Best Arcade games from the 1980s

Best Arcade games from the 1980s [Discovery Queue]

Games like The Duel: Test Drive II, River Raid, and Krakout, ranked by the GamesGraph community.
Last updated: October 15, 2026

1

1

The Duel: Test Drive II

1989December 1989 by Distinctive Software

Racing, Simulator, Arcade

Racing, Simulator, Arcade

6.06 Okay++ <100 ratings
2

2

River Raid

1982December 1982 by Activision

Shooter, Racing, Arcade

Shooter, Racing, Arcade

5.83 Okay+ <100 ratings
3

3

Krakout

1987December 1987 by Gremlin Graphics Software Ltd.

Arcade, Side view, Colorful

Arcade, Side view, Colorful

5.76 Okay+ <100 ratings
4

4

Sid Meier's Pirates!

1987May 1987 by MicroProse Software, Inc.

RPG, Simulator, Strategy

RPG, Simulator, Strategy

5.68 Okay+ <100 ratings
5

5

Super Dodge Ball

1989June 1989 by Million

Sport, Arcade, Isometric

Sport, Arcade, Isometric

5.65 Okay <100 ratings
6

6

Blockout

1989October 1989 by Logical Design Works

Puzzle, Arcade, First person

Puzzle, Arcade, First person

5.57 Okay <100 ratings
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7

7

Airborne Ranger

1987December 1987 by MicroProse Software, Inc.

Shooter, Simulator, Strategy

Shooter, Simulator, Strategy

5.55 Okay <100 ratings
8

8

Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2

1987December 1987 by Taito

Platform, Puzzle, Arcade

Platform, Puzzle, Arcade

5.55 Okay <100 ratings
9

9

Where Time Stood Still

1987December 1987 by Denton Designs

Simulator, Strategy, Adventure

Simulator, Strategy, Adventure

5.54 Okay <100 ratings
10

10

Astrosmash

1981October 1981 by Mattel Electronics

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

5.53 Okay <100 ratings
11

11

Twin Cobra

1987October 1987 by Toaplan

Shooter, Arcade, Isometric

Shooter, Arcade, Isometric

5.51 Okay <100 ratings
12

12

Rygar

1986May 1986 by Tecmo

Platform, Arcade, Fantasy

Platform, Arcade, Fantasy

5.46 Okay <100 ratings
13

13

Zanac

1986July 1986 by Compile

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

5.45 Okay <100 ratings
14

14

Slap Fight

1986July 1986 by Toaplan

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

5.45 Okay <100 ratings
15

15

Blue Lightning

1989December 1989 by Epyx

Shooter, Arcade, Thriller

Shooter, Arcade, Thriller

5.43 Okay- <100 ratings
16

16

Prehistoric Isle

1989May 1989 by SNK

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

5.42 Okay- <100 ratings
17

17

Route-16

1981February 1981 by Sun Electronics

Racing, Arcade, Isometric

Racing, Arcade, Isometric

5.42 Okay- <100 ratings
18

18

Golden Axe

1989January 1989 by Team Shinobi

Hack and Slash, Arcade, Fantasy

Hack and Slash, Arcade, Fantasy

5.41 Okay- 225 ratings
19

19

Super Hang-On

1987April 1987 by Sega AM2

Racing, Arcade, Third person

Racing, Arcade, Third person

5.40 Okay- <100 ratings
20

20

Galaxy Force II

1988December 1988 by Sega AM2

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

5.40 Okay- <100 ratings
21

21

TwinBee

1986January 1986 by Konami

Shooter, Arcade, Fantasy

Shooter, Arcade, Fantasy

5.40 Okay- <100 ratings
22

22

Formation Z

1984September 1984 by Hect

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

5.39 Okay- <100 ratings
23

23

Heavy Barrel

1987February 1987 by Data East

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

5.36 Okay- <100 ratings
24

24

Super Contra

1988January 1988 by Konami

Shooter, Platform, Arcade

Shooter, Platform, Arcade

5.36 Okay- <100 ratings
25

25

Time Pilot

1982November 1982 by Konami

Shooter, Arcade, Fantasy

Shooter, Arcade, Fantasy

5.36 Okay- <100 ratings
26

26

Truxton

1988October 1988 by Toaplan

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

5.34 Okay- <100 ratings
27

27

Captain Blood

1988December 1988 by ERE Informatique

Puzzle, Simulator, Adventure

Puzzle, Simulator, Adventure

5.34 Okay- <100 ratings
28

28

Knightmare

1986January 1986 by Konami

Shooter, Arcade, Fantasy

Shooter, Arcade, Fantasy

5.33 Okay- <100 ratings
29

29

Robotron: 2084

1982January 1982 by Vid Kidz

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

5.32 Okay- <100 ratings
30

30

Gain Ground

1988November 1988 by Sega Enterprises, Ltd.

Shooter, Real Time Strategy, Strategy

Shooter, Real Time Strategy, Strategy

5.31 Okay- <100 ratings
31

31

Bubble Ghost

1987December 1987 by ERE Informatique

Puzzle, Strategy, Arcade

Puzzle, Strategy, Arcade

5.31 Okay- <100 ratings
32

32

Zero Wing

1989July 1989 by Toaplan

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

5.27 Okay- <100 ratings
33

33

Star Wars

1983May 1983 by Atari Games

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

5.27 Okay- <100 ratings
34

34

Dragon's Lair

1983June 1983 by Advanced Microcomputer Systems

Adventure, Arcade, Fantasy

Adventure, Arcade, Fantasy

5.26 Okay- <100 ratings
35

35

Hellfire

1989December 1989 by Toaplan

Shooter, Arcade, Side view

Shooter, Arcade, Side view

5.26 Okay- <100 ratings
36

36

Space Ace

1983October 1983 by ReadySoft

Shooter, Adventure, Arcade

Shooter, Adventure, Arcade

5.24 Okay- <100 ratings
37

37

Thexder

1985April 1985 by Game Arts

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

5.22 Okay- <100 ratings
38

38

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Dragons of Flame

1989December 1989 by U.S. Gold

RPG, Adventure, Arcade

RPG, Adventure, Arcade

5.19 Okay-- <100 ratings
39

39

Galaga

1981September 1981 by Namco Limited

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

5.18 Okay-- 126 ratings
40

40

Shadow Dancer

1989November 1989 by Team Shinobi

Platform, Hack and Slash, Arcade

Platform, Hack and Slash, Arcade

5.17 Okay-- <100 ratings
41

41

Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair

1988November 1988 by Westone

Shooter, Platform, Arcade

Shooter, Platform, Arcade

5.16 Okay-- <100 ratings
42

42

Yars' Revenge

1982May 1982 by Atari

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

5.15 Okay-- <100 ratings
43

43

Golden Axe

1989December 1989 by Team Shinobi

Hack and Slash, Arcade, Fantasy

Hack and Slash, Arcade, Fantasy

5.13 Okay-- <100 ratings
44

44

Gauntlet

1985October 1985 by Atari Games

Hack and Slash, Arcade, Fantasy

Hack and Slash, Arcade, Fantasy

5.11 Okay-- <100 ratings
45

45

Space Harrier II

1988October 1988 by Sega Enterprises, Ltd.

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

5.09 Okay-- <100 ratings
46

46

Splatterhouse

1988November 1988 by Namco

Hack and Slash, Arcade, Horror

Hack and Slash, Arcade, Horror

5.06 Okay-- <100 ratings
47

47

Millipede

1982November 1982 by Atari

Shooter, Arcade, Side view

Shooter, Arcade, Side view

5.06 Okay-- <100 ratings
48

48

TwinBee

1985March 1985 by Konami

Shooter, Arcade, Fantasy

Shooter, Arcade, Fantasy

5.02 Okay-- <100 ratings
49

49

Mighty Bomb Jack

1986April 1986 by Tecmo

Platform, Adventure, Arcade

Platform, Adventure, Arcade

4.94 Mediocre++ <100 ratings
50

50

Crystal Castles

1983July 1983 by Atari

Puzzle, Arcade, Fantasy

Puzzle, Arcade, Fantasy

4.90 Mediocre++ <100 ratings
51

51

Centipede

1981June 1981 by Atari

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

4.83 Mediocre++ <100 ratings
52

52

Stargate

1981December 1981 by Vid Kidz

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

Shooter, Arcade, Science fiction

4.76 Mediocre+ <100 ratings
53

53

Street Fighter

1987August 1987 by Capcom

Fighting, Arcade, Side view

Fighting, Arcade, Side view

3.89 Mediocre-- 104 ratings