The wait is over: Ranked Mode is live at Retro-Arcade. ? Play a supported cabinet, chase your best run, and watch your score land on a public leaderboard — automatically verified, no screenshots required. This is competitive arcade gaming the way it was always meant to be: skill on display, for everyone to see.
What ranked mode is ?
Ranked mode is a special way to play the classics where your score actually counts. Instead of a private high score that lives only on your screen, a ranked run is checked by the arcade and published to the high scores board for that game. Every entry on the leaderboard has earned its place, so the numbers you see are the numbers players really hit.
Why verified scores matter ?
Arcade high scores have always been about trust — your initials at the top of the cabinet were proof you were there. Online, that trust is harder to earn: a screenshot can be faked and a memory can be generous. Verified scores fix that. When the arcade itself vouches for every entry, the leaderboard becomes something worth chasing — a genuine, level playing field where the best run wins.
How verification works ?
Under the hood, the arcade opens a secure session when your ranked game begins and follows it the whole way through. As you play, progress is checked on the server rather than trusted from your browser, which means:
- ?? No tampering — scores are validated server-side, so a doctored browser cannot post a fake number.
- ? Only your best — the board keeps your highest verified run for each game, so a bad night never costs you your record.
- ? Public and fair — everyone competes on the same board, under the same rules.
The result is a leaderboard you can believe in. When you climb it, you have genuinely earned the spot.
Anatomy of a ranked run ?
Getting into a ranked game takes just a few steps:
- Sign in to your account — ranked runs are tied to your player name, and signing up is free.
- Open a supported cabinet from the games library.
- Choose the ranked option before you start.
- Play your best game — every point is being counted.
- Check your placement on the leaderboards when the run ends.
Reading the leaderboard ?
Each game keeps its own board, ranked from the highest verified score down. Your entry shows your player name, your best score and when you set it, and ties are broken by who got there first — so being early has its rewards. Want to know which boards are hottest right now? The arcade statistics page shows what the community is playing.
Tips for climbing the board ?
Consistency beats luck. A few classics to live by:
- ? Shooters — prioritise survival over greed; a longer run almost always beats a risky grab.
- ? Maze games — learn the patterns and plan two moves ahead of the ghosts.
- ? Everything — protect your last life, treat every credit like it matters, and study the players ranked above you.
Keep an eye on the newsstand for tournament announcements, where the competition gets serious and the boards really heat up.
Frequently asked ?
Do I need an account? Yes — ranked runs are tied to your player name, but signing up is free and quick.
Which games support ranked? A growing set of cabinets — look for the ranked option when you open a game in the library.
Does it cost anything? No. Ranked mode is free to play; Supporters simply get access to more cabinets to compete on.
Want the full collection? ?
Supporters get access to every cabinet in the arcade, which means more games to master and more boards to top. Become a Supporter to open up the whole library, and read the Behind the Cabinet page if you are curious how the verification magic actually happens.
May the steadiest joystick win. The board is wide open — go claim your spot. ?
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