arcade games

Arcade games are coin-operated entertainment machines found in dedicated venues called arcades, as well as in bars, restaurants, and other public spaces.

The term most commonly refers to video games from the 1970s through 1990s—titles like Pac-Man, Space Invaders, and Street Fighter—though it also covers pinball and other mechanical amusements.

We spent all our quarters on arcade games at the boardwalk.

The phrase now extends to any game styled after these classics, even when played on home consoles or phones.