Over the last decade, eSports has soared to heights that nobody could have anticipated when the first ever games consoles such as Sony’s PlayStation and the Sega Megadrive were being created. At the start of the 2010s, content creators such as KSI were using streaming platforms such as YouTube and Twitch to entertain the masses, rather than game competitively. But in recent years, it’s all changed.
One only needs to take a look at EA Sports’ FIFA franchise, the game that the megastar KSI and his Sidemen clique played to springboard to superstardom. Back in 2010, the prize fund for the winner of the FIFA eWorld Cup – or FIFA Interactive World Cup as it was then known – was a paltry $20,000. But the most recent eWorld Cup, which was won by Germany’s Umut Gültekin last year when he defeated Argentina’s Nicolas Villalba, had a prize fund of some $200,000 allocated to its winner, ten times that of 12 years prior.
And it isn’t just the eSports tournaments themselves that offer a prize fund. Online betting companies such as Thunderpick now allow esports csgo betting with crypto, as well as a whole host of other eSports such as Dota 2 and the aforementioned FIFA. But the popularity of gaming today would have never reached these unprecedented heights if it wasn’t for the arcade games that came generations before them.
Arcade games have been around for decades and have become an integral part of the gaming industry. From classic favorites like Pac-Man and Space Invaders to more modern titles like Dance Dance Revolution and Street Fighter, arcade games have become iconic and beloved around the world. In this article, we’ll take a look back at some of the most popular arcade games of all time and their estimated plays/purchases.
1. Pac-Man (1980)
Pac-Man is a classic game from Namco that was released in 1980. It’s a maze game where players control a yellow character, known as Pac-Man, and must navigate a series of levels while avoiding enemies. It has become one of the most iconic and beloved arcade games of all time, with an estimated 7 billion plays/purchases.
The beloved game can still be enjoyed today on a number of different devices such as mobile and game consoles. And it isn’t just gaming that has seen the famous ‘Pac-Man’ name live on.
In pop culture, beloved Filippino Boxer Manny Pacquaio donned the nickname ‘Pac-Man’ throughout his historic run within the sport of Boxing. A current Senator of the Philippines, Pacquaio remains the only boxer in history to win world championships in eight different weight classes. And all the while, he did so while acknowledging the beloved arcade game.
2. Space Invaders (1978)
Space Invaders is a classic arcade game from Taito that was released in 1978. It’s a shoot ‘em up game where players control a spaceship and must shoot down aliens while avoiding their shots. It was one of the first games to become a worldwide phenomenon, with an estimated 60 million plays/purchases.
3. Street Fighter II (1991)
Street Fighter II is a fighting game from Capcom that was released in 1991. It’s a one-on-one fighting game where players can choose from a variety of characters and must use their fighting skills to defeat their opponents. It’s one of the most successful fighting games of all time, with an estimated 15 million plays/purchases.
Such was the popularity of Street Fighter, it has even made its way into UK rap music. Top British DJ Charlie Sloth regularly features sound effects from the famed arcade game in his ‘Fire in the Booth’ segments, while London grime MC, D Double E, even released a track called Street Fighter Riddim.
4. Dance Dance Revolution (1998)
Dance Dance Revolution is a rhythm game from Konami that was released in 1998. It’s a dancing game where players must step on the arrows in time with the music and hit the correct steps to score points. It’s one of the most popular rhythm games of all time, with an estimated 5 million plays/purchases.
5. Donkey Kong (1981)
Donkey Kong is a classic platformer from Nintendo that was released in 1981. It’s a game where players control a character known as Jumpman and must navigate a series of levels while avoiding enemies. It’s one of the most iconic and beloved arcade games of all time, with an estimated 7 million plays/purchases.
These are just a few of the most popular arcade games of all time. From Pac-Man to Street Fighter II, these classic titles have been around for decades and continue to be cherished and enjoyed by gamers around the world. Whether you’re a fan of classic games or more modern titles, there’s no denying the impact that these games have had on the gaming industry.
