The Best Arcade Games of the 1980s
By: Long Live The 1980s
Welcome back to Long Live The 1980s, your neon-soaked, synth-filled, joystick-jamming trip down memory lane. Today, we're turning the lights low, the volume high, and sliding some quarters into the time machine as we revisit one of the most glorious aspects of the 1980s: the golden era of the arcade.
Before we had photorealistic graphics and online multiplayer battles with strangers from 14 time zones away, we had pixelated sprites, blippy soundtracks, and a sticky joystick surrounded by a crowd of cheering kids. Arcades were THE place to hang out, impress your friends, and blow your allowance one quarter at a time.
So grab a slice of greasy pizza, shake off that denim jacket, and let’s dive into the Best Arcade Games of the 1980s—those glorious button-mashing legends that defined a generation.
1. Pac-Man (1980)
Let’s be honest: Pac-Man isn’t just a game—it’s a phenomenon. Released by Namco, this little yellow circle with an insatiable appetite became an instant icon. Chomping dots and evading Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde became a national pastime. My dentist office had this in his waiting room at one time. I never minded waiting for my appointment back then.
Fun Fact: Pac-Man was originally called Puck-Man in Japan. Thankfully, someone realized how easily that could be vandalized on an arcade cabinet in the U.S.
2. Donkey Kong (1981)
Before Mario was rescuing princesses in 3D worlds, he was “Jumpman,” trying to save Pauline from a barrel-hurling ape. Donkey Kong not only gave us Nintendo’s future mascot, but also introduced platforming to the arcade scene.
Bonus Points: If you could get past that third level, you were officially arcade royalty.
3. Galaga (1981)
Ah, Galaga. The space shooter that turned humble gamers into outer space sharpshooters. Its fast-paced alien attacks and the joy of rescuing your captured ship to double your firepower made it unforgettable.
Pro Tip from 1983: Always let the aliens capture your ship—then rescue it. Twice the firepower, twice the fun!
4. Defender (1981)
If Galaga was checkers, Defender was chess—played blindfolded while riding a roller coaster. With its complex controls and frantic gameplay, Defender was brutal and beautiful. You didn’t just shoot aliens; you had to rescue humans, which made you feel like a true 8-bit hero.
Translation: The game was really hard. Like, "rage quit before that was even a term" hard.
5. Centipede (1981)
A colorful cabinet, a trackball controller, and a cascade of bugs—what’s not to love? Centipede was fast, addictive, and oddly satisfying as you blasted mushrooms and segmented creepy-crawlies into oblivion.
Touch of Trivia: Designed by a woman, Dona Bailey, which was rare in the male-dominated game dev world of the ‘80s. She made it bright, fast, and full of flair.
6. Frogger (1981)
Why did the frog cross the road? To get to the arcade, of course! Frogger had one of the most ridiculous yet compelling concepts ever: help a frog navigate traffic, a river, and log-riding turtles. It was infuriating and amazing.
And yet: Somehow, your frog was allergic to water. Explain that one, science.
7. Ms. Pac-Man (1982)
Don’t call her a sequel—Ms. Pac-Man is a superstar in her own right. With smarter ghosts, multiple mazes, and fabulous pink bows, she was faster, tougher, and arguably better than her male counterpart.
Hot Take: Ms. Pac-Man > Pac-Man. Fight us in the comments.
8. Q*bert (1982)
This foul-mouthed orange fuzzball hopped on pyramids and dodged purple snakes in one of the strangest and most lovable games of the decade. With its unique control scheme and trippy colors, Qbert* was weird—and we loved it.
Swear Jar Alert: Every time Q*bert got hit, he swore in cartoon gibberish. We were all too young to realize how relatable that was.
9. Joust (1982)
Knights riding flying ostriches? Yes, that’s Joust, and no, we’re not making that up. This game defied gravity and expectations with flappy, floaty controls that made you feel like you were wrestling physics and dragons all at once.
Nostalgia Hit: That sound of a successful mid-air "joust" is still burned into the brains of Gen X gamers.
10. Dragon’s Lair (1983)
This wasn’t just a game—it was a cartoon you could play. Animated by Don Bluth, Dragon’s Lair blew minds with its laserdisc-driven graphics, even if the gameplay was more trial-and-error than skill.
Spoiler: Most of us died about 14 seconds in. Repeatedly. And still kept playing.
11. Pole Position (1982)
Before Gran Turismo and Need for Speed, there was Pole Position, the original racing sim. That sit-down cabinet, the force feedback steering wheel—this game made you feel like Mario Andretti at age 12.
True Story: Nothing was cooler than beating your friend’s lap time… until they nudged you off the road next round.
12. Track & Field (1983)
Button-mashing reached its glorious peak with Track & Field. Whether it was the long jump or javelin, we all risked injury (and sore fingers) to win virtual Olympic glory.
Arcade Legend: Some players used pencils to rapidly tap buttons. That’s right—we were cheating with school supplies.
13. Tempest (1981)
A trippy, neon vector shooter with a rotating dial that put your reflexes to the test. Tempest looked like something out of a sci-fi fever dream—and sounded like it too.
Underrated Gem: If you could master the rotary controller, you were among the elite.
14. Gauntlet (1985)
“Wizard needs food… badly.”
A multiplayer dungeon crawler before that was a thing, Gauntlet let you and three friends slash, shoot, and snack your way through never-ending hordes. It was cooperative chaos at its best. I spent many hours playing this game.
Pro Gamer Move: Always let someone else be the Elf. They were faster—and always stole the food.
15. Double Dragon (1987)
Double Dragon brought the beat-em-up genre to life with martial arts mayhem, co-op action, and those classic “abducted girlfriend” stakes. Brothers Billy and Jimmy Lee punched and kicked their way into arcade fame.
Plot Twist: If you played two-player mode and made it to the end… you had to fight each other for the girl. Awkward.
Honorable Mentions
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Robotron: 2084 – Pure chaos. Twin-stick shooter bliss.
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1942 – WWII airplane shooter with epic loop-de-loops.
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Paperboy – Delivering newspapers was never this dangerous (or fun).
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Out Run – With its red Ferrari and pumping synth music, this game felt like the 1980s.
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Rampage – Smash cities as a giant monster. What else do you need?
Final Score: Insert Coin to Continue
The arcade scene of the 1980s was more than just a bunch of machines—it was a culture, a community, and for many of us, a first love. From battling space bugs to saving princesses, these games gave us epic stories, impossible challenges, and memories that still glow like phosphor on a CRT screen.
So now we ask you, our fellow joystick warriors and quarter-stackers:
Did we miss your favorite?
Which game did YOU pour the most quarters into?
Let us know in the comments below—because nothing says Long Live the 1980s like a passionate debate over which arcade game reigns supreme.
And remember: no matter how old we get, we’re all still just kids trying to beat the high score.
🎮💾👾
Stay retro,
Team Long Live The 1980s
Got a favorite arcade game that didn’t make the list? Share your memories and let’s keep the conversation going! Don’t forget to follow us for more 1980s nostalgia every week!
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