These Budget-Friendly Arcade Cabinets Are Perfect Holiday Gifts

As a seasoned gamer with decades of arcade and console gaming under my belt, let me tell you, these Evercade Alpha Bartop Arcades are a dream come true! The Mega Man and Street Fighter versions are perfect for any retro-gaming enthusiast like myself who wants to relive the glory days of arcade gaming. And with the option to play Evercade game cartridges on top of the pre-installed games, it’s like having an endless arcade in your living room!


Most individuals appreciate arcade cabinets, yet many find it challenging due to space or financial constraints within their homes. If this predicament resonates with you, it’s advisable to explore the extensive collection of mini arcades available. These compact devices are specifically engineered to suit desktop and countertop spaces, with some being just a few inches wide, and all of them more budget-friendly than full-size machines. They make excellent holiday gifts for enthusiasts of retro gaming, while also serving as a unique addition to your personal office, either as an eye-catching decor piece or a refreshing break from work tasks.

Whatever the case may be, plenty of mini arcades are available. Some are even on sale ahead of Black Friday, giving you a chance to cross people off your shopping list before the busy holiday season. From Tiny Arcades to Arcade1Up, here’s a look at the best mini arcades.

Tiny Arcades

These Budget-Friendly Arcade Cabinets Are Perfect Holiday Gifts

These Mini Arcades occupy minimal space, featuring microscopic 3.5-inch screens that can fit on the busiest of desks. Despite their petite dimensions, they are fully functional machines. The Atari 2600 model is particularly appealing due to its compact TV stand, Atari console, and Atari joystick. What’s more, it supports 10 games including Pac-Man and Breakout. To top it off, the Pac-Man edition boasts a stylish design with vibrant yellow color and vintage graphics.

  • Atari 2600 — $30 ($32)
  • Tetris — $28
  • Pac-Man — $30 ($33)

My Arcade

These Budget-Friendly Arcade Cabinets Are Perfect Holiday Gifts

These models are slightly bigger than the compact arcades mentioned earlier, and some even feature oversized joysticks for enhanced gameplay experience. This is particularly noticeable with the Galaga Joystick Player, allowing you to enjoy Galaga and Galaxian on a 3.2-inch color screen while providing a larger joystick that promises comfort during extended gaming sessions. Additionally, there are Micro Players available as well, which share similar size characteristics with the compact arcades.

  • Galaga Joystick Player– $40
  • Galaga Micro Player– $31 ($40)
  • Ms. Pac-Man Joystick Player — $50
  • Ms. Pac-Man Micro Player — $37
  • Pac-Man Joystick Player– $50
  • Pac-Man (40th Anniversary Micro Player) — $44
  • Space Invaders Micro Player — $60
  • Street Fighter 2 Champion Edition Micro Player — $60
  • Namco Museum Micro Player — $70
  • Data East Classics Micro Player — $87

Neo Geo Mini

These Budget-Friendly Arcade Cabinets Are Perfect Holiday Gifts

If you’re on the hunt for a compact arcade filled with fun games, take a peek at the available Neo Geo Mini arcade cabinets. A favorite option is the Neo Geo Mini International Version, which comes with 40 games preinstalled (like The King of Fighters and Metal Slug). If you prefer a more comfortable gaming experience, opt for the International Version + Gamepad Edition, which includes a full-size gamepad. Moreover, you can purchase the standalone 8BitDo Neo Geo Wireless Controller separately, as it is compatible not only with the Neo Geo Mini but also with PC and Android devices.

  • International Version (40 games) — $54 ($60)
  • International Version + Gamepad (40 games) — $86
  • International Version + 2 Gamepads (40 games) — $100 ($115)
  • MVS Mini Arcade (45 games) — $65 ($80)
  • 8BitDo Neo Geo Wireless Controller — $31 ($35)

Evercade Alpha Bartop Arcade

These Budget-Friendly Arcade Cabinets Are Perfect Holiday Gifts

If you’re looking for something more robust, take a look at the upcoming Evercade Alpha Bartop Arcade cabinets. These feature an 8-inch display and stereo speakers and come preloaded with six games each. Here’s the complete list of games:

Mega Man Alpha Bartop Arcade

  • Mega Man: The Power Battle
  • Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters
  • Carrier Air Wing
  • Final Fight
  • Knights of the Round
  • Strider

Street Fighter Alpha Bartop Arcade

  • Street Fighter 2 Champion Edition
  • Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo
  • Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo
  • Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors’ Dreams
  • Street Fighter Alpha 2
  • Street Fighter 3 Alpha 3

In addition to the built-in games, Bartop Arcade cabinets are compatible with Evercade game cartridges as well.

Preorders for Evercade Bartop Arcade cabinets, specifically the Street Fighter edition, are now live on Amazon before their release date of November 28th. However, it appears that the Street Fighter version occasionally goes out of stock, so if you can’t preorder now, remember to check back later. Both versions are compatible with third-party wired controllers and Bluetooth wireless controllers when paired with the 8BitDo Wireless USB Adapter. To minimize finger strain, think about getting the 8BitDo Pro 2 or 8BitDo SN30 Pro along with your purchase.

  • Evercade Alpha: Mega Man Bartop Arcade — $230 | Releases November 28
  • Evercade Alpha: Street Fighter Bartop Arcade — $230 | Releases November 28

Arcade1Up Countercade

These Budget-Friendly Arcade Cabinets Are Perfect Holiday Gifts

Just last month, I got my hands on two new gaming machines – the Arcade1Up Pac-Man Countercade and the Pac-Man + Galaga Countercade! These aren’t just any arcade cabinets; they are top-tier choices. Straight out of the box, you can start playing with a 7-inch color display and authentic arcade controls at your fingertips. The Pac-Man edition offers three classic games: Pac-Man, Super Pac-Man, and Pac-Mania. On the other hand, the Pac-Man + Galaga edition brings Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, and Dig Dug into the mix!

  • Pac-Man Countercade — $150
  • Pac-Man + Galaga Countercade — $150

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2024-11-06 04:09