Most Arcade1Up releases these days are $500-$600 Deluxe Cabinets, but the leader in the home arcade machine market recently returned to its roots with the Classic Special Edition series. Each Classic SE retails for $334 and has 13 preloaded games. There are currently three models to choose from: Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, and Mortal Kombat II. All three have online leaderboards, and Mortal Kombat has an online multiplayer mode. The arcade sticks, buttons, dual speakers, and overall build quality aligns with Arcade1Up’s pricier options. When we first highlighted the lineup in September, Walmart was the only retailer carrying these cabinets, but now you can buy them on Amazon, too.
There are a few reasons why these are cheaper than the average machine from Arcade1Up. The Deluxe cabinets are just over 5-feet tall–ideal standing height for adults–whereas the Special Editions are just under 4-feet tall. The good news is you can get a universal Arcade1Up Riser for $59 that raises the height to 5 feet. If you don’t get the Riser, you will likely want an adjustable barstool–unless the cabinet is for kids, in which case the original height will likely be a better fit. These machines have 15.6-inch displays and regular marquees, whereas Deluxe Editions include larger, 17-inch screens and light-up marquees. Instead of a faux coin door, there’s a front panel with game logos.