The Best Arcade Light Gun Games (to Download and Play)

To play the classic light gun arcade games, you don't need much, as long as you're okay with replacing the physical light gun with the classic and beloved mouse that gives us so much pleasure day after day. It's not nearly the same experience, but it's more than enough to replay those masterpieces from the arcades of the past. In this article, we'll not only explain how to set up the mouse to work as a gun without any complications, we'll also recommend the best shooting games for arcade, complete with a download link!

It's true that MAME Plus is quite easy to configure. It's also true that if you don't know the program beforehand, it can seem a bit arcane, especially when it comes to configuring and calibrating light guns. So, to keep you from suffering even a tiny bit of stress, we're going to make it simple. To enjoy every single game on this list, follow the step-by-step instructions. If MAME's configuration has no secrets for you, skip this part and head straight down for the recommendations, but don't forget to download the ROM pack with all the games on the list.

Setting Up the Mouse in MAME Plus

• Download MAME Plus
• Install MAME Plus
• In the program's root folder, create a folder named "roms"
• Download the ROMs from this link, extract the zips, and put them inside the newly created roms folder.
• From the emulator, associate the roms folder from "Options --> Directories"
• Click on "Available" and press F5. Wait for it to finish searching and associating the ROMs.
• While in "Available" you'll only see the ROMs you have loaded
• Right-click on each of the ROM names and go to "Properties"
• Inside "Properties" go to "Controllers" and check "Enable mouse input"
• The games Lethal Enforcers and Area 51 also require you to check "Offscreen shots reload", which simulates reloading by shooting off-screen, but shooting at any of the screen edges.
• Done!

Gun Calibration

• Start Zombie Raid
• With the game running, hold F2 and press F3
• If you've done things right, you should be inside the machine's "Service" menu
• With the left mouse button, go down to "Gun Adjust Mode" and press the 1 key (on the keyboard)
• Press 1 on the keyboard to enter "Gun Adjust".
• If you've done everything correctly, you should be in the gun calibration. Move the "crosshair" first to the bottom left (matching the crosshair set by the test) and press the left mouse button. Then do the same at the top right.
• Gun 1 is now configured. We don't care how Gun 2 aims, so confirm its calibration by just pressing the A key twice (which is the key assigned by default for shooting with the keyboard).
• To exit the "Service" and return to the game, again hold F2 and then press F3.

LAST DETAIL: the secondary button for throwing grenades (or reloading the weapon in the case of Zombie Raid) is ALT.

Recommended Games!

Okay. Now we're not beating around the bush anymore! From here on, you're on your own, friend. Alone against hordes of enemies programmed to end your life for the sake of higher revenue. These critters didn't mess around; they defended their owners' wallets with tooth and nail and grenades. Fortunately, today, with just pressing the 5 key, we feed them free coins. In your face, capitalism! Although, yes, it's true... since there's no cash bet at stake, the feeling of danger is infinitely less. One step forward...

Operation Wolf

The classic of classics, the pioneer, the legend. One of the biggest and most iconic gems of the past. Simple, raw, vibrant, and with pixelated graphics that still look great today. Playing with the mouse makes it quite easy, and you can finish it without extra credits. The problem, as always, is ammo. Don't waste shots because it could be the last thing you do. One enemy, one bullet. Bursts are only for tanks, helicopters, and other heavy enemies. Rescue the prisoners! Get congratulated by Ronald Reagan!

Beast Busters

One of my favorites. A unique game in its time, allowing up to three players in co-op. Three friends with machine guns against zombies. What could go wrong? Nothing! Absolutely nothing! Beast Busters is an Operation Wolf on steroids, a tribute to all the B-grade horror movies of its era. Zombies, mutants, werewolves, killer birds, and many (many more) zombies. A ruthless arcade that outraged wallets without shame. Pure masochism.

Revolution X

The 90s were weird, very weird, no doubt. And Revolution X was one of its prodigal sons. The Aerosmith shooting arcade, a dystopian gem where a totalitarian nation takes control of the world and the band members are leaders of the resistance. A game developed by the same psychedelic geniuses behind Terminator 2: Judment Day, another shooting classic we recommend below. Revolution X has tons of action and also many secrets (for example, at the beginning if you shoot a grenade at the left centurion, then the right centurion, and then the mirror, you take an important shortcut and gain a score multiplier). A great game, with one of the most memorable final bosses. And I could beat it with just one coin! Remember. Music is the weapon!

Zombie Raid

A "hidden gem". A game that, despite its many virtues, went rather unnoticed. Zombie Raid was played with "shotguns" instead of machine guns. To reload, you had to manipulate the barrel of the gun like a real shotgun, plunging us immediately into the action, demanding a bit more from our body than most games of its kind. It's a horror game, with classic and lethal monsters. Farmers with shotguns, werewolves, zombies, disfigured, "Frankensteins" and much more. The graphics are pixel-art style cartoon, so it looks beautiful at every step. In this game, you need to calibrate weapons. Read above how to do it.

Terminator 2: Judment Day

The shooting game that was a staple in any decent arcade. An absolute super mega classic, which earned its place not only because it's based on one of the best movies of all time, but also because it's incredibly good. Very, very good. Scene by scene, Terminator 2: Judment Day is super faithful to Cameron's film and is as explosive as its cinematic counterpart. We start in the future, infiltrating Skynet's base to travel to the past. From there on, everything you expect and more, until the final confrontation with a tough T-1000 that only dies if you shoot it while it's frozen. Arnold's one-liners make it even more irresistible.

Area 51

The most cinematic game on the list. Pure low-budget action cinema! It's about an armed raid on Area 51, a place that has suffered a security breach and is now invaded by some pretty nasty and disgusting alien monsters. ATTENTION: to play it, in addition to the provided ROM, you need the CHD file with the associated multimedia files. You can download it from Emuparadise, since it's quite heavy for me to re-upload elsewhere (519MB), but don't worry, it's virus-free and all. That CHD file must be placed in the ROMs folder loose; the emulator will detect it without problems. Enjoy!

Point Blank

Pure skill and accuracy! Because where the previous games were about shooting wildly and not dying in the attempt, in Point Blank you need precision and restraint. Three different game courses, each harder than the last, and with its own specific challenges. Tip: read each level's instructions carefully, the number of shots you have, and the target number of things to hit, otherwise you won't know which way to go.

Lethal Enforcers

Lethal Enforcers looks like it came out of a cheap 90s police series. Cardboard sets built in a studio, trite dialogues, supporting actors, hooded guys, car chases, and a finale that's a treat against an army of drug dealers at an airport. I love this game, so much so that at the time I knew by heart where and when each enemy would appear in each level (because yes, they always appear the same). Remember that for it to work well, you must check, in the ROM's properties, "Offscreen shots reload". Eat lead, copper!

Remember you can download the ROMs for all these games from this link (except for the Area 51 CHD, which you can find here). Left out were the American Laser Games, because they all have Windows ports. Also left out was Silent Hill Arcade. Honestly, I couldn't get the version circulating online to work and I didn't dare recommend it blindly. If you want to try your luck, you can download that version from here. Let me know how it goes! If you want more games to download, here are some rare ones for NES. If you want more arcades, you have two flavors to choose from: Indies and Modern.

GAME OVER