A home arcade machine puts a classic cabinet in a game room or a corner of the living room. Most are about five feet tall, with a 17 inch screen, a built-in joystick and a game list that depends on the licence. Some come as a table for two players.
The six machines below come from the listing pages and run from a Pac-Man table to a Raspberry Pi based cabinet. We have not used these machines ourselves. Game counts and features are the makers’ own.
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What to Look For
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Screen | Most use a 17 inch LCD, one uses 19.5 inches |
| Games | The count and the titles depend on the licence |
| Controls | Joystick, buttons or a trackball |
| Size | Full-size cabinets stand about five feet tall |
Specs at a Glance
| Machine | Screen and games | Controls | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcade1Up Ms. Pac-Man Class of ’81 Deluxe | 17 in LCD; 12 games | Joystick and buttons | 22.44 x 18.82 x 61 in; 81 lb; Wi-Fi leaderboards |
| Arcade1Up Mortal Kombat II Deluxe Arcade | 17 in colour screen; 14 games | Real-feel joystick and buttons | Dual speakers; Wi-Fi leaderboards |
| Arcade1Up Ms. PAC-MAN Head-to-Head Arcade Table | 17 in LCD; 12 games | 2-player joystick | 29.02 x 23.62 x 35.67 in; wood |
| Arcade1Up Rampage Joust Deluxe | 17 in screen; 14 Midway games | Joystick | Interchangeable art; Wi-Fi |
| Arcade1Up Atari Centipede Deluxe | 17 in LCD; 40 Atari games | Trackball and buttons | 23.23 x 18.5 x 61.42 in; Ultra Series |
| Iconic Arcade Street Fighter Alpha 2 XT | 19.5 in screen; 15+ Capcom games | Joystick and buttons | 9/10 scale; Raspberry Pi 5; HDMI out |
The 6 Best Home Arcade Machines
1. Arcade1Up Ms. Pac-Man Class of ’81 Deluxe
A full-size cabinet with a 17 inch display, 12 games from 1981, a light-up marquee and a faux coin door. The listing gives 61 inches tall and 81 pounds, and the maker mentions Wi-Fi leaderboards with no subscription. The specifications also list a Lightning hardware interface, which seems out of place.
Suits: a classic look. Strengths: a full-size cabinet and a marquee. Weaknesses: one spec line looks wrong. Skip it if you want a wide game library.
View Arcade1Up Ms. Pac-Man Class of 81 Deluxe Arcade on Amazon
2. Arcade1Up Mortal Kombat II Deluxe Arcade
A deluxe cabinet with 14 games, among them the first three Mortal Kombat titles, Rampage, Paperboy and Gauntlet. The maker lists a 17 inch screen, dual speakers and Wi-Fi leaderboards. The page we read did not give its dimensions.
Suits: fighting-game fans. Strengths: a 14 game set. Weaknesses: dimensions were not shown. Skip it if you prefer puzzle games.
View Arcade1Up Mortal Kombat II Deluxe Arcade on Amazon
3. Arcade1Up Ms. PAC-MAN Head-to-Head Arcade Table
A pink cocktail-style table for two players with 12 games including Galaga, Dig Dug and Mappy, a 17 inch screen and an illuminated control deck. The listing gives 35.67 inches tall and a wood build.
Suits: two players in a small space. Strengths: a compact table form. Weaknesses: it is a sit-down layout. Skip it if you want a stand-up cabinet.
View Arcade1Up Ms. PAC-MAN Head-to-Head Table on Amazon
4. Arcade1Up Rampage Joust Deluxe
A deluxe cabinet with 14 Midway games and a marquee and control deck art that swap between Rampage and Joust themes. The maker lists a 17 inch screen, Wi-Fi play and leaderboards with no subscription. The specifications mention AA batteries, so check what they power.
Suits: a changeable look. Strengths: a swap-in art set. Weaknesses: the battery line is unclear. Skip it if you want a plain cabinet.
View Arcade1Up Rampage Joust Deluxe Arcade on Amazon
5. Arcade1Up Atari Centipede Deluxe
A cabinet with 40 Atari games including Centipede, Asteroids, Crystal Castles and Missile Command, a 17 inch display and an arcade-style trackball. The listing gives 61.42 inches tall.
Suits: trackball games. Strengths: the largest game list here. Weaknesses: it is a one-player layout. Skip it if you want two players.
View Arcade1Up Atari Centipede Deluxe Arcade on Amazon
6. Iconic Arcade Street Fighter Alpha 2 XT
A 9/10 scale multiplayer cabinet with a 19.5 inch screen, a lighted marquee, more than 15 Capcom titles, Raspberry Pi 5 hardware and an HDMI output.
Suits: a bigger screen. Strengths: a larger display and HDMI out. Weaknesses: it is a different brand from the other five. Skip it if you want a full-size cabinet.
View Iconic Arcade Street Fighter Alpha 2 XT on Amazon
Care and Setup
- Allow floor space and a nearby outlet.
- Assemble with a second person.
- Connect Wi-Fi for leaderboards where offered.
- Dust the screen with a soft cloth.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring the floor space.
- Expecting every cabinet to play every game.
- Skipping the dimensions.
- Assuming the controls match your genre.
Home Arcade FAQ
Do they need Wi-Fi?
The Arcade1Up makers describe Wi-Fi features such as leaderboards, but the games themselves are built in.
Are the dimensions in every listing?
No. The Mortal Kombat II page we read did not give dimensions.
The Short Version
For a classic look, the Ms. Pac-Man cabinet. For fighting games, the Mortal Kombat II. For two players, the Head-to-Head table. For a changeable look, the Rampage Joust. For trackball, the Centipede. For a larger screen, the Street Fighter.
