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So, you want to have your very own home arcade, but you don’t have anywhere to put it. Just a few short years ago, that would have meant… not having a home arcade. But the future is now, and there are a ton of home arcade systems that can fit on a counter, wall, or even in the palm of your hand. They range from 1:1 replicas of original cabinets–simply scaled down–to new form factors that allow for comfortable play despite a much smaller size.
The best budget-friendly mini arcades are well-constructed, include classic games, and serve as great home decor when you’re not actively playing them. We’ve also included a couple cabinets that, while not functional as games themselves, are the perfect complement to your other systems and will add that extra level of flair. They’re not completely non-functional, either, as you’ll find out they have a nice hidden feature that will actually give you more options for displaying your entire mini arcade collection.
Not all of these systems are just “mini.” A few are truly micro, capable of easily sitting on your work desk so you can get in a few minutes of playtime during your lunch break, and there’s nothing quite like putting several of them side by side to make your own diorama-style arcade. If you want to make your own tiny snack bar or tiny bathroom with marker-writing all over the walls, that is up to you. Of course, that’ll eat into your budget, which you were trying to avoid increasing by buying cheap mini arcade cabinets, but you live your own life.