![\"Arcade](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_306285167-8d84.jpg\")
\n\t\tRidge Racer is one of the newer games on offer (Hamster)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tRidge Racer is one of the newer games on offer (Hamster)<\/p>\n
A reader discusses some of his favourite arcade games, from Scramble to Ridge Racer, and how you can play them for cheap on any current format.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re a certain age (or even if you\u2019re not), now and again you might get a pang (pun intended) for the old arcade scene from the heyday of the 80s<\/a> and 90s<\/a>. Whilst it\u2019s difficult to replicate the sticky carpets, shifty looking customers, and visual and audio overload of walking through an arcade from that era, you can easily curate your own pseudo arcade in your own home.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve found the Arcade Archives (ACA, published by Hamster) collection on all the store fronts invaluable to scratch that nostalgia itch, so below I\u2019ve highlighted 10 of my favourite video games<\/a> from the golden era of arcades.<\/p>\n Even if none of these tickle your fancy, I reckon there\u2019s over 500 titles to choose from, if you\u2019re after a quick fix.<\/p>\n Bomb Jack<\/p>\n A single screen affair where you simply diffuse the bombs before they go off, whilst avoiding the enemies and collecting the bonus items. The flying\/floating mechanic makes this just the right side of addictive vs. frustrating.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tExpert, exclusive gaming analysis\t\t\t<\/p>\n Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter<\/a> for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Rainbow Islands<\/p>\n The follow on from Bubble Bobble (which is also available) keeps the cutesy platform aesthetic but is no longer restricted to a single screen; now you scroll upwards towards your goal on a journey of rainbows and smiles. Fiendishly addictive, with an ace tune to boot.<\/p>\n Track & Field<\/p>\n The OG joystick killer on 8-bit micros, this was multiplayer heaven as you either went head to head with your mate or the computer to try and get personal bests in several events. The definitive one more go title that\u2019ll get you looking up new techniques online, to see how to improve on your javelin.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Ridge Racer<\/p>\n Fast paced racing, this is definitely no sim, where ridiculous but spectacular drifting is not only allowed but encouraged to get the faster times. Courses are limited, but this isn\u2019t aimed at someone who wants to spend a couple of hours honing their skills, it\u2019s very much a quick blast type of game.<\/p>\n Big Tournament Golf<\/p>\n I think this has gone through various naming conversations and I just know it as that Neo Geo golf game [Neo Turf Masters is its more common name \u2013 GC]. What it lacks in sophistication it makes up for in playability, albeit in a very simple way. However, that doesn\u2019t make it easy, and it\u2019s suitably challenging to keep you interested.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Contra<\/p>\n Talking of genre defining titles, this side-scrolling run \u2018n\u2019 gun started a franchise that probably peaked with the SNES version of Contra 3 (bizarrely called Super Probotector in the UK). The series was known for its difficulty and the game that it started it all is no different.<\/p>\n Ikari Warriors<\/p>\n A slightly better Commando, this vertically scrolling run \u2018n\u2019 gun game gets the basics right. Action packed all the way; this won\u2019t disappoint if you\u2019re after a quick blast of a genre sadly lacking in recent times.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Scramble<\/p>\n Probably the earliest game on this list, this horizontal shmup was understandably groundbreaking in its time. Allowing the player to combat both airborne and ground attacks gave another dimension to the gameplay and although it now looks a little simplistic (unsurprising given it\u2019s over 40 years old; actually it\u2019s 45, having just checked) it still has its charm.<\/p>\n Double Dragon<\/p>\n One of the grandfathers of the scrolling beat \u2018em up games, this still packs a punch. Maybe a little simplistic by today\u2019s standards but still extremely fun; you could argue the likes of Streets Of Rage perfected the formula, but Double Dragon walked so that Streets Of Rage could run.<\/p>\n Yie Ar Kung-Fu<\/p>\n Preceding Street Fighter<\/a> 2 by seven years, this one-on-one fighter introduced the concept of increasingly difficult opponents, each with their own techniques, strengths and weaknesses. This was one of the first arcade cabinets where a small audience would gather around a good player to watch their technique as they played through each level.<\/p>\n By reader TheTruthSoul (PSN ID)<\/p>\n \t\t The reader\u2019s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.<\/p>\n You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.<\/p>\n Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk<\/a> or use our Submit Stuff page<\/a> and you won\u2019t need to send an email.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Yie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_306285164-fd07.jpg\")
\n\t\tYie Ar Kung-Fu was a seminal game (Hamster)<\/p>\n
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