If you've ever found yourself reminiscing about the days spent at the local arcade, pumping quarters into your favorite machine, then investing in an arcade cabinet might just be the perfect way to bring that nostalgia home. Arcade cabinets aren’t just for the hardcore retro gamers, they’re for anyone who wants to capture that classic gaming experience right in their living room.
TL;DR – These are the Best Arcade Cabinet
- Taito Egret II Mini - Best Overall
- AtGames Legends Ultimate - Best Multi-Game Cabinet
- Arcade1Up Class of 81' Deluxe Arcade Game - Best Cabaret Cabinet
- Prime Arcades Cocktail Arcade Machine - Best Cocktail Cabinet
- My Arcade Data East Classics Mini Player - Best Tabletop Cabinet
- NEOGEO Mini Arcade - Best Mini Cabinet
- Tiny Arcade Q*bert - Best Tiny Cabinet
- Arcade1Up Midway Legacy - Best Fighting Cabinet
- Namco Pac-Man Pixel Bash - Best for Pac-Man
- SNK MVSX Arcade Machine - Best SNK Cabinet
These machines let you relive the glory days of gaming, with everything from iconic titles like Pac-Man and Street Fighter to lesser-known gems. Whether you’re looking to relive those childhood memories or introduce a new generation to the joys of old-school gaming, an arcade cabinet offers a unique experience that modern consoles just can’t replicate.
Best Arcade Cabinets
1. Taito Egret II Mini
Best Arcade Cabinet
The Taito Egret II Mini is one of the best tributes to the golden age of arcade gaming, bringing a piece of history into the present, without having to build your own time machine. With 40 pre-installed classic games from the late '70s to the '90s, this mini arcade machine captures the essence of what made the original Taito Egret II a staple in arcades.
With its rotatable 5-inch display, the Egret II Mini allows you to switch between horizontal and vertical screen orientations, making it perfect for both shooters and classic arcade titles. The display features a 4:3 aspect ratio and 1024x768 resolution, ensuring you can relive those classic arcade games in all their glory. Coupled with the 6-button arcade layout and an adjustable joystick, the Mini delivers an authentic arcade experience in a compact form. The beauty of this retro console, however, is that it includes some modern conveniences, too, like save states, adjustable lives, and rapid-fire options, making it easier to enjoy these classic games without the frustration of losing progress.
For those who want to expand their gaming experience, the Egret II Mini doesn't disappoint. It includes HDMI output to connect to your TV, giving you the option to enjoy these classic games on a bigger screen. The SD card slot allows for even more games to be added, ensuring that your collection can grow over time. With its integrated stereo speakers, you'll also get that classic arcade sound right out of the box. And for multiplayer action, the two USB Type-A controller ports make it easy to bring a friend along for the ride.
2. AtGames Legends Ultimate
Best Multi-Game Arcade Machine
What’s better than a big old arcade cabinet that’s packed full of games? How about one that’s packed full of games, still brings some awesome retro styling, and manages to take up a smaller footprint in your home? That’s what the AtGames Legends Ultimate manages to do. This great arcade cabinet skips that old-school CRT display for a 24-inch HD display that lets the cabinet hug your wall a bit better than a classic cabinet would.
Thankfully, you don’t need a massive cabinet to have a big game library. The AtGames Legends Ultimate arcade machine packs in 300 games from classic arcade games to Atari and Sega Genesis games alongside the range of controls you need to play them. If you ever tire of the games available directly on the machine, you can set the cabinet up to stream games from a local PC, effectively giving you access to an unlimited library.
3. Arcade1Up Class of 81' Deluxe Arcade Game
Best Cabaret Arcade Cabinet
It's easy enough to see the appeal of having a throwback arcade machine in your home, but that old technology is often big and bulky. Cabaret models keep the design a bit more on the svelte side, and that's exactly what you get with the Arcade1Up Class of 81' Deluxe Arcade Game. This model stays trim at just 19 inches wide while standing 61 inches tall for easy playing and viewing while standing or sitting on a bar stool.
The Arcade1Up Class of 81' Deluxe Arcade Game features twelve classic games, including Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga. The artwork from those two games is featured on the cabinet, along with a light-up marquee and molded coin door for a more authentic feel. A 17-inch monitor provides the perfect view of those games as you play using a large joystick and responsive buttons.
4. Prime Arcades Cocktail Arcade Machine
Best Cocktail Arcade Cabinet
Let’s face it: standing is for suckers. Back in the old days of arcades and bars that also had arcade machines in them, someone was like, “Hey what if we could set our drinks on an arcade machine and play at the same time?” And so, the magical cocktail arcade machine was born.
This particular unit from Prime Arcades includes 3,512 classic games. There's a 26-inch LED display to ensure you can see your games perfectly, while a sturdy tempered glass keeps it safe from inevitable spills. And just to make sure you’re getting the most out of your newfound freedom from the tyranny of standing, it even includes the chrome stools. But as a word of warning, this machine weighs a whopping 185 pounds.
5. My Arcade Data East Classics Mini Player
Best Tabletop Arcade Cabinet
If you’re short on floor space, there’s always the option to stick a fully functioning arcade machine on the tabletop. This unit from My Arcade features 35 titles from the Data East classic collection, including BurgerTime, Joe and Mac Returns, and Street Hoop.
The games are displayed on a 4.25” LCD screen and controls include a miniature joystick (which you can screw off for a regular D-Pad) and arcade buttons. Plus, the authentic Data East design on the cabinet is pretty rad. Big things really do come in small packages. MyArcade also has a MiniPlayer dedicated to Namco's classic collection if you'd rather play games like PacMan and Galaga.
6. NEOGEO Mini Arcade
Best Mini Arcade Cabinet
Everyone loves a bit of nostalgia, and the NEOGEO Mini Arcade takes you back in time when arcades reigned supreme, but in a much smaller form factor than the original cabinets. This little machine fits in the palm of your hand, and 40 classic games for SNK fans are built-in, including The King of Fighters '98, Metal Slug X, Samurai Shodown II, and Shock Troopers. You can also save your current game progress and load previous profiles all on the device.
The NEOGEO Mini Arcade is tiny and features a 3.5-inch LCD screen. If you want to blow up that picture on your TV, there is an emulation system that requires a mini HDMI to connect. You also have a free-moving joy stick and several buttons on the cabinet for getting into the action, though they are a bit cramped together. For less uncomfortable gameplay, there’s an optional controller that plugs into the USB-C. This extra controller is necessary if you want to play two-player games. Overall, the NEOGEO Mini Arcade is a relatively inexpensive console that offers a fun way to play some of your favorite classics.
7. Tiny Arcade Q*bert
Best Tiny Arcade Cabinet
Big, expensive arcade cabinets just won’t fit in everyone's space and budget. Thankfully, this Tiny Arcade cabinet costs under $50 and offers the same look and feel of the classics in an ultra mini form factor. Think keychain size, measuring only 3.75 x 1.75 x 1.75 inches.
But amazingly, this little wonder plays the original Q*bert on an even tinier 1.5-inch screen with full color. You even get a joystick and two buttons for gameplay, while authentic sounds really play into the nostalgia. It’ll sit nicely on your office desk as a little novelty decoration, and you don't need to let anyone else in the office know that you actually play on it when you need a quick mental break from work.
8. Arcade1Up Midway Legacy
Best Fighting Game Arcade Cabinet
Arcade 1Up's Midway Legacy Cabinet will make you nostalgic for the 90s. This baby is loaded up with twelve classic games including three Mortal Kombat games, Defender, Joust, Rampage, and Gauntlet. The machine itself is designed to look like the iconic Mortal Kombat II. The added themed riser makes it comfortable to play sitting or standing, so be ready to get sucked into the game for hours. A light-up Marquee and coin door sticker will transport you back to simpler days, but this time you won't be spending your allowance on quarters or worrying about someone stealing your machine.
Priced under $500, you get two sets of robust controls that will get you kicking, punching, blocking, and running. The real feel, full-size joysticks labeled with moves for Mortal Kombat II have a nice response and the games play just like they used. Although this unit has an LCD screen rather than CRT, there isn't any smearing or ugly ghost effects. Everything looks as crisp and colorful as the original games were down to the pixelated blood squirts. If you're ready to take a leap back in time and help Raiden defend the Earthrealm, save your quarters and grab this cabinet.
9. Namco Pac-Man Pixel Bash
Best Pac-Man Arcade Cabinet
Hey, it’s a Pac-Man party and everyone’s invited! Except for Inky, get lost Inky. While most of the cabinets on this list are manufactured by third parties using emulators to install huge numbers of classic games, this Namco Pac-Man Pixel Bash machine is pretty unique.
After all, it’s created by the legendary Namco, and if you’re familiar with Namco’s popular Namco Museum collections for consoles, this is essentially the same concept, but in between full- and cabaret-sized arcade cabinet with a 19-inch monitor. This unit comes with 32 classic titles including Pac-Man, Galaga, Dig Dug, and more in a well-made, eye-catching machine.
10. SNK MVSX Arcade Machine
Best SNK Arcade Cabinet
From the King of Fighters and Samurai Showdown to Metal Slug and Fatal Fury, these iconic arcade franchises all came from one place: SNK. So, what better way to relive those classic arcade experiences than a dedicated SNK Neo Geo machine loaded with 50 games.
The SNK MVSX Arcade Machine delivers a large batch of titles from those classic franchises, as well as Real Bout, World Heroes, Sengoku, and more. For $650, you're getting access to a classic library that'll deliver plenty of play time. And, it provides an option to play through either the arcade or the home console versions of the games. The cabinet itself offers room for you and a friend to play shoulder-to-shoulder, as it stands 57-inches tall, has a 17-inch display, and features full-size arcade controls for two players. Fortunately, you won't have to go running for quarters if you run out of lives with this cabinet.
Where to Get the Best Arcade Cabinets in the UK
How to Choose an Arcade Cabinet
Arcade cabinets come in all shapes and sizes, so you must determine what will work for your space. If you’re looking to grab a full-size, mid-size, or cabaret cabinet for the most authentic arcade feel, you’ll need a relatively large area for it to rest. They are best suited for dedicated game rooms unless you’re looking for them to be a centerpiece of your living room. The same goes for cocktail arcade cabinets, where you’re seated around a table-size gaming device.
Tabletop options or mini arcade cabinets featuring compact dimensions are better for those with less space. However, the small screen and on-the-device controls may be harder to use depending on their size. Luckily, many of these cabinets let you hook up your controller for a more enjoyable long-term gaming experience, and some even offer a port for a display like a gaming monitor or gaming TV. You’ll also find ultra-tiny, key chain-size arcade cabinets, but these are more of a fun little distraction rather than something you spend a chunk of time gaming on.
Price is another major factor in your decision. Full-size and cocktail arcade cabinets can run you thousands of dollars, while many mid-size and cabaret options hover around a wide price range and often come with risers for that full-size feel. Tabletop and mini arcade cabinets are better for those on a budget, with different models ranging between $250 to $100.
Arcade cabinets have games pre-installed, and unlike the machines of yesteryear, you get more than just one or two games in the machine. However, many stick with games under the same gaming company umbrella, whether that’s Namco, SNK, Midway, etc. That means you’ll need to decide what games you want to play before seeking out a cabinet.
Of course, you can’t forget about features. How big do you want the screen? How many players? How do want the controls to feel? Those are important questions to ask. Tabletop and mini arcade cabinets are less likely to have multiplayer controls and a large display, while cabaret and full-size options generally do. But no matter what, a reliable joystick and responsive buttons are essential for enjoyable gameplay.
Arcade Cabinet FAQ
How tall is a full-size arcade cabinet?
Full-size arcade cabinets hover right around six feet tall, give or take a few inches. For most, the controls will sit at waist height, and the screen will be at or below eye level, making it easy to game without putting too much strain on your body. Cabaret and mid-size cabinets, which are more common inside homes, are shorter and more compact but usually come with some type of riser option to deliver that classic feel.
Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam
Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.
