Crossy Road Arcade Game
This Iphone/Android app was published and developed by Hipster Whale. It was released for both Google Play and Itunes in 2014.
The game is very similar to the iconic arcade game, Frogger. You play as a chicken and have to cross roads, rivers, and train tracks to get as far as possible. If you get hit by a car, train, or fall into the river you lose and have to start from the beginning.
Crossy Road has a free-to-play model. Though, there are many characters you can unlock using coins that you can either buy with real money or accumulate from playing the game.
The game can be very challenging but there is a Crossy Road guide that will help you get the high score. The guide linked also shows the similarities and differences between the version of Crossy Road in arcades and the Crossy Road phone app. The Crossy Road arcade machine version is the most different from its app version out of all of the games listed here.
Temple Run Arcade Game
Temple Run is an endless runner game that was first released on IOS in 2011. It came to Android in 2012 and Windows Phone in 2013.
Swipe the screen left or right to dodge pits and enemies.
All of these games are free-to-play with in-app purchases. There are three different color coins that can buy power-ups and upgrades.
The arcade version of this app has both the original Temple Run and the sequel. They both use a trackball to move the character. This machine was one of the first phone app arcade games to be made.
Flappy Bird Arcade Game
Flappy Bird was first released in May of 2013 and became one of the highest downloaded phone apps at the beginning of 2014. The creator removed the game from app stores in February of 2014.
There have been many clones of Flappy Bird released on Google Play and Itunes App Store that have the exact same gameplay.
The screen scrolls along while you have to tap to move the bird up to avoid pipes. It is a simple game, yet addicting. You always want to try and top your last high score.
The arcade version of Flappy Bird is similar to the original app. Though, the arcade version has 2-player mode and you hit a button to hop up instead of tapping.
Doodle Jump Arcade Game
Doodle Jump is a platforming video game that you can play on Iphone, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone, or even Xbox 360. The app was first released in 2009 starting on Itunes and was later released to these other gaming platforms.
Players control an alien creature that is constantly jumping. With phones that have accelerometers, you move the hopping character by tilting your device. There are many enemies to avoid and items to collect while you try to jump as high as you can to get a high score.
The Doodle Jump game in arcades is almost identical to the phone app, besides the fact that you cannot tilt the screen at the arcade and will need to use a lever to move left and right.
Fruit Ninja Arcade Game
Fruit Ninja was developed for many platforms, including PS4, Xbox One, and Oculus Quest. It was first released for Iphones in 2010.
This phone app arcade game plays most similarly to the original Iphone game. The arcade machine is one large touchscreen so you can swipe to cut the fruit just like on your phone.
The second arcade version of this popular phone app has three figurines of characters from the game that you can get and scan on the machine to get new powers. The figurines were to be sold by the arcade at redemption counters.
The figurines can be seen in this Fruit Ninja Arcade Machine brochure.
Is Reusing Phone App Games at the Arcade Good?
How Phone App Games at the Arcade are Bad
I like going to arcades and playing unique arcade games. It shows lack of creativity if popular phone apps are reused as arcade machines.
When I go to the arcade I want to play games that I can only play at the arcade, like skill throwing games (Down the Clown, Tailgate Toss), gun shooter games (Halo, Jurassic Park), coin pushers (Despicable Me Jelly Lab, SpongeBob), and timing games (Quik Drop, Spin-N-Win).
I can play the phone app game at home so why would I want to play it at the arcade?
The Good of These Games that came from the App Store
I can see how it is good for the arcade business because kids will already be familiar with these games and want to spend money to play them.
These apps create a new dimension in achievement and prizes. The game on your phone gives you an arbitrary number for your high score with no other reward. These arcade app game machines give you tickets which is a new kind of motivator to improve and to get a higher score.
It is also good to practice the games at home before you spend money on chips at the arcade. You can play at home so you know what the game is like and improve your skills. Then, when you go to the arcade you can win more tickets per play.
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