Developer: Nosebleed Interactive
Steam Deck Compatibility?: Verified
Rrp: £15.99 (Gog.com, Steam and Epic)
I’ve been mentally trying to place Arcade Paradise into a genre and the closest fit I can think of is ‘Simulator’. The problem is that it barely fits into that category. Sure, it has a lot of similarities with simulator games I’d hardly call it realistic though, but its also not overly silly like Surgeon Simulator or Goat Simulator. It’s also in part a time management game, because you have to keep loading clothes into the washing machines and dryers.
I can see you looking confused at what I just wrote “Washing machines and dryers in a game about arcades?” there is a reason for that. You see, the events of this game take place in a laundrette, one that you run. In the games story your father in his infinite wisdom (and on his yacht in the Riviera) has seen fit that you should run a shabby and rundown laundrette (fun fact, the voice actor for your father is Doug Cockle who voiced Geralt in the Witcher game series). However, on your first day you find that a back room has a few arcade cabinets with quite a lot of money in them. With the aid of your sister, you set about starting your very own secret arcade in the back of a laundrette.
What I find really interesting about this game is that every single arcade cabinet is completely playable. They’re also uhh…. heavily inspired, by classic arcade cabinets, for example Race Chaser is just Pac-Man with a GTA skin. There are a lot of arcade cabinets you’ll be able to purchase as you progress in the game, including a very basic Dance Dance Revolution machine called Cyber Dance.
I’ve barely covered much of what’s in this game, because honestly if the idea of playing a whole load of arcade style games appeals then I don’t need to say much more. If that isn’t something that interests you then I’m afraid this really won’t be your kind of game.
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