Arcade Paradise Reviews

Arcade Paradise is ranked in the 63rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
6.5 / 10.0
Apr 17, 2023

Arcana of Paradise – The Tower is a decent addition to any roguelike deckbuilder fan's library. With its real-time gameplay adding tension to what is generally a slower, more tactical affair, it's a refreshing twist on the formula. The inventive combination of card-based gameplay and puzzles also incentivises experimentation in an interesting way. Unfortunately, despite its gameplay strengths and gorgeous presentation, the shallow setting and lack of sufficient encounter variety cause the experience to become repetitive after only a few hours.

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9 / 10.0
Sep 26, 2022

Arcade Paradise-a mashup business sim / retro arcade throwback-is one of those indie gems you look forward to telling other people about. If you're a fan of the '80s laser and chrome aesthetic, put on your puffy jacket and download it today.

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7 / 10.0
Sep 2, 2022

Arcade Paradise is a fantastic attempt at producing a simulation slash compilation title, but unfortunately has a few failings which stop it from being a World Warrior.  The lack of punishment should you choose to neglect the Laundromat gives the game a real half-baked feel. Beyond that, the fact there isn't any representation for key arcade genres such as Fighting Games and Rail Shooters puts a downer on anyone whose arcade experience wasn't dominated by Match 3 puzzle games and Missile Command. Arcade Paradise is still a fun title and is an excellent stepping stone to what could be a true arcade gamer's paradise. It's part simulation, part retro, and full neon-soaked good time. Sadly, it just doesn't simulate the arcade experience I had and at times feels as deep as the shallow end of the shower.

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3.5 / 5.0
Aug 29, 2022

Arcade Paradise is a fantastic management sim for those who love the genre. It may be asking a lot of players to prioritize other people’s laundry over games upfront, but the payoff is a literal heaven for those who have always wished to build their own arcade and play every game within it for free. If you enjoy a good management sim and love the idea of hopping from game to game to game as a major mechanic, Arcade Paradise is worth its weight in quarters.

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8 / 10.0
Aug 27, 2022

I had forgotten that feeling of joy mixed with curiosity related to the unexpected arrival of a new cabinet in the arcade. Arcade Paradise made me relive this. I really liked a lot of the video games, while others, despite being quite good, simply weren't my cup of tea. But if you love retro/hyper-casual genre you will surely find at least a dozen of games that you will want to keep on playing, no matter if you already completed their quests. The managerial section, despite being an original part of the game, is the least developed feature; this is a video game for players who love more action and less thinking.

Review in Italian | Read full review

A-
Aug 26, 2022

I really, really dug my time spent with Arcade Paradise, and thought the sheer variety of arcade games was pretty impressive, as was the actual amount of upgrades and story content available.

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7 / 10.0
Aug 25, 2022

There is a big collection of arcade units to acquire in the game, ranging from games that look similar to GTA but play like PAC Man, to a Frogger-style game or something like Candy Crush. Playing the games is fun but you will need to stop quite frequently to tend to your main source of income – the washing and drying. Arcade Paradise is a working simulator after all. Sure, you could play a game the whole shift and not earn any money, but then progression is slowed right down as your only income is the coin hoppers from the arcade. Balancing gaming and working is the go-to action needed to keep a decent and steady income.

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8 / 10.0
Aug 24, 2022

Arcade Paradise is an awesome management sim that shows a lot of love to the era of arcades. I really enjoyed balancing running both businesses and trying out all the different arcade games even if it got a bit repetitive at times. It’s got a lot to do, a great look, and some really good tunes and it’s highly recommended by me to check it out.

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8.5 / 10.0
Aug 23, 2022

Arcade Paradise lives up to its name by essentially being a modern plug-n-play TV compilation (remember those?) wrapped in a competent and rewarding business sim dressed up in the most garish of 90s fashion, complete with dial-up internet, Solitaire on the PC, and more turquoise tracksuits than I’d ever like to see. The collection of games on offer is massive, and the earn-buy-earn loop works well at keeping the game from becoming too stale too soon.

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6 / 10.0
Aug 21, 2022

If you're after a simulation game that's a bit different than the usual genre mainstays, then chuck Arcade Paradise on the spin cycle. But be warned, despite packing in 35+ arcade games, it's not going to give you as much depth as other simulators. The early game suffers from a repetitive game loop that is only rescued by the happy grind to unlock new games in the arcade area. A worthy way to spend some coins and kill some time, Arcade Paradise at the very least lives up to half of its name.

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7 / 10.0
Aug 18, 2022

Arcade Paradise might be a great game if you have a huge soft spot for the arcade era and doesn’t mind a very superficial management game. Although for me — someone who lived largely detached from that universe — it felt like a chore.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

Aug 18, 2022

At WASD I thought this would be a game to look out for and I'm glad to have been proven right. Arcade Paradise is a masterpiece of how to mix both the simulation and retro genres together and not loose the vital elements. I can't put it down and for that reason, I award Arcade Paradise the Thumb Culture Platinum Award!

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Recommended
Aug 18, 2022

Arcade Paradise is fun for management sim players, arcade cabinet lovers, or even new players.The sim management gameplay is simple and light, the cabinets are all fun with natural progression, and the 90s nostalgia, while only effective for some, is spot on.

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8 / 10
Aug 15, 2022

A clever management sim that pays homage to both the arcades of the 1990s and the exquisite drudgery of teenage jobs.

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BaziCenter
Amin Bala Zadeh
Top Critic
6 / 10
Aug 14, 2022

Arcade Paradise is a very unique game built for a very unique audience, and the fact that it can't keep a steady gameplay rhythm throughout makes it even more unlikely to please just any body. But for those who grew up when Arcade machines were dominating the entertainment industry, it will be a great experience to run and develop an Arcade store.

Review in Persian | Read full review

8.1 / 10.0
Aug 12, 2022

If you have nostalgia for the classic arcades of the 80s and early 90s the chance to run one of your own is tempting...

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9 / 10.0
Aug 12, 2022

Arcade Paradise is an amazing arcade management simulator that lets you not only manage, but also play a wide range of machines. Despite its somewhat repetitive routine at first, the thrill of building your dream arcade little by little and being able to play it and enjoy it with customers in a nostalgic setting is incredible. This game is a must for lovers of classic arcades and 1990s nostalgia.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

Recommended
Aug 12, 2022

What a thing. Arcade Paradise made me think of Outrun and GTA and Mr Driller, and also my own working life in my teens as a dishwasher and a double-glazing salesperson, sure. But it also made me think of those mazes tiled on the walls of Warren Street tube. Warren Street! Get it? Little puzzles made to be solved between trains, but tricky enough to encourage you to miss your train in the first place. Then you solve the maze and you're off into a wider maze of the underground network. And maybe, who knows, there's a maze beyond that too.

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Liked-a-lot
Aug 12, 2022

Arcade Paradise was quite a nice surprise for me. Trying one of these simulators can often feel like a roll of the dice. Not only that these types of games feel very marmite to gamers, some will love them some will hate them. A few glitches and bugs hold the game back from two thumbs up. However, there is something to be said for a game that turns tedious chores into something entertaining. I loved running the laundromat probably more than one should. But setting that aside the wide variety of arcade games to play alone in this experience is better than some retro collections available out there. 90s kid or not I found plenty to love in Arcade Paradise and see myself continuing to play it in the future.

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7.5 / 10.0
Aug 11, 2022

Arcade Paradise is practically a matryoshka, because within a superstructure of management inspiration it inserts many different experiences, both on the playful and purely artistic front.

Review in Italian | Read full review