Skip to Content
Tier
Tier Your gaming journal
Get
Best games

Best Arcade games of 2005

The 13 best Arcade games released in 2005, ranked from 1,448 critic and player ratings.

The best Arcade game of 2005 is Mario Kart DS, with a critic score of 91/100 — updated November 2026.

How this ranking is built
  • Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
  • A game only enters the ranking with at least 30 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
  • Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
  • Release window covered: 2005.
  • 13 games are listed on this page, carrying 1,448 ratings between them.
  • Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 13 November 2026.

Top 13

Played them? Give your tier with the + next to each game. No account needed to try — create one to keep your tiers.

01 Mario Kart DS A Mario Kart DS 2005 · 415 ratings · 1 Tier vote Mario Kart DS is the continuation of the long running racing game series that began on the Super Nintendo. It features 16 new tracks as well as 16 tracks from the previous 4 games, with each set split up into the Nitro and Retro Grand Prix respectively. Eight racers are initially available, each with two go-karts to choose from. A number of characters and additional karts are also available to unlock. New items have been added to the arsenal, including a Blooper squid that squirts ink onto the screens of other players and a Bullet Bill power up that transforms the player into a giant, fast-travelling bullet on autopilot. 91 /100
02 Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection 2005 · 56 ratings Tekken: Dark Resurrection is an updated version of Tekken 5 developed by Namco and released in arcades in 2005. It adds new characters, balance adjustments, and expanded customization options. The game retains the series’ 3D fighting mechanics, where players compete in one-on-one battles using a variety of moves and combos. It was later released on the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3 with additional content and online features. 87 /100
03 Burnout Legends Burnout Legends 2005 · 36 ratings Burnout: Legends takes the most explosive moments of the popular Burnout series of racing games, mashes them together and adds some new surprises -- giving you the best racing experience to come out for the DS. Use your car as a weapon and battle your way to the front of the pack - by taking out rivals and instigating spectacular crashes. Speed, depth and destruction are waiting for you, in the game of on-the-go automotive anarchy. 86 /100
04 Lego Star Wars: The Video Game Lego Star Wars: The Video Game 2005 · 259 ratings LEGO Star Wars blends the unique world of LEGO with the adventure of Star Wars, for unforgettable action and fun. Live the most popular moments from The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. Episodes I to III come to life -- and you can become a part of the story! Will you succumb to the dark side of the force or will you become a strong Jedi knight? Find your destiny. 80 /100
05 Dead or Alive 4 Dead or Alive 4 2005 · 39 ratings Dead or Alive 4 is a fighting game and the fourth major title in the Dead or Alive video game series, its plot following the events of the 2001 title Dead or Alive 3. Dead or Alive 4 features 22 playable characters and many multi-tiered and interactive fighting arenas. DOA4 has a number of updates in reference to previous titles. Characters' move lists have been vastly updated and four new characters have been added to the fighting roster, with returns from a couple of past characters as well. The counter system has been tightened, making the window for counters shorter and more difficult to execute, and the amount of damage that counters inflict has been changed. 80 /100
06 Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition 2005 · 60 ratings Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition is a racing game, developed by Rockstar San Diego and published by Rockstar Games, and is the third game in the Midnight Club series. Like previous installments in the series, the game is an arcade-style racer and focuses on wild, high-speed racing, rather than realistic physics and driving characteristics. The name derived from a partnership between Rockstar and DUB Magazine, which features heavily in the game in the form of DUB-sponsored races and DUB-customized vehicles as prizes. 75 /100
07 Tony Hawk's American Wasteland Tony Hawk's American Wasteland 2005 · 120 ratings You are a new skater in the city of L.A.. The main drive of the game is that your hanging around with a skating group and its leader, who also happens to be a skating legend, at their skate park in Beverly Hills called Skate Ranch. Throughout the game you must help your friends by getting skate pieces for Skate Ranch. The game marks the third reinvention of the series, with Pro Skater being the first, and Underground being the second. It comes with brand new features like the ability to change your personal appearance in game, as well as the ability to get off of the skateboard and use a BMX. For the first time all of levels are strung together into one big environment, which gets rid of loading times and menu selection. Old features were also kept like Create-a-park, which dates back to the Pro Skater series. Missions are still acquired by going up to random people or friends and accepting the mission they want you to run. The game also includes a multiplayer mode and co-op for up to 2 players for added replay value. 75 /100
08 Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3 Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3 2005 · 64 ratings NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja 3 makes leaps in the franchise with a host of “firsts” for the series. Players can now live through and be a part of all the major events that defined Story Arc 1 in Heroes History mode. Also, ninja-in-training can customize their characters with the Ultimate Jutsu which gives them that extra bit of edge during battle and allows them to earn points towards upgrading their strength, defense, chakra, agility and other special abilities. Turn playable characters into more powerful ninja of unprecedented size or summon giant creatures as allies with the new Summoning mode. In addition, NARUTO fans throughout North America can experience the game in both English and original Japanese voice over. In keeping with the tradition of the series, an exclusive and original story has players exploring the massive 3D rendered Hidden Leaf Village, participating in battle royale matches and completing more than 55 missions. The experience doesn’t stop there as tons of unlockable content are available to offer loads of replay value including movies, music and cards 70 /100
09 Juiced Juiced 2005 · 33 ratings Juiced is a racing video game for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and mobile phone. The game was delayed for release in 2004 because its original publisher, Acclaim, went bankrupt. Juice Games and Fund 4 Games retained ownership of the property and sold the game to THQ, who funded the project for a further six months of improvements. In early 2006, British software publisher Focus Multimedia re-released the PC version of Juiced at a new budget price as part of its "Essential" games series. The game offers different modes including career and arcade that present the player with challenges of increasing difficulty. The player can customize the car to suit their style and unlock new ones in arcade mode. The game features nitrous boosts, similar to that of other racing games. Juiced went to number one in the United Kingdom MCV sales charts and its first version sold 2.5 million units. 69 /100
10 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe 2005 · 41 ratings Based on the Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media film capturing the renown and beloved book series from author C.S. Lewis. Players enter the world of Narnia, a land frozen in a 100 year winter by the evil powers of the malevolent and evil White Witch. In order to end this frigid captivity and free his people, the mighty lion Aslan, true ruler of Narnia, invokes an ancient prophecy. It will become the destiny of four young siblings from our world: Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie to work together and use their unique combat skills, weaponry and abilities to defeat the Witch and her armies to save Narnia. These four unlikely heroes must battle the evil forces of the White Witch by waging war against a vast variety of creatures, including Centaurs, Minotaurs, Minoboars, Cyclops, Werewolves, Wraiths, Ankleslicers, Wolves, Satyrs, Boggles and more. 68 /100
11 Madagascar B Madagascar 2005 · 83 ratings · 1 Tier vote 66 /100
12 Crash Tag Team Racing Crash Tag Team Racing 2005 · 86 ratings 60 /100
13 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 2005 · 156 ratings 57 /100
Browse all Arcade games

Other years

Best Arcade games of 2022Best Arcade games of 2020Best Arcade games of 2019Best Arcade games of 2018Best Arcade games of 2017Best Arcade games of 2016Best Arcade games of 2015Best Arcade games of 2014Best Arcade games of 2013Best Arcade games of 2012Best Arcade games of 2011Best Arcade games of 2010

Same year, other platforms

Best PC games of 2005Best PlayStation 2 games of 2005Best Xbox games of 2005Best GameCube games of 2005Best Mac games of 2005Best Nintendo DS games of 2005Best PSP games of 2005Best Xbox 360 games of 2005

Nearby rankings

Best Arcade games of 2004Best Arcade games of 2006Best Action games of 2005Best Adventure games of 2005Best Strategy games of 2005

Catalog statistics

Most abandoned gamesMost completed games

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Arcade game of 2005?

Mario Kart DS currently tops the ranking with a score of 91/100 across 415 ratings. Ranking updated November 2026.

How is this ranking built?

Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.