Whether it’s sports betting or the continued increase in popularity for mobile betting apps, the gambling industry has seen incredible growth in recent years as top casinos continue to find new ways to integrate their businesses with the online world. One such example is casino arcade games, combining the fun of popular video games and their relatives with the potential to pad your wallet with gambling success. The beauty of arcade games is that they require skill in order to succeed: it’s not like a slot machine or a card game where you’re at the whims of Lady Luck if you hope to win big.
Here’s a look at some of the most popular casino arcade games on the market today, and what each one of them brings to the table.
1. ZForce
You can’t go wrong with one of the greatest arcade games ever created, and this casino game is the spitting image of the arcade classic Galaga, where the player is tasked with captaining a fleet of starship fighters against rival alien forces. Instead of looking to set a high score, you’re looking to wager on your performance using casino credits.
While the basic mechanics of the game are incredibly similar to Galaga, there are a few important twists to keep in mind: one is the various power ups you can collect in order to give yourself a performance boost. The other is the inclusion of boss battles, giving yourself a set target to beat as opposed to the open ended nature of classic arcade games.
ZForce, like most casino options these days, can be played in person if you’re looking to bask in the traditional arcade environment, but you can also play it from your phone or laptop using apps from Pennsylvania Online Casinos if you want to play at your leisure instead of having to travel to a physical location.
2. Space Invasion
Next on the list is Space Invasion which, as you may expect, plays in a similar fashion to the 80s classic with a similar name, Space Invaders: if you couldn’t tell, I’m a sucker for the arcade classics.
While Space Invaders was a simpler prototype for games like Galaga, its casino facelift brings it into the modern world of gaming with things like multipliers to boost your score and weapon system enhancements like the ability to split your rockets to take out more enemies at once.
The changes can take some time to get used to, but the familiar user interface makes this a great jumping off point into the world of arcade casino games: rather than having to suffer through trial and error with your hard earned dollars on the line, you’ll find that you already know most of the mechanics if you’ve ever played a game of Space Invaders.
3. Thundercrash
The first novelty game on the list, this one is specific to Bovada’s online casino. Like the other games on the list, multipliers are the name of the game as you try to pad the value of your initial bet. In Thundercrash, you do so by piloting a plane and guiding it to increasingly higher altitudes.
You do so with the knowledge that the plane is doomed, and you’re going to have to hit the eject button before it crashes in order to escape with your earnings. This makes for a delightfully stressful experience, and you can practically feel your blood pressure rising as the fateful journey continues.
If you’re the type of gamer who thrives in a high stakes environment (think like one of the higher rounds of Pac-Man as the ghosts begin to pick up speed, when the slightest mistake could spell doom for you), Thundercrash is the game for you.
Another benefit of this game is the retro style: while it may be the new kid on the block, Thundercrash looks like it would fit right in in the 1980s.
4. Asteroids
Rounding out the list is another option for fans of classic arcade games with Asteroids. This iteration has received a substantial facelift from the classic game, but the spirit of the game remains unchanged as bettors battle the titular space rocks, as well as UFOs and other space themed obstacles.
Simplicity is the calling card of many arcade games, and Asteroids is no different, the kind of game that you can pick up in a heartbeat but will need a lifetime to master.
Stay turned as the world of online gaming continues to evolve, as you’re sure to see more options—whether classic or new—added to the list of the best arcade games in the coming years.