Coin-op conversions: from the arcades to your home
Arcades experienced immense popularity during the 1980s and 1990s, serving as social hubs where people gathered to enjoy video games. Before the rise of poker machines, individuals frequented pubs or dedicated arcades to play video games known as coin-operated machines or coin-ops. These machines required players to insert coins to start playing, creating a pay-to-play model that was both thrilling and addictive.
As home video game consoles and computers advanced, many popular arcade games were adapted for these platforms. The transition allowed players to enjoy their favorite games in the comfort of their own homes. Systems like the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Sega Genesis, and various home computers saw ports of arcade hits, often with slight modifications due to hardware limitations.
Coin-operated machines not only provided entertainment but also influenced game design, community building, and the overall trajectory of the gaming industry.
Most popular coin-op conversion games
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Aaargh
DOS19883.3/5 Binary Design
Action Fighter
DOS19893.9/5 Sega
After Burner
DOS19893.6/5 Sega
After Burner is an abandoned DOS combat flight simulation game with elements of rail shooters, with similarities to earlier Sega titles like Space Harrier. After Burner was designed by Yu Suzuki and developed by Sega as a coin-op and then converted to various home computers and consoles in 1989.
Ajax
DOS19893.4/5 Konami
Alien Syndrome
DOS19894.2/5 Sega
Altered Beast
DOS19904.1/5 Sega
Altered Beast is a classic side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game developed and published by Sega. It was originally released in arcades in 1988 and later ported to various home consoles, including the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.Players control a resurrected centurion who battles through five levels filled with undead creatures and other mythical beas...
APB
DOS19894/5 Atari
Arkanoid
DOS19884.1/5 Taito
Arkanoid is a classic arcade video game that was first released in 1986 by Taito. It is a breakout-style game, which means that the primary objective is to break a wall of bricks or blocks by bouncing a ball off a paddle at the bottom of the screen. The game takes its name and inspiration from Atari's Breakout, which was released in the 1970s. ...
Arkanoid 2: The Revenge of Doh
DOS19894.1/5 Taito
Bad Dudes VS Dragon Ninja
DOS1988protected4/5 Data East
Battlezone
DOS19834.2/5 Atari
Bionic Commando
DOS19883.3/5 Capcom
Blades of steel
DOS19904/5 Konami
Blasteroids
DOS19893.8/5 Atari
Blasteroids is a video game developed and released by Atari, Inc. in 1987. It's a sequel to the classic arcade game Asteroids, which was released in 1979. In Blasteroids, players control a spaceship tasked with destroying asteroids and enemy ships while avoiding collisions and enemy fire. The game features updated graphics and gameplay mechanics co...
Blockout
DOSMac OS19894.1/5 P. Z. Karen Co. Development Group
Bomb Jack
DOS19844.3/5 Tecmo
Bomb Jack is a classic arcade platform game developed and published by Tecmo in 1984. The goal of the game is to collect bombs while avoiding enemies; the whole game takes place in a fixed screen. Bomb Jack for DOS is a conversion from the arcade original version. The arcade and the conversions were a huge commercial success.
Bubble Bobble
DOS19894.2/5 Taito
Bubble Bobble is widely regarded as one of the most beloved and charming platform arcade games of all time. The gameplay objective in Bubble Bobble is straightforward: players must clear each screen of various monsters and advance through numerous stages to ultimately reach the final level. Players control two adorable dinosaurs, Bub and Bob. ...
Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom
DOS19843.5/5 Sega
BurgerTime
DOS19823.8/5 Data East
Bust-A-Move
DOS1997freeware4/5 Taito
Cabal
DOS19894.1/5 TAD Corporation
Cabal is an abandoned arcade conversion of a popular shooter game set in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Cabal was developed by TAD Corporation and released by Capcom in 1989 for DOS.
CHAMP Kong
DOS1996remake4/5 ChamProgramming corp.
Cisco Heat
DOS19914.2/5 Jaleco
Cisco Heat is an abandoned racing game set in North America developed by Jaleco and released by Image Works in 1991 for DOS and other platforms. Cisco Heat was converted from the original arcade version. The difference between other similar racing games of the time is that the player drives a police car.
Crazy Taxi
Windows XP/98/9520024.1/5 Sega
Crazy Taxi is an abandoned driving / racing game developed by Sega and released by Activision in 2002 for Windows and other platforms (it's an arcade conversion). Crazy Taxi is set in a city full of potential passengers: get them on your taxi and drive them to various destinations in time.
Darius Gaiden
Windows XP/98/9519984.2/5 Taito
Daytona USA
Windows XP/98/9519943.4/5 Sega
Daytona USA is an arcade racing game that was originally released by Sega in 1993. It quickly became one of the most iconic and influential racing games of its time. The game was designed by Toshihiro Nagoshi and developed by Sega AM2, a division of Sega known for creating innovative and visually impressive games.The game features three distinct tr...
Dig Dug
DOS19833.9/5 Namco
Dig Dug is a classic maze arcade action game that was first released by Namco in 1982 as a coin-op and later for a number of other systems. The gameplay of Dig Dug involves digging tunnels through the earth to reach and defeat the various creatures that inhabit the underground maze. The player has an air pump, which he can use to inflate the monste...
Donkey Kong
DOS19834/5 Nintendo
Donkey Kong is a landmark video game franchise created by Shigeru Miyamoto and first released by Nintendo in 1981. The original arcade game introduced players to a narrative where a carpenter named Jumpman, who would later become known as Mario, must rescue his girlfriend Pauline from a giant, barrel-throwing ape named Donkey Kong. This game is oft...
Double Dragon
DOS19884/5 Technos Japan
Double Dragon 3: The Rosetta Stone
DOS19924.2/5 East Technology Corp.