5 Arcade Games From 1982 That Still Hold Up Today

The arcade scene was thriving in 1982, with many arcade games that defined its golden age released that year. From formative installments of enduring franchises to games that remained staples in the arcade era, there were a lot of fantastic titles released in 1982. Each wholly addictive in their own right, these games had players chasing high scores and pouring their quarters into arcade cabinets. More than just thrilling gamers over 40 years ago, this is a roster of games that's still quite entertaining today.

Keeping that in mind, we're looking back at the arcade games that are still incredibly fun to play now, just as they were in 1982. To see for yourself, these games are also available to play legally on a variety of modern platforms rather than being unplayable titles lost to time. That means there is no good reason to ignore these games, and you should experience just how enjoyable they each are. 

Here are five arcade games from 1982 that still hold up today, each worth sinking countless hours into.

After debuting in 1980, the original "Pac-Man" grew to become a multi-billion dollar franchise that filled up arcades worldwide. This success led to countless retro games that tried to copy "Pac-Man" to their own varying reception. But there is simply no substitute for the main franchise, with "Ms. Pac-Man" putting its own spin on the series in February 1982. The game follows the same formula as its 1980 predecessor, albeit with several noticeable quality of life improvements and, of course, a modified main character sprite.

While this may seem like a hot take for some, "Ms. Pac-Man" is an all-around improvement over the preceding game. The maze layouts are more intuitively designed and the game speed and difficulty curve are more engagingly presented. What the developers wisely recognized is that the original game didn't need an overhaul to elevate it above the competition, just a subtly refined experience. Purists would understandably say to stick with the original game, but we have to give it up to "Ms. Pac-Man" as the series' pinnacle.

Another gem that few players who weren't alive in the '80s may not recognize is "Dig Dug." Developed and published by Namco in February 1982, the game has players dig down into the dirt to defeat a set of enemies in every level. To complicate matters, the enemies can move through the dirt, keeping players on their toes as they try to corner them. Players can either use an air pump to comedically make enemies explode or dig under rocks to make them fall and crush anything in their path.

"Dig Dug" is a quirky arcade title in a year full of them, standing the test of time better than its contemporary "Q*Bert." A big part of that appeal comes in the game's simplicity, like so many of the titles on this list. So many enduring '80s arcade games feature a repeating single-screen premise, leaning into fun factor over intricacy. "Dig Dug" follows this creative direction to great effect, ramping up the difficulty as players complete each screen and keeping them coming back for more.

The original "Donkey Kong" is one of those '80s video games that made arcades crowded and put Nintendo on the map in North America. Like "Pac-Man," there were plenty of retro video games that tried to copy "Donkey Kong" and its popular platforming action. In true Nintendo fashion, however, the developers decided to go in a much different direction for its follow-up, "Donkey Kong Jr." This game positioned Mario as the antagonist, with the titular protagonist climbing across lines to rescue Donkey Kong from captivity.

While perhaps not as fondly remembered as the original "Donkey Kong," the decision by Nintendo to change up the gameplay for "Donkey Kong Jr." was a smart one. The game offers its own brand of platforming fun, taking advantage of its change in protagonist and creative direction. In that sense, the game features its own memorable experience worth going back to again and again. A bold bet by Nintendo for its flagship franchise at the time that paid off, "Donkey Kong Jr." continues the company's win streak.

"Tron" has always been something of a cult classic and that extends to the Disney franchise's presence in the video game industry. The arcade game tie-in for the 1982 movie of the same name actually features several different gameplay experiences in one. Inspired directly by scenes from the movie, gameplay modes consist of players maneuvering light cycles and battle tanks, platform their way to the I/O Tower, and destroy Master Control Program. Players can choose the order in which to play the various modes, completing all four to finish the overarching game.

With "Tron," players are getting four distinct experiences for the price of one, a variety in gameplay that holds true today. The fact that the game lovingly evokes its cinematic source material makes it all the more endearing. The game also offers rudimentary multiplayer, albeit with players alternating to beat each other's scores rather than going head-to-head simultaneously. A must-play for "Tron" fans, the 1982 arcade game packs a lot of replay value for a single title.

From "Tapper" to "Food Fight," there are a surprising number of '80s arcade games that revolve around food and drink. But the greatest of them all is the Data East title "BurgerTime," a platforming adventure with a culinary focus. Players control chef Peter Pepper, who tries to assemble oversized burgers by walking across the various ingredients to make them fall into place. Adding a sense of urgency are sentient food items pursuing Peter, who must evade them using the levels' ladder system or stunning them with a limited supply of pepper.

"BurgerTime" is a deceptively fun time, with its gastronomic gimmick proving to be an inspired theme for its platforming action. The game is essentially keep-away with a visible objective in assembling those gigantic burgers. With the game speed picking up every level, as Peter's supply of black pepper diminishes, the gameplay only gets more gripping as players progress. A dark horse favorite on this list, "BurgerTime" definitely deserves more attention for what it brings to the table.