Arcade Games – 20 Best arcade games to play free online

Play Arcade games online

Does a challenging atmosphere, thrill in the air, and amazing gameplay appear to be something you are passionately looking for? Then, you have come to the right place! Play popular arcade games online which are bound to challenge you as you progress through each level. This article will talk about what are arcade games, their online gameplay, and the best arcade games that you can play for free.

Arcade games –  meaning, characteristics, and skills  

Arcade games often have short levels, with simple and intuitive controls. One of the key defining factors is with each level, the difficulty of the game increases.

Generally, arcade games are pinball machines, video games, or electromechanical games that are usually coin-operated. They can be found in malls, restaurants, or other public places, and gained a lot of popularity during the late 1970s through the 1980s. Although the demand for those games never slowed down, there was a subtle change in the platform as console and PC games came into the picture. In fact, you can play arcade games on your mobile phone as well.

There are various options available to download and play arcade games on your Android or iOS phone. As long as online arcade games share the same characteristics as offline games we can refer to them under the arcade games category. So, what are these characteristics?

What are arcade games?

Arcade games primarily have these four characteristics:

  1. Short levels
  2. Increase in difficulty as you progress through each level
  3. Simple and intuitive controls
  4. Focus is on the gameplay rather than the story or content
What are Arcade games

So, the PC or console, or mobile games can be referred to as arcade games as long as they possess the above-mentioned characteristics.

Best Arcade Games for Android and iOS

Here is a list of the 20 best arcade games that you can play online:

  1. Asphalt 9: Legends
  2. Brawl Stars
  3. Golden Axe classics
  4. Crossy Road
  5. Duet
  6. Bullet Hell Monday
  7. Forza Street
  8. Grand Mountain Adventure
  9. Hyperfoma
  10. Bendy in Nightmare Run
  11. Stickman Party
  12. Pinball Deluxe: Reloaded
  13. Cytus
  14. Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom
  15. Sky Force Reloaded
  16. Alto’s Odyssey
  17. Turbo Stars
  18. Contra Returns
  19. Jetpack Joyride
  20. Candies n Curses

Let’s take a look at what makes these games unique.

Asphalt 9: Legends

Let’s begin this list with one of the most popular games – Asphalt 9: Legends. The objective is to defeat your opponents on a race track.

How to play?

With simple controls and impressive graphics, this game has terrific missions with engaging backstories and a different set of cars to unlock competitive PvP mode. Playing the game with the free elements can get a little aggressive, which only adds to the thrill.

Asphalt 9: Legends is free to download at the Google Play Store. You can also download it for windows free of cost.

Brawl Stars

Second, on the list is Brawl Stars. The objective of this game is to defeat your opponent by completing in online events.

How to play?

This game provides you with the opportunity to play with different people from around the world – go for a head-to-head battle with various teams composed of similar other players. This multiplayer feature is what makes the games extremely engaging and enjoyable. The gameplay involves shooting or fighting characters in matches to win.

Get your hands on Brawl Stars now on Google Play Store and Apple app store. The game is designed for mobile phone devices but you can use emulators to play it on your PC.

Golden Axe Classics

The objective of this online arcade game is to save the princess and the king while safeguarding the Golden Axe.

How to play?

You get to pick a character when you start the game. There are three characters, and each of them has positive and negative sides.

After picking your character, you will enter the path where your job is to go through the path. There will be many enemies, and you have to overcome all the obstacles in each chapter. Then you will come to the front of the Chamber of Death, where you have to put an end to the reign of terror. You can get it on both Android and iOS. So download and start your journey. You will not be bored.

Crossy Road

Let’s now talk about one of the most popular mobile games, Crossy Road. The goal here is to move the player on an endless path containing obstacles like trains, cars, and vehicles.

How to play?

Circling a character crossing the roads over to the train tracks, the goal is not to get run over. With easy controls and a family-friendly atmosphere, this game is an excellent example of the best arcade games available online for Android. Check out the Crossy Road on the App Store or Google Play Store. You can even download these arcade games for your PC & Mac with the help of an emulator.

Duet

The objective is to navigate two opposite colored balls orbiting in a circle through the obstacles. You need to arrive safely at the ending segment of each level by guiding them from one side to another. With each level the difficulty increases which is exhilarating.

How to play?

With mesmerizing soundtracks, control the balls with the mobile control buttons or tilt the screen. Guide the balls to secure your place at the next level. Sounds easy? Wait until you see the obstacles.

Although Duet comes free of cost on Google Play Store, a single price tag of $2.99 is all you need to pay to add a few amazing features. You can also play it on your iPhone.

Bullet Hell Monday

Bullet Hell Monday is one of the most exciting games in the arcade series. Your objective here is to pave your way by completing vertical shooting stages.

How to play?

There are five chapters; each has ten levels. You get introduced to new enemies and harder challenges with increasing levels. The stages are short but exciting. Every level comes with new rewards from which you can upgrade your ship, your bullets, etc. The game is available in both Android and iOS versions.

Forza Street

Forza Street has made its way to the best set of arcade racing games by introducing cool graphics, storylines, and amazing controls. Your goal is to defeat your opponents by completing different racing contests.

How to play?

The racing games available on Android platforms usually have a very Arcade-like experience. Here’s where Forza Street makes a difference; it gives you a cinematic experience with exciting storylines. All a player has to do is tap a few buttons to control the brake, speed, or drift. You can download Forza Street from Play Store and App Store.

Grand Mountain Adventure

Grand Mountain Adventure gives you an open-world skiing game experience. You get to unlock ski lifts and reach new areas by competing in challenges that keep on getting harder with each stage. There are secret trials and hidden challenges that you can explore outside the slopes too.

How to play?

You need to navigate your skateboard with simple controls. For example, to perform tricks, you simply swipe on your ski poles. To jump swipe up and to perform a front flip swipe down. The game allows you to explore cities freely and at your own pace. With this multiplayer game, you can compete with your friends to unlock the different areas and features.

You can play Grand Mountain Adventure on your Android or iOS mobile phones.

Hyperfoma

In Hyperforma your goal is to hack the digital defense of the characters to encounter during the gameplay. At each level, you need to complete a few tasks like accomplishing reflex-based puzzles and finishing a specific hack at a particular time.

How to play?

At first, you will be shown the passages of the city. You have to look for the princess in the ancient network located in a digital world. You will get an oracle, and you have to play with the instructions. At the bottom, you will get a button that helps you launch an attack. By going forward, you can unlock many tools that will help you to attack. You can swipe the screen, blocks are in a 3D shape, and twist it to find their weakness and break in their digital defenses.

The game is suitable for both Android and iOS. You can download it from the Play Store and Apple store.

Bendy in Nightmare Run

The objective of this online arcade game is to collect bacon soup and fight against the monsters to collect the maximum points.

How to play?

It is a running game. You can see many similarities with other running games. There are three characters in the game – Bendy, Boris the Wolf, and Alice. There are four monster bosses: Chester, Gasket, Canoodle, and Dewey. You have to beat them. You have to collect bacon soup while running and surviving the monsters. Bacon soup will help purchase weapons and defeat monsters.

You can download it from the Google Play Store and App Store for free.

Stickman Party

The objective here is to complete a set of mini-games featured by a fun stickman. The games are not only straightforward to play but also have a wide variety. You can access a mini-game of your choice from the game menu.

How to play?

You can play 1, 2, 3, or 4 players format. Follow the instructions provided during the gameplay and complete the stage. At each level, there will be different obstacles to overcome. You can choose the battle type like racing, fighting, or running battles. Download them all now from the Google Play Store.

Pinball Deluxe: Reloaded

The objective here is to collect the maximum point by keeping the ball on the board for the maximum time possible.

How to play?

Enjoy mods for table customization, free boards, multiplayer options, and many other features. Select any games and use the control buttons to play and hit the ball before falling.

You can play this game on your Android and iOS phones. Just head to Google Play Store or the Apple Store and download it for free.

Cytus

The goal of this arcade game is to produce music by tapping instructed circles accurately.

How to play?

You need to understand the judgment lines before playing the game. Hit as soon as the judgment line hits the notes. You will either hit the note or miss it based on your accuracy. Choose the difficulty level which has 5-15 difficulty ratings within each level. Download this arcade game from the Google Play Store for Android or the Apple store for iPhones.

Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom

The sonic boom is a game about running. There are many characters: Hedgehog, Tails, Knuckles, Shadow, and Amy Rose. The sonic boom is an iconic character from the TV series.  Your goal is to collect rings to avoid obstacles, enemies, and mines and collect the maximum points.

How to play?

The character is an endless runner and automatically moves forward. You have to control its movement to rescue it from obstacles and run as far as possible. You can collect the ring along the way, and sometimes can purchase it as well. Upgrade your character’s features by using the rings. You can find this game on Google Play Store and Apple store.

Sky Force Reloaded

Armed with modern visuals and impeccable designs, Sky Force Reloaded is one of the topmost classic arcade shoot ‘Em-up games. Your objective is to reach the end of each level by shooting enemies & killing bosses.

How to play?

Glide your fingers over the screen to kill the bad guys of the story. Follow the movements and controls. Tap the fire button to shoot and the direction keys to move your airship. Sky Force Reloaded is available on the Google Play Store and Apple app store. You can also play it on your PC or Mac which will require an emulator.

Alto’s Odyssey

It is an endless running single-player game. Your job is to scroll down the side and go forward. The name of your character is Alto. Your character will run through the mountains. You can upgrade your character, earn points, get new features, etc.

How to play?

It is easy to learn but challenging to master arcade games. If you tap the screen, your character will jump, and you can do tricks by holding down to it. Through this process, you can increase your score. There are high hills and rocks, and you have to avoid the rocks. You also have to avoid canyons with your motor skills and intelligence. You can also climb the canyon by holding it down on the screen.

The game can be found on iOS and Android platforms. Similar to other online arcade games you can play it on your PC or Mac, but with an emulator.

Turbo Stars

Turbo Stars is considered one of the most authentic skateboard games. Your objective is to collect maximum scores by evading obstacles and collecting points.

How to play?

It has numerous features, starting from a realistic skateboarding experience, slow motion, challenges, the global leader board, etc. Choose the gameplay mode and follow the controls. The Turbo star is available on Google Play Store or Apple app store for free.

Contra Returns

Contra Returns is a power-packed action game. It’s gaining popularity with each passing day. It is designed specially as a multiplayer game you can play with your friends. There are different modes: story mode, challenge mode, etc.

Your objective is to shoot down the enemies and zombies to revive humanity for good.

How to play?

Contra Returns is quite interesting. There are many elements, new levels, new heroes, weapons, etc. Stages 1-4 are jungle stages, and 1-5 and 1-6 are waterfall stages with exciting concepts and adventures. There are classic side-scrolling processes and many modes. You can loot or improve your weapons.

This arcade game is developed by Konami, Tencent, and Timi studios. It is available on both Android and iOS platforms.

Jetpack Joyride

It is an endless running game with side-scrolling features. Your objective is to score maximum points by controlling the main character.

How to play?

The controls of this arcade game are very simple. You need to touch anywhere on the screen, and the character will rise. If you let go, it will fall. Now, you must control the character with up-down combinations to evade obstacles. You can download this game for free on Apple App Store & Google Play Store.

Candies n Curses

It is a comic version of ghosts and skeleton games that can give you relief from your boredom. You can get a vibe of Halloween from this game. Your job is to fight ghostly bosses and collect more exciting weapons to help you in higher levels and unlock fancy dresses for your character.

How to play?

In the game, there are ghosts. You will play as Moli Pop in a castle; the castle seems haunted. When she enters, someone shuts the door, and she falls into a trap. Her weapon is a flashlight, which helps her escape from the castle. You need to control her by using a direction stick. Follow the instructions to proceed forward. The Phantom King haunts the castle and you can power up Moli with new flashlights. The player will go through different rooms, and you can find hidden treasures. The game is meant for both Android and iOS platforms.

Arcade games – Skills required

Like any other video game, arcade games require you to have hand skills to execute the desired task. Your motor skills and visual perception is tested while playing these games online or offline.

Here are some general tips for getting better at playing arcade games:

Tips to win Arcade games
  1. Practice regularly to improve your skills.
  2. Have patience. As you progress through the game, the difficulty increases, and it might be possible that you have to play one level multiple times. Stay positive and learn from your mistakes.
  3. Strategize your move based on the level of difficulty. For example, the gameplay strategy that worked in level 1, might not be of use at level 10. Thus, based on the gameplay at each level you need to change your strategy and try another way to win.

Why Play Arcade games?

If you feel nostalgic, thinking about those old days, hitting the arcades on late summer afternoons, try out the online arcade games presented on the list and let us know your experience.

Over the years, the methods and platforms for playing arcade games have been vastly changed, but the thrill, joy, and excitement have seen no change. The list consists of some of the priceless arcade games that have lived up to the name and popularity of the genre with their adventurous stories, beautiful visuals, and modern graphics. So, install them right now!

Arcade Games – FAQs

When was the first coin-operated arcade game created?

The first coin-operated Arcade Game was created in 1931. It was a pin-based game known as Baffle Ball.

What does arcade mean in games?

Arcade games are usually coin-operated games designed for playing at an amusement arcade. However, over the years the platform to play arcade games has changed and can now be played online.

Which are some of the traditional arcade game types?

Some of the traditional arcade game types are:
1. Air-Hockey games
2. Boxing Arcade games
3. Lazer Maze
4. PinBall
5. Pac-Man

When was the first multiplayer arcade Game invented?

The multiplayer Arcade Game was invented in 1958 by William Higinbotham, a nuclear physicist at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

When was the golden era of arcade games?

The 1980s is considered the golden era of arcade games. Space Invaders was a blockbuster hit in the arcade industry that prompted the release of several other games like Asteroids, Galaxian, Pac-Man, Defender, Donkey Kong, and Frogger.

2 thoughts on “Arcade Games – 20 Best arcade games to play free online”

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