Designing arcade games for competitive esports requires a careful balance of several critical factors to ensure engaging and fair gameplay. First, game mechanics must be intuitive yet deep enough to allow for skill mastery, catering to both casual and hardcore players. Balance is paramount—characters, abilities, and maps should be finely tuned to prevent dominance by any single strategy.

Additionally, player engagement hinges on fast-paced action and rewarding feedback loops, such as visual and auditory cues for achievements. The game should also support spectating features, as esports thrive on audience enjoyment. Finally, robust netcode and minimal latency are essential to maintain competitive integrity, ensuring smooth online play. By addressing these elements, developers can create arcade games that excel in the esports arena.