The '90s were a real turning point for the arcade space in terms of booming new genres and its design philosophy. There were many great '80s arcade games, but they did tend to be brutally difficult to an unfair degree.
Many of these titles still had a checkpoint system upon running out of lives instead of the standard continue where you left off feature. '90s arcade games, while still challenging, were designed with single credit runs in mind for the expert players. Arcade games weren't solely focused on crushing you anymore. They became fair and often aged like fine wine.
10 Smash TV
Launched in 1990, Smash TV was the realization point for the industry and sparked massive change. Smash TV was made brutally difficult, and upon its initial launch, the Pleasure Dome bonus level wasn't even included because the developers thought nobody would get that far.
The thing is, while Smash TV is very hard, you can get good at it through a lot of skill. Expert players complained, and later revisions added the bonus level. Going forward, this would change arcade games as more titles were designed with skilled play in mind and even rewarding single-credit runs like House of the Dead 2.
9 The Simpsons
There's a lot of great Konami beat-'em-ups in the '90s. TMNT: Turtles in Time is still one of the best Ninja Turtles games, and the six-player X-Men was truly special. However, the best has to go to The Simpsons. Its graphics perfectly capture the '90s era of the cartoon and still hold up aesthetically today.
It has great beat-'em-up action, a good length, and a very distinct soundtrack. The Simpsons is an absolute must-play beat-'em-up, even if you're not huge into the show. Unfortunately, you can't easily play it anymore besides Arcade1Up machines.
8 Alien Vs. Predator
Like Konami, Capcom has a plethora of amazing beat-'em-ups in their catalog. Their two Dungeons & Dragons arcade games are some of the best beat-'em-ups of all time, but Alien vs. Predator just takes the slight edge. It really is the peak Capcom beat-'em-up, and it's amazing to see the genre evolution from Final Fight to AVP.
The graphics, enemy count, and combat systems are all top-tier for the genre. Plus, its four selectable characters are all awesome. You can actually play as Dutch, Arnold's character from the first Predator film, which is nice considering he's still been missing in action from all the movie's sequels.
7 Daytona USA
No arcade is complete without a racing game, and Sega was one of the best in that genre in both the '80s and '90s. Directed by Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi, Daytona USA is one of the most profitable arcade games ever made, and when playing, it's easy to see why. It's still a lot of fun today, with its extremely tight controls and smooth driving.
Sure, the graphics don't hold up that well, but when a game is this fun, that's easy to set aside. The best version to play is the Xbox 360 port that's backward compatible on Xbox Series X|S. This remastered port was sadly delisted in early 2023, so if you haven't bought it already, you're out of luck.
6 Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo
Still considered one of the greatest Street Fighter games, Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo will always be the definitive version of the iconic second title. This game introduced many important features, including super moves and throw teching. If you play modern Street Fighter, you know how important throw teching is, and it's wild that there was a period without it.
It also introduced the first secret character into the series, Akuma, a deadly hidden boss. He's also playable and so good the character ended up getting banned. With a long competitive scene still around today, Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo is one of the GOATs in fighting games.
5 Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3
Mortal Kombat 3 was the first instalment in the series to get an update, and it's understandable. Sub-Zero looked rather funky this time around, and Scorpion wasn't even in it. That's like a Street Fighter game with no Ryu. Thankfully, Ultimate MK3 was made for the fans, with most missing characters returning.
It even includes a Classic Sub-Zero and the ability to play as human Smoke. The updated combo system was what the series needed to evolve, and there's quite a bit of content with three secret characters, multiple towers, and a variety of rewards to select once you beat it. It's the best and most rich arcade MK game, although MK4 might be the most entertaining with those hilarious cutscenes.
4 Red Earth
You just have to love experimental games that break the mold of the traditional genre it takes on. Red Earth is one of those titles, as it's primarily a single-player fighting game. The whole arcade mode is essentially a boss gauntlet where you'll face off against opponents or creatures with massive health bars. It's incredibly unique and a lot of fun to boot.
Still, there's no other fighting game quite like it that primarily focuses on the single-player. Red Earth was seemingly forgotten for a long time until Capcom Fighting Collection released. Even with all the Darkstalkers games included, Red Earth may be the best title in the collection.
3 Time Crisis 2
Time Crisis 2 is often regarded as among the greatest light gun shooters of all time. It lacks the cheesy story of something like House of the Dead, and the music isn't as good, but the gameplay is why this title is so remembered. Even today, the cover-based light gun shooting is so snappy and feels great.
Force feedback isn't required for an excellent light gun shooter, but in Time Crisis 2, it definitely enhances the experience and how it feels to play. In terms of the total package, it isn't the greatest light gun game of the decade, but it does offer the best gameplay, hands-down.
2 Dance Dance Revolution
One gaming series you likely didn't know was a Konami property is Dance Dance Revolution. It's one of the most important arcade games ever because it involves a lot of actual physical movement. DDR was used in PE classes for a time, and it was the first massively popular game highlighted for having a positive effect on the body. This was needed in the late '90s and early 2000s when video games did have a more negative stigma than today.
It's the precursor to a lot of things, from the Just Dance series to the Wii Fit. Now, due to the physical element, many probably didn't even step on the dance pad, let alone put quarters in. DDR isn't for everyone, but it's still a game changer for the industry, no doubt.
1 House Of The Dead 2
Not a lot of light gun games bring out the nostalgia quite like House of the Dead 2. The lovable characters, the cheesy story, and the hilarious voice acting just takes you back. It's awesome Sega has continued this style all the way up to Scarlet Dawn.
The soundtrack is great, the replay value is high, the gunplay feels tight as all hell, and the bosses are nicely challenging. It's not just the nostalgia talking, as the title still holds very well in terms of fun factor and its light gun shooting. When all elements are accounted for, House of the Dead 2 is the best light gun shooter of the decade.