Dream Arcade

I really liked the idea of this list so I decided to build my own.

Simple prompt: You get infinite money to build your dream arcade but only get to pick 25 cabinets.

Rather than include a wide variety of games for all audiences, I opted to include my "grails" - games that I would kill for in a custom arcade. No compilations here, as I'd prefer dedicated cabs given the opportunity.

The ultimate racing game. The full sized multi-cab with replica Ferarri backs is so beautiful. Perfect aesthetics
Guitar Hero is the ultimate music game, would much rather this than DDR, Taiko drums, or the japanese touchscreen stuff. Great 2p cab too!
Jambo Safari takes the NAOMI era Crazy Taxi stuff and adds a really cool lassoing mechanic. This is a super fun and inventive take on driving game and oddly comfy
Fast and Furious takes the best of the Cruis'n series and evolves it with save game progression, great boosting/drifting mechanics and a ton of shortcuts. Would pick this over other arcade racers like Cruis'n or Mario Kart
Picked this over Blitz, NBA Jam, or Dirty Pigskin Football - the pixel animation in here is amazing and it's a really fun and dynamic arcade sports game full of soul
The ultimate fighting game, 'nuff said.

Had to cut Jojo's Venture, Darkstalkers, and Muscle Bomber 2 - when you have 3rd strike you don't need much else.
the light gun game
The ultimate arcade twin stick shooter
This is my favorite vector game, the real thing needs to be seen
Moreso than golden tee, this is the best arcade golf game and one of the best of the Neo Geo
I love Monkey Ball and the weird banana controller
A weird pick, I know, but I'm a sucker for trackball sports games and the bags game from Intelligent Technologies is really cool and unique
Early Konami Boxing game with gimmick glove controllers? Count me in
One of the most fun multiplayer vs arcade games out there
This is such a great arcade party game, the minigames are varied and fun
Proto-smash bros, an incredibly stylish and strange fighter. The items are great
Sinistar is so metal man. Love the sense of speed and momentum with this one
It's so cool that this has a gamecube memory card slot built in
Maybe an odd choice for light-gun games over Time Crisis and House of the Dead but I find the early 00s models and theming here really fun
The ski controllers are really unique and make for a really exciting game
had to include another Dreamcast / NAOMI machine - Power Stone is probably the best arcade 3d fighter out there.
Picked Dolphin Blue over Metal Slug - may be sacrilege to some but this Atomiswave game is really really fun
Needed a Midway game here and tbh I prefer the classic wrestling silliness here over Mortal Kombat. Similar charms

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