Multi-game arcade machine or reproduction cabinet?

This is the first choice to make, and it comes down to whether you want one game or lots of them.

A multi-game cabinet (Slimline, Deluxe and Grand) gives you thousands of games in one machine, with themed artwork on the outside. It suits a family games room where different people want to play different things.

A reproduction recreates the shape and size of one original cabinet, such as Pac-Man, Galaga, Street Fighter 2 or The Simpsons. You choose it for the cabinet as much as the game. If game count matters more to you than the cabinet itself, a multi-game machine will suit you better.

One honest note: our reproductions are brand-new cabinets built to order in the UK, not original vintage machines. If you're a collector looking for original hardware, these aren't what you're after.

Compare our retro arcade cabinets

Sizes, screens and game systems are taken from each product page. Where a size isn't published yet, message us and we'll confirm it before you order.

Retro arcade cabinet sizes: will it fit through the door?

Check this before anything else. The Deluxe 32 and Gunner 32 are 84cm wide, which is wider than most UK internal doorways. The Deluxe 27 is 74cm wide, and many internal doors are only just wider than that once they're open.

If space is tight, the Slimline 22 is the narrowest of these upright cabinets, at 59cm wide and 51cm deep, and still 160cm tall. Measure every doorway, hallway and corner on the route into the room. If anything is close, send us photos and we'll check it with you.

Which retro arcade game system should you choose?

On most multi-game cabinets you pick the game system on the product page:

• DX Saga (standard): 9,800 games from the 80s through to the mid 90s
• Alpha Max (+£95): everything on DX Saga, plus late 90s and early 2000s titles such as Marvel vs Capcom 2, Virtua Striker 2 and Crazy Taxi
• Gun Max (+£450): everything on Alpha Max, plus two recoil light guns and over 80 gun games, including House of the Dead 2, Time Crisis and Point Blank

Gun Max is offered on the Deluxe 24 Home Edition, Deluxe 27, Deluxe 32 and Grand 27, but not on the Slimline 22. The Grand 27 can also run as a dedicated machine with only the game on its artwork.

A bigger number isn't the same as more games you'll actually play. Owners on arcade forums often point out that large libraries include duplicates and console versions of arcade titles. If there are particular games you want, ask us which system has them before you order.

Retro arcade joysticks and buttons

Controls are the part of an arcade machine that wears first, so they're worth getting right. You can choose:

• Standard: unbranded 5-pin ball-top joysticks with American-style buttons
• Illuminated (+£75, or +£150 on the Grand 27): buttons that light up, with colour-cycling joysticks
• Sanwa (+£125, or +£250 on the Grand 27): competition-standard Japanese controls that respond to a lighter touch

Most Deluxe and Slimline cabinets have a flip-down control panel, so worn parts can be swapped without taking the cabinet apart.

Retro arcade machines: Home Edition or Arcade Edition?

The Deluxe 24 comes in two versions at the same price. The Arcade Edition has a working coin slot (classic style for tokens, or chrome for £1 coins) that can be switched to freeplay, plus toughened glass and a lockable control panel as standard. The Home Edition lets you choose the game system, controls and screen protection instead.

The Slimline 22 also has a working coin slot set for £1 coins, which can be switched to freeplay. For a busy pub or arcade, browse all our arcade machines, including coin-operated machines built for venues.

Four-player retro arcade machines

The Grand 27 is our four-player cabinet, based on the classic four-player cabinets of the early 90s. On a multi-game system, players 1 and 2 get six buttons each and players 3 and 4 get four. It's a big cabinet, and its exact size isn't published yet, so ask us for the measurements before you order.

Retro arcade machine delivery times

Our UK-built cabinets are made to order, and their product pages show delivery to the UK mainland in 6 weeks. If you need a machine by a particular date, tell us before you order.

Is a retro arcade machine right for you?

We don't currently sell bartop or tabletop arcade machines. If you need something smaller than the Slimline 22, a bartop from another retailer will probably suit you better. And if you want light-gun games above everything else, the Gunner 32 is built for exactly that, with more choice of gun games than the Gun Max option.

Retro arcade machine FAQs

Are reproductions the same size as the originals?

Yes. Each reproduction is built to recreate the shape and size of the original cabinet. Because of that, check your access route carefully and ask us for the measurements of the model you want.

Can I use a retro arcade machine in a pub or bar?

The Deluxe 24 Arcade Edition and Slimline 22 have working coin slots. For heavy daily use by the public, a commercial machine is usually the better choice. Tell us about your venue and we'll help you decide.

What warranty do I get?

Warranty terms are shown on each product page. For example, the Grand 27 and our reproductions list a 12-month warranty. If it isn't shown for the machine you want, ask us before ordering.

Can I change the artwork?

Many cabinets come in several themes, from Star Wars and TMNT to Street Fighter and 80s designs. If you'd like a different theme, ask us before you order.

Questions before you order?

Tell us the room, who'll be playing and the games you remember, and we'll point you to the right cabinet. Call +44 20 4634 5476, WhatsApp +44 7348 956 222, or email support@premiumpooltables.co.uk. Or go back to all arcade machines.