“I got a pocket full of quarters, and I’m heading to the arcade.”
Buckner and Garcia – “Pac-Man Fever”
Back in the 80’s, there was nothing better than going to the local arcade and sliding in countless number of quarters into our favorite arcade game! That, or putting a quarter in a line of other quarters on the machine to reserve a spot to play. I remember spending hours and hours standing over other people and friends trying to pass board after board. Today, we have fancy personal consoles, and you don’t even have to leave the house to have the fun you once had in the 80’s. Arcardes are a thing of the past. Most of them don’t even exist anymore! So sit down, relax and read on as you relive our Top 10 80’s coin operated arcade video games. We hope you enjoy the list as much as we enjoyed making it!
Keith – Stargate (Williams) – 1981
The player’s ship flies over a horizontally scrolling planet surface, protecting friendly humanoids from alien abduction. Destroying all enemies advances you to the next wave. Loss of all humanoids destroys the planet until it is reinstated every fifth wave. Williams Electronics, Inc. (1967-1985), the Stargate maker, released 209 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1959. Other machines made by Williams Electronics, Inc. (1967-1985) during the time period Stargate was produced include Defender, Pharaoh, Barracora, Hyperball, Black Knight Limited Edition, Algar, Cyclops, Alien Poker, Black Knight, and Blackout.
David – Ghosts and Goblins (Capcom) – 1985
You play Sir Arthur, a knight who must run and jump through six horziontally- or vertically scrolling levels to rescue his sweetheart, Princess Guinevere. Throw lances, axes etc. to kill zombies, bats, demons and other assorted foes. You must defeat the end-of-level boss before you can move on to the next stage. Capcom, the Ghosts ‘n Goblins maker, released 208 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1984. Other machines made by Capcom during the time period Ghosts ‘n Goblins was produced include Commando, Exed Exes, Space Invasion, 1942 (PlayChoice), Section Z, 1942, HiGeMaru – Pirate Ship, Son Son, Vulgus, and Red Line Fever (prototypes only).
Keith – Punch-Out!! (Nintendo) – 1984
A first-person perspective boxing game where you fight six boxers in the WVBA. The player character is a green wire frame model who must defeat all the opponents to become the champion. The commentator says “Body blow!”, “Stick and move!” and “Great fighting! You’re an up and coming boxer!” Nintendo, the Punch-Out!! maker, released 91 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1970. Other machines made by Nintendo during the time period Punch-Out!! was produced include VS. Pinball & Golf, Baseball, Vs. Mahjong, Excitebike, Hogan’s Alley, Tennis, Mario Bros., Mario Bros. (PlayChoice), Donkey Kong 3, and Sky Skipper.
David – Hat Trick (Bally) – 1984
A simple overhead two-on-two hockey game.
Bally Sente, the Hat Trick maker, released 23 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1984. Other machines made by Bally Sente during the time period Hat Trick was produced include Off The Wall, Snacks ‘n Jaxson, Chicken Shift, Snake Pit, and Goalie Ghost.
Keith – Yie Ar Kung-Fu (Konami) – 1985
A martial artist armed only with his fists and feet attacks opponents with powerful limbs and/or weapons. Successful attacks deplete your opponents’ life bars enabling your character to progress onwards in the martial arts tournament.
Konami, the Yie Ar Kung-Fu maker, released 359 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1978. Other machines made by Konami during the time period Yie Ar Kung-Fu was produced include Finalizer – Super Transformation, Galactic Warriors, Gradius, Green Beret, Jail Break, Time Pilot ’84, Super Basketball, Sky Jaguar, Shinnyuushain Tooru-kun, and Road Fighter.
David – Elevator Action (Taito) – 1983
In a building filled with elevators, you play a spy who must collect secret documents and then escape through the basement. Enemies appear from behind doorways, but you can shoot, kick, drop a light on them or even crush them with the elevator you are in! Taito, the Elevator Action maker, released 403 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1967.
Other machines made by Taito during the time period Elevator Action was produced include Bio Attack, Birdie King 2, Chack ‘N Pop, Change Lanes, Fighting Roller, Zoo Keeper, Wild Western, Time Tunnel, Super Mouse, and Strike Bowling.
Keith – Gauntlet (Atari) – 1985
Up to four people can play at once, exploring dungeons and fighting monsters from a top-view perspective. Each player’s character has different strengths and weaknesses. The players collect food, potions, and treasure in return for points, health, magic and power-ups. Atari Games, the Gauntlet maker, released 87 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1984. Other machines made by Atari Games during the time period Gauntlet was produced include Road Runner, Gauntlet (PlayChoice), Empire Strikes Back, Peter Pack Rat, Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom, E.T., Last Starfighter The, Marble Madness, and Paperboy.
David – Track and Field (Konami) – 1983
Compete against other players in various Olympic events. Bash the buttons as fast as possible to run faster. Use the action button to throw, jump, etc.
Konami, the Track & Field maker, released 359 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1978. Other machines made by Konami during the time period Track & Field was produced include Gyruss, Hyper Olympic, Juno First, Mega Zone, Roc’n Rope, Jackler, Video Hustler, Tactician, Super Cobra, and Scramble.
Keith – Spy Hunter (Midway) – 1983
The player is a secret agent driving a car or a boat, rigged with all sorts of weapons, who fights other bad guys in various vehicles. The player drives on a vertically scrolling road on both dry pavement and snow. The theme music is Peter Gunn.
Bally Midway, the Spy Hunter maker, released 89 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1981. Other machines made by Bally Midway during the time period Spy Hunter was produced include Grand Slam (2 player version), Discs Of Tron, Gold Ball, Jump Shot, E2088, BurgerTime, Roto, Earth Friend, Satan’s Hollow, and Baby Pac-Man.
David – Star Wars (Atari) – 1983
Pilot the X-Wing Fighter in the classic color vector arcade game! Blast away TIE Fighters, zoom across the surface of the Death Star, and roar down the trench with sampled voices and effects from the movie! Atari, the Star Wars maker, released 126 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1972.
Other machines made by Atari during the time period Star Wars was produced include Crystal Castles, Pole Position II, Alpha 1, Agent X, Arabian, Space Duel, Pole Position, Fast Freddie, Xevious, and Millipede.
Keith – Missile Command (Atari) – 1980
Using three atomic missile launching bases you defend your cities against incoming missiles. Enemy missiles may seperate into several missiles so shoot them down early because you only have a limited number of missiles.
Atari, the Missile Command maker, released 126 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1972.
Other machines made by Atari during the time period Missile Command was produced include Battlezone, Warlords, Monza, Centipede, Bradley Trainer, Lunar Lander, Solar War, Atari Basketball, Asteroids, and Atari Football.
David – Cyberball (Atari) – 1988
In the year 2022, robot football is the most popular sport where each team attempts to score before the ball temperature reaches critical and explodes, possibly taking a star machine with it. The ball is defused by selecting running/passing plays and getting the ball past the 50-yard line or the goal. Players may buy upgraded robots with team funds earned by performing well in the game.
Atari Games, the Cyberball maker, released 87 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1984.
Other machines made by Atari Games during the time period Cyberball was produced include Vindicators, Toobin’, Vindicators Part II, Pot Shot, Tetris, Xybots, A.P.B., Road Blasters, RBI Baseball, and Atari R.B.I. Baseball.
Keith – Tron (Midway) – 1982
Based on scenes from the Walt Disney movie of the same name, this game has four distinct games per level: Lightcycles, Grid Bugs, Tanks, and the MPC Cone. All four games must be completed before you can advance to the next level.
Bally Midway, the Tron maker, released 89 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1981. Other machines made by Bally Midway during the time period Tron was produced include Bump ‘n Jump, Roto, BurgerTime, Pac-Man Plus, Earth Friend, Adventures of Robby Roto, The, Lazarian, Solar Fox, Wizard Of Wor, and Xs and Os.
David – Tetris (Atari) – 1989
A puzzle game where seven different types of blocks continuously fall from above and you must arrange them to make horizontal rows of bricks. Completing any row causes those blocks to disappear and the rest above move downwards completing four rows at once is called a Tetris. The blocks above gradually fall faster and the game is over when the screen fills up and blocks can no longer fall from the top. Atari Games, the Tetris maker, released 87 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1984. Other machines made by Atari Games during the time period Tetris was produced include Toobin’, Vindicators Part II, Pot Shot, Cyberball, Vindicators, Xybots, A.P.B., Road Blasters, RBI Baseball, and Atari R.B.I. Baseball.
Keith – Centipede (Atari) – 1980
The player controls a gun that can only move in the bottom fifth of the screen. The object is to shoot a centipede that works its way down to the player area through a field of mushrooms. Other attacking enemies are fleas, spiders, and scorpions.
Atari, the Centipede maker, released 126 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1972. Other machines made by Atari during the time period Centipede was produced include Battlezone, Warlords, Monza, Missile Command, Bradley Trainer, Lunar Lander, Solar War, Atari Basketball, Asteroids, and Atari Football.
David – Gauntlet (Atari) – 1985
Up to four people can play at once, exploring dungeons and fighting monsters from a top-view perspective. Each player’s character has different strengths and weaknesses. The players collect food, potions, and treasure in return for points, health, magic and power-ups. Atari Games, the Gauntlet maker, released 87 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1984. Other machines made by Atari Games during the time period Gauntlet was produced include Road Runner, Gauntlet (PlayChoice), Empire Strikes Back, Peter Pack Rat, Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom, E.T., Last Starfighter The, Marble Madness, and Paperboy.
Keith / David – Dragon’s Lair (Cinematronics) 1983 [same pick]
Dirk The Daring travels, searching through a castle for Princess Daphne who has been kidnapped by Singe The Dragon. Cinematronics’ first laserdisc game done by former Disney animator, Don Bluth. Very popular. Cinematronics, the Dragon’s Lair maker, released 31 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1976.
Other machines made by Cinematronics during the time period Dragon’s Lair was produced include Cosmic Chasm, Hovercraft, Brix, Express Delivery, Space Ace, War Of The Worlds, Freeze, Zzyzzyxx, Jack The Giantkiller, and Solar Quest.
Keith – Star Wars (Atari) – 1983
Pilot the X-Wing Fighter in the classic color vector arcade game! Blast away TIE Fighters, zoom across the surface of the Death Star, and roar down the trench with sampled voices and effects from the movie! Atari, the Star Wars maker, released 126 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1972.
Other machines made by Atari during the time period Star Wars was produced include Crystal Castles, Pole Position II, Alpha 1, Agent X, Arabian, Space Duel, Pole Position, Fast Freddie, Xevious, and Millipede.
David – Ms Pac-Man (Midway) – 1981
Ms. Pac-Man must eat all the dots in a maze in order to advance to the next stage. She’s chased by killer ghosts but she can eat them while powered up after eating one of four large dots. Bonus points are awarded for eating the fruits and snacks that appear and wander the maze.
Midway Manufacturing Co., the Ms. Pac-Man maker, released 124 different machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1959.
Other machines made by Midway Manufacturing Co. during the time period Ms. Pac-Man was produced include Ms. Pac-Man Plus, Bosconian, Omega Race, Gorf, Kick, Extra Bases, Rally-X, Space Encounters, Space Zap, and Space Invaders Deluxe.
What’s on your list? We want to know! And tune into our future podcasts to hear our other great lists! (For our extended list, click here.)