players definitely need to hit up an arcade soon to have a blast playing some stunning modern games.
Updated on October 19, 2023, by Ritwik Mitra: Most people would assume that arcade gaming isn't really all that prominent anymore, with the rise of home consoles rendering these spaces obsolete. However, this assumption is far from accurate, even if arcades have diminished in popularity to a certain extent. There are still many high-profile arcades present in the world that feature modern games with immersive controls, allowing players to have a great time either on their own or with friends.
25 Jurassic Park Arcade
Released in 2015, this game really hones in on the classic point-and-shoot style of arcade gaming that came out of the '80s and '90s.
Though the graphics are pretty rough, and the quality of the game itself doesn't look like it came out of the 2010s, it's still a blast to play, and players are sure to spend tons of time (and possibly tons of quarters) trying to make it to the end of this thrilling adventure. The plot follows along with the story of the original three Jurassic Park movies!
24 Let's Go Jungle
Though this game was created in 2006, it still stands as one of the most fun and addicting arcade games that came out of the 2000s. Let's Go Jungle!: Lost on the Island of Spice is best experienced with two players, who get to play as the two main characters, Ben and Norah.
Players must battle waves of monsters, shooting their guns and successfully completing quick-time events to make it off the infested island. At the end of the game, players will be ranked on their compatibility with each other, which is an extra funny aspect of this engaging game.
23 Lord Of Vermilion 4
Square Enix created this series of arcade games, and it is undeniably one of the most unique platforms around. The 2017 game involves placing combat cards on the gaming machine's surface and using those to fight off virtual enemies.
The Best Arcade Games From The 1990s
The '90s were the golden era for arcade games, and its classics are still masterpieces all these decades later.
The latest installment allows up to 8 players at a time, making it super exciting for friends to play together. A parody version of the game is even featured in Final Fantasy 14!
22 Fast & Furious Arcade
The Fast & Furious brand has absolutely exploded, transforming from a series about illegal street racing to crime-laden blockbusters that prioritize entertainment over everything else. So, maybe it's not all that surprising that there's an arcade racing game with the Fast & Furious name, too.
The high-octane racing of this game is simple yet pleasing in its own way. It may not be the deepest or most engaging arcade game around, but it definitely gets the job done if players want to enjoy a fun arcade racing game with no strings attached.
21 House Of The Dead: Scarlet Dawn
House of the Dead: Scarlet Dawn is the most recent arcade entry in this classic franchise, and it was released in 2018. This first-person rail shooter features intense zombie-shooting action, challenging boss battles, and impressive graphics.
The arcade game uses motion capture for enhanced realism, making the title feel more authentic and engaging. House of the Dead: Scarlet Dawn may not set the world on fire, but it's a decent arcade game for players to check out if they like engaging rail shooters and peppering zombies with bullets.
20 Initial D Arcade Stage Zero
Initial D is a series that many people know for its cult hit anime and the OP that became a global sensation. However, while this anime is fun to watch in its own right, people who like the series but haven't tried out its arcade games are missing out on something truly special.
The Best Arcade Games From The 1990s
The '90s were the golden era for arcade games, and its classics are still masterpieces all these decades later.
Initial D Arcade Stage Zero is the latest game in the series that was released in 2017. Shifting gears, overtaking opponents, and nailing great drifts are an absolute blast in this game.
19 Enter The Gungeon: House Of The Gundead
This two-player shooter arcade game was introduced in 2020 and has captured the hearts of arcade fanatics. The graphics pay homage to old-school games with a simple, 2D pixel style. Players can battle it out solo or with a friend as they traverse the many floors of a Gundead-infested castle.
The enemies, though resembling bullets, are pretty cute, and the animation is colorful and enticing! Try this game out the next time you head out to the arcade, or buy their very own personal system for $5k.
18 MotoGP VR
MotoGP is a motorsport that is pretty popular, with the bevy of new talent in the sport making for a great time indeed. Even if players aren't aware of the intricacies surrounding this sport, that doesn't mean that they can't enjoy its games... Especially if it's a VR arcade title!
MotoGP VR lets players step into the shoes of a racer as they take part in scintillating races, riding a bike model as they lean to make turns and take the racing line as much as possible. The racing itself doesn't need to simulate actual MotoGP wheel-to-wheel action since players just want a few minutes of fun before moving on to the next game in an arcade.
17 Minecraft Dungeons Arcade
Minecraft Dungeons
- Released
- May 26, 2020
- Developer(s)
- Mojang, Double Eleven
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Dungeon Crawler
With Minecraft being such a popular and trending game on console and PC, developers knew it would be a hit even in arcade form! The brand new Minecraft Dungeons Arcade allows co-op play of up to 4 players at a time, where players can collect gems and fight enemies to proceed through a variety of action-packed levels.
The 12 Rarest & Most Expensive Arcade Cabinets, Ranked
Arcades might be few and far between today, but some of the rarest retro cabinets from the golden years will fetch incredible prices.
This game is a blast to play through, and players might not want to stop playing long after they've spent a ton of quarters on this experience. Minecraft Dungeons is a pretty fun game in its own right, and this Arcade variant makes things even more fun!
16 Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown
Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown
Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown is a remastered version of the 2006 version that is still a blast to play through. It features a diverse cast of characters with unique fighting styles along with fluid and responsive gameplay that was satisfying to master.
The game was praised for its deep gameplay mechanics, which allow for a high level of strategy and skill-based gameplay. Unlike other fighting titles that prioritized spectacle, Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown emphasized its core fighting mechanics that were solid, satisfying, and rewarding.