By: Daniel Charles
It is difficult to determine a definitive list of the highest-grossing arcade games of all time, as there are many factors that can affect the revenue generated by an arcade game, such as the number of units sold, the locations where the game was placed, and the length of time it was available for play. However, here is a list of 10 arcade games that have been commercially successful and widely popular:
By: Daniel Charles
- Pac-Man: Pac-Man is a classic arcade game that was released in 1980 and has become a cultural icon. It is estimated to have generated more than $2.5 billion in revenue.
- Space Invaders: Space Invaders is another classic arcade game that was released in 1978. It is estimated to have generated more than $2 billion in revenue.
- Donkey Kong: Donkey Kong is a 1981 arcade game that is widely considered to be the first platformer game. It is estimated to have generated more than $1 billion in revenue.
- Street Fighter: Street Fighter is a fighting game that was released in 1987 and has become one of the most popular and influential games in the genre. It is estimated to have generated more than $1 billion in revenue.
- Galaga: Galaga is a fixed shooter game that was released in 1981 and is the sequel to the game Galaxian. It is estimated to have generated more than $500 million in revenue.
- Asteroids: Asteroids is a 1979 arcade game that is a classic example of a fixed shooter game. It is estimated to have generated more than $500 million in revenue.
- Tetris: Tetris is a puzzle game that was released in 1984 and has become one of the most widely played video games of all time. It is estimated to have generated more than $425 million in revenue.
- Ms. Pac-Man: Ms. Pac-Man is a 1982 arcade game that is a sequel to the game Pac-Man. It is estimated to have generated more than $400 million in revenue.
- Pong: Pong is a 1972 arcade game that is credited as being the first successful video game. It is estimated to have generated more than $350 million in revenue.
- Marble Madness: Marble Madness is a 1984 arcade game that is a classic example of an isometric platformer game. It is estimated to have generated more than $300 million in revenue.
Pac-Man Arcade Game
Pac-Man is a classic arcade game that was released in 1980 and has become a cultural icon. In the game, players control a character called Pac-Man as he moves around a maze, eating dots and avoiding ghosts. The objective of the game is to eat all of the dots in the maze and clear the level, while avoiding the ghosts and other obstacles. Pac-Man can eat power pellets that temporarily allow him to eat the ghosts and earn points. The game becomes progressively more difficult as the player progresses through the levels.
Pac-Man was developed by Namco and was initially released in Japan. It was later released in North America and other regions, and became one of the most popular and influential games of all time. Pac-Man has spawned numerous sequels and spin-off games, as well as merchandise and other forms of media.
Space Invaders Arcade Game
Space Invaders is a classic arcade game that was released in 1978. It is a fixed shooter game in which players control a spaceship and must defend against waves of alien invaders. The objective of the game is to shoot down the aliens as they move towards the bottom of the screen, and to survive as long as possible. The aliens will also shoot at the player’s spaceship, and the player’s spaceship will be destroyed if it is hit by an alien shot or if it collides with an alien.
Space Invaders was developed by Taito and was initially released in Japan. It was later released in North America and other regions, and became one of the most popular and influential games of all time. Space Invaders has spawned numerous sequels and spin-off games, as well as merchandise and other forms of media.
Donkey Kong Arcade Game
Donkey Kong is a 1981 arcade game that is widely considered to be the first platformer game. In the game, players control a character called Jumpman (later known as Mario) as he tries to rescue a damsel in distress from a giant ape called Donkey Kong. The objective of the game is to guide Jumpman through a series of increasingly difficult levels, avoiding obstacles and enemies and collecting objects such as barrels and hammers.
Donkey Kong was developed by Nintendo and was initially released in Japan. It was later released in North America and other regions, and became one of the most popular and influential games of all time. Donkey Kong has spawned numerous sequels and spin-off games, as well as merchandise and other forms of media.
Ms. Pac-Man Arcade Game
Ms. Pac-Man is a classic arcade game that was released in 1981. It is a sequel to the popular game Pac-Man and features similar gameplay, with the player controlling a character that moves through a maze and eats dots while avoiding ghosts. In Ms. Pac-Man, the player controls a character that is similar to Pac-Man but is female and has a bow on her head.
The game introduces several new features, including four different maze designs, the ability to change the direction of the ghosts, and the ability to hide in certain areas of the maze. Ms. Pac-Man was a popular arcade game in the 1980s and has been released on a number of platforms since its original release.
Marble Madness Arcade game
Marble Madness is an arcade game that was released in 1984 by Atari Games. It is a platform game in which the player controls a marble that rolls through a series of obstacles and must reach the end of each level within a certain time limit. The player must navigate the marble through ramps, tubes, and other obstacles while avoiding hazards such as gaps, drops, and enemy marbles.
The arcade version of Marble Madness features a trackball controller, which the player uses to roll the marble through the levels. The game was popular in arcades in the 1980s and has also been released on home consoles and personal computers.
Pong arcade game
Pong is a classic arcade game that was released in 1972 by Atari. It is one of the first video games ever created and is a simple two-dimensional sports game that simulates table tennis. The game consists of a horizontal playing field with two paddles at opposite ends and a ball that bounces back and forth between the paddles.
Players use the paddles to hit the ball back and forth, and the objective is to score points by getting the ball past the opponent’s paddle. The arcade version of Pong features a simple control panel with two knob controllers, one for each player. Pong was a popular game in arcades in the 1970s and has also been released on home consoles and personal computers.
Street Fighter Arcade game
Street Fighter is a classic arcade fighting game developed and published by Capcom. It was first released in arcades in 1987, and has since been released on numerous platforms, including the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), the Sega Genesis, and the PlayStation. The game features a roster of characters with their own unique fighting styles, and players can engage in one-on-one battles or participate in various tournament modes. Street Fighter has become one of the most influential and iconic fighting games in the history of the genre, and has spawned numerous sequels and spin-offs.
Galaga Arcade Game
Galaga is a classic arcade game developed and published by Namco. It was first released in arcades in 1981 and has since been re-released on numerous platforms, including the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 4, and mobile devices. In the game, players control a spaceship and must defeat waves of alien attackers. The game features challenging gameplay, colorful graphics, and a memorable soundtrack. Galaga has become one of the most popular and enduring arcade games of all time and has spawned numerous sequels and spin-offs.
Asteroids Arcade Game
Asteroids is a classic arcade game developed and published by Atari in 1979. It is a fixed shooter game in which the player controls a spaceship and must destroy asteroids and flying saucers while avoiding collision with them. The game was one of the first to use vector graphics and was very popular upon its release. Asteroids has been released on numerous platforms, including the Atari 2600, the PlayStation, and mobile devices. It has become a classic of the arcade era and has inspired numerous clones and sequels.
Tetris Arcade Game
Tetris is a classic puzzle game that was developed and published by Soviet game designer Alexey Pajitnov in 1984. It has been released on a wide variety of platforms, including arcade machines, home consoles, and mobile devices. In Tetris, players must rotate and position falling blocks, called tetrominoes, to form complete lines. When a line is completed, it disappears, and the player scores points. Tetris is known for its simple, yet addictive gameplay and has become one of the most popular and influential games in history.