5 Arcade Games From 1984 That Still Hold Up Today

Throughout 1984, the shadow of the video game crash of 1983 still loomed, but the industry survived and recovered. This included continued support for the arcade scene, with major developers releasing new titles for arcades as well as home platforms. And while perhaps overshadowed by other games released throughout the decade, the games from 1984 still maintain their own appeal and fans. Their ranks encompass both the start of enduring franchises and the continuation of established series with new fan-favorite titles that doubled down on the fun.

As such, we’re highlighting the arcade games from 1984 that have lasting appeal, even over 40 years later. Be they vertical-scrolling shoot’em-ups or titles that marked the continued global growth of Nintendo, there were some enduring gems released throughout that year. Several of these games, and/or their later ports to various home platforms, are readily available to play now on modern platforms, too. So, here are five arcade games from 1984 that still hold up today, each well worth checking out in their own right.

Gaplus

Bandai Namco Entertainment/Hamster Corporation

Upon its debut in 1981, “Galaga” stood as an ’80s video game with endless replay value and a new high for space shooter arcade titles. Namco followed up this game’s success with the sequel “Gaplus,” which was released in some territories, including North America, as “Galaga 3.” Like its predecessor, the 1984 game has players taking on waves of descending enemies, yet it adds new enemy types and attack patterns. To further differentiate it from “Galaga” and “Galaxian,” the game also gives players access to a wave of power-ups to even the odds.

While not as well-known today or appreciated as much as “Galaga,” Namco continues to demonstrate its penchant for making fun-filled space shooters with “Gaplus.” The game is much more ambitious than its predecessors while retaining what made those earlier titles so enjoyable. Moreover, the game is much more challenging, with its changes in gameplay and level progression putting even seasoned “Galaga” players on their toes. A must-play for any fan of retro space shooters, “Gaplus” has received a digital re-release on modern consoles to bring the fun home.

The Tower of Druaga

The year before “Gauntlet” offered its memorable top-down dungeon-crawler, Namco released its own take on the genre. Debuting in June 1984, “The Tower of Druaga” has players control a golden-armored knight named Gilgamesh as he ascends 60 floors of a tower ruled by the demonic Druaga. Each level has a maze layout, with Gilgamesh battling enemies and searching for keys to unlock the door to the next level. Each floor also contains secret items that help Gilgamesh on his epic quest, including pickaxes, magic potions, and crystal rods.

“The Tower of Druaga” set the template for subsequent similar top-down fantasy titles like “The Legend of Zelda.” The game is certainly ambitious in scope, with its 60-level premise offering players an incredible amount of exploration and combat. Looking back, though, it was frustrating without the benefit of strategy guides or online walkthroughs, which only makes playthroughs much more tenable now. Perfect for fans of 8-bit hack-and-slash gameplay, “The Tower of Druaga” is an overlooked gem primed for a revisit.

Super Punch-Out!!

Before it became a staple in the Nintendo Entertainment System library, “Punch-Out!!” and its update “Super Punch-Out!!” started out as arcade games. The latter title was released in October 1984, providing players with a more over-the-shoulder perspective than the subsequent NES release. The gameplay and premise remains largely the same, with players facing a line of opponents in the boxing ring, dodging incoming blows before unloading on the fighters’ weak points. After beating the game’s line of opponents, players must face harder versions of them in a rematch and only have a single three-minute round to defend their title.

The bones of what would become the home console versions of “Punch-Out!!” can be seen in the series’ 1984 arcade title. The game is also relatively more accessible, at least in terms of its lack of extremely overpowered classic characters like Mike Tyson and Mr. Dream. That said, the game’s time attack mode provides players with a healthy challenge as they pursue the high score. Nintendo would take on a similar approach to the series with its Super Nintendo release, although its arcade title and those hard-hitting sensibilities start with “Super Punch-Out!!.”

Really, we could’ve filled up this entire list with shoot’em-up titles from 1984 like “Super Xevious.” For the sake of variety, however, we’re going to keep it to one more, specifically Capcom’s World War II vertical-scrolling shooter “1942.” Here, players control an American fighter plane battling the Japanese military in the war’s Pacific Theater, taking on enemy aircraft and the occasional looming boss airship. In order to better appeal to American audiences, Capcom deliberately designed the game to have players control U.S. aircraft despite being a Japanese developer and publisher.

With its vibrant display and historical premise, “1942” boasts sprites that are a bit more varied and detailed than its space shooter counterparts. The game also gives players the ability to roll away from incoming enemy fire, which, while seeming like a simple mechanic, elevated it above other vertical-scrolling shooters. Capcom subsequently ported the game to numerous home platforms, including the Nintendo Entertainment System, while the arcade version is available in 2021’s “Capcom Arcade Stadium.” The start of a prolific Capcom series of vertical shooters, “1942” provides a solid foundation for the more sophisticated sequels to come.

Kung-Fu Master

The side-scrolling beat’em-up genre was still in its early days when Irem developed and published “Kung-Fu Master” in December 1984. The game’s story follows a martial artist protagonist named Thomas as he ascends a tower to reach his kidnapped girlfriend Sylvia on the top level. Every floor is full of attacking enemies, with the staircase to the next level guarded by a formidable boss character. Thomas can punch, kick, jump, and duck, in contrast to the more limited movement in other side-scrollers available at the time.