Aside from gaming on thebest retro game consoles, arcade cabinets are easily one of the most iconic ways to play your favorite retro games. In addition to their well-known style and format, gaming on your very own arcade cabinet captures the nostalgic feeling of playing the day away in a video arcade. Without all the quarters lost, of course.
Even if you aren’t a child of the 80s or 90s, chances are you have visited an arcade a few times throughout your life. Although many people nowadays prefer to game on one of thebest gaming consoles, such as thePlayStation 5orXbox Series X, nothing can quite beat the feeling of gaming at an arcade cabinet. Especially in the current age of digital downloads and cloud gaming, there is something about the tangible nature of arcade cabinets that appeals to gamers all over.
Arcade 1Up Mortal Kombat 2 Player Countercade
Neo Geo Mini
Big or small, one of these iconic gaming arcade cabinets is sure to make for an eye-catching addition to aretro game roomor any dedicated gamer’s living space.
Game Rant’s Picks of The Best Retro Arcade Cabinets for 2024
Legends Ultimate Arcade
The Legends Ultimate Arcade game machine is a full-sized arcade cabinet that offers unbeatable value to any fan of the classic gaming experience. This arcade cabinet comes with over 300 licensed arcade and retro console games for you to experience, including but not limited to: Space Invaders, Bubble Bobble, Asteroids, and Tron!
The Legends Ultimate Arcade Cabinet certainly carries a legendary number of retro gaming titles, as its name suggests. With over 300 licensed arcade and console games to choose from, this gaming cabinet promises hours of enjoyment that go just beyond what a classic single-game arcade cabinet can provide. Great for everyday play or hosting get-togethers, this gaming arcade cabinet comes with two sets of buttons and joysticks, so you and a friend can team up or go head-to-head at a moment’s notice.
Arcade1Up Star Wars™ Arcade Machine
The Arcade1UP Star Wars arcade cabinet is a great choice for retro gaming and Star Wars enthusiasts alike. This vintage-inspired cabinet features artwork from the original arcade cabinets, with special attention to details all throughout the cabinet. These details include a light-up marquee, and a coin slot to really channel the origins of arcade gaming. If you’re looking for an arcade not only to play but to put on display, then the Arcade1UP Star Wars machine is a great choice.
When it comes to visual quality, there is no better choice than the Arcade1UP Star Wars cabinet. This arcade cabinet greatly prioritizes invoking that video arcade aesthetic, easily adding a layer of nostalgia to any space. The Arcade1UP Star Wars cabinet features the iconic art of the 1983 Atari Star Wars game cabinet, with a custom controller to match. A light-up marquee above the 17-inch LCD monitor and a lit faux coin slot help push this gaming machine’s authentic quality.
Star Wars fans will also enjoy three classic retro gaming titles, including Atari Star Wars,Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, andStar Wars: Return of the Jediwith this iconic video arcade machine.
Marvel vs Capcom Head-to-Head Arcade Table
If you’re looking to fight head-to-head against your friends, then there is no greater choice than the Marvel vs Capcom Arcade Table. Although Marvel vs Capcom is a timeless classic that offers endless hours of fun and competitive play, this cocktail style arcade cabinet comes stocked with eight Marvel-inspired fighting and action games. These games include X-Men: COTA, X-Men vs Street Fighter, and The Punisher.
Cocktail-style arcade cabinets are a popular choice for competitive two-player gaming and split-screen action; just pull up a stool on either end of the table and get comfortable! In addition, this gaming cabinet functions as a great, low-profile way to add classic gaming to your space. Plus, it can be placed virtually anywhere, unlike upright arcade cabinets. When it comes to shopping for a cocktail-style arcade cabinet, there is no better option than the Marvel vs Capcom Head-to-Head Arcade Table.
This game machine comes with a fantastic selection of about eight action-packed Marvel games from the 80s and 90s. Feel like a superhero in X-Men: Children of the Atom, or enjoy classic beat-em-ups like The Punisher from 1993. As the name suggests, this arcade machine also comes with the original Marvel vs Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes, which is a timeless classic that promises hours of fun.
Although the Class of 81' Deluxe Arcade machine doesn’t have nearly as many titles as the Legends Ultimate cabinet, it more than makes up for it in acclaim. This arcade cabinet features a strong list of 12 classic arcade titles, many of which have become household names. Of course, Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga are some of the most notable titles, but there are other classics such as DigDug, Rolling Thunder, and The Tower of Druaga.
Many modern arcade cabinets tend to use custom artwork that mainly displays the logos of the games included, but the Class of 81' Deluxe Arcade instead prioritizes invoking a strong sense of nostalgia with it’s players. One side of the Arcade1UP Class of 81' upright cabinet features full art that is reminiscent of the original Ms. Pac-Man arcade cabinet, and the other side displays art similar to Galaga’s. When looking straight on at the arcade cabinet, one can see that the panels above and below the 17-inch LCD monitor feature artwork that is a combination of both classic titles.
If you’re after an arcade cabinet that offers an immersive video arcade experience, then the Class of 81' might be the best choice for you.
The Arcade1UP Mortal Kombat 2 Player Countercade is a great choice for gamers who don’t have enough space for a full-sized arcade cabinet wherever they are. Alternatively, those just getting into the hobby of collecting retro gaming arcades may find this countercade an attractive option because of its affordability. Great for kids and adults, this arcade comes with four classic Mortal Kombat titles, promising many hours of competitive fun.
Contrary to what some may believe, not all retro arcade cabinets have to be full-sized, large, and heavy machines to be thoroughly enjoyable. Arcade1UP proves that flawlessly with the Mortal Kombat 2 Player Countercade. As the name suggests, this compact arcade cabinet removes the need for a big and bulky stand in favor of a design that sits nicely on a desk, table, or countertop. Although a bit smaller than the standard full-sized cabinet, this compact arcade cabinet still allows enough room for two adults to comfortably play side by side. The display and controls are about half the size of a standard arcade machine, with an LCD monitor that measures about 8 inches.
Due to the overall design, the Mortal Kombat 2 Player Countercade is great for kids and adults alike and comes with two sets of controls for head-to-head action in a small library of Mortal Kombat games. These games include Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat II, Mortal Kombat 3, and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. If you’re someone who enjoys the fun of arcade gaming, but has a tight budget or limited space, then the Mortal Kombat 2 Player Countercade proves to be an optimal choice.
If fighting games aren’t your style, then Arcade1UP has a vast selection ofsimilarly sized arcade cabinets to choose from, all sporting different licensed classics.
The Neo Geo Mini is a tribute to the original Neo Geo arcade cabinet of the early 90s, equipped with a library of 40 classic games from the original game machine. Plus, this miniature console can be expanded upon easily with an HDMI and up to two external gamepads, making this mini arcade cabinet transform into a full-blown retro gaming console with complete ease.
If you were a fan of the original Neo Geo arcade cabinet from the early 90s, then this miniature arcade is perfect for you. The Neo Geo Mini comes preloaded with a library of 40 classic SNK games and some iconic series from the original arcade cabinet, such as King of Fighters, Fatal Fury, and Metal Slug. Even though the palm-sized Neo Geo Mini arcade is a bit too small to play co-op on the machine itself, it can actually be played on the big screen through an HDMI connection with no loss of quality or gaming performance.
The Neo Geo Mini supports two-player co-op when connected to a TV with up to twoexternal controllers, which are sold separately from the console. Additionally, you should check out Game Rant’s article aboutthe best TVs for retro gamingin order to have the best experience playing retro games on modern displays.
If you don’t prefer to play on the big screen with friends, the mini arcade itself comes with a working 3.5-inch LCD monitor and a set of controls to make gaming remotely an easy feat. Plus, the affordable price of the Neo Geo mini makes it a great choice for kids or long-time retro gaming enthusiasts.
How To Pick The Best Retro Arcade Cabinets
Whether you want to relive days past, or if you’re interested in beginning a collection of retro-inspired arcade cabinets, it can be difficult to sift through all the options in order to decide what’s best. Although building and crafting your own Raspberry Pi arcade cabinet is certainly an option that allows the most customization, it’s not an option that is easily available to everyone. So, if you’re still stuck considering the best retro arcade cabinet for you, consider the following to help make the choice an easy one:
FAQ
Q: What is the most common arcade cabinet?
Although the list of games varies based on the machine itself, the most common styles of arcade cabinets are the upright, the cocktail style or table, and the sit-down cabinets.
Q: What does an arcade cabinet cost?
Authentic retro cabinets are much harder to find and therefore are considerably more expensive than modern-day arcade cabinets, with them selling up to $5,000 or more. Modern emulator arcade cabinets, however, are much more affordable and sell for around $500-$1000.
Q: Who makes the best home arcades?
Arcade1UP, AtGames, and SNK are some of the most popular brands that specialize in making at-home arcade machines.
