Arcade games

Inspired by the coin-operated cabinets of old, arcade games take seconds to learn and can take weeks to master. The rules are crystal clear: avoid the obstacles, grab the points and survive as long as you can. Endless runners, brick breakers, bouncing-ball challenges, maze chases and retro space shooters are just a few of the styles you'll find here.

The beauty of the genre is how quickly a round starts and ends. That makes these games perfect for a coffee break or a short wait. If you want to climb higher on your own leaderboard, focus on rhythm rather than raw speed. Most arcade titles click once you settle into their tempo, and beating yesterday's best by a little is exactly what keeps you coming back.

Play with keyboard and mouse on a computer or with touch controls on your phone. There's no download and no sign-up, just you and a high score that's begging to be broken.