The Top 5 Arcade Games That Made Me an Enthusiast

A bit less "formal" of a post for this week, but I wanted to go over some of my favorite arcade games! These range from games I played as a kid to ones I discovered as an adult. I'm trying to not use the "basic" answers, so you won't see too many wildly popular ones like Capcom or Donkey Kong (I wanna be different, okay?), but I hope you enjoy anyway! It's not a very intensive list, but I wanted to give love to some of the games that hold a special place in my little arcade-loving heart.

Proof that I could live and sleep in an arcade if needed, haha

5. Operation

From Bragging Rights

Listen, I know it's not a very popular game. However, it's a total throwback that brings the board game to life, and little Moe thought that was the coolest thing. It was simple, took skill, and most importantly--got you some tickets for prizes! I think this is the earliest game I can remember playing.

4. Deal or No Deal

From PrimeTime Amusements

Same as the last one--I know it's not a cultural phenomenon. But it ties into some very special memories for me. The first time my father and I ever went out to the arcade with just the two of us, I can remember so clearly winning the jackpot for 400 tickets. Which, in hindsight, wasn't really enough to get me much of anything good. But the excitement for arcades that that moment instilled in me lasted well into adulthood. The game itself isn't super outstanding to me, and it really wasn't even then, but that memory means a lot--so much so that I can overlook the amount of headaches that the Deal or No Deal currently sitting in my place of work gives me, haha.

3. Wheel of Fortune Coin Pusher

From Betson

Wheel of Fortune was the very first arcade machine I ever worked on. It's the first playfield lighbulb I ever replaced, first hopper I ever unclogged, and the very first key I ever put into an arcade machine lock. As with most of this list, this choice was entirely sentimental. Still, it's a great game--lighting the letters to spin for your fortune! Pushers are a classic for a reason.

3. Mrs. Pac-Man

From Vintage Arcade Superstore

Okay, I lied. Here's your wildly popular cabinet game that you knew was going to be on here. But what can I say--its spot is deserved. I remember figuring out the arrow code to unlock regular Pac-Man on this game for the first time and feeling like the smartest teen hacker on the planet. There's not much I can say that hasn't been said a million times before, but just know that Mrs. Pac-Man deserves to be in everyone's top 5.

2. Galaga

Galaga is a classic space shooter that captured the excitement of arcade games with its fast action and strategic elements. Released in 1981, players controlled a spaceship and fought waves of alien enemies. The game stood out for its smooth controls and the thrill of rescuing captured ships to increase firepower.

I enjoyed how Galaga combined reflexes with planning. Deciding when to attack or dodge enemy formations kept the gameplay fresh. The increasing speed and complexity of enemy patterns made every session a test of endurance and skill.

1. Party Zone Pinball

From Vintage Arcade Superstore

Now, if anyone knows me, they know I LOVE pinball. It's easily my favorite type of arcade game ever, and this particular machine is my all time favorite. It's the one that got me into pinball, which then sent me down the long and winding road of arcade enthusiasm. It's now been years since the one that we had in our arcade was sold, and I can still hear Captain B. Zarre prompting me to "aim for the rocket!!" Truly a machine that I would go out of my way to find in any pin hall nearby.