5 Best Comic Book Arcade Games, Ranked

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Comic books and arcade games have always been a great match, leading to many fantastic video games over the years. While fighting games are common, there are also some excellent beat-’em-ups. We’ve compiled a list of the best arcade games based on comic books or inspired by them, ranking them by popularity, how well they were received by critics at the time, and how enjoyable they are to play. We only included the best game from each franchise, and left out titles that feature characters not originating from comics, like Marvel vs. Capcom.

5) X-Men (1992)

Man, I remember when X-Men first hit the arcades! These cabinets were huge – some even had two screens and enough controls for six players at once. It was awesome because you and all your friends could team up and beat up bad guys together. The game’s look actually came from that early X-Men pilot, Pryde of the X-Men, before the popular cartoon series really took off. It was a huge hit back then, and thankfully they ported it to home consoles and even mobile, so we can still play it today!

4) The Punisher (1993)

Released a year after X-Men, The Punisher is another exciting beat-’em-up, but with a unique gameplay style. The story follows The Punisher and Nick Fury as they try to dismantle the Kingpin’s criminal empire, battling countless enemies along the way. The Punisher is a truly fun and highly regarded game that was a big hit in arcades during the early 1990s – a testament to its quality. While the version released for the Sega Genesis didn’t fare as well, the original arcade game remained popular for years.

3) Marvel Super Heroes (1995)

We’re focusing on fighting games based on comic books, and Marvel Super Heroes from 1995 definitely deserves a spot on this list. It’s a classic fighting game, but what really sets it apart is how it integrates each character’s unique superpowers into their special moves, making the gameplay more exciting and fast-paced. The game was incredibly successful and became a huge hit in arcades for years. While X-Men: Children of the Atom is also a solid game, Marvel Super Heroes is the original and still reigns supreme. It’s been released on many consoles and continues to be a fan favorite.

2) Cadillacs and Dinosaurs (1993)

Though not a hugely famous comic, Xenozoic Tales inspired a terrific beat-’em-up arcade game in 1993. Capcom developed the game and released it alongside the Cadillacs and Dinosaurs cartoon, but the game proved far more successful. Cadillacs and Dinosaurs let up to three players battle it out using classic arcade gameplay and became a popular fixture in arcades for years, swallowing countless quarters throughout the mid-1990s.

1) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time (1991)

Many excellent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games have been released over the years. While most are based on the popular cartoon, they all started with the original independent comic books. Fans often agree that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time is the best of the bunch. Developed and published by Konami as a follow-up to the first TMNT arcade game, Turtles in Time is a classic side-scrolling beat-’em-up. The game sends the Turtles through time, battling Shredder’s forces across different eras to find their way back home. It’s a fantastic and faithful adaptation that’s been re-released on many home consoles.

What’s your all-time favorite arcade game that was inspired by a comic book? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-22 18:10