The yellow family that conquered TV screens burst into gaming arcades too in 1991 – and did so with a bang. The Simpsons Arcade Game by Konami is a beat 'em up in which Homer, Marge, Bart and Lisa kick villains across Springfield to rescue the kidnapped Maggie. Just that idea alone was enough to form lines around the machine.
The gameplay is a thoroughbred brawler in the style Konami elevated to an art: four players at once, each with their own characteristic attack and animations. Homer swings his fists, Marge wields a vacuum cleaner, Bart jumps on a skateboard and Lisa spins a jump rope. Combined attacks by pairs, crowds of enemies and colorful environments turn every level into a parade of gags faithful to the show.
Konami held the license at the peak of the Simpsons' popularity, and so the game breathes the same humor as its source – from the backgrounds through the caricatured enemies to the characters' catchphrases. Visually it's one of the most faithful transfers of the cartoon style into the arcade of its time, with smooth animation and typically rich colors.
Its cultural significance is undeniable: it was one of the first big licensed arcade games built on a television phenomenon, and it showed how well an animated world suits a cooperative brawler. For a long time it remained available only in arcades and collectors' lore, before it finally received an official digital release for modern consoles years later.
Like many brawlers of the era, this one too is built to consume coins – the difficulty can be merciless even in a group. But it's precisely playing together that makes The Simpsons an experience you won't forget.
Why play: An iconic licensed brawler that combines the show's humor with splendid four-player cooperation – the perfect evening with the same old gang.
Game 53 of 258 for Arcade
