Arcade game developers carefully design balanced power-up systems to enhance player engagement without disrupting gameplay fairness. Here’s how they achieve it:

1. Player Testing & Feedback: Developers extensively test power-ups with players to ensure they feel rewarding but not overpowered. Adjustments are made based on real-world gameplay data.

2. Risk vs. Reward: Power-ups are often tied to challenges or limited durations, encouraging strategic use. For example, temporary invincibility may come with a cooldown period.

3. Scaling Difficulty: Power-ups are balanced against increasing difficulty levels. Stronger abilities may appear in later stages to maintain challenge progression.

4. Counterplay Options: Opponents or enemies may have ways to counteract power-ups, preventing them from dominating gameplay.

5. Resource Management: Some games limit power-ups through collectible tokens or energy systems, preventing spamming and promoting thoughtful usage.

By combining these techniques, developers create dynamic yet fair power-up systems that keep action games exciting and competitive.