If you were born in the 1980s, the mere mention of titles such as Virtua Cop, Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat is sure to start you off on a journey of blissful reminiscence.
It is sad then, to think that the bustling arcade cabinets of the 1980s and early 1990s are no more and that children born now will never know the thrill of setting a high score on Time Crisis or the devastation of being told that it was time to leave by their parents.
Sure, modern games are more detailed, feature better graphics and have the added bonus of being able to play from home, but there’s still something missing. Modern gaming titles just can’t provide the same sort of allure as their predecessors, the arcade games did.
Fortunately, for those of us still in love with arcade games, they live on in the modern day in the form of amazing online slots. If, like us, you crave the nostalgia buzz of playing your favourite arcade games, read on to find out how great online slots can itch that scratch.
Arcade Game Gambling Partnerships Explained
You might want to know why online gambling companies are so eager to partner up with your favourite arcade game developers from the 1980s and 1990s.
The answer, is a simple one – saturation.
At the time of writing, there are tens of thousands of online slots providers that you can access with a quick Google search. The large majority of these providers get their slot games from a small selection of trusted slots developers like NetEnt and Playtech.
Whilst this gives most slots providers access to the best games and the latest technology, it somewhat reduces the variety on offer to customers.
Therefore, in order to stand-out from the crowd and offer their customers something different and interesting, a small selection of innovative providers have explored niche categories, such as arcade games.
In partnering up with our favourite arcade games developers of the 1980s and 1990s, forward-thinking slots providers have stumbled across a way to attract a new demographic of players by getting those nostalgia juices flowing. We have picked for you one of the best providers available which offers a variety of arcade-themed online slots.
Space Invaders
Regardless of when you were born, you will be able to recognise Space Invaders as the Holy Grail of arcade games.
Created in 1978 by Tomohiro Nishikado, Space Invaders was the first arcade game to really capture the imagination of the public. It has since been regarded as one of the earliest forerunners for video gaming as well as a cult classic.
Playtech, developed their fully-licensed version of Space Invaders a couple of years ago and it has been an instant hit with arcade game lovers. The slot allows you shoot targets to win rewards, adding an element of skill to the traditional slot game offering.
The look and feel of this game will instantly transport you back to childhood when you were begging your parents for just ‘one more coin’ to take on the alien horde.
(The Space Invaders slot will give you the opportunity to test whether you’re as good at the game as you remember.)
Super Mario Bros
No one game has been as successful across multiple generations of gamers as Super Mario Bros, enjoyed on arcade terminals, Gameboy’s and modern consoles alike.
Whilst the gameplay of a Super Mario Bros title was always a vital component to the game, the music, characters and graphics were what always gave the game that added spice.
Mario’s Gold, developed by Proprietary Games is a fully licensed Super Mario Bros online slot that features all of the classic characters: Princesses, turtles and the Mushroom Kingdom.
The soundtrack has been lifted straight from Super Mario Bros arcade games too to invoke that extra dose of nostalgia.
Rather than focusing on big pay-outs and big buy-ins, Mario’s Gold puts the emphasis on small and frequent winnings to keep you playing for longer. If you just loved Mario and Luigi in the 80s, you’ll love this slot game.
Frogger
If you were to walk into a modern games development boardroom today and float the idea of a game that sees players trying to guide a frog safely across a river and a highway you’d be laughed out of the door.
Yet this simple and somewhat mundane plot was enough to base a hugely successful arcade game on in 1981. The slot revival of this Konami classic features everything you remember about the original game but with clearer, updated graphics.
Like Mario’s Gold it is an incredibly accessible game with small minimum bets, designed to replicate the playing experience of the original, arcade game.
(Frogger was a simple, yet highly-addictive arcade game released in 1981 by gaming giants Konami.)
In Summary
The three examples of slot hybrid arcade games give you a tiny glimpse into the huge selection of arcade slots available on the market today.
If none of those games piqued your interest and you’re wondering where your favourite title is, fear not, it has probably already been adapted by a slots developer.
The selection on offer with most reputable sites is truly mind-boggling, meaning you’ll always find something to suit your mood.
What gives these games an added twist is the chance of winning money whilst you play, imagine knowing that when you were a kid? That you could win hundreds of thousands of dollars just by playing your favourite arcade game. Wow!