The death of the colonnade may have been greatly exaggerated , but it is straight that they are a much less significant part of the games industry than they used to be in the ’ 80 and ’ XC ( althoughvirtual realism arcadescould very well bring them back in a big way ) . Before the majority of gamers begin playing their video games in the comfort of their own homes , arcades were big business enterprise and bring forth an absurd amount of tax income . By 1982 , the arcade industriousness generated more tax income than both soda euphony and Hollywood films combine ; not unsound for an manufacture that was less than a decade previous at that point .
innumerable colonnade games were liberate in the industry ’s bloom as caller flooded the mart , trying to cut up out their own fade of the pie , but which game were the most successful . Revenue numbers from that time are astonishingly difficult to track down , so only some of the game on this list have reliable dollar figures ( cry out toJaz Rignall , whose extensively - researched listof the top 10 highest - gross colonnade games of all time supplies much of these figures ) . As such , I ’ve decided to break the tilt down by number of cabinets sold . As you ’ll see , the discrepancy becomes quite pregnant as you near the top of the list , with only a handful of colonnade game ever check the 100,000 stain . Though some have for certain aged better than others , all 25 of the next colonnade game made their chump on gaming history in one direction or another .
Here are the 25 considerably - selling arcade games of all time .
25. Berzerk
Cabinets Sold:15,780
Revenue : N / A
correct for ostentation : N / A
First released in 1980 by Stern Electronics of Chicago , Berzerkis a multi - directional shooter and one of the earlier representative of a maze plot , in which players have to navigates a tangle while shooting enemies . Players control a green stick human race ( hey , this was cutting border by 1980 standards ) with a optical maser gun for hire , who is controlled using a joystick and flak button . The aim of the game is to miss the maze , but player can pull in additional point by destroying golem enemies , with bonus score present for destroying all robots in a labyrinth . Additionally , you have to get by with Evil Otto , a bouncing smiley fount enemy that ca n’t be bolt down and is constantly drawn to the actor , project a bit of a wild menu into the otherwise basic gameplay .
Berzerkwas quite popular , but gained a reputation for give faulty hardware , as the cabinet ’s optical 8 - way joystick unit had a high failure rate . Stern had about 4,200 decree cancellations for new game because of purchasers having bad experiences with the game previously , prompt Stern to make out free replacement control stick . Another unfortunate milestone held byBerzerkis that it ’s the first known video game to have coincided with a musician ’s expiry . In January 1981 , 19 - year sometime Jeff Dailey made the plot ’s top - ten list with a high score of 16,660 point and died dead of a substance attack just a few seconds after the game was over . Then , over a yr afterward in October 1982 , Peter Burkowski made theBerzerktop - ten list twice in fifteen minute at Friar Tuck ’s Game Room in Calumet City , Illinois and collapsed just a few instant after the game was over . He also died from a bosom attack and was only 18 .
24. Dragon’s Lair
Cabinets Sold:16,000
gross by 1983:$68.8 million
Adjusted for Inflation:$174.5 million
liberate in 1983 amid the infamous video biz crash of that class , Cinematronics’Dragon ’s Lairis often credited as the secret plan that helped turn around the industry ’s financial slump and it ’s not difficult to see why . feature animation from seasoned Disney vitalizer Don Bluth and his studio , there was no other game at the prison term that expect as in effect asDragon ’s Lair . Rather than using fay - based graphic , Dragon ’s Lairemploys fully animated cutscenes and though players have no verbatim control over their characters , the action is controlled through quick prison term event ( QTE ) , with different full motion video ( FMV ) fit represent out for right or wrong selection .
Cinematronics was able to accomplish this visual fidelity by using LaserDisc , which offered importantly increased entrepot capacity . Dragon ’s Lairwould go on to be hailed as the most influential arcade game of 1983 and launch a act of ports , sequels , and spin - offs , though its fortunes at the colonnade would dwindle rather quickly given its expensive cost and the unreliability of the LaserDisc drive .
play fact : Dragon ’s Lairis featured conspicuously in the Season 2 premiere ofStranger thing .
https://www.polygon.com/videos/2025-04-14/16537352/stranger-things-season-2-dragons-lair-history reference : Polygon
23. Jungle Hunt
locker Sold:18,000
The most striking affair about Taito’sJungle Huntis that , unlike most side - scrolling game of the era , it has players move the reference from right - to - leave , which much feels like trying to interpret a book backwards given how games likeSuper Mario Bros.andMega Mantrained us to go from left-hand - to - right . While archaic by today ’s standards , Jungle Huntis famed for being one of the first telecasting biz to use parallax scrolling , a graphical proficiency that creates an illusion of depth in a 2D scene .
musician control an unnamed explorer as he attempts to deliver a woman taken prisoner by a tribe of cannibals , with the game being cleave into four distinct degree : a vine - drop segment , navigate crocodile - infested amniotic fluid , dodging bowlder , and deliver the said woman before she is lowered into a flaming cauldron . Passing the last scene would make the scenes repeated with increase difficulty . The game would go on to be ported to multiple systems , including the Atari 2600 , Atari 5200 , Apple II and ColecoVision .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlKi0Is0nGQ Source : YouTube
22. Missile Command
Cabinets Sold:20,000
Revenue by 1991:$36.8 million
adapt for Inflation:$66.1 million
Who know that game - ifying the ultimate Cold War - era nightmare could be so fun ? Such is the premise ofMissile Command , the 1980 arcade biz published by Atari that task role player with defending cities against invariant attacks of ballistic missile . By go a crosshair across the sky desktop , players found counter - projectile from one of three battery as foe fire comes in . The catch is that each battery has a special figure of missiles , which makesMissile Commandan former example of a resource - direction game , as running out of missiles in a storey means that you effectively recede mastery of whatever else encounter in that particular stage .
Interestingly , there are two types of world records in regard toMissile Command : Marathon and Tournament preferences . Marathon gives players extra fillip cities , meaning that players could theoretically play the secret plan indefinitely . The current phonograph record is nurse by Victor Sandberg , who limit a academic term of 71 hours and 41 minutes on December 30 , 2013 , with a final score of 103,809,990 on level 10,432 . The current record holder of Tournament mode is Tony Temple , who mail a score of 4,472,570 on September 9 , 2010 .
https://www.gamespot.com/missile-command-1980/ generator : GameSpot
21. Popeye
One of the few accredited colonnade game to appear on this list , 1983’sPopeyeis based on the renowned King Features Syndicate strips and renovate shorts of the same name and was in reality grow and released by Nintendo . In an interesting twist , Nintendo had originally plan to use thePopeyecharacters in the game that would eventually become the originalDonkeyKong , but was unable to secure the character licenses at the prison term of developing . It ’s easy to see some of thatDonkey Konginfluence inPopeye , as the secret plan features levels in which Popeye must walk back and off up and down stair using a 4 - way joystick .
However , the major difference between the two is thatPopeyehas no jumping button . The only power Popeye has is a poke program line , which is actually somewhat versatile , but also gives the biz its challenge , as the secret plan ’s boss , the Sea Hag Brutus , has more motion capability than the player and can only be temporarily stunned by Popeye ’s lick ( and only then after he eat a can of Spinacia oleracea ) .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejQjOXENSrs Source : YouTube
20. NBA Jam
receipts by 1994:$1,1 billion ( $ 55,000 per unit of measurement )
adjust for Inflation:$1.8 billion
BoomShakaLaka!NBA Jamis not an bona fide recreation of professional basketball game and yet , it ’s still one of the most entertaining basketball game ever made . NBA Jamis all about style and mutation heroics , which means that it regularly turns into a competition between first-rate - powered basketball histrion . Which , for the record , is awesome . 2 - on-2 colonnade basketball game has never been better .
The incredible thing aboutNBA Jamis that despite only selling about 20,000 cabinets , it ’s still one of the highest - grossing arcade game of all time . The game rake in an estimated $ 1.1 billion by 1994 , which averages out to a whopping norm of $ 55,000 per locker . In other words , do n’t letNBA Jam’srelatively crushed placement on this lean fool you , as this is well one of the most successful arcade games of all time .
19. Dig Dug
Cabinets Sold:22,228
Revenue by 1983:$46.3 million
Adjusted for Inflation:$113.8 million
Featuring an iconic lead fiber and a winning formula of easy to pick up , but hard to master gameplay , Namco ’s 1982 maze gameDig Dugburrowed its manner into the hearts and intellect of many arcade patrons . It ’s difficult to pinpoint what exactly it is aboutDig Dugthat made it so addictive , but one component that often gets show to is the wedge ’s weapon , which is some sorting of hookshot / pump thing that inflates foe until they make a satisfying pop music .
The game ’s opposition are another highlight . The Pookas do n’t pose much of a terror but can get you if you ’re not careful . It ’s the Fygars that you want to ascertain out for , as these flame - spewing bastards have tenacious range and are surprisingly chic . Dig Dugis one of those game that bring out its elaborateness the longer you play it — for instance , you get more points if you kill an foeman in the lower malicious gossip tier — which plausibly help explicate why the game became so democratic .
Fun Fact # 2 : In summation toDragon ’s Lair , Dig Dugalso plays a prominent role inStranger Thingsseason 2 and actually forms the base of a pretty pregnant plot point involving the mysterious “ MadMax , ” who is able-bodied to pose a ridiculously high score .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRVTwF_5ZzE generator : YouTube
18. Robotron: 2084
Cabinets Sold:23,000
Twin - stick shooters have been one of the most popular genres in the indie scene ever sinceGeometry Warsblew everyone aside back in 2005 and one thing that all of these game have in mutual is that they owe a important debt to Eugene Jarvis ’ 1982 colonnade classicRobotron 2084 , which reasonably much invent the twin - stick shooter as we know it . As the title inculpate , Robotronis set in the year 2084 in a world where robots have taken over the worldly concern and pass over out most of humans . The biz tax you with live on against waves of automaton foe as you fight to pull through the last human household .
feature simple-minded but addictive gameplay , Robotron : 2084sold an impressive 23,000 colonnade storage locker over its lifetime , but specific models like the mini and cocktail cabinets have become rare gatherer ’s items . Although it ’s considered to be a extremely influential game nowadays , Robotronnever quite gained the mass popularity of its coevals such asAsteroidandGalaga , as its twin - stick plan and mellow level of trouble made it less accessible overall . Still , Robotronwas able-bodied to cut up out a successful ecological niche for itself and is now viewed as one of the greatest games to come out of the arcade fortunate age .
http://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-case-of-the-disappearing-video-games Source : USgamer
17. Mortal Kombat
Cabinets Sold:24,000
Revenue by 2002:$570 million
Adjusted for Inflation:$775.5 million
Remembered today more for its influence than its finessed scrap mechanics , the originalMortal Kombatwolfed down over half a billion clam worth of quarter in its arcade heyday primarily due to its over the top violent content . At the time of its release , there were much better fighting game on the mart thanMortal Kombat but America ’s youthful and impressionable colonnade - goer could n’t get enough of the game ’s fatalities — the gory closing of engagement finish moves that ended up being the secret plan ’s with child selling breaker point .
In fact , it was this game specifically that generate enough controversy in US Congress for the Entertainment Software Rating Board ( ESRB ) to be established , in answer to the call that video games be policed by government regulation . Of course , this disceptation only helpedMortal Kombat’spopularity and the series would go on to spawn legion sequel , one of which ended up being even more successful in the colonnade .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F82XAvCuVc seed : YouTube
16. Pole Position (1982)
Cabinets Sold:24,550
Revenue by 1988:$60.9 million
Adjusted for Inflation:$126 million
The original colonnade racer , Pole Positionwas so popular that it finish up being the highest - gross arcade biz of 1983 , selling over 21,000 machine that year alone . Pole Positionessentially established the colonnade racing template , as Namco / Atari sold the secret plan in two configurations : a standard vertical cabinet and a cockpit cabinet . Both cabinets featured a steering wheel and accelerator , but only the cockpit cabinet had a Pteridium aquilinum treadle and if you saw one of these in your local colonnade , you acknowledge they had splurged for the “ good ” version ofPole Position .
Looking back , it ’s easy to see whyPole Positiontook the colonnade earth by storm in the early ’ 80s , as it achieve a flock of “ firsts ” in the racing genre , include the first biz to feature a track base on a real racing electrical circuit and the first game to feature a qualifying lap . The game ’s full - color landscape and pseudo-3D visuals were also quite impressive for their time . Pole Positionwould go on to engender all sorts of port , sequel , and even a Saturday sunrise cartoon and is widely involve as one of the most influential telecasting games of all meter for essentially produce the racing genre as we know it today .
15. Q*bert
Cabinets Sold:25,000
Qbertis one of those rarefied arcade games where its title of respect grapheme is probably better call back than the actual game he starred in , as the loveable fuzz ball with the gargantuan hose for a nose went on to star in his own Saturday good morning cartoon , among other marketing opportunities . That being enjoin , it ’s comfortable to see whyQbertproved to be such a commercial and critical success , as there merely was n’t anything like it back in 1982 . boast telling visuals and unique puzzle gameplay , Q*bertrevolves around moving the title type around pyramid cubes , changing each one ’s colour as they go . It sounds simple , but a number of opposition with funny names seem along the way to test and impede your progress and thing quickly get more complicated in late stages .
Q*bertwould end up being Gottieb ’s only heavy critical and commercial arcade collide with , and gave the industry one of its first straight mascot — and one who swore , no less !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmkdYJSPa5k Source : YouTube
14. Mortal Kombat II
cabinet Sold:27,000
Revenue by 2002:$600 million
Adjusted for Inflation:$816.4 million
Arriving just a year after the first game , Mortal Kombat IIimproved upon its predecessor in nigh every agency , featuring update graphics , five new characters and most importantly , improved gameplay , with well combos and new Fatalities . Much likeStreet Fighter IIbefore it , the secondMortal Kombatmade everyone forget all about the first and is still considered to be one of the just games in the enfranchisement . Speaking of franchise , the enormous success of the sequel led Midway to spinMortal Kombatoff into a whole bunch of unlike product , admit strip , a collectible “ Kard ” biz , film , and habitation cabinet larboard .
deadly Kombat IIwas even able to surpass the original biz in both cabinets sold ( 27,000 ) and revenue ( $ 600 million ) , seduce it one of the most successful colonnade fighters of all time .
http://www.fightersgeneration.com/games/mk2.html reservoir : fightersgeneration.com
13. Tempest
Cabinets Sold:29,000
tax income by 1982:$62.4 million
line up for Inflation:$158.2 million
A somewhat unique entry in the space shot literary genre , Atari ’s 1981 releaseTempesttakes put on a three - dimensional aerofoil , in which players take command of a starship that moves between various section , destroying enemy along the fashion . Tempestwas one of the first game to make use of Atari ’s Color - QuadraScan vector display engineering and while it looks positively dated now , the game ’s 3-D computer graphic look quite impressive in their time . WhileTempestmay not have calculate very approachable , it was actually the first game to allow player to choose their starting degree , open up the game to a wider regalia of acquisition levels .
However , there was still important challenge to be had , as the game ’s reform-minded storey design mean that thespian could n’t memorize level layouts . Tempest’sfast lane - switching gameplay and colorful and you could see its influence in later lane - switching title likeRoot Beer Tapperand the rhythm gameAmplitude .
12. Mr. Do!
console Sold:30,000
A maze game very much in the style ofDig Dug , Mr. Do!may not have the name recognition of some of the more popular titles on this list , but it still managed to betray an telling 30,000 cabinet in the United States alone , so gamers obviously took to its cherry - collecting premiss . As the nominal genus Circus clown Mr. Do ( fun fact : he ’s a snowman in the Japanese version , so Americans definitely got the inferior interpretation of the character ) , players must dig tunnels and collect cherries while dodging red monsters that look kinda like little dinosaurs . Fortunately , Mr. Do does have sickening capabilities in the form of a bouncing office ball , but he ’s defenseless once it leaves his helping hand . He can also drop apples on enemy .
Mr. Do!would go on to engender three subsequence : Mr. Do ’s Castlein 1983 andDo!Run Run andMr . Do ’s Wilde Ride , both of which were released in 1984 .
https://www.emuparadise.me/M.A.M.E._-_Multiple_Arcade_Machine_Emulator_ROMs/Mr._Do!/14801 Source : Emuparadise
11. Donkey Kong Jr.
Although it never arrive at the same level of commercial-grade success as the original , Donkey Kong Jr.is a worthy second installing in the Donkey Kong serial publication , changing up both the central gameplay mechanics and overall premiss quite significantly . InDonkey Kong Jr. , the tables have turned , with Donkey Kong being captivate by Mario , who appears here in his only purpose as an adversary in a Nintendo game . It ’s up to DK ’s son to rescue his father and he must do so across four unlike stages , each of which offer a unlike sort of obstacle to overcome . Unlike the original secret plan , which centre around climbing ladders and jumping over barrels , Donkey Kong Jr. ’slevels are hobo camp - theme and take things like drop from vines and jumping over crocodiles .
Donkey Kong Jr.would go on to deal around 30,000 cabinets ; a paltry sum when compared to its hugely successful predecessor but still enough to make it one of the better merchandising colonnade game in history . It also showed that Nintendo was more than up to the project of make fun , diverse subsequence to its games and helped pave the elbow room for the innovation of the Nintendo Entertainment System just a few age later .
Nintendo
10. OutRun (1986)
taxation by 1993:$393.06 million
Adjusted for Inflation:$665.85 million
WhilePole Positionhelped establish the convention of the colonnade racer , Sega ’s 1986 releaseOutRunarguably pushed the genre to the next level . look back , OutRunis rather brilliant in its simplicity : it ’s just you , your car ( a Ferrari Testarossa Spider ) and the route , as you race from checkpoint to checkpoint try on to maximise your distance before the timekeeper expires . The reasonableness this gameplay closed circuit was so catch back in 1986 has a lot to do with just how impressiveOutRunwas from a proficient perspective , as the game ’s visuals , intelligent effects , and fomite handling were all considered groundbreaking at the time .
It helped thatOutRunalso feature a variety of selectable “ radio station , ” which helped give it a sensory faculty of elan to go alongside its awesome cockpit - flair storage locker . OutRun’sinfluence can be found in pretty much every colonnade racer , including the the like ofNeed For amphetamine , Test Drive , andBurnout .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a3iO_Ixmnc Source : YouTube
9. Galaxian
Cabinets Sold:40,000
Developed by Namco to contend forthwith with the Taito Corporation ’s highly successfulSpace Invaders , which had been discharge the previous year , Galaxianis arguably the superior secret plan , even if it never did match its competitor ’s sales numbers . The chief divergence betweenSpace InvadersandGalaxianis that while the former was black and livid , and only featured enemy that could move vertically and horizontally as they deign , Galaxianhad full color and featured foeman with more elaborate radiation pattern , contributing to a more complex and unmanageable plot .
Although its continuation , Galaga , is easy the superior game , it never quite matched the commercial-grade success ofGalaxian , which handle to sell 40,000 cabinet to arcades around the United States .
https://tn.com.ar/tecno/recomendados/retrogames-volve-a-jugar-al-galaxian_529196 Source : TN.com
8. Centipede
cabinet Sold:55,988
Revenue by 1991:$115.65 million
Adjusted for Inflation:$207.85 million
Taking the gameplay model ofSpace Invadersand add an insectoid turn , Centipedeis another classical colonnade shooter where players must stop a derive foe from reaching the bottom of the screen . In this event , designers Ed Logg and Dona Bailey supercede alien spaceship with a individual centipede that can break into multiple centipede as it is dismember by enemy fire . finally , other worm enemy begin harassing the player too , include fleas that deteriorate vertically , spiders that move across the player expanse in a zigzag - zag style and scorpions that move horizontally and poison the various mushrooms that litter the playfield .
Centipedewould go on to trade over 55,000 cabinet , bring forth revenue of $ 115 million and spawning many unlike ports , sequels , and spinoffs .
https://www.polygon.com/2024-12-13/11672852/atari-centipede-missile-command-movies Source : Polygon
7. Defender
Cabinets Sold:60,000
Revenue by 1993:$1 billion
Adjusted for Inflation:$1.69 billion
The brainchild of Eugene Jarvis ( who would go on to make the aforementionedRobotron : 2084 ) and Larry DeMar , Defender’senormous success is somewhat surprising in hindsight , given its rather complex design . have five push button and a joystick , Defender’scontrol strategy was intimidating , to say the least , and even if you got a hold on it , the biz itself was still quite unmanageable , with sophisticated foeman ship patterns that were elusive to get a handle on .
Still , for anyone who had burn out on similar secret plan likeSpace InvadersandAsteroids , Defenderfelt like the next natural tone up . With its gamy energy , shoot ’em up gameplay , players ate upDefender’sdifficult - to - master key but rewarding designing and aid make it one of the most successful colonnade games of all time , with lifetime revenue around the $ 1 billion mark .
https://www.polygon.com/2025-02-14/11296570/lego-dimensions-midway-arcade-interview Source : Polygon
6. Asteroids
Cabinets Sold:100,000
Revenue by 1991:$800 million
adjust for Inflation:$1.43 billion
An important deed of conveyance in the popular and competitive space shooter literary genre from arcade ’s golden age , Asteroidsbuilt upon earlier titles likeSpace WarsandSpace Invadersto present an experience that was unlike anything else back in 1979 . Featuring a much more sophisticated movement system than the staticSpace Invaders , Asteroidsthrust thespian into a threats - from - all - side scenario and featured a unparalleled forward momentum movement system that was difficult to master .
Although it was never capable to top the vast popularity ofSpace Invaders , Asteroidsstill managed to move approximately 100,00 cabinets worldwide , generating $ 800 million in the process . It would go on to be widely imitate and inspire a figure of other space shooters , includingDefenderandGravitar .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxrf8qrstxk rootage : YouTube
5. Ms. Pac-Man
Cabinets Sold:125,000
Revenue by 1987:$1.2 billion
adapt for Inflation:$2.58 billion
Pac - Manis a secret plan that invoke to both men and char alike , but that did n’t kibosh Midway from decide to target the distaff demographic straight off withMs . Pac - Man , whose deed character was really just Pac - Man with a pink bow . Fortunately , Ms. Pac - Manturned out to be more than just a reskin of the original plot , as it added four fresh snarl designs and meliorate spook A.I. that had Blinky , Pinky , Inky and Clye bear more at random . This leave inMs . Pac - Manbeing considerably more ambitious than its predecessor , as thespian could no longer simply memorise enemy practice in monastic order to beat levels .
Although it was never able-bodied to top the original freeing , Ms. Pac - Manstill managed to become one of the most successful colonnade games of all time , selling 125,000 cabinets and bring forth $ 1.2 billion in revenue . Not sorry for a secret plan that was initially released without Namco ’s permission !
https://www.emuparadise.me/M.A.M.E._-_Multiple_Arcade_Machine_Emulator_ROMs/Ms._Pac-Man/14862 Source : Emuparadise
4. Donkey Kong
Cabinets Sold:132,000
Revenue by 1982:$280 million
Adjusted for Inflation:$710.2 million
It can not be overdraw how importantDonkey Kongis to video game as a whole . Nintendo ’s popular colonnade classic not only somewhat much contrive the platforming genre , it also helped Nintendo break into the American gambling mart . This was also the first biz created by fabled designer Shigeru Miyamoto , who would go on to create bothSuper Mario Bros.andThe Legend of Zelda , just to name a few .
Upon its spillage , Donkey Konglooked quite unique next to many of its contemporary , as space taw and tangle - chase games were the most common genres of the era . They did n’t gain it at the time , but players were seeing gambling account being written withDonkey Kong , as both its eponymic ape and the game ’s hero Jumpman — who would later follow to be screw as Mario — would go on to become two of the most popular characters in TV game history . It ’s little surprisal then thatDonkey Kongwould become one of the best - sell arcade games ever , with a whopping 132,000 cabinet sell . The plot would also become a favorite among high scotch chasers , with a documentary film photographic film play up a particularly intense contention calledThe King of Kong : A Fistful of Quartersbeing bring out in 2007 .
3. Street Fighter II
Cabinets Sold:200,000 ( 60,000 SF II , 140,000 Championship Edition )
tax revenue by 1995:$2.31 billion
Adjusted for Inflation:$3.71 billion
It ’s arduous to intend of another arcade classic that has managed to get on quite as well asStreet Fighter IIhas . Capcom was onto something with its original 1987 hit , but it wasStreet Fighter IIthat solidified the serial publication as the pinnacle of 2D fighting plot design , to the peak where the secret plan is still reckon as a top - tier title in the competitive fit more than a poop century after its original tone ending . Street Fighter IIwas so successful in fact that it is cited as a key title in help spur an arcade resurgence in the former ’ 90 after arcade operators suffered declining revenues in the mid-80s .
thing only start dear for Capcom with the release of the Championship Edition cabinet in April 1992 , which introduces rebalanced gameplay , four playable Grand Masters , and the ability to play mirror matches . The Championship Edition was so successful , in fact , that it deal more than double the amount of cabinet as the standard variation . Jaz RignallestimatesthatStreet Fighter IIearned an estimate $ 2.3 billion in revenue at the colonnade alone , which does n’t factor in the other $ 1.5 billion it made through dwelling console ports .
Capcom
2. Space Invaders
Cabinets Sold:360,000
Revenue by 1982:$2.7 billion
Adjusted for Inflation:$6.85 billion
One of the earliest arcade release and the one that is often credit with kick off the “ Golden Age of Arcade , ” Taito / Midway’sSpace Invadersis living validation that being first is sometimes everything , as even though many other secret plan would improve upon theSpace Invadersformula , none of them came tight to matching its overpowering commercial success . Launched in Japan in June 1978 , it did n’t take longsighted forSpace Invadersto become a ethnical phenomenon , eventually selling 360,000 cabinet worldwide and generating over $ 2.7 billion in revenue — in fact , Space Invadersearned more in its first twelvemonth in the United States than the movie Star Warsdid in that same period of time . This is a will toSpace Invaders’simple , yet habit-forming gameplay convention , which put players in mastery of a ship strain to discontinue a horde of descend aliens .
It ’s not unreasonable to say thatSpace Invadersis one of the most important video biz ever made , as legion plot designers , include Shigeru Miyamoto and Hideo Kojima have cited it as the deed that got them concerned in video games .
1. Pac-Man
locker Sold:400,000
Revenue by 1985:$3.5 billion
conform for Inflation:$7.96 billion
Really , this one should follow as no surprise . Much like the pellet he eats in - game , Pac - Manhas devoured more tail than any other arcade biz in history , to the melodic line of $ 3.5 billion by 1990 ( or $ 6.5 billion when adjusted for inflation ) . Released in 1980,Pac - Manwas gambling ’s first straight mascot , with arcade patrons worldwide take to the loveable yellow feeding car and his biz ’s addictive maze - chase gameplay . Even though Namco would go on to chase the female demographic directly a few years afterwards withMs . Pac - Man , the original was such a massive hit exactly because it appealed to such a liberal audience , include cleaning lady . It was a nonviolent secret plan ( well , unless you count Pac - Man chowing down on ghosts as violent ) and unlike many of its contemporaries , was NOT another space shooter .
With a banging 400,000 cabinets sold , Pac - Manwas one of the biggest cultural phenomena of the 1980s and stand as one of the most important video game ever made . It also suffer the test of time and is every bit as addictive today as it was back when it was eating the Carry Nation ’s valuation account for breakfast .
https://www.emuparadise.me/M.A.M.E._-_Multiple_Arcade_Machine_Emulator_ROMs/Pac-Man_(Midway)/15250 Source : Emuparadise
