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The best home arcade machines combine nostalgia and addictive gameplay. Like many folks of a certain age, my love of video games was born amid the bleeps and bloops of an arcade. These smoky, dark dens of gaming iniquity used to be everywhere, enticing you in with flashing marquees, simple synth melodies, and crunchy 8-bit explosions. As soon as I got my hands on a joystick and mashed a few buttons, I was hooked.
While home arcade machines will never compete with a fully fledged arcade, good arcades are few and far between nowadays unless you can manage a trip to Tokyo. You could snag one of the best retro game consoles for under the TV, but there’s something special about the controls and the artwork of a home arcade machine, and they give you a chance to play classic games with your family and friends the way the designers intended.
Are Home Arcade Machines Worth It?
Most home arcade machines are at least as expensive as the latest game consoles, sometimes far more expensive. They usually come with several games included, but they are still a considerable investment, so think carefully before you buy. Don’t get hung up on how many titles are included. It’s more important to pick machines with the games you really want. For longevity, I would take quality over quantity every time. The cabinet art is also important because these are imposing devices, and you want something you won’t get sick of looking at. Replica machines likely won’t have much resale value, and they’re tough to ship.
While emulation software is legal, playing licensed games you have not purchased is illegal. ROMs (Read Only Memory) in the context of retro gaming are digital copies of video games. If you own a physical game and rip the contents to make your own backup copy, that’s within your rights, but it is illegal to distribute ROMs. Downloading ROMs from the internet is piracy and subject to copyright infringement. Downloading a ROM for a game you physically own is considered a gray area by many, but it is strictly speaking still illegal.
Tips for Buying a Home Arcade Machine
Here are a few things to keep in mind when you go shopping for home arcade machines.
Size and placement: Home arcade machines tend to be big and heavy. Check the measurements and ensure you have a suitable space in mind. It will need a power outlet. It should also be within Wi-Fi range if it can connect to the internet, and many of these machines don’t have great Wi-Fi connectivity. Some space around the cabinet is also great for onlookers to cheer you on.
Assembly and build quality: Some home arcade machines come fully assembled, but most require some assembly. Putting these machines together can range from plugging in two wires and connecting parts to building the entire thing from boxes and bags of bits. You need several hours and plenty of space to construct some home arcade machines. It can be a good idea to enlist some help for lifting heavy boxes and connecting some parts. If you want to know what you’re in for, check out assembly videos on YouTube.
Game selection and licensing: The best home arcade machines come with some officially licensed titles onboard. Always make sure you check the list. Be aware that the line-up on some internet-connected arcade machines can change over time, as most licensing deals are for set periods, and they don’t always get renewed. If your prospective machine doesn’t have all the titles you want, make sure it has a USB port or is easy to modify so you can potentially add more games later.
Connectivity: Many home arcade machines have Wi-Fi support. This can be a double-edged sword, offering updated leaderboards, firmware, and even the ability to add new games, but also the potential that the manufacturer will remove features and games in the future. You may prefer a USB port that allows you to add the firmware updates and games you want.
Authenticity: While there’s an enthusiastic arcade machine community out there intent on recreating authentic cabinets, sometimes refurbishing original cabinets with new internals capable of playing multiple games, we focused on arcade machines you can buy off the shelf here. Some companies refurbish and sell old cabinets for an authentic arcade experience, but they are not cheap. If you’re willing to go down the rabbit hole and have deep pockets, there are tons of DIY guides online.
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Best for Most People
Arcade1Up
Pac-Man Deluxe Arcade Machine
With a relatively affordable line-up of slimmed-down cabinets dedicated to officially licensed titles like Mortal Kombat, NBA Jam, and Golden Tee, Arcade1Up’s home arcade machines are a great way to dip your toe in the scene. Nothing is more iconic and universally appealing than Pac-Man, and this cabinet packs in all the best Pac-Man titles (Pac-Man, Pac-Land, Pac-Man Plus, Super Pac-Man, Pac & Pal, and Pac-Mania), alongside a bonus handful of arcade classics like Galaxian, Galaga, Dig Dug, and Rolling Thunder. It’s enough to scratch that arcade itch for folks with a passing interest.
It takes a few hours and some patience to put this replica together, but it has a pleasing design, complete with Pac-Man artwork, fake coin slots, and a light-up marquee. The action takes place on a 17-inch color LCD screen, and you get authentic-feeling arcade controls for one. My teenage kids loved the Pac-Man arcade machine, and we spent weeks gaming turnabout on this together. It is expensive and only runs a handful of titles, but it has that old-school feel that retro consoles and gamepads lack. It also looks great in the corner of my office, and a quick blast is an ideal short break from work. Sadly, it’s not easily expandable, and if you think you might delve into the modding scene, this isn’t the best cabinet for you.
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Best Multiplayer Arcade Machine
AtGames
Legends Ultimate HD Arcade
If you want to squeeze maximum value from your home arcade machine, you may prefer something with a larger library of games. The AtGames Legends Ultimate HD (7/10, WIRED Recommends) has more than 300 titles, including Bubble Bobble, RC Pro-Am, Operation Wolf, Space Invaders, Asteroids, and Lunar Lander. It includes titles from various systems, some familiar, some obscure. There are some great games here, but there’s too much filler from the Atari 2600 for my liking.
This full-sized, wide cabinet is quick and easy to build, boasting a 24-inch horizontal LCD screen. The advantage of the size is the space for solid arcade controls so that two players can play comfortably side-by-side. We’re talking eight-way joysticks, six action buttons apiece, two 360-degree spinners (perfect for Pong and Breakout), and a full-size, premium trackball in the middle. Emulation is decent, and you can rewind the action and save progress. There is an optional subscription, though it doesn’t seem to add much, and you can unlock OTG (On The Go) to stick a USB flash drive with your own (hopefully legally acquired) games into the machine for an extra $100.
