Taito's brick-breaker ported to near perfection on NES. Simple, precise, addictive. The rotary controller is not essential but appreciated. A timeless game that still plays effortlessly.
Your verdict
Category
Arcade1 player3+
Description
Taito breakout game in which a paddle reflects a ball to break rows of bricks. Published by Taito, released in the USA in 1987. Movable paddle at the bottom of the screen, ball power increasing with power-ups and increasingly complex levels. Famicom port of Taito's Arkanoid arcade.
The US NTSC NES version of Taito's Arkanoid (1987), sold with the US variant of the Vaus NES controller. As in Japan the game lives by its spinner: a loose cart stays modest, while the complete NTSC set with a working NES Vaus is the real target. The local appeal rests on Arkanoid's very strong arcade presence in the States and on gameplay that stays intact only with the original paddle.
Is Arkanoid still worth playing in 2026?
The NES port of Arkanoid is one of the most precise brick-breakers on the console. Simple, readable and fiercely addictive, it transposes Taito's arcade with remarkable fidelity. Pad controls stay decent, and the famous NES Vaus paddle, when you own one, turns the experience near-arcade. The pacing suits five-minute sessions or long evenings, and the difficulty climbs with welcome precision. For arcade classics and pure-mechanic gameplay fans, still a timeless cart to bring out without hesitation today.
