View source for Timeline of arcade video game history

{{short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Multiple issues|
{{Original research|date=June 2019}}
{{Update|date=June 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2021}}
}}
The following article is a broad timeline of [[arcade video game]]s.

== Early history (1971–1977) ==
;1971
:At [[Stanford University]], two students release the [[PDP-11]]-based machine ''[[Galaxy Game]]''.  It is a clone of ''[[Spacewar!]]'', one of the earliest video games, developed in 1962.
:Syzygy Engineering, a precursor to [[Atari, Inc.]] launches ''[[Computer Space]]'', the first commercial video arcade game, also being a ''Spacewar!'' derivative.
;1972
:Atari, Inc. launches ''[[Pong]]'', the first commercially successful video game. It is also the first arcade [[Sports game|sports video game]].
;1974
:[[Taito]] releases ''[[Speed Race]]'', which introduces [[scrolling]] sprite graphics,<ref name=Barton-197>Bill Loguidice & Matt Barton (2009), ''Vintage games: an insider look at the history of Grand Theft Auto, Super Mario, and the most influential games of all time'', p. 197, [[Focal Press]], {{ISBN|0-240-81146-1}}</ref> and features a [[racing wheel]] controller.<ref>{{KLOV game|id=9709|name=Speed Race}}</ref> Midway releases it as ''Racer'' in the United States.<ref name=Barton-197/>
;1975
:[[Midway Games|Midway MFG.]] releases ''[[Gun Fight]]'', an adaptation of Taito's ''Western Gun'' and the first arcade video game to use a [[microprocessor]], which the original incarnation did not use, allowing for improved graphics and smoother animation.<ref name="kohler19">{{citation|author=Chris Kohler|year=2005|title=Power-up: how Japanese video games gave the world an extra life|page=19|publisher=[[BradyGames]]|isbn=0-7440-0424-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=auMTAQAAIAAJ|access-date=2011-03-27}}</ref>
:Exidy releases [[Destruction Derby (1975 video game)|''Destruction Derby'']].
:Dr. Reiner Foerst releases ''[[Nürburgring 1]]'' in Germany. It is recognized as the world's first [[First-person (video games)|first-person]] [[racing video game]] or the first [[Video game graphics#3D|three-dimensional]] racing video game.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Torchinsky|first=Jason|date=2012|title=Meet The Doctor-Engineer Who Basically Invented The Modern Racing Game|url=https://jalopnik.com/meet-the-doctor-engineer-who-basically-invented-the-mod-5906386|access-date=2020-12-27|website=Jalopnik|language=en-us}}</ref>
:Atari, Inc. releases ''[[Hi-way]]'', which was Atari's first game to use a cockpit cabinet.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2007-10-13|title=8bitrocket.com: Blog Display Page|url=http://www.8bitrocket.com/newsdisplay.aspx?newspage=3798|access-date=2020-12-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013215722/http://www.8bitrocket.com/newsdisplay.aspx?newspage=3798|archive-date=2007-10-13}}</ref>
:Atari, Inc. releases ''[[Crash 'N Score]]'', Gameplay is an early example of a simulation of a [[demolition derby]].
:Atari, Inc. releases ''[[Indy 800]]'', Gameplay is a simulation of an [[Indianapolis 500]] style race, the cabinet also features overhead mirrors to allow spectators to watch the game while it's being played.
:Atari, Inc. releases [[Steeplechase (video game)|''Steeplechase'']].
;1976
:[[Sega]] releases ''[[Fonz (arcade)|Moto-Cross]]'', which features [[haptic technology|haptic feedback]], causing the [[Motorcycle handlebar|handlebars]] to vibrate during collisions.<ref>Mark J. P. Wolf (2008), ''The video game explosion: a history from PONG to PlayStation and beyond'', p. 39, [[ABC-CLIO]], {{ISBN|0-313-33868-X}}</ref> [[Gremlin Industries|Sega-Gremlin]] re-brands it as ''[[Fonz (arcade)|Fonz]]''.<ref name=Fonz>{{KLOV game|id=12812|name=Fonz}}</ref>
:Sega releases ''[[Heavyweight Champ]]'', which is the first video game to feature [[Fighting game|hand-to-hand fighting]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-12-06|title=20 Years of Street Fighter: The origins of the world's greatest fight…|url=http://www.1up.com/features/20-years-street-fighter|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121206043053/http://www.1up.com/features/20-years-street-fighter|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-12-06|access-date=2020-12-27|website=archive.is}}</ref>
:Atari Inc. releases ''[[Night Driver (arcade game)|Night Driver]]'', an early example of a first-person perspective racing video game.
:Atari releases ''[[Breakout (video game)|Breakout]]'', which inspires a number of [[Breakout clone|''Breakout'' clones]].
:Exidy releases ''[[Death Race (1976 video game)|Death Race]].'' It was the first video game to inspire protest and cause panic.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kocurek|first=Carly A.|date=2012|title=The Agony and the Exidy: A History of Video Game Violence and the Legacy of Death Race|url=http://gamestudies.org/1201/articles/carly_kocurek|journal=Game Studies|volume=12|issue=1|issn=1604-7982}}</ref>
:Gremlin releases ''[[Blockade (video game)|Blockade]]'', the first of what become known as [[Snake (video game genre)|snake games]].
:Taito releases ''Speed Race Twin'', a sequel to ''Speed Race'' that allows simultaneous [[Multiplayer|two-player]] competitive gameplay.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Speed Race Twin.|url=https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=9711|access-date=2020-12-27|website=arcade-museum.com}}</ref>
;1977
:[[Cinematronics]] releases ''[[Space Wars]]'', the first vector graphics arcade game.
:[[Kee Games]] releases ''Drag Race'', which was later adapted in 1980 into a [[Atari 2600]] video game by [[Activision]] called [[Dragster (video game)|Dragster]].
:Atari, Inc. releases ''[[Canyon Bomber]]''.
:Atari, Inc releases [[Super Bug (video game)|''Super Bug'']], which was designed by Howard Delman who also designed Canyon Bomber.
:Midway releases [[Boot Hill (video game)|''Boot Hill'']], which is a sequel to the 1975 video game ''Gun Fight.''

==Golden age (1978–1986)==
{{See also|Golden age of video arcade games|List of best-selling video games#Arcade|l2=List of best-selling arcade games}}
;1978
:[[Taito Corporation|Taito]] releases ''[[Space Invaders]]'', the first [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbuster]] arcade video game,<ref>{{citation|author=Chris Kohler|year=2005|title=Power-up: how Japanese video games gave the world an extra life|page=18|publisher=[[BradyGames]]|isbn=0-7440-0424-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=auMTAQAAIAAJ|access-date=2011-03-27}}</ref> responsible for starting the [[golden age of video arcade games]]. It also sets the template for the [[shoot 'em up]] genre,<ref name="1UP-50">{{cite web|title=Essential 50: Space Invaders|url=http://www.1up.com/features/essential-50-space-invaders|publisher=[[1UP.com]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316002155/http://www.1up.com/features/essential-50-space-invaders|archive-date=March 16, 2015|access-date=2011-03-26}}</ref> and influences nearly every [[shooter game]] released since then.<ref name="1UP-10things">{{cite web|title=Ten Things Everyone Should Know About Space Invaders|url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3168373|author=Edwards, Benj|publisher=[[1UP.com]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226064943/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3168373|archive-date=February 26, 2009|access-date=2008-07-11}}</ref>
;1979
:[[Atari]] releases ''[[Lunar Lander (1979 video game)|Lunar Lander]]'' and ''[[Asteroids (video game)|Asteroids]]'', a major hit in the [[United States]] and Atari's best selling game of all time.<ref name="atarisite">{{cite web |url=http://www.atari.com/games/atari_classics |title=Mobile Games |publisher=Atari |access-date=2013-02-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203010901/http://www.atari.com/games/atari_classics |archive-date=2013-12-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
:[[Namco]] releases ''[[Galaxian]]'', which is in [[RGB]] colour.<ref>{{KLOV game|7885|Galaxian}}</ref>
;1980
:[[Sunsoft|Sun Electronics]] releases ''Speak & Rescue'' (スピーク&レスキュー) in May 1980, released in North America as ''Stratovox'' and released in North America by [[Taito]]. It is the first video game with [[Speech synthesis|voice synthesis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/f/gamings-most-important-evolutions/a-20101008102331322035/p-2|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615221800/http://www.gamesradar.com/f/gamings-most-important-evolutions/a-20101008102331322035/p-2|archivedate=2011-06-15|title=Gaming's Most Important Evolutions|page=2|publisher=[[GamesRadar]]|date=October 8, 2010|accessdate=2011-04-27}}</ref>
:Atari releases ''[[Battlezone (1980 video game)|Battlezone]]'', a [[first-person shooter]] tank combat game.
:Namco releases ''[[Pac-Man]]'', its biggest-selling game. One of the most influential games, it had the first gaming [[mascot]] [[Character (arts)|character]], established the [[List of maze chase games|maze chase]] genre, opened gaming to female audiences,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927210822/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3122102 The Essential 50 - Pac-Man], [[1UP.com|1UP]]</ref> and introduced [[power-up]]s<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090306095153/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3151392 Playing With Power: Great Ideas That Have Changed Gaming Forever], [[1UP.com|1UP]]</ref> and [[cutscene]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gaming's most important evolutions|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/f/gamings-most-important-evolutions/a-20101008102331322035/p-2|date=October 9, 2010|website=Gamesrader}}</ref>
:[[Data East]] releases [[DECO Cassette System]], the first standardized [[Arcade system board|arcade platform]], for which many games were made.
;1981
:Sega/Gremlin releases ''[[Space Fury]]'', the first color vector arcade game.<ref>{{cite web|title=Space Fury (Sega/Gremlin 1981)|url=https://segaretro.org/Space_Fury|access-date=2015-12-07|publisher=Sega Retro}}</ref>
:[[Nintendo]] releases ''[[Donkey Kong (arcade game)|Donkey Kong]]'', which was one of the first [[platform game]]s. It was also the game that introduced [[Mario]] (named simply "Jumpman" at the time) to the video game world.
:[[Namco]] releases ''[[Galaga]]'', sequel to Galaxian.
:[[Konami]] releases ''[[Scramble (video game)|Scramble]]'', the first side-scrolling shooter with forced scrolling and multiple distinct levels.<ref name="lecture">[https://www.scribd.com/document/100703150/Shmups Game Genres: Shmups], Professor Jim Whitehead, January 29, 2007, Accessed June 17, 2008</ref>
:Konami releases ''[[Frogger]]'', a popular arcade [[action game]].
:[[Williams Electronics]] release ''[[Defender (video game)|Defender]]'', a more challenging shoot-em-up space game with control configuration of five buttons and a joystick.
;1982
:[[Williams Electronics]] releases ''[[Joust (video game)|Joust]]''.
:Namco releases ''[[Pole Position]]'', one of the most popular racing games of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arcade-history.com/?n=pole-position-cockpit-model&page=detail&id=21234 |title=pole position [cockpit model&#93; [coin-op&#93; arcade video game, namco, ltd. (1982) |publisher=Arcade-history.com |date=2012-07-24 |access-date=2013-02-28}}</ref> This is also Namco's first game to feature a 16-bit CPU making it the first 16-bit video game.{{Citation needed|reason=according to who?|date=July 2024}}
:Nintendo releases ''[[Donkey Kong Jr.]]'' and features Mario as the villain.
;1983
:[[Midway Games|Bally Midway]] releases ''[[Journey (1983 video game)|Journey]]'', the first game with digitized sprites.
:''[[Astron Belt]]'', the first [[laserdisc video game]], is released by Sega.
:''[[Dragon's Lair]]'', the first video game to use cel-animated video instead of computer-generated graphics was advertised as the first truly 3D video game and as the meeting point of video games and animated films.
:Atari brings ''[[Star Wars (1983 video game)|Star Wars]]'' to the arcades in the form of a 3D vector graphics simulation of [[Star Wars (film)|the movie's]] attack on the [[Death Star]] sequence and featuring digitized samples of voices from the movie.
: Nintendo releases “[[Mario Bros.]]” and ''[[Donkey Kong 3]]''.
:''[[Star Rider]]'' is released as an arcade laserdisc game by [[WMS Industries|Williams Electronics]] and is the first commercially released video game to use pre-rendered 3D graphics.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=star-rider&page=detail&id=4503 | title=Star Rider, Arcade Video game by Williams Electronics, Inc. (1983) }}</ref>
:''[[Cube Quest]]'' is released as an arcade laserdisc game by Simutrek and is the first commercially released video game with real-time 3D computer graphics <ref>{{cite book |last1=Akagi |first1=Masumi |title=アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005) |trans-title=Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971-2005) |date=13 October 2006 |publisher=Amusement News Agency |language=ja |location=Japan |isbn=978-4990251215 |page=133 |url=https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n134}}</ref>
;1984
:''[[Marble Madness]]'' is released by [[Atari Games]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=marble-madness&page=detail&id=1559 | title=Marble Madness, Arcade Video game by Atari Games Corp. (1984) }}</ref>
:''[[I, Robot (video game)|I, Robot]]'' is released by [[Atari Games|Atari, inc.]] and is the first commercially released arcade video game to be fully rendered in solid-filled, flat-shaded 3D Polygon Graphics in every element of the game and the first with a camera angle.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=i,-robot&page=detail&id=1167 | title=I, Robot, Arcade Video game by Atari, Inc. (1984) }}</ref><ref name="prdnum">{{Cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925150926/http://www.atarigames.com/pdffiles/productionnumbers.pdf | archive-date=2021-09-25 | url=http://www.atarigames.com/pdffiles/productionnumbers.pdf | title=Production Numbers}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://cocatalog.loc.gov/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?v1=13&ti=1,13&Search%5FArg=I%20Robot&Search%5FCode=TALL&CNT=25&REC=0&RD=0&RC=0&PID=h3gQzuuaeCjL7yYRiBNt6K7CnzDxyY7&SEQ=20230407062203&SID=1 | title=I, robot | access-date=2024-08-15 | website=cocatalog.loc.gov}}</ref>
:''[[Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (video game)|Return of the Jedi]]'' is released by [[Atari Games|Atari, inc.]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=return-of-the-jedi&page=detail&id=2213 | title=Return of the Jedi, Arcade Video game by Atari, Inc. (1984) }}</ref><ref name="prdnum"/>
:''[[Karate Champ]]'' is released by Data East and is the first one-on-one arcade martial arts fighting game that helped defined the genre paving the way for games like [[Street Fighter]] and [[Mortal Kombat]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=karate-champ-player-vs-player&page=detail&id=39710 | title=Karate Champ, Arcade Video game by Data East USA, Inc.(1984) }}</ref>
:''[[Kung-Fu Master (video game)|Kung-Fu Master]]'' is released by [[Irem]] and is the first beat' em up arcade game and was a success that defined the genre a few years before [[Double Dragon]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=kung-fu-master&page=detail&id=1331 | title=Kung-Fu Master, Arcade Video game by Irem Corp. (1984) }}</ref>
:''[[Pac-Land]]'' is released by [[Namco]] and is an early side-scrolling platform game.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=pac-land&page=detail&id=1913 | title=Pac-Land, Arcade Video game by NAMCO, LTD. (1984) }}</ref>
:''[[Flicky]]'' is released by [[Sega]] and is one of the very popular side-scrolling platform games for its time.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=flicky&page=detail&id=862 | title=Flicky, Arcade Video game by SEGA Enterprises, LTD. (1984) }}</ref>
:''[[Ninja Hayate]]'' is released by Taito and is a very popular arcade laser-disc game similar to [[Dragon's Lair]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=ninja-hayate&page=detail&id=4499 | title=Ninja Hayate, Arcade Video game by Taito Corp. (1984) }}</ref>
:''[[Punch-Out!! (arcade game)|Punch-Out!!]]'' is released and is one of Nintendo's very successful arcade games.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=punch-out-model-chp1-up&page=detail&id=2068 | title=Punch-Out!!, Arcade Video game by Nintendo Co., LTD. (1984) }}</ref>
:''[[Super Punch-Out!! (arcade game)|Super Punch-Out!!]]'' is released by Nintendo later that same year and is another popular arcade boxing game.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=super-punch-out&page=detail&id=2741 | title=Super Punch-Out!!, Arcade Video game by Nintendo Co., LTD. (1984) }}</ref>
:''[[Midway Games|Bally Midway]]'' released Zwackery and is their first game using M68000 16-bit CPU making it their first 16-bit game.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=zwackery&page=detail&id=3262 | title=Zwackery, Arcade Video game by Bally Midway MFG. Co. (1984) }}</ref>
:''[[Turkey Shoot (video game)|Turkey Shoot]]'' is released by [[WMS Industries|Williams Electronics]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=turkey-shoot-the-day-they-took-over&page=detail&id=2994 | title=Turkey Shoot: The Day They Took over, Arcade Video game by Williams Electronics, Inc. (1984) }}</ref>
:''[[The Last Starfighter]]'' arcade game based on the 1984 movie of the same name was planned to be released by [[Atari Games]]. It was canceled due to the high cost of the hardware and  Atari's President did not think the game was going to be a success and was too expensive to sell at that time. If released, it would have been the first arcade game with a 1st-person perspective to use 3D polygonal graphics.<ref>{{Cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070815173750/http://swcweb.net/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=SlG0h%2F1Z%2Blo%3D&tabid=5025 | title=The Last Starfighter | access-date=2024-08-15 | website=swcweb.net | url=http://swcweb.net/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=SlG0h%2F1Z%2Blo%3D&tabid=5025 | archive-date=2007-08-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=the-last-starfighter&page=detail&id=4815 | title=Unknown}}{{Dead link | date=August 2024 | fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
;1985
:''[[Gauntlet (arcade game)|Gauntlet]]'' is released by [[Atari Games]]
:''[[Gradius]]'' (''Nemesis'' in some countries) is released by [[Konami]].
:''[[Space Harrier]]'' is released by [[Sega]]
:''[[Tehkan World Cup]]'', the father of soccer games with an above view of the field, is released by [[Tehkan]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=10057 |title=Tehkan World Cup - Videogame by Tehkan |publisher=Arcade-museum.com |access-date=2013-02-28}}</ref> who also release its stablemate, ''[[Gridiron Fight]]''.
:''Air Race'' was also planned to be released by Atari in 1985. Due to the high cost of the hardware, the game also was canceled. If released, it would have been the first arcade racing game to use 3D polygon graphics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arcade-history.com/?n=air-race&page=detail&id=35309|title=Air Race pcb by Atari, Inc. (1985)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvYLCsmNKfE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/TvYLCsmNKfE |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=Atari 1985 Air Race unreleased arcade game|last=ScottithGames|date=22 December 2011|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
:''[[Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1985 video game)|The Empire Strikes Back]]'' is released and became Atari's last major vector-based arcade game.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=deBFx7QAwsQC&q=Empire+strikes+back%2C+atari%27s+last+vector+game&pg=PA668|title=Encyclopedia of Video Games: M-Z|date=1 January 2012|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780313379369|via=Google Books}}</ref>
:''[[Paperboy (video game)|Paperboy]]'' was also released by [[Atari Games]].
;1986
:''[[Vs. Super Mario Bros.]]'', the arcade version of [[Super Mario Bros.]] originally on the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] (Famicom in Japan), is released into arcades.
:Taito releases ''[[Bubble Bobble]]''.
:Sega releases ''[[Out Run]]''.
:''[[Chiller (video game)|Chiller]]'' by Exidy is released and is an early example of blood and gore.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://listverse.com/2010/05/11/15-firsts-in-video-game-history/ |title=15 Firsts In Video Game History |publisher=Listverse |date=2010-05-11 |access-date=2013-02-28}}</ref>
:Top Gunner by Exidy is released and is the last commercial arcade video game to use vector-based(wireframe) graphics.
:Turbo Kourier is released by the Vivid Group and is the first coin-operated Virtual Reality arcade video game to use 3D Polygon Graphics.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mandala Turbo Kourier Module|url=http://www.siggraph.org/s95/S95_V1/ENTRTAIN/MANDALA/MTK.HTL|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329233901/http://www.siggraph.org/s95/S95_V1/ENTRTAIN/MANDALA/MTK.HTL|archive-date=March 29, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arcade-history.com/?n=turbo-kourier&page=detail&id=29907|title=Turbo Kourier pcb by Vivid Group (1986)}}</ref>

==Post–golden age (1987–present)==
{{Update|type=section|date=November 2011}}
;1987
:[[Technōs Japan]] releases ''[[Double Dragon (video game)|Double Dragon]]''. It became a huge hit, paving the way for [[beat 'em up]] games.
;1988
:''[[NARC (video game)|NARC]]'', by [[Midway Games|Williams]] is released and is the first commercially released game to use a 32-bit processor.
:[[Namco]] releases ''[[Assault (arcade game)|Assault]]'', which was the first game to make use of massive sprite rotation as well as sprite scaling. It also released ''[[Splatterhouse]]'', which was the first game to get a parental advisory disclaimer.
:Namco introduces the [[Namco System 21|Namco System 21 "Polygonizer"]], the first [[arcade system board]] designed for [[3D computer graphics|3D polygonal graphics]]. The first game to use it is the [[racing video game]] ''[[Winning Run]]''.
:''[[Top Landing]]'' by [[Taito]] is released and is the first coin-operated flight simulation to use 3D polygon graphics and runs on [[Taito]]'s Air System board.
:''[[Tetris]]'' makes the jump from home to arcade as an Atari coin-op.
;1989
:''[[Exterminator (video game)|Exterminator]]'' by [[Gottlieb]] is released and is the first video game to use fully digitized graphics in every element of the game. This was [[Gottlieb]]'s last video game. 
:''[[Hard Drivin']]'', by Atari Games is released and is the second arcade driving game to have 3D polygonal graphics.
:''[[S.T.U.N. Runner]]'' is released by ''[[Atari Games]]'' and is known for early use of high-speed 3-D Polygonal Graphics.
;1990
:''[[Pit-Fighter]]'' is released by [[Atari Games]] and is the first-ever fighting game to use fully digitized graphics. Released two years before Midway's Mortal Kombat.
:''[[Galaxian 3|Galaxian³]]'' is released by [[Namco]] as a video game Theme Park Attraction and is the first to feature 8-players. This game is a sequel to the Galaxian series and is known for combining pre-laserdisc background images and 3D Polygonal graphics. It was later released as an arcade cabinet to the public in 1994.
:''[[NAM-1975]]'' is released by ''[[SNK]]'' and is the first game running on a Neo Geo hardware and became the standardized arcade platform throughout the 90s to the early 2000s. Many 2D fighting games like Fatal Fury, World Heroes, and Samurai Showdown ran on this hardware and was very popular in the arcades for its time.
;1991
:[[Capcom]] releases ''[[Street Fighter II]]'', revolutionizing competitive play in the arcade setting and setting the template for [[fighting game]]s.
;1992
:[[Midway Games]] releases ''[[Mortal Kombat (1992 video game)|Mortal Kombat]]'', which features blood and [[fatality (Mortal Kombat)|fatalities]].
:[[Sega]] releases ''[[Virtua Racing]]'', Sega's first 3D racer as well as Sega's first polygonal 3D game.
;1993
: ''[[Mortal Kombat II]]'' is released, featuring high quality digitized graphics, and the most advanced sound system in arcades at the time, the [[Digital Compression System|DCS]] sound system which allowed for [[MP3]] style compression to all sounds.
:[[Sega]] releases ''[[Virtua Fighter (arcade game)|Virtua Fighter]]'', the first 3D fighting game.
;1994
: ''[[Killer Instinct (1994 video game)|Killer Instinct]]'' is released, the first arcade game with a [[hard disk]], up to that point the game with the highest quality graphics pre-rendered by a rendering program, featuring to this day the highest quality use of the movie background technique.
:[[Namco]] releases ''[[Tekken]]'', another fighting game.
;1995
:[[Midway Games]] releases ''[[Mortal Kombat 3]]'', which was part of the Mortal Kombat series.
;1996
:SNK releases ''[[Metal Slug]]'', a run and gun game widely known for its sense of humor, fluid hand-drawn animation, and fast-paced two-player action.
;1998
:Konami releases ''[[Dance Dance Revolution]]'', an arcade game with four arrow pads that the players used to "dance."  This game would create many sequels and spin-offs.
:''[[Gauntlet Legends]]'' is released by [[Atari Games]] and it is the first game in the Gauntlet series to be produced in 3D and is the last Gauntlet game released by [[Atari Games]].
:Sega releases ''[[House of the Dead 2]]'' and is the first game running on Sega's NAOMI hardware. Like the Neo Geo arcade hardware, it became a standard for many 3D arcade games during that time.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=the-house-of-the-dead-2&page=detail&id=1152 | title=The House of the Dead 2, Sega NAOMI cart. By SEGA Enterprises, LTD. (1998) }}</ref>
;1999
:''[[Rush 2049]]'' is released, the last arcade game to bear the Atari Games logo. Atari Games in Milpitas is renamed Midway Games West, and closes its coin-op product development division.
:''[[Hydro Thunder]]'' is released by [[Midway Games]]. It is a 3D speedboat racing game and was one of the first to run on QuickSilver II hardware, a windows-based hardware setup that was less expensive to use. The game was one of [[Midway Games]] most successful arcade games to date.
:''[[Derby Owners Club]]'' which was the first large-scale satellite arcade machine with [[smartcard]]s, which have become a staple in [[Amusement arcade|Japanese game centers]] since.
;2000
:''[[Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes]]'' is released by [[Capcom]] and runs on Sega's NAOMI hardware. This game combines 2D character sprites, background arenas and special effects are 3D polygon based.
;2001
:Namco releases ''[[Tekken 4]]'', the first talking game to feature almost all characters talking to one another.
:Sega releases ''[[Virtua Fighter 4]]'', the first arcade game with [[online]] features in Japan.
;2002
:''[[Arctic Thunder]]'' Special Edition is released and is the last arcade game by [[Midway Games]] and runs on a PC based Hardware Midway Graphite. Its arcade division was later shut down.
:Sega launched ''[[World Club Champion Football]]'', which introduced [[trading cards]], which have become a staple in [[Amusement arcade|Japanese game centers]].
;2020
:The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 caused many Japanese arcades to close down<ref>{{Cite web |title=Virus threatens 'game over' for Japan's arcades |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/virus-threatens-game-over-japans-030359925.html |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=sg.news.yahoo.com |language=en-SG}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Arcade game]]
* [[Golden age of arcade video games]]
* [[Arcade video game#Highest-grossing|List of highest-grossing arcade video games]]
* [[Video arcade]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.arcade-history.com Arcade Games history]

{{History of video games}}

[[Category:Arcade video games|!]]
[[Category:Video game lists|Arcade History]]
[[Category:History of video games]]