I’ve been into beat ’em ups like Streets of Rage 4, Sifu, and TMNT lately, plus I grabbed Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater during a sale. These games can be finished pretty quickly, but truly mastering them takes a lot more time and skill. I’m looking for games with that arcade vibe where you don’t just finish the campaign, but can really hone your skills and improve over time. Any recommendations for games that fit that mastery-over-completion feel? Thanks!
5 Answers
You might want to check out some classic and modern arcade-style shooters, like Ikaruga, Radiant Silvergun, or newer bullet hell games like Ultrakill. They all have that “master the patterns and timing” feel, where beating the game barely scratches the surface of true mastery. Plus, games like Ultrakill throw in brutal challenge modes that really push your skills to the max.
If you want real skill growth with an arcade vibe, fighting games like Street Fighter 6, Mortal Kombat, or Virtua Fighter 4 are unbeatable. They’re easy to pick up but take forever to master, especially with all the combos, counters, and timing. Plus the competitive scene means there’s always someone better — perfect for constant improvement.
Another great pick is the Monster Hunter series. You can breeze through on easy modes, but if you really want to master a weapon and learn monster behaviors, it’s a deep grind with tons of arcade-style timing and decision-making. Newer titles like Monster Hunter World or Rise even add fresh mechanics to keep you hooked.
For an arcade feel mixed with mastery, rhythm games like Hi-Fi Rush or Geometry Dash are a blast. They’re incredibly skill-based and every tiny timing improvement counts. Or if you’re into precision platforming with tons of challenges, Celeste is insane for mastering level sequences and movement.
I hadn’t really thought about rhythm or platformers, but those sound right up my alley. I’ll give Celeste a shot for sure.
If you’re craving deep combo-based action, the Devil May Cry series is amazing. The games let you mess around with a bunch of weapons and stylish moves, and mastering those combos takes a lot of time. Same goes for other PlatinumGames titles like Bayonetta or Astral Chain, which are all about getting better and chaining cool attacks.
Yeah, I’ve heard DMC and Bayonetta have an insane skill ceiling. I’ll definitely check them out since I love that comboy style.
Oh cool, I didn’t know about Ultrakill. Bullet hell games seem perfect for what I’m after.