One of the most iconic locations in all of Hawkins is the Palace Arcade. What retro games should Stranger Things fans play?

Stranger Things wears its love for the 1980s proudly on its sleeve in more ways than just its chronological setting. The creators of the show take excruciating detail in reminding viewers just what era they are in, and they certainly don't skip on the neon, the spandex, or the outrageous hairstyles.

One of the most saturated locations in all of Hawkins is the Palace Arcade seen in the show's second season, and it comes equipped with all the 8-bit splendor an '80s kid could want. For those fans out there wanting a piece of arcade action to enjoy or simply a pastime shared by their favorite characters, the '80s are still alive and well in the realms of retro gaming.

Dungeons and Dragons has a prominent influence over all the current seasons of the show, with the town of Hawkins deal with monsters nicknamed after famous creatures from the Forgotten Realms such as the Demogorgon, Mindflayer, and Vecna. But the famous table-top game has also had a heavy hand in shaping iconic retro RPGs.

Although Final Fantasy wasn't the first RPG available on home consoles and computers, it was the first to have the visuals of a typical fantasy adventure fully realized. In an age where most RPGs were text-based, the game allowed players to create their own party of adventurers, set out on an epic quest, and watch as 8-bit battles were played out before them. There's no doubt that Will, Mike, Dustin, and Lucas would adore this title.

Dragon Quest took the framework established by the previously mentioned title and improved upon it vigorously. Not only were environments and monsters more fleshed out, but the party of adventurers the player got to control had decidedly more personality with each new installment. By the time season 4 takes place, there are currently three games in the core series.

RELATED: 10 Best New Stranger Things Characters, Ranked

Bearing similar mechanics to Final Fantasy yet providing a richer story experience with better visuals to back it up, the series has everything a group of kids obsessed with D&D would enjoy. It's only too bad Toriyama didn't design a cuddlier version of the Demogorgon.

After watching a series about people slaying vicious monsters, it's enough to make a viewer want to try their hand at the activity themselves. If kids in the '80s wanted to get their monster hunting itch scratched, the best cartridge to pick up and play was probably Castlevania.

Before the invention of the Castlevania Netflix series, the Belmont clan was taking on the forces of Dracula in full 8-bit glory on the original NES. Although players will find no Demogorgons, Mindflayers, or other creatures of the Upside Down, they will have their hands full of werewolves, zombies, and other classic cinematic creatures.

The Palace Arcade is home to several different classic cabinets seen across the nation in other gaming galleries and pizza parlors. Before Nintendo was king, the biggest name in the gaming industry was arguably Atari. Few arcades would be complete without the inclusion of this bug blasting title.

Next to Pong, Centipede is probably the most recognizable game in the original Atari library. Its simple yet addicting formula is easy to pick up yet hard to master, especially with the titular bug getting longer and faster with each ascending level. Some serious button mashing is definitely required to conquer this game.

Another game featured in the Palace is Tempest.  At the time, Tempest was the stepping stone meant to launch Atari into the next generation of gamers, focusing on a three-dimensional playing field instead of a vertical or a horizontal one. While it was ultimately something of a last hurrah, that's no denying it isn't an enjoyable and psychedelic title.

RELATED: 10 Horror Movies To Watch After Stranger Things Season 4 Vol.1

Described by some as a take on Space Invaders, Tempest had players blasting away geometric enemies climbing down variously shaped tunnels. A basic descriptor, but it made for addicting and challenging gameplay that rocked many arcades for years.

This somewhat basic title is one of the cornerstones on which arcade games are built. One of the first iconic space shooters, the game is the living definition of the term "simple yet effective."  All the player has to do to survive a round of Asteroids is blast away space rocks that come hurtling toward them without getting crunched themselves.

Although it lacks the aliens, incoming projectiles, and other trimmings and trappings the genre would be known for later, the game has a certain timeless quality. In short, sometimes the best approach is indeed the simplest and least complicated.

If there's one space shooter that nearly everyone and their brother has played, it would probably be Galaga. To put it briefly, Namco essentially took all the elements games like Space Invaders brought to the table and upgraded them significantly. The result was an instant classic that devoured tokens faster than a Demogorgon on a fresh kill.

Unlike most games in the genre that simply had players blasting away whatever monster entered their field of vision, Galaga had at least some form of strategy to clear away each screen. Throw in the feature of earning an additional spaceship to help beat back the 8-bit creatures, and the result is an arcade hit.

Although it might take a few rounds to get as good as Mad Max, players don't have to live in Hawkins to play this quirky little adventure. From the makers of games like Galaga and Pac-Man, Dig Dug has players clearing the screen of monsters and hazards deep under the ground.

RELATED: 10 Most Popular Stranger Things Cast Members, Ranked By Instagram Followers

It's not the most challenging game in the arcade, but it's certainly one of the most fun and easy to manage. There's a certain sense that the player has a slight advantage over the dopey monsters that get in their way. Even so, the fire-breathing dragons do pose a particular annoyance.

No arcade would be complete without at least one Pac-Man machine, or at least some variant. For years, Pac-Man was the face of the arcade industry, scarfing down more quarters than dots on a good day. So it makes complete and total sense that the arcade in Hawkins would have both Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man ready to play for any gang of geeks on a Saturday night.

It seems like there still hasn't been a cure for Pac-Man Fever. Next to a game like Tetris, Pac-Man is perhaps one of the most accessible arcade games players can get their mitts on. Available across a variety of consoles, and even earning a recent extensive compilation, there are plenty of ways to pick up and play this game.

Perhaps the most visually memorable title amongst the Palace Arcade's collection of games is Dragon's Lair. At the time, the game was one of the most ambitious projects that the industry had seen. With branching pathways, a familiar fantasy narrative, and animation by the legendary Don Bluth, it was simply a masterpiece of '80s gaming.

Essentially a playable animated movie, the game was of course an incredible feat for the time. With its fantasy elements and addictive nature, it makes sense that players like Lucas, Dustin, Mike, and Will would jump at the chance to play it, if only to finally reach the game's ending.

NEXT: 10 Stranger Things Side Characters With Main Character Energy

Zach Gass is a writer from East Tennessee with a love for all things Disney, Star Wars, and Marvel. When not writing for Screen Rant, Zach is an active member of his community theatre, enjoys a variety of authors including Neil Gaiman, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkein, and is a proud and active retro-gamer.