Ghosts in the Machine: Weird Arcade Games You’ve Never Heard Of

5 June 2025

Ever walk into an old arcade, hear the neon hum, and feel like you're stepping into another dimension? Yeah, same here. But while most of us remember the classics—Pac-Man, Galaga, Street Fighter—there's a whole underbelly of arcade history that’s totally bizarre, slightly creepy, and often forgotten.

I’m talking about those strange, experimental, and just plain weird arcade games. You know, the ones that probably showed up for one summer, made you go “what the heck is this?”, and then disappeared forever.

Welcome to the rabbit hole, friend. Let’s dive deep into the pixelated shadows to unearth some truly oddball coin-op curiosities. These are the ghostly games hidden in the machine—stuff you’ve probably never heard of but won’t be able to forget.

What Makes an Arcade Game “Weird,” Anyway?

Alright, before we go full X-Files, let’s set the scene.

An arcade game can be considered "weird" for a bunch of reasons. Maybe it's the game mechanics, the storyline, the visuals, or even just how the cabinet looks. Some were ahead of their time. Others were downright confusing. A few might've been fever dreams brought to life by very tired developers.

But the thing they all have in common? They didn’t follow the rules.

Let’s crack open the arcade crypt and meet the misfits.

1. Polybius – The Urban Legend That Won’t Die

Alright, let’s just get this one out of the way. If you’ve spent five minutes on gaming forums or creepypasta subreddits, you've probably heard whispers about Polybius.

The Story:

Supposedly released in 1981 in Portland, Oregon, Polybius was a government experiment disguised as an arcade game. Players reported feeling dizzy, hallucinating, experiencing nightmares, and even developing amnesia. Men in black allegedly showed up to collect data from the machines.

Yeah. Wild.

The Reality:

Polybius likely never existed (at least, not officially). There’s no hard evidence of a cabinet, no photos, no ROM. Still, the myth endures. Some developers have even made modern versions of it as a kind of tribute to the legend.

Whether it’s real or a really good ghost story, Polybius earns its spot as the godfather of weird arcade folklore.

2. Sega’s Toilet Shooter – “Let’s Go Island: Lost on the Island of Tropics” (With a Twist…)

Now don't freak out—it’s not what it sounds like. Actually, no… it kind of is.

The Weird Twist:

In Japan, Sega released a urinal-based game system called “Toylet”—yes, that’s the real name. It had built-in screens and sensors to track the strength and direction of your stream. Players could engage in short mini-games like blowing wind to lift a girl’s skirt (yikes) or fighting off a snowman.

Yep. Real product. Actual game. You controlled it by peeing.

Talk about interactive entertainment, right?

While “Let’s Go Island” was a fairly standard light-gun shooter, some Toylet versions added bonus levels or tie-ins. The sheer absurdity of mixing urinals and video games is what lands this firmly in “what the heck” territory.

3. Ninja Baseball Bat Man – The Team-Up You Didn’t Know You Needed

Take four cyborg ninjas. Make them baseball-themed. Then send them to fight off evil robots and possessed sports equipment.

Sounds like a fever dream, right? Welcome to Ninja Baseball Bat Man, released in 1993 by Irem.

Gameplay:

It’s a beat-em-up, kind of like Final Fight or Streets of Rage. But way weirder. You pick from four characters like Captain Jose or Twinbats Ryno, then punch, swing, and kick your way through levels filled with baseballs from Hell.

Even the bosses are surreal—like a giant flying baseball glove that throws fire.

Why You Missed It:

It bombed in the U.S. Only a dozen or so cabinets made it stateside. But today? It’s a cult classic that’s finally getting the love it deserves from retro fans.

4. Avenging Spirit – Possession Is Not Just for Demons

Here’s a game that flips the usual arcade script. In Avenging Spirit, you play as a ghost. Yep, you’re already dead. The mob killed you, and now you’re haunting your way through enemies to rescue your kidnapped girlfriend.

Mechanics:

Instead of a typical health bar, you possess people. Need a tank-like bruiser? Jump into a thug. Want speed and agility? Take over a ninja.

It’s like Kirby meets The Exorcist.

The possession mechanic was way ahead of its time. Most players back in 1991 weren’t ready for that level of weirdness. But for gamers looking for something offbeat, Avenging Spirit is like a hidden treasure.

5. Namco’s Golly! Ghost! – Haunted House Meets Whack-a-Mole

First of all, what a name. Golly! Ghost! sounds like something your grandma would say if she saw a poltergeist.

The Game:

You peer into a cabinet shaped like a cartoon haunted house. Inside? Little animatronic ghosts pop up while the screen overlays digital targets. You shoot the ghosts with a light gun in real time.

It’s basically a mix of digital shooting and physical pop-up mechanics. Think of it like a ghost-themed Chuck E. Cheese ride with an existential crisis.

Why It’s Weird:

It blended physical props with digital gameplay—way ahead of the curve for 1990. The animation was adorable. The vibe? Pure Halloween fever dream.

6. Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker (Arcade Version)

Okay, now hear me out on this one.

You might remember Moonwalker from the Genesis. But the arcade version? It's completely bonkers.

The Plot:

You’re Michael Jackson. Bad guys have kidnapped a bunch of children (yes, awkward). So, naturally, you fight gangsters with dance moves, toss your fedora like a boomerang, and summon a robot version of yourself with a shooting star.

The Soundtrack:

Full-blown MJ hits. "Smooth Criminal" plays as you spin-kick your way through back alleys. It’s both awesome and deeply strange.

Watching a cabinet celebrate 80s pop music while throwing in disco-dance fatalities is something that needs to be experienced, not explained.

7. Boong-Ga Boong-Ga – The Game About Spanking Butts

Alright. Buckle in.

Released in 2001 by a Korean company, Boong-Ga Boong-Ga (also known as “Spank ‘Em”) was an arcade game where the main interaction involved spanking a rubber butt sticking out of the cabinet.

Yes. A physical butt.

Gameplay:

You choose a character to punish (ex: Ex-Girlfriend, Gold-digger, Gangster), then use a plastic hand to administer humiliating justice. You’re scored on enthusiasm and technique. Win, and you get a printed ranking card.

Why It’s So Weird:

Honestly, where do I begin? Still, it had a small cult following in Japan and Korea. Mostly for the meme potential.

It’s not exactly “fun” in the traditional sense, but it’s one of the most legendary WTF moments in arcade history.

8. Psychic Force – Telekinetic Battles in a Cube

Square-shaped battle arenas? Characters who float mid-air using psychic energy? Yeah, welcome to Psychic Force, one of the most unique fighting games of the 90s.

What Makes It Interesting:

Instead of traditional ground-based brawls, you fly around in a cube-shaped arena and unleash psychic attacks. The controls are tricky, and the mechanics make zero sense at first—but once you get it? You feel like an anime god.

Why It Didn’t Go Mainstream:

Definitely too niche for most arcades. Too floaty, too weird, and too flashy. But to anime fans and weird-game collectors? It’s an absolute gem.

Why Do Weird Arcade Games Matter?

These oddball creations might not have raked in the quarters like Mortal Kombat or Daytona USA, but that’s not the point.

They’re experiments. Risks. Little flashes of creative chaos in a world that often plays it safe.

They reflect the strange corners of the human imagination—stuff that didn’t fit the mainstream mold but somehow still made it into the neon-lit halls of the arcade.

And let’s be real: they’re fun to look back on. Even if you never played Boong-Ga Boong-Ga, just knowing it existed makes the world a little more interesting.

The Retro Resurrection: Why Gamers Are Digging These Up Today

Thanks to emulators, YouTube, and retro gaming forums, these ghostly games are getting a second life. People are hunting them down, restoring cabinets, and even modifying them for modern systems.

There’s something magical about firing up an arcade oddity and thinking, “How did this even exist?”

It’s like uncovering a VHS tape from the 80s with a movie no one remembers. You hit play, and for a few minutes, you're transported.

Got a Favorite Weirdo Game?

Now it’s your turn.

Have you played any strange arcade games that made you go “wait, what was that?” Maybe something with weird controls, bizarre visuals, or a plot that made no sense? Drop it in the comments, and let’s build a shrine to arcade insanity.

After all, the ghosts in the machine still whisper. Sometimes, all you have to do is listen.