Every industry experiences continual growth, but the progress that’s made each new generation with video games is particularly impressive. Several major developers have emerged in the video game industry and there are certainly occasional examples where games that are exclusive to specific consoles can be a crucial factor for audiences.

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Another frequent occurrence in the industry is for ports to come along so that a wider audience can experience a game. This can be quite beneficial when it comes to arcade titles, since the environment has become increasingly niche over the years. Console and PC gamers usually get the opportunity to play games that were formerly exclusive to arcades, but that’s not always the case, with some still requiring quarters/tokens to play.

10 House Of The Dead: Scarlet Dawn Is A Superlative Sequel That Deserves A Bigger Audience

Video Games House Of The Dead Scarlet Dawn Zombie Horde

Sega’s House of the Dead franchise has become one of the most iconic light gun rail shooters. One of the major selling points of both the Sega Saturn and Dreamcast is that their light gun supported ports of House of the Dead and its first sequel were such arcade-perfect releases.

House of the Dead sequels and spin-offs tend to eventually make their way to consoles, but there are some outliers. House of the Dead: Scarlet Dawn is the successor to House of the Dead 4 and arguably the most impressive entry in the franchise, yet it remains an arcade exclusive release.

9 Silent Hill: The Arcade Effectively Brings The Series’ Horror To A Rail Shooter

Video Games Silent Hill The Arcade Nurses

It’s been a while since there’s been a new Silent Hill game, but fans have been so patient for a new entry because what already exists is so powerful. Silent Hill takes a more psychological approach to its horror than the Resident Evil series, and the games are full of some truly disturbing imagery and enemies.

Silent Hill has the popularity and lore to sustain an arcade rail shooter and Silent Hill: The Arcade is one of the better applications of this sort of spin-off. It makes it even more disappointing that it hasn’t made its way to consoles, as fans would be happy for any new Silent Hill title they could get their hands on.

8 Jurassic Park’s Classic Arcade Experience Perfectly Captures The Movie’s Wonder

Video Games Jurassic Park Arcade 1994 T-Rex

Jurassic Park is another acclaimed franchise that’s received a modern revival in a very big way, but it’s always had a place in the gaming industry. There are some excellent Jurassic Park video games for home consoles that attempt to do unique things with the dangerous property, but there’s still consensus that the 1994 Jurassic Park arcade rail shooter still represents a high mark for Jurassic Park video games.

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1994’s Jurassic Park is non-stop action that showcases the movie’s exciting dinosaurs. It’s an excellent cooperative experience and the Jeep-like arcade cabinet is a simple but effective touch.

7 Sega's Scud Race Evolves The Racing Formula That Daytona Establishes

Video Games Scud Race Arcade

The racing genre of video games has become one of the most crowded niches of games, which is why only a select few franchises have been able to survive over the years. Sega’s Daytona series helped set the standard back in the ‘90s when racing games were far less advanced.

There are a number of titles in the Daytona racing series, but Scud Race initially started as Daytona 2 before going in a different direction. It may have a new name, but Scud Race still operates with the proficiency of the Daytona games.

6 Brave Firefighters Is One Of The Most Creative Arcade Games With The Perfect Peripheral

Video Games Brave Firefighters Arcade

Some arcade rail shooters are perfectly content to just go nuts with the light gun concept and offer something extra beyond the standard gaming controller. However, there are arcade releases like Brave Firefighters that specifically take advantage of the arcade’s freedom. Brave Firefighters functions like a rail shooter, only players extinguish fires instead of shooting enemies.

The game utilizes hose-like controllers that are the perfect detail that turns a fun game into an extra memorable experience, but also why it remains restricted to arcades. There are console firefighting games like Burning Rangers, but none that are like this.

5 Castlevania: The Arcade Offers An Inventive Spin On The Light Gun Shooter

Video Games Castlevania The Arcade Boss Battle

Castlevania is one of Konami’s most popular and enduring franchises that’s been able to branch off in many unexpected directions, such as fighting games. There’s such a rich universe that’s full of creative monsters that Castlevania is a natural fit for the light gun rail shooter treatment.

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A popular fixture of arcade games is the light gun aspect, which can be taken in many different exaggerated directions. Castlevania: The Arcade isn’t perfect, but it basically justifies its existence through its LED whip remote accessory that’s used to inflict damage. It’s conceivably the first and only “light whip” game.

4 Mario Kart Arcade GP Provides A Distinct Experience That’s Absent In The Console Entries

Video Games Mario Kart GP Arcade Ms Pac-Man

To be clear, there are of course a wealth of Mario Kart games for home consoles, but there’s a distinct off-shoot that’s been created specifically for the arcade experience known as Mario Kart Arcade GP.

There are now four entries in the Arcade GP series and none of these have been ported over to consoles, despite the popularity of the franchise, which speaks to their necessity to be played in a substantial arcade cabinet. The Mario Kart Arcade GP games don’t just offer a more comprehensive racing experience, but they also bring in Namco’s Pac-Man characters for the fun.

3 H2Overdrive Is An Excellent Water-Based Racer That’s Locked Away To Arcades

Video Games H2Overdrive Arcade Racing

Racing titles have had an interesting life on consoles and it’s a gaming genre that naturally thrives in a more sophisticated arcade cabinet. Console racers have largely become centralized to ultra-realistic car racers, which means that creative deviations, like water-based racing games, no longer have a home.

H2Overdrive was initially considered a follow-up to Hydro Thunder before becoming its own entity. H2Overdrive expands upon Hydro Thunder’s mechanics and is genuinely excellent, but many haven’t had a chance to experience it even though more Hydro Thunder entries have received ports.

2 Pokémon Battrio Explores A New Battle System Through A Unique Concept

Video Games Pokemon Battrio Arcade Battle

There is no stopping Pokémon and there are nearly just as many unique spin-off series as there are mainline entries. There are plenty of off-shoots that focus on the battle concept of Pokémon and titles like Pokkén Tournament are the culmination of this fascination.

Pokémon Battrio is an arcade-exclusive experiment that capitalizes on three-on-three battle with a priority toward Generation IV Pokémon. A series of pucks are used to summon different Pokémon, which is likely part of the reason Pokémon Battrio never made it to consoles. However, the game’s successor, Pokémon Tretta, did feature connectivity with the Nintendo 3DS.

1 Star Wars Trilogy Arcade Is One Of The Definitive Star Wars Gaming Experiences

Video Games Star Wars Trilogy Arcade X-Wing Flight

Star Wars has a long history with video games, both on home consoles as well as arcades, which has only become more intense with the franchise’s big return. There are certain Star Wars arcade games that have received console ports, but 1998’s Star Wars Trilogy Arcade remains the apex of arcade exclusive experiences.

Not to be confused with the the similarly-named title Star Wars Arcade, which did receive a port for the Sega 32X, this arcade game is much more versatile. It covers a wide range of gameplay and famously includes a first-person lightsaber duel against Darth Vader.

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