Video Game Review: Arcade Paradise

Developer: Nosebleed

Interactive Publisher: Wired Productions

Genre: Arcade,

Simulation Reviewed For: Nintendo Switch

Also Available On: PlayStation, Xbox, PC

A good management simulator can get a player lost in tons of hours of gameplay. There is something about a solid gameplay loop and a real sense of progression that is addicting. These games are a dime a dozen on the Nintendo Switch, and there aren’t more than a handful of management simulators that are actually worth investing much time into. Arcade Paradise proves to be one of those while also delivering a fun twist: Worthwhile minigames. 

In Arcade Paradise, players take on the role of a young person who has to run a laundromat with a few arcade machines in it. As fun as a straight laundromat simulator would be, it turns out that the real moneymaker here is the arcade. Players will take their small, unassuming laundromat and turn it into a hit arcade spot. If they are successful, they will prove the haters (Most just the main character’s dad who doesn’t believe in the arcade) wrong. 

The gameplay loop is simple: Tend to the laundromat, make money off of it and the arcade games, then grow as a business. In between all of this, players will get to play the sweet arcade games as minigames. 

Even the mundane tasks like throwing out garbage are minigames, ensuring that nothing in Arcade Paradise is too monotonous. Sure, some of the experiences aren’t super fun, but there are plenty of simulation games that don’t feature minigame tasks that still have an addicting quality to them. There is plenty of variety, especially in the arcade games and the various challenges to keep Arcade Paradise engaging. 

The sense of progression is satisfying throughout Arcade Paradise. It doesn’t take too long for the arcade to grow, leading to solid pacing. Sometimes tasks that aren’t as fun as others get in the way, which does drag down the overall quality of the game. The reality is that most of the minigames are just more fun than cleaning a toilet. 

The graphics are hit and miss here. The arcade games look great, with tons of nods to the real-life games that inspired them. It’s an experience that will make older gamers feel nostalgic, even if they haven’t actually played these exact games. Unfortunately, the real world doesn’t look great. The visuals are dated, with a Surgeon Simulator kind of aesthetic. It works, but it isn’t particularly exciting to look at.

There are a few bugs and technical hiccups throughout Arcade Paradise. Bugs range from the minigames not quite working as intended to complete crashes. It could be a lot worse, and the experience is so enjoyable that players will probably be willing to tolerate this. Still, Arcade Paradise could use a little more polish. 

Despite the shortcomings, Arcade Paradise is one of the best simulator games on the Nintendo Switch. It’s worth it for the arcade games alone, so any retro gaming fan will want to check this one out.