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arcade video game

arcade video game

2.7
A fast game that needs quick reflexes, with short levels, simple controls and rising difficulty
  • noun
  • /ɑrˈkeɪd ˈvɪdioʊ ɡeɪm/
translation icon : videojuego de arcade
  • Many kids enjoy playing arcade video games because they are fun and easy to learn.

Examples

  • A blog dedicated to the history of arcade video games from the bronze and golden ages (1971-1984).

    Blog text (13)
  • The local arcade features a variety of arcade video games that challenge players with fast-paced action and high scores.

  • He spent hours trying to beat his friend's record on the classic arcade video game Donkey Kong.

Synonyms

video game
vsarcade video game
277 1.0

A game you play by controlling pictures on a screen

is narrower in focus with short levels simple controls and quick reflex demands
arcade game
vsarcade video game
8 3.1

A video game with short, fast levels and simple controls that gets harder

focuses more on reflex challenges and rising difficulty for high scores
viddy game
vsarcade video game
  • Slang
9.6

A game you play on a computer or game console

is more specific and neutral focusing on short reflex challenges and scoring

How Fast-Paced

arcade video game
2.7
minigame
  • Jargon
2 3.4
puzzle
610 1.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

arcade + video + game

The meaning is directly compositional: 'arcade' (games/machines in an arcade) modifies 'video game' to indicate the arcade style of video game, so a learner who knows both words can infer a game with short levels, simple controls and high-score emphasis. This noun–noun compounding is a transparent, cross-linguistic pattern rather than an idiomatic shift, making the phrase immediately understandable to B1 learners who know the constituents.

Etymology

Arcade video game comes from public game rooms called arcades, where people put coins into machines and played short, fast games. Because those machines had simple controls and a visible 'high score', today arcade video game means a fast game with 'short levels' that tests quick reactions and aims for a 'high score'.