Acclaimed Video Games
The top 1,400 most recommended games across 920 critic lists from 146 publications.
Updated: October 16, 2026
Most Acclaimed Arcade Games of All Time
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#1 Street Fighter II (1991) (#22)
Capcom
|
ARC,
SNES
|
Fighting
|
~1h
|
85 lists
#2 Super Mario Bros. (1985) (#56)
Nintendo R&D4
|
ARC,
NES
|
Platform
|
~2h
|
48 lists
#3 Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) (#92)
Sonic Team
|
ARC,
GEN
|
Platform
|
~2h
|
41 lists
#4 Donkey Kong (1981) (#123)
Ikegami Tsushinki, Nintendo
|
ARC,
NES
|
Platform
|
~18m
|
36 lists
#5 Pac-Man (1980) (#130)
Namco
|
ARC,
3,
5,
DOS,
NES
|
Maze
|
~48m
|
38 lists
#6 Ms. Pac-Man (1982) (#154)
General Computer Corporation (GCC)
|
ARC,
4,
DOS
|
Maze
|
~1h
|
30 lists
#7 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992) (#157)
Sega Technical Institute, Sonic Team
|
ARC,
GEN
|
Platform
|
~2h
|
29 lists
#8 Galaga (1981) (#163)
Namco Limited
|
ARC
|
Shooter
|
~48m
|
25 lists
#9 Space Invaders (1978) (#165)
Taito
|
ARC,
A26
|
Shooter
|
~30m
|
29 lists
#10 Street Fighter IV (2008) (#170)
Dimps
|
ARC,
WIN,
X360,
PS3
|
Fighting
|
~2h
|
31 lists
#11 Pong (1972) (#174)
Atari
|
ARC
|
Sports
|
~12m
|
29 lists
#12 NBA Jam (1993) (#188)
Midway
|
ARC,
GEN,
SCD,
SNES
|
Sports
|
~12h
|
31 lists
#13 Soulcalibur (1998) (#191)
Project Soul
|
ARC,
DC
|
Fighting
|
~54m
|
25 lists
#14 Contra (1987) (#201)
Konami
|
ARC,
DOS,
3,
NES
|
Run and Gun
|
~1h
|
29 lists
#15 Tekken 3 (1997) (#204)
Namco
|
ARC,
PS
|
Beat 'em Up /
Fighting
|
~2h
|
27 lists
#16 Ikaruga (2001) (#207)
Treasure
|
ARC,
DC,
GC
|
Shooter
|
~2h
|
18 lists
#17 Metroid (1986) (#227)
Nintendo R&D1
|
ARC,
NES,
FDS
|
Action-Adventure
|
~6h
|
22 lists
#18 Gauntlet (1985) (#229)
Atari Games
|
ARC
|
Maze /
Dungeon Crawler
|
~2h
|
22 lists
#19 Defender (1981) (#264)
Shockwave, Williams Electronics
|
ARC,
A26
|
Shooter
|
~42m
|
21 lists
#20 Asteroids (1979) (#271)
Atari
|
ARC,
A26,
A8
|
Shooter
|
~30m
|
19 lists
#21 Double Dragon (1987) (#274)
Technos Japan
|
ARC,
NES,
SMS
|
Beat 'em Up
|
~1h
|
20 lists
#22 Soulcalibur II (2002) (#276)
Project Soul
|
ARC,
PS2,
GC,
Xbox
|
Fighting
|
~3h
|
17 lists
#23 Mortal Kombat II (1993) (#295)
Midway
|
ARC,
DOS,
AMI,
GEN,
GG,
SNES
|
Fighting
|
~2h
|
22 lists
#24 Street Fighter III (1997) (#298)
Capcom
|
ARC,
DC
|
Fighting
|
~42m
|
11 lists
#25 Robotron: 2084 (1982) (#302)
Vid Kidz
|
ARC,
6,
DOS,
A52,
A78
|
Shooter
|
~18m
|
17 lists
#26 Sega Rally Championship (1994) (#319)
AM3, AM5, United Game Artists
|
ARC,
SAT
|
Racing
|
~48m
|
18 lists
#27 OutRun (1986) (#347)
Sega AM2
|
ARC,
3
|
Racing
|
~36m
|
15 lists
#28 R-Type (1987) (#358)
Irem
|
ARC,
7,
SMS,
TG16
|
Shooter
|
~1h
|
17 lists
#29 Bubble Bobble (1986) (#375)
Taito
|
ARC,
7,
DOS,
NES,
FDS
|
Platform
|
~3h
|
14 lists
#30 Virtua Fighter 2 (1994) (#386)
Sega AM2
|
ARC,
WIN,
GEN,
SAT
|
Fighting
|
~48m
|
15 lists
#31 Lode Runner (1983) (#395)
Brøderbund Software, Irem
|
ARC,
4,
NES
|
Puzzle-Platformer
|
~2h
|
14 lists
#32 Dance Dance Revolution (1998) (#405)
Bemani
|
ARC,
PS
|
Music /
Party
|
~48m
|
9 lists
#33 Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000) (#408)
Capcom Production Studio 1
|
ARC,
DC,
PS2,
Xbox
|
Fighting
|
~1h
|
13 lists
#34 Missile Command (1980) (#411)
Atari
|
ARC,
A26,
A52,
A8
|
Shooter
|
~24m
|
16 lists
#35 Ridge Racer (1993) (#412)
Namco
|
ARC,
PS
|
Racing
|
~1h
|
11 lists
#36 Ghosts 'n Goblins (1985) (#415)
Capcom
|
ARC,
3,
NES
|
Platform
|
~3h
|
13 lists
#37 Crazy Taxi (1999) (#427)
Hitmaker
|
ARC,
DC,
PS2
|
Action /
Racing
|
~3h
|
11 lists
#38 Star Wars (1983) (#433)
Atari, Atari Games
|
ARC,
3,
7,
DOS,
MAC
|
Shooter
|
~30m
|
12 lists
#39 Daytona USA (1994) (#436)
Sega AM2
|
ARC,
WIN,
SAT
|
Racing
|
~1h
|
12 lists
#40 Puzzle Bobble / Bust-A-Move (1994) (#444)
Taito
|
ARC,
SNES,
NG,
3DO
|
Puzzle
|
~3h
|
12 lists
#41 Virtua Fighter 5 (2006) (#457)
Sega AM2
|
ARC,
X360,
PS3
|
Fighting
|
~1h
|
9 lists
#42 Marble Madness (1984) (#467)
Atari Games
|
ARC,
4,
DOS
|
Racing /
Platform
|
~36m
|
11 lists
#43 Tekken 2 (1995) (#483)
Namco
|
ARC,
PS
|
Fighting
|
~1h
|
10 lists
#44 Mortal Kombat (1992) (#492)
Midway, Midway Games
|
ARC,
GEN,
SNES
|
Fighting
|
~1h
|
12 lists
#45 Final Fight (1989) (#494)
Capcom
|
ARC,
SNES
|
Beat 'em Up
|
~1h
|
12 lists
#46 Arkanoid (1986) (#516)
Taito
|
ARC,
11,
DOS,
MAC,
NES
|
Puzzle
|
~2h
|
9 lists
#47 Virtua Fighter (1993) (#531)
Sega AM2
|
ARC,
WIN,
SAT
|
Fighting
|
~36m
|
9 lists
#48 Virtua Fighter 4 (2001) (#532)
Sega AM2
|
ARC,
PS2
|
Fighting
|
~36m
|
10 lists
#49 Virtua Tennis / Power Smash (1999) (#555)
Hitmaker, Sega AM3
|
ARC,
DC
|
Sports
|
~10h
|
9 lists
#50 Virtua Racing (1992) (#573)
Sega AM2
|
ARC,
GEN
|
Racing
|
~2h
|
8 lists
#51 Joust (1982) (#591)
Williams Electronics
|
ARC,
A26,
A52,
A2,
A8,
DOS
|
Action
|
~30m
|
9 lists
#52 Tecmo Bowl (1987) (#598)
Tecmo
|
ARC,
NES
|
Sports
|
~2h
|
8 lists
#53 Samurai Shodown / Samurai Spirits (1993) (#617)
SNK
|
ARC,
GEN,
SNES,
NG,
3DO
|
Fighting
|
~1h
|
9 lists
#54 Tekken (1994) (#627)
Namco
|
ARC,
PS
|
Fighting
|
~1h
|
6 lists
#55 Frogger (1981) (#629)
Konami
|
ARC
|
Action
|
~36m
|
9 lists
#56 Centipede (1981) (#650)
Atari
|
ARC,
3,
A8,
C64
|
Shooter
|
~12m
|
10 lists
#57 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time (1991) (#652)
Konami
|
ARC,
SNES
|
Beat 'em Up
|
~1h
|
10 lists
#58 Ghouls 'n Ghosts (1988) (#653)
Capcom
|
ARC,
5,
GEN
|
Platform
|
~2h
|
7 lists
#59 Samurai Shodown II / Shin Samurai Spirits: Haōmaru Jigokuhen (1994) (#657)
SNK
|
ARC,
NG
|
Fighting
|
~1h
|
6 lists
#60 Gradius / Nemesis (1985) (#660)
Konami
|
ARC,
NES
|
Shooter
|
~1h
|
8 lists
#61 Battlezone (1980) (#670)
Atari
|
ARC,
A26,
VC20,
C64
|
First-Person Shooter /
Vehicular Combat
|
~12m
|
7 lists
#62 Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 (1987) (#672)
Taito
|
ARC,
5,
NES,
SMS,
GEN,
TG16
|
Platform
|
~2h
|
8 lists
#63 Street Fighter Alpha 3 (1998) (#675)
Capcom Production Studio 1
|
ARC,
SAT,
DC,
PS
|
Fighting
|
~1h
|
5 lists
#64 Power Stone 2 (2000) (#719)
Capcom
|
ARC,
DC
|
Fighting
|
~1h
|
6 lists
#65 Tempest (1981) (#723)
Atari
|
ARC,
4
|
Shooter
|
~42m
|
8 lists
#66 Killer Instinct (1994) (#727)
Rare
|
ARC,
SNES
|
Fighting
|
~1h
|
9 lists
#67 Shinobi (1987) (#738)
Team Shinobi
|
ARC,
DOS,
6,
NES,
SMS,
TG16
|
Hack and Slash /
Platform
|
~1h
|
6 lists
#68 Track & Field / Hyper Olympic (1983) (#739)
Konami
|
ARC,
A26,
A8,
MSX
|
Sports
|
~36m
|
5 lists
#69 Mario Bros. (1983) (#748)
Nintendo R&D1
|
ARC,
A26,
A52,
5,
NES
|
Platform
|
~54m
|
7 lists
#70 Breakout (1976) (#762)
Atari
|
ARC,
A26
|
Action
|
~18m
|
6 lists
#71 Golden Axe (1989) (#776)
Team Shinobi
|
ARC,
SMS,
GEN
|
Beat 'em Up
|
~1h
|
7 lists
#72 Dr. Mario (1990) (#785)
Nintendo
|
ARC,
NES,
GB
|
Puzzle
|
~3h
|
6 lists
#73 Bomberman / Atomic Punk / Dynablaster (1991) (#789)
Irem
|
ARC
|
Strategy /
Maze /
Puzzle
|
~2h
|
5 lists
#74 Time Crisis (1995) (#795)
Namco
|
ARC,
PS
|
Shooter /
Light Gun Shooter
|
~1h
|
5 lists
#75 Strider / Strider Hiryū (1989) (#815)
Capcom
|
ARC,
DOS,
3,
GEN
|
Hack and Slash /
Platform
|
~1h
|
5 lists
#76 Pole Position (1982) (#818)
Namco
|
ARC,
3,
5
|
Racing
|
~24m
|
8 lists
#77 Spy Hunter (1983) (#822)
Bally Midway
|
ARC,
A26,
CV,
6,
DOS,
NES
|
Vehicular Combat
|
~24m
|
9 lists
#78 Warlords (1981) (#824)
Atari
|
ARC,
A26
|
Action
|
~12m
|
6 lists
#79 Tekken 5 (2004) (#867)
Namco
|
ARC,
PS2
|
Beat 'em Up /
Fighting
|
~2h
|
6 lists
#80 Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos (1990) (#869)
Tecmo, Tecmo Koei Games
|
ARC,
NES
|
Platform
|
~2h
|
6 lists
#81 Smash TV (1990) (#875)
Williams
|
ARC,
5,
NES,
SNES,
SMS,
GEN
|
Shooter
|
~2h
|
5 lists
#82 Excitebike (1984) (#899)
Nintendo
|
ARC,
PC88,
NES
|
Racing
|
~48m
|
6 lists
#83 Garou: Mark of the Wolves (1999) (#902)
SNK
|
ARC,
NG
|
Fighting
|
~1h
|
3 lists
#84 Galaxian (1979) (#916)
Namco
|
ARC
|
Shooter
|
~18m
|
5 lists
#85 Virtua Cop (1994) (#926)
Sega AM2
|
ARC,
WIN,
SAT
|
Light Gun Shooter
|
~48m
|
5 lists
#86 International Track & Field (1996) (#938)
Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo
|
ARC,
PS
|
Sports
|
~48m
|
4 lists
#87 Boulder Dash (1984) (#945)
First Star Software
|
ARC,
7,
CV
|
Maze /
Puzzle
|
~3h
|
7 lists
#88 Gauntlet II (1986) (#951)
Atari Games
|
ARC,
DOS,
3
|
Hack and Slash /
Dungeon Crawler
|
~4h
|
4 lists
#89 Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo (1996) (#959)
Backbone Entertainment, Capcom
|
ARC,
SAT,
PS
|
Puzzle
|
~54m
|
5 lists
#90 Dig Dug (1982) (#974)
Namco
|
ARC
|
Action /
Maze
|
~48m
|
5 lists
#91 Qix (1981) (#989)
Taito
|
ARC,
3,
A52,
NES
|
Puzzle
|
~42m
|
6 lists
#92 Mortal Kombat 3 (1995) (#993)
Midway Manufacturing
|
ARC,
DOS,
GEN,
SNES,
PS
|
Fighting
|
~2h
|
5 lists
#93 Puzzle Bobble 2 / Bust-A-Move 2 (1995) (#1013)
Taito
|
ARC,
DOS,
SAT,
PS
|
Puzzle
|
~2h
|
4 lists
#94 The Typing of the Dead (1999) (#1024)
WOW Entertainment
|
ARC,
WIN,
DC
|
Educational
|
~1h
|
4 lists
#95 Puyo Pop Fever (2003) (#1033)
Sonic Team
|
ARC,
MAC,
WIN,
DC,
PS2,
PSP,
3,
Xbox
|
Puzzle
|
~1h
|
3 lists
#96 Virtua Cop 2 (1995) (#1038)
Sega AM2
|
ARC,
WIN,
SAT
|
Shooter /
Light Gun Shooter
|
~48m
|
4 lists
#97 The King of Fighters '98: The Slugfest (1998) (#1043)
SNK
|
ARC,
NG,
PS,
DC
|
Fighting
|
~1h
|
3 lists
#98 Zaxxon (1981) (#1044)
Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
|
ARC,
5,
4,
DOS
|
Shooter
|
~12m
|
6 lists
#99 Paperboy (1985) (#1051)
Atari Games, Vivid Games
|
ARC,
5,
NES
|
Action
|
~1h
|
3 lists
#100 Blades of Steel / Konamic Ice Hockey (1987) (#1089)
Konami
|
ARC,
DOS,
C64,
AMI,
NES,
FDS
|
Sports
|
~2h
|
3 lists
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