You Can Now Play Classic Arcade Games for Free Right In Your Browser

Playing video games can be a great way to unwind. From fast-paced first-person shooters to role-playing and strategic games that take hours just to get started with, there’s an endless variety of options out there. But while modern games can be fun (there’s a reason why so many people are obsessed with Animal Crossing, after all), many people’s best—or at the very least earliest—gaming memories stem from playing arcade classics. 

Unfortunately, with the way things are going right now, getting to a coin-operated arcade isn’t really possible (or safe). So unless you happen to have an arcade machine at home, the Internet Arcade might be the next best thing for the time being.

The Internet Arcade hosts original versions of coin-operated arcade games that date back to the 1970s and through to the early 2000s. All games on the site are free to play right from your browser. Press “5” to insert a virtual coin, choose a “single-player” game and get ready to take a trip down memory lane (or just have some fun). The site also has tons of trivia and information on the games. You can even learn about the systems the games were originally developed for.

The game collection ranges from early “bronze-age” video games from the dawn of gaming, with black and white screens and simple sounds, through to large-scale games containing digitized voices, images, and music. 

One of my favorites is the 1985 arcade classic Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. This game, which is based on the 1984 film of the same name, allows you to play as Indiana Jones (complete with his famous whip) as he tries to rescue kidnapped children from a sinister cult. This 1980s arcade game even has actual digitized voice clips of Harrison Ford. It’s also a good reminder that you don’t necessarily need next-generation graphics or high-end hardware to have a fun gaming experience. 

So if you’re stuck inside and looking for a new-but-old-school gaming experience that doesn’t require purchasing a games console, why not get together some virtual change and revisit a few arcade classics.