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The Puzzle Genre
In puzzle games, players manipulate objects to produce the desired results. The objective might be to stack three objects of the same color together or to arrange different shapes into lines. Puzzle games, because they put the gamer right into the action, are usually considered "arcade" games as well, with notable exceptions like the"Myst" series, where solving puzzles is part of a complex narrative adventure.
Notable Puzzle Games
First and foremost is Tetris. Invented in 1984 and still available for every system, Tetris is played by arranging falling shapes into lines. This deceptively simple game play gets increasingly difficult as the shapes fall faster each time a level is passed. Games like Snood and Bust-a-Move involve popping rows of bubbles by shooting them with bubbles of the same color. Dr. Mario and Bejeweled involve creating sets of three matching objects.
The Arcade Genre
Named after video arcades, where games are played on coin-operated machines, the arcade genre offers instant gratification. A game doesn't need to be available on a coin-operated machine to earn the "arcade" description --- it simply needs to drop players right in the action with simple controls. Many games come with an "Arcade Mode" that lets players experience a more straightforward version of the game.
Notable Arcade Games
Many games available as mobile apps are actually recreations of classic arcade games. The "Block Breaker Deluxe" series is derived from "Arachnoid," where players break rows of bricks by bouncing a ball from a paddle. Countless scrolling space shooter games are indebted to the classic Space Invaders. The Street Fighter series popularized the arcade fighting genre, with other notable examples being Mortal Combat and Tekken.