Arcade Archives
is a series of emulated arcade games developed and published by Hamster Corporation. A sub-series called focuses on re-releasing SNK's Neo Geo titles in their original MVS arcade format, unlike many services that attempt to emulate the console versions. Individual games are released in a weekly format.
History
Hamster Corporation was formed in 1999 by alumni of the video game division of Toshiba EMI. The company previously released a similar series, Oretachi Gēsen Zoku, which was released only in Japan for the PlayStation 2, while acquiring the rights to the intellectual property of various defunct video game developers, such as Nichibutsu in March 2014, UPL in May 2016, NMK in June 2017, Video System in March 2018, Allumer in February 2023, and Athena in September 2023. Development is handled at Hamster's various offices, with emulators being developed by a group of Hudson Soft alumni at Sapporo, Hokkaido.Despite forming a working relationship with Nintendo by providing games for their Virtual Console service, Nintendo surprised Hamster by agreeing to license their arcade games for the series, on the condition they remain exclusive to the Nintendo Switch. This included Sky Skipper, which was never released formally outside Japan save for a licensed Atari 2600 release by Parker Brothers; Hamster was granted permission to copy the ROM image of the game from the only surviving unmodified boardset archived at Nintendo of America.
Release
Arcade Archives was first released for the PlayStation 4 on May 15, 2014 on the PlayStation Network; Nippon Ichi Software supported development of the series during its earliest years. The Nintendo Switch version was also launched on the Nintendo eShop on March 3, 2017, initially focusing on Neo Geo games before adding other arcade games, including titles from Nintendo. It supports various system-specific features, allowing players to share screenshots and videos and compete with others for online rankings.The Xbox One version of the service, which only includes Neo Geo games, launched on February 23, 2017 on the Xbox Games Store. The Windows version of the service was launched on December 15, 2017, through the Microsoft Store and, like the Xbox One version, only includes Neo Geo games. ACA Neo Geo games were released on iOS and Android by SNK on November 30, 2021.
In May 2024, Hamster announced for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Main features of standard ACA 2 Neo Geo games include Time Attack and Network modes. Users who previously purchased ACA Neo Geo titles on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One receive a discount on the purchase of ACA 2 Neo Geo titles. ACA 2 Neo Geo debuted on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S starting February 27, 2025, with The King of Fighters '98: The Slugfest being the debut title.
During the Nintendo Direct for the Nintendo Switch 2, Hamster announced Arcade Archives 2, with the debut title, Ridge Racer, released alongside the system on launch day. Hamster confirmed on subsequent days that Arcade Archives 2 would also be available on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, also featuring Ridge Racer as a debut title; alongside a Nintendo Switch plus PlayStation 4 versions of the game confirmed as part of the original Arcade Archives. Users who bought previous titles released for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch will receive a discount for the Arcade Archives 2 versions on the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2. Its titles are released on an irregular schedule.
Games
There are currently ' games on the original Arcade Archives list, ' games on the Arcade Archives 2 list, ' games on the ACA Neo Geo list, and ' game on the ACA 2 Neo Geo list below.''Arcade Archives''
''Arcade Archives 2''
''ACA Neo Geo''
''ACA 2 Neo Geo''
Embedded compilations
These are the arcade game compilations that use the core emulators used on the Arcade Archives series, generally going under the "Powered by Arcade Archives" remark.| Title | Publisher | Games included | Release date | Platforms |
| Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection | Konami | A-Jax Gradius Gradius II Haunted Castle Salamander Scramble Thunder Cross TwinBee | WW | PlayStation 4 Xbox One Steam Nintendo Switch |
| Taito Milestones | Taito | Alpine Ski Chack'n Pop Elevator Action The Fairyland Story Front Line Halley's Comet The Ninja Warriors Qix Space Seeker Wild Western | JP WW | Nintendo Switch |
| Taito Milestones 2 | Taito | Ben Bero Beh Darius II Dino Rex Gun Frontier KiKi KaiKai The Legend of Kage Liquid Kids Metal Black The NewZealand Story Solitary Fighter | JP WW | Nintendo Switch |
| Taito Milestones 3 | Taito | Bubble Bobble Cadash Champion Wrestler Dead Connection Growl Rainbow Islands Rastan Saga Rastan Saga II Thunder Fox Warrior Blade | JP WW | Nintendo Switch |
| Taito Milestones 4 | Taito | Arkanoid Bonze Adventure Cameltry Don Doko Don Field Day Kuri Kinton The Ninja Kids Syvalion Typhoon Gal Water Ski | WW | Nintendo Switch |
| ACA Neo Geo Selection Vol. 1 | SNK | Alpha Mission II Garou: Mark of the Wolves The King of Fighters '94 Metal Slug X Riding Hero Samurai Shodown V Savage Reign Shock Troopers Top Hunter: Roddy & Cathy Top Player's Golf | JP | Nintendo Switch |
| ACA Neo Geo Selection Vol. 2 | SNK | Baseball Stars Professional Big Tournament Golf Fatal Fury 2 Ghost Pilots The King of Fighters '95 Metal Slug 4 Mutation Nation Samurai Shodown Shock Troopers 2nd Squad Stakes Winner 2 | JP | Nintendo Switch |
| ACA Neo Geo Selection Vol. 3 | SNK | 3 Count Bout Baseball Stars 2 Blazing Star Fatal Fury: King of Fighters The King of Fighters '96 Last Resort Ninja Combat Samurai Shodown III Sengoku World Heroes Perfect | JP | Nintendo Switch |
| ACA Neo Geo Selection Vol. 4 | SNK | Art of Fighting 3 The King of Fighters 2000 The Last Blade Metal Slug Neo Geo Cup '98: The Road to the Victory Ninja Commando Pulstar Puzzled Ragnagard The Super Spy | JP | Nintendo Switch |
| ACA Neo Geo Selection Vol. 5 | SNK | Aero Fighters 2 Aggressors of Dark Kombat Art of Fighting 2 Burning Fight Cyber-Lip The King of Fighters 2002: Challenge to Ultimate Battle Real Bout Fatal Fury Super Sidekicks Thrash Rally Twinkle Star Sprites | JP | Nintendo Switch |
| ACA Neo Geo Selection Vol. 6 | SNK | Aero Fighters 3 Football Frenzy The King of Fighters '98: The Slugfest The Last Blade 2 Over Top Real Bout Fatal Fury Special Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa's Revenge Sengoku 3 The Ultimate 11: SNK Football Championship Zed Blade | JP | Nintendo Switch |
| ACA Neo Geo Selection Vol. 7 | SNK | Fatal Fury Special The King of Fighters 2003 King of the Monsters 2: The Next Thing Metal Slug 5 Pleasure Goal: 5 on 5 Mini Soccer Power Spikes II Prehistoric Isle 2 Puzzle Bobble World Heroes 2 ZuPaPa! | JP | Nintendo Switch |
| ACA Neo Geo Selection Vol. 8 | SNK | Art of Fighting Blue's Journey Crossed Swords The King of Fighters '99: Millennium Battle Kizuna Encounter: Super Tag Battle Metal Slug 2 NAM-1975 Puzzle Bobble 2 Super Sidekicks 2: The World Championship World Heroes 2 Jet | JP | Nintendo Switch |
| ACA Neo Geo Selection Vol. 9 | SNK | Fatal Fury 3: Road to the Final Victory Karnov's Revenge The King of Fighters 2001 King of the Monsters Magical Drop II Magician Lord Samurai Shodown II Street Hoop Super Sidekicks 3: The Next Glory World Heroes | JP | Nintendo Switch |
| ACA Neo Geo Selection Vol. 10 | SNK | The King of Fighters '97 Magical Drop III Metal Slug 3 Ninja Master's: Haō Ninpō Chō Pop 'n Bounce Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers Samurai Shodown V Special Sengoku 2 Stakes Winner Super Baseball 2020 | JP | Nintendo Switch |