1. Shoot ‘Em Ups
Arcade style shoot-em-ups (aka “shmups”) are usually known for their punishing difficulty, but that isn’t due to a crazy control scheme. These games often use simple controls, making them great for playing with an arcade stick.
Ikarugamay be around 20 years old, but it still holds up as a great example. That said, any side-scrolling or vertical-scrolling shooter will likely play pretty well with an arcade stick.
Related:The best modern shmups worth playing
2. Beat ‘Em Ups
If you’re old enough to remember arcades, the beat ‘em up is probably one of the styles of games you remember the most.
No matter how well balanced the difficulty was, these games used simple control schemes. If you ever played them in an arcade, the arcade stick will likely feel more familiar than a controller.
Most beat ‘em ups with support for modern controllers will work well with an arcade stick. For a single recommendation, try theCapcom Beat ‘Em Up Bundle, which plays extremely well with an arcade stick.
Related:Retro game collections for modern consoles
3. Run & Gun
If you played 8-bit or 16-bit consoles, the run and gun game will likely be a familiar concept. While you may know them from home, many of these games initially got their start in arcades.
Contramay be one of the best-known examples of early run and gun games, but there are plenty of others.
If you prefer the arcade side of things, try theSNK 40th Anniversary Collection, while theSega Genesis Classicscollection has plenty of action for console fans.
4. Puzzle Games
The puzzle genre is so varied that you might as well just say “games.” That said, most puzzle games, especially retro puzzle games, will play well on an arcade stick, mostly thanks to their arcade roots.
Puzzle Bobble, the predecessor of the popular bubble shooter genre, plays well on an arcade stick. So do most puzzle games you’ll find in the Nintendo Switch Online library of NES and SNES games.
Related:The hardest puzzle video games of all time
5. Side-Scrolling Platformers
Speaking of Nintendo and the Switch Online service’s game catalog, side-scrolling platforms likeSuper Mario Brosplay quite well on an arcade stick.
Getting the feel of it might take a while if you’ve played a game for hours with a controller, but it often works well once you adjust.
TheMarioplatforms are a great example, butSonic the Hedgehogworks surprisingly well with an arcade stick as well.
6. Old-School Arcade Games
“Arcade games” as a whole is difficult to break down, and it may seem like an obvious choice. That’s true, but how do you categorize games likePac-ManandDig Dug?
Because most of these games started in arcades, it’s an easy assumption that they would play well with an arcade stick, and it’s also a correct assumption.
7. Modern Indie Games
This is another “genre” that is tough to describe. How do you linkSuper Meat Boy,Downwell, andMonacotogether without using umbrella terms? It’s tough.
Not every modern indie game is going to work with an arcade stick, but it’s worth trying out. In many cases where you feel like you need more precise directional control, an arcade stick can help.
Related:Why are indie games better than AAA games?
Looking for More Retro Goodness?
If reading over this article has left you wanting to play some retro games with or without your arcade stick, you’re probably not alone. Fortunately, now is a great time to be interested in retro games because there are so many great collections.
Read next:Why we prefer retro games over modern games
