2025 is Shaping Up to Be the Golden Age of Home Arcades (Again)

Why 2025 is Shaping Up to Be the Golden Age of Home Arcades (Again)

The arcade industry is having a moment, and it's not just nostalgia driving it.

With Time Crisis making its comeback, indie developers releasing pixel-perfect throwbacks, and families rediscovering the magic of side-by-side gaming, we're witnessing something special: the home arcade renaissance.

What's driving this revival? Remote work = basement game rooms getting upgrades. Families want screen time that brings them together, not apart. Quality beats quantity – people wish for fewer, better gaming experiences. Custom builds are becoming accessible (not just for the ultra-wealthy)

The numbers don't lie: Custom arcade cabinet searches are up 340% since 2023. But here's what the data doesn't show – the personal stories behind those searches. Parents want to share their childhood favorites, couples creating date night spaces. Grandparents connecting with grandkids through Street Fighter II.

At G&G Arcade, we see this every week. Customers aren't just buying cabinets – they're investing in family traditions. They're creating spaces where phones get forgotten and high-fives happen naturally.

The arcade didn't die in the '90s. It just came home.

What's your take – are we heading into a new golden age of arcade gaming? What's driving your interest in home arcade setups?