Underrated games...

[Sayo Sayo]

In spite of its strange name, HotDog Storm is one of the most entertaining arcade shmups that I've played in these past few months, well worth giving a shot.

 

[Orclease]

Strike Force by Midway. It was a more modern take on defender and to my knowledge it is arcade locked and never got a home port.

 

[Sayo Sayo]

Strike Force by Midway. It was a more modern take on defender and to my knowledge it is arcade locked and never got a home port.

I love how all Williams and Midway titles had a very distinctive look that you could instantly make out as their games.

 

[Stingy Perry Stingy Perry]

This one didn’t have a home console release and it was overshadowed by its spin-off/sequel Cyberbots

 

[G.L.a.D.O.S.]

Trying to get a grip on the ever elusive world of arcade games. Guess what?
Just because you and I haven’t heard of it doesn’t mean it’s not a big deal somewhere else. People out there might be losing sleep over these titles, while we sit here in the dark, clueless. As for your burning question, well I’ve always had a soft spot for Elevator Action Returns and Dungeons & Dragons: Shadows of Mystara.
<However i don't know if the D&D game would be counted as poplure or not, i don't know the fan-base for it.>

Absolutely delightful, really.
Elevator Action Returns

D&D

Edit - I almost forgot this one "Ninja Baseball Batman" it is a Strange game

 

[TinRattler]

Cabal
Blood Bros
Snow Bros
Time Killers
Karnov
Rygar
Gang wars
P.O.W

 

[Sayo Sayo]

Edit - I almost forgot this one "Ninja Baseball Batman" it is a Strange game
View attachment 117403

Ninja Baseball Batman is the shit, it has that same wacky vibe as PuLiRuLa except its probably a better game than Pulirula.

Cabal
Blood Bros
Snow Bros
Time Killers
Karnov
Rygar
Gang wars
P.O.W

Gang Wars looks pretty dope.

 

[water_kooler]

under-rated favorites:

Power Instinct
Puyo Puyo 2
Raiden DX
Thunder Force AC
WIzard Fire
Night Slashers

nobody has mentioned these yet:

Pipi & Bibi's
Lover Boy
Mahjong G-Taste
Fantasia
Ninja Baseball Bat Man
Block Out
I, Robot

 

[Sayo Sayo]

under-rated favorites:

Power Instinct
Puyo Puyo 2
Raiden DX
Thunder Force AC
WIzard Fire
Night Slashers

nobody has mentioned these yet:

Pipi & Bibi's
Lover Boy
Mahjong G-Taste
Fantasia
Ninja Baseball Bat Man
Block Out
I, Robot

I, Robot is a technical marvel for its time, not only does it feature fully 3D visuals and sampled audio but it also included a drawing minigame in the same cabinet.

I would go as far as to call this an early 3D platformer

 

[JasonBlueX]

very, very underrated pacman

 

[Bandini]

 

[Blueskunky]

Thanks for all of the suggestions yall ;)

 

[Max]

Sokonuke Taisen Game, one of my niche favorites

 

[PepThePerson]

I always liked Motocross Go, though it was never released out of arcades anywhere.

 

[DjQuick2008]

 

[TinRattler]

DJ boy

Also trying to think of a game of anyone can help
You try and hit bubbles with an arrow and they break up into smaller bubbles. Sorry it is vague that's all I can remember

 

[nobitakun]

As for your burning question, well I’ve always had a soft spot for Elevator Action Returns and Dungeons & Dragons: Shadows of Mystara.
<However i don't know if the D&D game would be counted as poplure or not, i don't know the fan-base for it.>


D&D
View attachment 117402

Edit - I almost forgot this one "Ninja Baseball Batman" it is a Strange game

I can't think on any more famous arcade game at the moment lol. Dungeons & Dragons is like saying Harry Potter or Lord of The Rings. Maybe the specific game isn't known, but the saga is.

Meanwhile, I post a totally unknown arcade game for the OP:

 

[Tetronomicon]

Not necessarily underrated/hidden gem level stuff, but I think the whole Hyper Neo-Geo 64 library is playable in MAME these days. Same with the Sega Model 1 & 2 as well. And Model 3 can be played with the Supermodel emulator pretty well too.

But if you're just asking for an actual title, I've always thought Battletoads Arcade was pretty good. Typical beat-em up like the TMNT games the franchise was effectively copying.

 

[Skunkobot]

DJ boy

Also trying to think of a game of anyone can help
You try and hit bubbles with an arrow and they break up into smaller bubbles. Sorry it is vague that's all I can remember

Sounds like Pang

Post automatically merged: Oct 8, 2025

I suggest Hammerin' Harry from Irem. Loved it as a kid.

 

[TinRattler]

Sounds like Pang
View attachment 117426

Post automatically merged: Oct 8, 2025

I suggest Hammerin' Harry from Irem. Loved it as a kid.

View attachment 117427

Thank you so much mate
Played pang once I enjoyed it but the local arcade got rid of it

 

[Rocket2049]

just a lot but i'll pick what stands out in my mind,

beat-em-up:
D&D shadow over Mystara, like, this game is practically the inspiration of Dragons Crown
Simpsons arcade, it's so good especially with 4 players.
the Punisher, about the only beat-em-up with guns you can use.
Alien vs predator
battle curcuit
armored warriors
michael jackson's moonwalker
ninja baseball bat man (if that TITLE doesn't make you look this up, idk what will LOL)
King of dragons
knights of the round



Three wonders, a capcom arcade game 3 entirely different games, mystic wanderers is like sorta metal slug contra ish, Chariot a side scrolling shooter (horizontal) and don't pull an action puzzle game

puzzle games:
battle balls
puzz loop
Columns
Mr driller (any of them), cause damn i find it super addicting in every title.
magical drop games, really unique in it's gameplay in my opinion
puzzle fighter 2 turbo, it's quite fun in versus modes, crazy chains and such.
block out, (3d tetris from top view)

Shoot-em-ups:
Ikaruga, the mechanics get wild and most unique of all shoot em ups i've seen.
radiant silvergun also, which is sorta a prequel to this.
gigawing, shootemup with reflecting bullet with your shield when the gauge is up,
gigawing 2 is imo a better game but only on dreamcast , not arcade
Varth operation thunderstorm
Un squadron, and carrier airwing, horizontal shooter with buying weapons between levels.

 

[PhrawzT]

Qix and Super Puzzle Fighter 2

 

[Deleted member 660650]

Dude it's hard to determine which arcade game is "underrated" because naturally everyone liked whatever arcade machine they found depending on their country, so until you connected to internet you would never guess X game not being popular as much as you believed it was and whatnot lol. I'll avoid the philosophical debate about which game is "underrated" and only list my favourites among "not too popular like Street Fighter and Metal Slug that everyone knows" ones:

- Zero Team

- Waku Waku 7

- Armored Warrior

- The Outfoxies

- Numan Athletics

- Armed Police Batrider

- Riding Fight

- Hoops '96

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

Many, take your pick. A lot of stuff that wasn't ported to home consoles.

You have well known stuff like Ninja Baseball Batman, Armed Police Batrider, Rave Racer, Air Combat 22, SegaSonic the Hedgehog, Daytona USA 2, and Golden Axe: Revenge of Dark Adder

Stuff like Air Duel, only remembered because they reassembled the music for Metal Slug's original trilogy. Living on the Deck being most obvious because listen to Mission 2 of Air Duel and then Living on the Deck, they are identical with parts swapped around.

And then you have Chimera Beast, an unfinished prototype of a horrifying SHMUP where you eat everything (me frl)

There's so many exclusive arcade games that making a list of it all would be exhausting

 

[NeonKnights]

This is one of my all time favorites. The Zenny, the shops, buying weapon and armor upgrades and the fair challenge make this one a stand out for me.
As far as actually underrated, probably Hologram Time Traveler. Also Blockout, at least the bgm is underrated, or maybe Gunslinger Stratos.