The Highest-Grossing Arcade Games Ever Made

The Golden Age of Full Sized Arcade Games is one that many think back on with fond memories. In fact, many people still seek to play these classic games on other devices or emulators. Fortunately, arcade cabinets are now being sold that have thousands of these retro games on one machine. Now, you can experience the same, authentic joystick and button panel with your favorite games from those arcade days. Here are some of the highest-grossing arcade games ever made: 

1. Pac-Man – Perhaps one of the most well-known arcade games in the world, it’s not a surprise that Pac-Man was also one of the highest-grossing. This game was created by Namco in 1980, had over 400,000 cabinets sold, and made over 3 billion dollars by the year 1990. In today’s economy, that equals over 7 billion in profits. This game was widely popular for its slightly different approach in tone and strategy. Instead of copying the classic space-themed shooters of the day, Pac-Man offered less violence and more brain activity. These maze-chase levels were appealing to both male and female gamers and Pac-Man merchandise started being sold all over the world. 
2. Space Invaders – In June of 1978, Taito released Space Invaders in Japan. This game quickly became a cultural phenomenon. This game overtook so much of Asia that the 100-yen coin was briefly in shortage. Once this game made its mark in Japan, it started making its way across the world. This game is largely credited with kickstarting the Golden Age of Full Sized Arcade Games. It inspired so many of the games following it and motivated designers to improve their graphics and gameplay. Space Invaders made over 2 billion dollars by 1982. 
3. Street Fighter II/Champion Edition – Street Fighter was a fantastic edition to arcade games but it didn’t quite hit the mark until its sequel in 1987. Once Capcom released Street Fighter II, they saw around 200,000 cabinets sold and over 2 billion dollars worth of profit by 1995. This game created a benchmark design for fighting games that would continue to inspire the future of the gaming industry. Plus, its quick player turnover encouraged more coins in the machines. In 1992, Capcom released an updated version of the game called Champion Edition which served to rebalance gameplay, allow players to participate in mirror matches, and included four playable Grand Masters. This version sold 140,000 new cabinets and boards. 
4. Ms. Pac-Man – Continuing in line with the Pac-Man craze, Ms. Pac-Man was released to appeal to the female crowd. By simply adding a pink bow and a femine face to the original pac man character, Bally Widway was able to earn 1.2 billion by 1987. The game offered four new maze designs and randomization of the ghosts. This added a challenge for players and prevented them from speeding through every level. Bally Midway sold 125,00 cabinets of Ms. Pac-Man. 
5. NBA Jam – The next on the list of highest-grossing arcade games for sale is NBA Jam. Arcades had a brief lull period and then ramped up again in 1993. This game was appealing to gaming audiences because it included real team names and players, thanks to its official license. The gameplay was fast and exciting with very few rules to tie players down. Midway sold 20,000 cabinets and made 1.1 billion dollars by 1994. 

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