If you grew up in a country where PCs were more common than the Amiga, Atari ST, or gaming consoles in the late ’80s and early ’90s, chances are you played inferior versions of certain games and never truly experienced them as they were meant to be.
That’s because early PCs weren’t really designed for gaming—at least not until titles like Doom started taking full advantage of their hardware. (For a more technical explanation, check out the article on Pikoma.)
Of course, nowadays, you can run emulators for almost any console or computer and enjoy these versions. However, setting up emulators can be tricky, and if you don’t configure them properly, the experience may not be accurate.
There are also legal emulation services for multiple games like Antstream, but they require a stable internet connection. In my experience, they work best when you have equal upload and download speeds, which isn’t always the case with many internet providers. On top of that, the PC version available on the Epic Games Store requires a one-time license purchase of $99.
Anyway, here’s a list of 8 games you can buy from digital stores and play, regardless of your internet connection speed. The Arcade Archive versions can be found on the PSN Store and Switch’s eshop.
California Games (Switch and Steam)
This one needs no introduction—it’s a hugely popular but notoriously difficult game. Whether you’re surfing, rollerblading, or riding a BMX, every event is a challenge. That said, with its variety of mini-games, there’s always at least one you’ll get hooked on (and maybe even get good at).
The Steam collection includes all versions ever released: Atari 2600 (one of the last games for the console), Atari Lynx (Atari’s version of the Game Boy), Commodore 64, Sega Master System, NES, Mega Drive (Genesis), and DOS.
If you’re playing on Switch, you’ll have to settle for the Lynx version.
As for differences between versions: the Master System edition is generally considered the most balanced, with fair controls that won’t make you want to throw your controller. The Mega Drive version looks the best, but the controls are too slippery, and it’s missing the rollerblading event (which is frustrating anyway).
Jumpman (Steam)
Jumpman is a simple platformer that becomes more complex as you progress. It’s not revolutionary, but once you start playing, you can’t help but root for the little guy as he tries not to break his legs…
The early levels are incredibly basic, but later on, new mechanics make things more interesting.
The DOS and Commodore 64 versions are nearly identical, except the C64 version has more colors and music. If you’ve never played it or want to relive it, you can find it on Steam.
The sequel, Jumpman Junior Can be played as a part of the ColecoVision Flashback, but I never played The Version.
Ikari Warriors 3 (Consoles and Steam)
SNK is best known for Neo Geo, Metal Slug, and King of Fighters, but long before that, they had plenty of arcade hits—some of which made it to PCs and consoles.
The most well-known SNK game on PC is Ikari Warriors 3, but its DOS version is graphically and sonically inferior.
If you’re interested in playing Ikari 3 along with other SNK classics like P.O.W. or Psycho Soldier, you can find them in the SNK 40th Anniversary Collection on digital platforms.
Double Dragon (The Entire Series, PC and Steam)
Double Dragon was one of the most iconic beat-’em-ups for PC. All three games were released for DOS and were based on the arcade versions (the NES versions were quite different).
The DOS versions of Double Dragon 1 and 2 are nowhere near the legendary arcade editions. Double Dragon 3 fares slightly better, but since it’s widely considered the worst game in the series, that’s not much of a consolation…
While the arcade versions are available under Arcade Archives on consoles, the PC versions can be found in the Double Dragon Trilogy. The trilogy’s interface is clunky and slow, but if you can get past that, the emulation itself is solid.
Volfied (Arcade Archives)
Volfied is the spiritual successor to Qix. The goal is to capture sections of the board while avoiding enemies. Once you claim a certain percentage of the screen, the hidden background image is revealed, and you move on to the next level.
Taking big risks is rewarded with power-ups, and you can even trap and eliminate smaller enemies.
The DOS version of Volfied is fantastic in its own right, but playing the arcade edition on consoles is a different experience altogether. The main difference? The arcade version was designed for a vertically oriented screen, so it looks more natural.
Shinobi (Arcade Archives)
Another Sega classic that taught us the importance of throwing shurikens into enemies’ backs…
The DOS version of Shinobi is a pale shadow of the arcade original: no music, a poor color palette that makes later levels difficult to see, and choppy animation.
The Arcade Archives version is available on consoles and looks fantastic—though its color scheme might seem odd if you grew up with different versions.
OutRun (Arcade Archives, Yakuza)
No need for an introduction here—this is the most stylish racing game of the late ’80s, complete with convertibles, ocean breezes, and golden sunsets.
The DOS version, unfortunately, is a stripped-down imitation of the original, with washed-out colors and music coming from the PC Speaker.
The arcade version, however, is in a league of its own—even better than the Mega Drive edition.
As far as I know, the Arcade Archives release doesn’t support steering wheels, so if you want that feature, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Also, you can play the game in some of the Yakuza / Like a dragon / Judgement Games
The First Samurai (Steam, Consoles, Including Xbox)
This game stuck with me because of its soundtrack, though in terms of gameplay, it’s mediocre at best.
Like many other games of its time, it revolves around close-quarters combat with short-range weapons. You’ll also need to figure out how to open new paths to progress—and sometimes, it’s not clear where to go.
The First Samurai isn’t part of the Arcade Archives, but there’s a big difference between the PC and console versions.
On consoles (Search on the Digital Store), the game is part of The Samurai Collection, which oddly includes the Commodore 64 version of the first game and the Amiga version of the second. The C64 version has smoother gameplay but doesn’t hold a candle to the Amiga release.
Meanwhile, on PC, each game is sold separately. Strangely, the Steam version of The First Samurai is based on the Super Nintendo (SNES) edition, which is completely different from all others. The music is worse than even the DOS version, but the level design is significantly improved.
Instead of rambling on, here’s a full comparison of all the versions:
