Before consoles reached homes, gaming fans had to enjoy their hobby through arcades. They were big in the 1970s and into the early 2000s. Most of these arcade games were about chasing high scores from overpowered to shooters. Early console games maintained this scoring mentality for a while, but as games evolved, so did gameplay mechanics and objectives.
Dynamic stories and more subtle gameplay ideas were introduced. So the idea of going for high scores is not so widely available in modern games. However, there are still plenty of new and old games playable on modern consoles for score lovers, and this mix should satisfy all types.
Tetris effect
A classic reborn
Tetris effect was first introduced as a PS4 game that also supported the PSVR peripheral. It was a whole new ball game Tetris game in VR, and one that proved to be a soothing and transformative experience, whether players wanted to enjoy the music or chase the next score. Tetris Effect: Connected is a multiplayer version that was released on other consoles and offers players more ways to play. At the end of the day, all versions of the game became the highlight of the game Tetris series.
Pac-Man Championship Edition DX
Waka Waka
Pac-Man Championship Edition DX
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November 17, 2010
- ESRB
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each
Pac-Man was past his prime in the 1990s and 2000s, but Namco kept pushing him to try and recapture his former glory. Pac-Man Championship Edition DXand his predecessor Pac-Man Championship Editionfinally brought good old Pac-Man back from the dead. The gameplay was the same, although it was tweaked to give players more visceral feedback when killing Ghosts. Chasing that high score has never been so good and it was the perfect download game that was small in scope but big in delivery. Even though it's harder to play now, it's still fun to go back to.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2
He was a skater
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 is a remake of the first two games, playfully recreating what made them so iconic on platforms like the PS1. With dozens of unlockable characters and skateparks, players are instantly transported back to the late 90s and early 2000s.
Find secrets, perform tricks, grind rails and more to get high scores and become a skating legend. Now players can play even more classic Tony Hawk games over Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4but the first remake still has the better games.
Just Dance 2026
Get into the Groove
Just Dance 2026 is the latest entry in the series and a good example of how music rhythm games are great for score hunters. Just Dance 2026 is a great physical dance game that is fun and good for the body too. Players can dance to modern hits like “APT” by ROSÉ & Bruno Mars and “Azizam” by Ed Sheeran, along with classics like “All Star” by Smash Mouth and “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper. It's a game that the whole family can enjoy to see who can get the higher score. Other legacy music franchises that keep track of the score include Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, and Rock band.
Hotline Miami
Kill or be killed
Hotline Miami it's about getting perfect kills through quick missions. Players and enemies die in one hit, so players must be careful as enemies can appear at any time. Completing the perfect run will bring big points and sweaty palms as the missions can be nerve-wracking but fun in form. Whether it's with a bat, a shotgun, or something in between, players will have many ways to kill their victims in this top-down killing game, and the sequel is worth checking out as well.
Earthion
Modern SHMUP
Earthion is a return to form for fans of the shoot 'em up, or SHMUP, a genre not well established in modern times. It's an homage to classic side-scrolling shooters like Gradius or Type Rwhere players need to blast tons of ships and projectiles as they move through the controlled levels. There are some nice modern conveniences that make it accessible to the newer generation, such as difficulty levels, a health system, and several ways to upgrade beyond the typical power-ups that players might find along the way.
With slick retro visuals, an awesome soundtrack, and a short campaign with no story to get in the way, this will easily satisfy SHMUP fans and Earthion will be a great SHMUP to start with for beginners and good for score lovers.
Pizza Tower
A platform designed for fast runs
Even some modern platformers have rating systems and Pizza Tower is at the top. It's practically made for speedrunners, as the levels encourage players to move through them quickly as the timer ticks down. Players can easily go through anthropogenic foods and with practice the gameplay will become second nature. It's inspired by the Wario Land games in terms of level design, along with wacky 90s cartoons, creating a mish-mash that's as fun to play as it is to look at.
Everyone is golf
Relaxed sports game
This 2017 entry in the series placed a heavy emphasis on player-created characters and multiplayer, as players could go from field to field with others online, sort of like a race. Unfortunately, the servers were shut down in 2022, but there is still local multiplayer along with a set of single player modes.
Gaming today might not be as much fun without the ability to compare scores and stroke counts online, but Everyone is golf is still one of the coolest sports games in the world that is fun even for non-golf fans. There is still nothing better than getting the desired hole-in-one and being able to show it off.
