In the era before PlayStation and Nintendo Switch gaming consoles, arcade gaming was the main source of video game entertainment.
Unlike today, where video games can be played within the comfort of your home, there was a time that required you to visit a physical location for gaming on an arcade machine.
Classic arcade games from the bygone era have endured competition through the years. Mobile technology advancements have made it easy to play these classic games on smartphones. By optimizing the controls for touch screens, developers have made it possible for arcade gaming to fit in the palm of your hand.
Android arcade games draw inspiration from the codes and conventions established by arcade machines. The Google Play Store is home to an array of arcade-inspired titles modeled after actual arcade machines and console games of the early 80s and 90s. While the quality of these titles varies, the most popular ones have become some of the best games available on Android.
With such a wide selection, choosing an arcade game can be overwhelming. In today’s roundup, we showcase some excellent options for arcade games on Android.
PAC-MAN
A classic among arcade games, PAC-MAN is the one title that cannot be overlooked. You can now enjoy this timeless classic in multiple versions on the Google Play Store. Navigate the maze and gobble up all the fruits and Pac-Dots, but beware of the ghosts that lurk in every corner.
PAC-MAN has been updated for mobile with new modes, mazes, power-ups, and more, drawing in millions of fans. If you’re seeking the ultimate PAC-MAN experience, look no further than Bandai Namco’s free app.
Revisit the golden age of gaming with the timeless classic PAC-MAN, now available for free on Google Play Store.
Pinball Deluxe – Reloaded
Pinball Deluxe – Reloaded by MadeOfBits brings the classic arcade experience to your Android device with its retro-style pinball game. With customizable tables, this game offers a flippin’ good time with ten different themes to explore, from “Space Frontier” to “Celtic Jukebox.”
Immerse yourself in a unique playstyle as you discover powerball and collect mods to customize the table to your skills. Enjoy stunning graphics, award-winning table design, and precise physics as you play for high scores and compete with friends in the online multiplayer mode. With fun challenges and achievements, and mini-games on the matrix display.
Pinball Deluxe – Reloaded promises to bring back the excitement of the good old days of the arcade.
Hungry Shark Evolution
In the world of arcade-style RPG games, the Hungry Shark series stands out. Developed by Future Games of London and later by Ubisoft, the games put players in control of various species of sharks, each with its own unique attributes.
As players consume other sea creatures and grow in size, they are able to unlock and purchase more powerful shark species. Over the years, the game has seen enhancements, including better graphics and removing microtransactions. It has become even more accessible with its release for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch.
Dive into a world of excitement and adventure with a thrilling offline oceanic experience.
Fruit Ninja
In Fruit Ninja, the ninja takes center stage in a quest to eliminate sources of vitamin C in the form of flying fruit. Developed by Half Brick, this game presents a unique, humorous, and entertaining premise.
The beautifully rendered graphics and intuitive gameplay make for a fun and satisfying experience as players aim to chop their way to the top of the leaderboard. With the added challenge of bombs mixed in with the fruit, this game keeps players coming back for more trying to outdo their previous score with each round.
Unleash your inner chef with the thrilling game of Fruit Ninja: A simple yet addictive mobile experience.
Galaxiga Arcade Shooting Game
Galaxiga is a space-themed shooting game inviting players to embark on an epic journey across the galaxy, armed with their spaceship, with a mission to take down a multitude of enemy forces.
This arcade game by Falcon Games promises to take players on a nostalgic journey through their childhood memories. With a classic feel and fast-paced action, Galaxiga promises to deliver an immersive and thrilling experience to players of all ages.
Blast off into a classic arcade adventure with Galaxiga: where the battle for the galaxy awaits.
Bottle Shooting Game
Bottle Shooting by Sigma App Lab offers a unique twist on the classic bottle-shooting experience. With its intuitive gameplay and colorful graphics, this slingshot game provides players with hours of entertainment as they progress through 36 challenging levels.
Using an angry ball, players must knock down bottles to Earth and break them to advance to the next level. Each level offers a new challenge, testing players’ slingshot skills and requiring logic to break all bottles successfully.
For those seeking a leisurely escape or a tough challenge, the Bottle Shooting Game proves to be an ideal option.
Angry Birds Friends
Angry Birds Friends stands out with its innovative Facebook integration and multiplayer capabilities in a crowded market of casual mobile games. The game is developed in partnership with Rovio Entertainment Corporation and Meta and promises to bring a fresh twist to the beloved mobile game franchise.
Gone are the days of solitary play; the game offers a leaderboard where players can see how they stack up against their friends and other players on the network. The real talking point, however, is the ability to play with friends over Facebook, taking what was once a solo experience and turning it into a social one.
Join the flock and soar to new heights with Angry Birds Friends, the social twist on a mobile game classic.
Bullet Hell Monday
Bullet Hell Monday stands at the forefront of a niche sub-genre of gaming – the bullet hell genre. The game offers a unique twist on traditional shooting games, with the players navigating a hail of bullets while simultaneously taking down enemies.
With retro-inspired graphics and vibrant, eye-catching visuals, the game provides an over-the-top, bullet-filled experience for fans of the genre!
Dodging bullets and shooting bad guys has never been so entertaining: Get ready for the ultimate journey with Bullet Hell Monday.
Pocket Arcade Story DX
Pocket Arcade Story DX offers players an opportunity to revisit the classic game from Kairosoft, known for its pixel graphics-rich projects. The game invites players to venture into the world of entrepreneurship, where they manage slot machines at a club.
To succeed, players must carefully oversee all aspects of their club, including conducting skirmishes between visitors. Adhering to the traditional gameplay of the genre, players collect profits and use their earnings to modernize the gaming hall and other related activities.
Revisit the classic pixelated world of entrepreneurship with Pocket Arcade Story DX, where managing a club is just the start of the adventure!
Crazy Taxi Classic
In Crazy Taxi Classic, players hop behind a high-speed taxi driven by a seasoned veteran. The supposed player is tasked with safely delivering passengers to their destinations amidst a barrage of obstacles.
This classic game series, first released by SEGA, offers a simple control scheme. It uses left and right buttons to maneuver the vehicle and left and right arrows to view the course. With two game modes available, including Story mode and Time Trial mode, players are challenged to complete each level within a set time limit.
Rev Up Your Engines: Crazy Taxi Classic brings back high-speed action, obstacle-filled journeys, and timeless fun.
Reviving the Classic Arcade Experience: The Future of Gaming
At a time when video games have become a multibillion-dollar industry with complex graphics and intricate storylines, it is easy to forget the origins of gaming: on the arcade. Arcade gaming dominated the gaming landscape and offered players a unique social experience. Arcade games ranged from the simple yet challenging controls of PAC-MAN to the pulse-pounding competition of Street Fighter.
While arcade machines declined in the West, they remained vibrant centers of gaming communities in South-East Asian countries. The communities fostered close relationships between players, developers, and publishers. Now with newer business models and refreshed gameplay, there is reason to believe arcades would once again thrive. Companies like exA-Arcadia are reviving the arcade experience by publishing indie games and converting them into arcade-style experiences.
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