Arcade gameshave a long history that dates back roughly half a century. FromPongtoPac-Man, the ’70s and ’80s pioneered the games that would eventually become console classics. Games likeDonkey Kongpredated the successful juggernaut the series would become on Nintendo consoles only a decade later.
With that being said, the ’90s took arcade gaming to a new level. Thanks to the popularity of titles likeStreet FighterandMortal Kombat, fighting games had a spot alongside the beat ‘em ups like Konami’sTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The ’90s heralded some impressive classic titles, some of which would go on to be among thebest arcade gamesof all time.
Updated July 02, 2025 by Mark Sammut:The 1990s was unquestionably the peak for arcade gaming, at least in terms of popularity. Once console gaming caught up in terms of technology, arcades lost quite a bit of momentum, and they are fairly difficult to find nowadays. Still, thebest ’90s arcade gamesare eternal.
Considering how much time has passed, most of thebest ’90s arcade gameshave aged shockingly well. Even all these decades later, their gameplay and visuals can be appreciated and enjoyed beyond their historical significance. That said, exceptions naturally exist, and Namco’sAir Combatis one of them. In 1993, the game’s 3D presentation and immersive arcade boot provided arguably thebest flight simulator on the market, writing the playbook that would go on to inspire the genre’s future.
Nowadays,Air Combatprobably will not keep all that many people’s attention beyond a few minutes. The controls, presentation, and gameplay are all quite frustrating, and there is little reason to play the original when the PS1Air CombatorAce Combatis available. Nevertheless, it was an impressive achievement.
X-Men: The Arcade Gameis rightfully hailed asone of the franchise’s best efforts of all time, and while its age shines through in places, the beat ‘em up title holds up as a fun, albeit repetitive entry in the genre. Released at a time when Konami actually created games, the title’s strongest feature is its playable character roster, with six mutants coming along for the ride. With great attack animations and authentic specials, each character stands out as their own entity and comes with a fairly steep learning curve.
X-Men’s visuals are generally impressive, particularly the character designs and backgrounds. While the standard fodder enemies get old quite quickly, the bosses are another story entirely, with the campaign covering a few heavyweights like Mystique and Magneto. While very good,X-Mendoes struggle a bit when compared to later beat ‘em ups, particularly Capcom’s.
Alpha Mission 2is a lesser entry in SNK’s arcade catalog, but that has more to do with the developer’s proficiency than any perceived lack of quality concerning the vertical shooter. When it comes to shoot ‘em ups, this 1991 title does not do anything too out of the ordinary, and it should strike a chord with most fans of the genre.
Boasting great visuals and music,Alpha Mission 2was a looker back in the day, and age has done little to hamper the game’s presentation. Gameplay-wise, SNK’s release offers a satisfying selection of weapons and an upgrade system that rewards skill. As these types of games can be inescapable to newcomers,Alpha Mission 2is somewhat of an acquired taste, but the game is a good representative of theshmup genre.
Capcom’s first Arcade Marvel title introduced the gameplay later seen in theVS.series. ThisX-Mentitle featured gorgeous animation, memorable music, and the X-Men taking on Magneto & the Brotherhood.Children of the Atomintroduced the launcher combos, high jumps, and flashy action that would set the tone for the sequels.
Several of the X-Men would later appear in various crossover titles untilMarvel vs. Capcom 2brought them together once again. Even so,Children of the Atommaintained a significant legacy as even Sentinel would get his theme remixed in 2011’sMarvel vs. Capcom 3.
Primarily known asThe Simpsons Arcade Game, this 1991 delight stands out as one of the most entertaining beat ‘em ups of its era, even if it is somewhat streamlined compared to other genre greats. When Maggie finds herself kidnapped by Smithers, the rest of the Simpsons must go on an epic adventure to save her, which means punching everything that moves and visiting various iconic locations from the TV show. All four characters have unique moves that set them apart from each other, and their attacks lean into the source material’s slapstick humor. As with most of these classics,The Simpsons Arcade Gamecan also be played in co-op, which allows the gameplay to shine even brighter.
As fun as it is, this release does require players to be fond of the cartoon. That’s not to say that its beat ‘em up mechanics have nothing to offer the uninitiated, as they are generally solid, but there are superior arcade options for those who are not captivated by the license. Nevertheless, Konami’s 1991 romp is still among thebestSimpsonsgames.
A dual-stick shooter that used to soak up all of someone’s coins,Smash TVwas painfully difficult to put down once the mayhem started to flow. Split into levels that throw wave after wave of enemies at the player,Smash TVdescends into pure chaos almost immediately, creating an action-packed experience with no dull moments.
Power-ups, thousands of disposable foes, and cheesy announcements are all things that defineSmash TV’s legacy. The game’s console versions are not quite as good as the arcade title, but they are still decent fun.
Capcom knows a thing or two about crafting addictive and gorgeous arcade games, and that goes beyond just 2D fighters. While perhaps not as decorated asStreet Fighter, the publisher was responsible for a few of the 1990s’ best beat ‘em ups, some of which have aged like a fine wine. 1993’sThe Punisherserves as a prime example of Capcom’s genre mastery, expanding on ideas introduced in classics likeFinal Fightto create a kinetic, visceral, and unforgettable Marvel-themed romp. As either Frank Castle or Nick Fury, players go on a blood-soaked rampage through America, taking on a few recognizable villains from the source material.
While the core melee combat was not too far removed from other Capcom beat ‘em ups from the era,The Punisherpushed the envelope by emphasizing weapons. From guns to bats and throwable knives, Frank can wield a wide assortment of death machines, most of which are dropped by enemies. And, like most arcade games,The Punisheris extremely difficult, so players will need to make smart and constant use of all the tools at their disposal.
Except for a mediocre Genesis port,The Punisherremained exclusive to arcades, causing it to become one of the more sought-after Capcom projects. Well, in 2024, the publisher finally answered those pleas by including the game in aMarvel vs. Capcomcompilation.
An underappreciated gem that didn’t make much of a splash in Western arcades,Ninja Baseball Bat Manis silliness captured in video game form. A beat ‘em up about four robot heroes striving to retrieve a statue of Babe Ruth,Ninja Baseball Bat Mantakes players on camp-fueled adventures with accessible combat, unforgettable villains, and charming visuals.
In a decade overstacked with beat ‘em ups,Ninja Baseball Bat Manstruggled to stand out; however, the game has aged better than most of its contemporaries. It is simply fun.
A contender for the most surprising ’90s game to be revived more than two decades following its release,Windjammerswas ported to the PS4 in 2017 and even received a sequel in 2022. The sports game challenges players to win an intense match of frisbee; yet, frisbee. On the surface, that might not sound particularly exciting, however,Windjammershides an impressive amount of depth.
Windjammersis a delight whether played in arcades or on home consoles. Players have their pick of six characters, all of which come with unique stats and special throws. Matches are quite straightforward – two players battle it out to see who can score 12 points first – but the shots come with little tricks that make a huge difference in bouts.
Locking and loading with a light gun shooter is almost arequirementwhen visiting ’90s-era arcades. While there’s no shortage of games in the genre,Sega’s famedHouse of the Deadseries remains the pinnacle for many. This is especially true with the series’ ‘98 sequel, which leans on the appealing traits of its predecessor while refining and fleshing out some areas.
The game ramps up the action, difficulty, and mechanics while polishing the graphics, improving the narrative, and adding nuance to the unique system of branching paths. This series would serve as the foundation and inspiration that would help spawn various otheraction-packed zombie romps.
