Arcade game developers face the challenge of designing balanced power-ups to keep competitive games fair and engaging. Here’s how they achieve it:

1. Playtesting & Feedback: Developers conduct extensive playtesting to identify overpowered or underpowered items. Player feedback helps refine power-up effects.

2. Dynamic Scaling: Some games adjust power-up strength based on player performance, ensuring newcomers and veterans face balanced challenges.

3. Cooldown & Limitations: Timers or usage limits prevent spamming powerful abilities, maintaining strategic depth.

4. Risk vs. Reward: High-impact power-ups often come with drawbacks, encouraging thoughtful decision-making.

5. Data Analytics: Developers track in-game metrics to spot imbalances and patch them in updates.

By combining these methods, arcade games stay competitive and fun for all skill levels.