5 Most Underrated Arcade Games Of The 1990s

Arcade games got their last hurrah in the '90s, producing plenty of fan-favorite titles before they were overtaken by increasingly sophisticated home gaming platforms. Given that transition in the arcade scene's viability among gamers, there are a lot of titles that aren't as widely recognized or appreciated today. We've already covered the best '90s arcade games of all time, now we're looking at the ones that are up for a positive reappraisal. Some of the biggest video game publishers in the industry released arcade titles that haven't gotten the reception that they deserve and we're here to rectify that.

Some of the games that we're mentioning are '90s arcade games that vanished overnight and undeservedly so. Some of these games just got lost in the shuffle compared to their more popular contemporaries. Whatever the reason, we're highlighting arcade games that should be on your radar to check out next. These are the five most underrated arcade games of the 1990s that deserve far more love today.

One company that was particularly prolific in the arcade scene during the '90s was Capcom, with titles like "Street Fighter" and "Darkstalkers" wowing their fans. Among the company's more obscure titles from the decade is "Three Wonders," which was released in 1991. As the title suggests, the cabinet actually provides players with three standalone games to choose from. Each featuring considerably different gameplay, the titles within "Three Wonders" are a side-scrolling platformer, a puzzle game, and a side-scrolling shoot'em-up.

With this early anthological setup, Capcom doesn't shortchange gamers with any of the experiences provided by "Three Wonders." Each title is impressively animated and detailed, with the gameplay handled solidly across all the games. The platformer and shoot'em-up are the more entertainingly developed titles included, but the puzzle game brings its own sense of fun and charm. Available through "Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium" on modern platforms, "Three Wonders" is an offbeat release that exceeds its titular gimmick.

One arcade game genre that thrived in the '90s was side-scrolling beat'em-ups, led by titles like "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and "The Simpsons." Capcom, the studio behind "Final Fight," kept publishing beat'em-ups well into the '90s, but one of its titles that doesn't get enough love is "Knights of the Round." As the title suggests, the game has players choose between King Arthur, Lancelot, and Perceval as the battle threats to Camelot. Based on their performance, players can level up between each stage, gaining more powerful weapons and armor in the process.

While Capcom's '90s arcade beat'em-ups like "The Punisher" and "Captain Commando" are more well-known today, "Knights of the Round" is not. The game handles incredibly well and makes full use of the Arthurian legend when showing off its richly rendered environments and enemy designs. Fortunately, Capcom has kept the game's legacy alive, including it in both 2018's "Capcom Beat'em Up Bundle" and 2022's "Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium." That means curious players with modern platforms can check out "Knights of the Round" and give this overlooked gem a try.

Another article about '90s arcade games means another excuse for me to share the good news about the under-appreciated "Ninja Baseball Bat Man." Released in 1993 by Irem, the game features one of the most unusual premises for a side-scrolling beat'em-up title. The game follows a group of baseball players who team up to recover valuables stolen from the Baseball Hall of Fame. This leads them to fight waves of baseball-themed enemies, including living baseballs and mitts, with the players powered up by stadium food and athletic objects.

With its bizarre premise, "Ninja Baseball Bat Man" is an arcade game that was way more popular outside the U.S. The presentation is definitely eye-catching while the sprites are some of the most detailed and imaginatively designed of the era. Moreover, the action is a lot of fun, leaning into the wacky possibilities as players pummel enemies with baseball bats and balls in equal measure. If we're talking about forgotten arcade games that need a remake, "Ninja Baseball Bat Man" needs to be included on that list.

One last side-scrolling beat'em-up to include on this list is the 1993 horror-themed title "Night Slashers." Developed and published by Data East, the original version of the game features three heroes trying to prevent the evil King Zarutz from conquering the world with his monstrous army. Each of the playable characters have their own elemental-based attacks and fighting styles on offer as they plow through waves of enemies. Supporting up to three-person cooperative multiplayer, the game features enemies like zombies, vampires, and werewolves as players cut through the opposition.

"Night Slashers" isn't a '90s game that pushed its violence too far but it certainly wasn't for lack of trying. The North American version had its graphic content toned down from the original Japanese release, but a lot of the gruesome action remains intact. The game became something of a cult classic and received a remake in 2024, improving the technical presentation and adding a fourth playable character. A must-play for horror fans, "Night Slashers" thrives on atmospheric vibes and its pixelated supernatural mayhem done right.

Another genre that proved exceedingly popular in the arcade scene in the '90s was fighting titles, led by games like "Mortal Kombat" and "Street Fighter." As the decade progressed, the genre moved into 3D fighting titles, with "Virtua Fighter" and "Tekken" leading the 3D trend. One supremely underrated 3D arcade fighting game is "Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein," which was released by Capcom in 1998. A sequel to "Star Gladiator," the game features an eclectic cast of characters as they battle each other in the 24th century.

From its expanded roster of fighters to its improved 3D fighting mechanics, "Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein" is perfectly accessible if you've never played "Star Gladiator." What's more, every character features separate rivals and two endings, depending if certain secret conditions through the single-player mode are met. On top of that, the game features a surprising number of secret fighters that can be unlocked, expanding the roster size even more. Arguably the best 3D fighting game developed by Capcom in the '90s, "Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein" is available in "Capcom Fighting Collection 2."