Best Arcade Games & Machines

Whether you grew up feeding quarters into a Street Fighter II cabinet or you're building your first home arcade today, this category has everything you need to play smarter, spend wiser, and enjoy more. Gamingweekender's Arcade Games section brings together in-depth reviews, buying guides, and skill-building tips covering home arcade cabinets, pinball machines, skee-ball machines, tabletop arcade units, and the classic titles that defined a generation of gaming.

What This Category Covers

Arcade gaming spans a surprisingly wide world — from hunting down a fully restored original cabinet to setting up a MAME system that plays thousands of classic titles from a single box. Here's a taste of what you'll find in the guides below:

• Reviews & buying guides for home arcade cabinets and tabletop units
• Tips for playing & winning at claw machines, skee-ball, and pinball
• Roundups of the best arcade games of all time — from the golden age of the eighties through the nineties boom
• Practical advice on buying a used pinball machine, including what to inspect and what to avoid
• Comparisons of restored originals versus modern multi-game units so you know which is right for your space and budget
• Setup guides for MAME emulation and multi-game systems

Buying vs. Building: Finding the Right Arcade Setup for You

One of the biggest decisions in home arcade ownership is whether to buy a turnkey machine, restore a classic, or build your own cabinet from scratch. A brand-new multi-game unit offers plug-and-play convenience and hundreds of built-in titles, but a lovingly restored Pac-Man or Galaga cabinet brings an authenticity that no reproduction can quite match. The aftermarket for restored originals has never been more active, but prices have climbed — making condition reports and inspection checklists more important than ever. Our buying guides walk you through exactly what to look for before you hand over your money.

Sharpen Your Skills at the Arcade

Arcade games reward technique just as much as reflexes. Whether you're trying to master the art of the claw machine to actually walk away with a prize, improve your skee-ball accuracy for a higher ticket count, or learn the nudge-and-tilt strategies that separate casual pinball players from serious ones, knowing the mechanics behind each game gives you a genuine edge. Our skill guides break down the strategies that work — without the gimmicks.

Pick a guide below and start leveling up your arcade game today.