We have had the pleasure of having hundreds of different retro games pass through our hands over the last decade or so, some of which we were quite fond of and miss dearly. With the rise in popularity of home game rooms, we wanted to share our list of personal favorites that would compliment any retro game room!
(list is in no particular order).
1. Smash TV
When coming up with the idea for this post, Smash TV was the first game that came to mind, simply because it is the game we miss having more than any other game. Released in 1990, Smash TV played very similar to Robotron, each player using two joysticks; one to move and one to shoot. The cheesy game based game is a must for any retro game room
2. Mortal Kombat 2
Hands down, Mortal Kombat 2 is the most iconic in the series. Graphics and sound were definitely a step up from the original. The perfect sequel for such a groundbreaking game! Don’t get us wrong, we love all four Mortal Kombat arcade games, but nothing compares to Mortal Kombat 2!
3. Neo Geo MVS
What retro game room is complete without a Neo Geo MVS machine? Having the games on cartridges makes rotating games in and out a snap. The games themselves are graphically amazing and definitely stand the test of time! With such iconic series like Metal Slug, Samarai Showdown, King of Fighters, and so many more titles make this a no brainer for your retro game room. There are several different versions of this cabinet but we prefer the 2 slot mini version; about the size of an Arcade 1UP but not made of cardboard!
4. Super Off Road
Who doesn’t want to modify their truck and race against a couple friends? We here at The Retro have very fond memories of this game growing up, and still get down on some friendly competition. Usually we are not fans of upright drivers, but Super Off Road makes it work, is a time-less game, and a great piece for your retro game room.
5. X-Men (6 player)
At one time operators couldn’t give these giant machines away. Konami made some amazing 4 player co-op games, but their X-Men 6 player beats them all. Definitely going to take up some real estate in your retro game room, but well worth it to showcase this beauty! This machine features two large monitors to give a wide screen view of the action. Not necessarily cheap these days, but if you happen to stumble across one, you won’t regret it!
6. Centipede
Centipede tends to be extremely popular, especially with women. Whenever we host a popup arcade event, Centipede is constantly being played by women. We’ve even seen a few arguments over whose turn it was LOL! The Centipede cabinet has some of our favorite side art as well. The trackball also gives it a different vibe as opposed to playing with joysticks.
7. NBA Jam
NBA Jam is our absolute favorite arcade sports title, and we aren’t even big into sports! Whether it is against the computer (good luck LOL) or with a group of friends, NBA Jam is a guaranteed hit! Being able to save your records is a really neat feature and keeps you coming back for just one more game!
8. Donkey Kong
One of Nintendo’s best games of all time is a must for any retro game room! Make sure you get plenty of practice in so you can join the Donkey Kong high score competition at the Kong Off! If you are lucky enough, try to find one of the first run cabinets in red.
9. Rush 2049
Although San Francisco Rush 2049 is about 20 years old, it is still one of the best head to head racing games out there for the price. Race around a futuristic San Francisco looking for jumps and hidden short cuts. A pair of these bad boys linked up is a must for any retro room.
10. Street Fighter 2: Champion Edition
If you were alive in the 90’s, you definitely saw Street Fighter 2 everywhere! We still get a ton of games through our doors that were converted to a Street Fighter 2 at some point in its life. Although there are many versions and hacks of this game, Champion Edition is the most iconic! We still see plenty of Street Fighter competitions, we hope to soon host one our self.
11. Time Crisis 2
There are many great shooters throughout the 80’s and 90’s, and Time Crisis 2 is one of the top for that genre. The combination of the action pedal and the recoil guns gives it a very high replay-ability factor in your retro game room.
12. Dragons Lair
A Dragons Lair is not for the faint of heart technology wise; they can be a bit tricky to keep running reliably. But when running well, it is a showpiece for any size game room. Every time we see one today, there is still a “wow” factor, just imagine what people thought back in the early 80’s.
13. CarnEvil
Nothing beats shooting creepy clowns and dolls in this rail shooter adventure! One of my favorite gun games just because of the pump shotguns you use. The art and details on this game are amazing, very different feel compared to every other gun game.
Well, we hope you enjoyed our must have games for your retro game room. There are many more great games out there, and as time goes on these types of lists change. As always, please like and share with your friends on social media, helps us keep the lights on at The Retro!
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