Can arcades make a comeback in the UK and US?

In today’s climate, gaming is often considered a solitary experience. To the unfamiliar and uninitiated, gamers are conventionally depicted as loners on leather swivel chairs, rocking clunky headsets and shouting obscenities while shooting up faceless opponents amid a Fortnite free-for-all.

However, there was a time when gaming felt much more social and community-focused. From the 1970s through to the late ‘90s, before home consoles surged in popularity and ownership, arcades had a stranglehold on the average gamer in the US and UK. And week after week, people of all ages packed into arcade halls for hours on end, hunched over cabinets featuring favourites like Pac-Man, Sonic, Street Fighter, Donkey Kong, Crazy Taxi, and Time Crisis 2.

However, with the onset of the early 2000s, the paradigm shifted more towards individualistic gaming experiences, with the rise of the gaming PC and increasingly powerful consoles such as the PlayStation, the Xbox, the Nintendo GameCube and their respective successors leaving coin-op culture in the rearview. Although arcade culture remained popular in countries such as Japan (where this writer is currently living and has enjoyed multiple rounds of Mario Kart Arcade GP and Tekken Tag Tournament at Ikebukuro, Tokyo), in the West it became a bit more of a relic. Yet recent years have seen a genuine arcade revival on both sides of the Atlantic, largely thanks to the post-pandemic age and people wanting to get back out into the world for tangible experiences. 

The modern arcade revival taking shape

Shown by the opening of Bandai Namco Cross stores in London’s Camden and Birmingham in 2023 and last year respectively (with more expected to launch over the next five years), to the rising footfall at venues such as seaside arcades and increasing interest in hybrid “barcades” in both the UK & the US, what was once seen as a nostalgia-driven niche market has suddenly regained momentum. 

A report conducted this year by Global Industry Analysts estimated that the worldwide market for arcade gaming (with immersive VR and AR experiences included) was at $19.4 billion in 2024, and is projected to reach $21.2 billion by 2030, with North America holding the lion’s share of the marketplace at over 52.8%. As for the UK, Deep Market Insights found that the standalone arcade gaming market, driven by the free-to-play business model that allows gamers to pay an admission fee to play as many cabinets as they wish, was valued at close to $230 million last year. Their report also forecasted a growth of 4.73% between now and 2033 — a trajectory that would bring the market to around $345 million in eight years. These figures are sure to confuse those Brits and Americans who assumed arcade gaming had died in the 2000s. 

Free-to-play arcades and community access

“The resurgence of arcade culture comes from two main portions of accessibility: the arcade bar, and the free-to-play arcade,” James Srnec, owner and founder of indie F2P joint Vintage Vault Arcade in Mukwonago, Wisconsin, explains to Back Market. “Both of those business types have had a resurgence in not only the arcade game sales, but also the reproduction of parts and artwork for them.”

An avid collector of arcade and pinball machines, Srnec opened Vintage Vault Arcade just a half hour’s drive from Milwaukee in 2023 when realising he had amassed more games than his home could hold. Srnec hoped to create a gaming community space where people could step away from today’s omnipotently digital-first culture. “I believe the arcade really does make you forget about the world around you,” he says.

“I do realize that what we are offering is very good for the community because it’s just something that you can’t get anywhere else around us, and with this constant push for technological advancements, some people just prefer to stay in the past,” adding that players of all ages regularly relish the gaming nostalgia on offer. “Even though you can play a lot of these games online, there’s nothing like playing the real thing in the arcade setting. One of the best parts of my job is getting to see the younger generation really enjoy these games 30 to 40 years later.”

New games and new cabinets

On the other hand, it isn’t just the cherished classics that are driving people back to coin-op gaming. Over in New York City, Wonderville has established itself as an eclectic community gaming space featuring dozens of custom-made cabinets and original titles from indie developers such as cat-and-mouse thriller Oshi-Gokko and Killer Queen — the latter is billed as the world’s first 10-player strategy game.

“There's a community of gamers who love repairing old machines" - Mark Kleback, co-founder of Wonderville arcade in New York City.

“I’m not interested in the nostalgia of old arcade games,” says Mark Kleback, who co-founded the Brooklyn venue alongside his wife Stephanie Gross back in 2019. “Everything at Wonderville is a game from 2010 onwards, so people who grew up with arcades can play alongside people who haven't necessarily played the classics but can still appreciate a good arcade game.”

Kleback, who started building cabinets 15 years ago and teaches an arcade building class at New York University, adds that all the machines housed in Wonderville are either made by himself or colleagues. Not only does he keep a stockpile of buttons and joysticks, he also keeps equipment such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and a CNC (computer numerical control) machine on site to build more complicated parts. Additionally, he stresses the enthusiasm shared within the community for wanting to learn the intricacies behind arcade cabinet repairs. “I’ve trained regulars on how to replace parts for multiplayer experiences like Killer Queen when necessary,” he says.

Repair culture and the DIY spirit

“There is something quite satisfying about doing the repairs yourself as well,” says Andrew McCloud, a designer, manufacturer, and supplier of retro gaming equipment who currently runs Arcade Parts UK and Immortal Joysticks. “You learn the quirks of each cabinet and you get a feel for when something sounds a bit off or a button is starting to get mushy. If you catch problems early, a quick clean, a fresh part or a bit of soldering is usually all it takes.”

The togetherness found and fostered within the arcade community isn’t just limited to high-octane gaming experiences and showcasing original titles. Efforts to minimise e-waste through reusing and recycling cabinet parts (such as regular & beat-’em-up joysticks, buttons, and CRT monitors) are becoming more prominent, with some indie arcades running initiatives designed for patrons exchanging unwanted gear. Furthermore, companies such as Exeter, Devon-based Play Leisure dedicate themselves to restoring & selling vintage arcade games for homes and establishments alike.

While Kleback admits that he doesn’t salvage old arcade cabinets due to the lack of classic games at Wonderville, the local community does donate old computers and CRT monitors to the arcade bar for various projects. “We also have a semi-annual “Gear Swap” where people either give away or sell tech to us,” he says. “We also work with NYC-based recycling service Trashie to donate unwanted electronics.” This shows how arcade culture can be intrinsically good for combatting e-waste.

Sustainability, setbacks, and the road ahead

Yet with maintenance playing a massive role in preserving cabinets, is combating throwaway culture and “fast tech” really part of a bigger repair or sustainability movement? “Possibly yes,” says McCloud. “It’s not grand in a formal sense, but there is certainly a shared attitude among people who keep these things alive because these machines are built to last, and it feels wrong to throw them out when a cheap part or a bit of patient fiddling will get them running again. Keep it working, keep it out of the bin, and enjoy the satisfaction of giving something old a new lease of life.”

"The arcade remains a great place for people to meet, hang out, and truly grow as friends" -  James Srnec, owner of Vintage Vault Arcade

Given the optimism surrounding this arcade renaissance on both sides of the pond, it’s natural for some in the industry to exercise caution when it comes to keeping momentum alive. Despite community efforts, several arcades in the UK — including Salisbury’s Highest Score Arcade — have sadly experienced cost-related closures this year, and nationwide outlets such as 16-Bit Bar were forced to shut down their original site in Columbus, Ohio a few months ago.

Even so, the future of coin-op gaming and its accompanying culture looks to be on the up-and-up. While individual gaming experiences aren’t going away anytime soon, the novelty that only arcade joints can provide is treasured now more than ever. Arcades represent a joyful rebellion against the isolated and abstract nature of home gaming, while offering a fun way to rediscover something that had been lost in the Internet age — whether it's a unique game that can only be played in a physical space, the desire to fix a vintage machine without having to dump it immediately, or a passionate DIY community that thrives on nostalgia and restoration.

“I think the return of arcades has a strong spot for some people because the arcade was a place for people to meet, hang out, and truly grow as friends!” concludes Srnec. “I do believe that the comeback to a more physical entity of gaming on the human interaction between the person, the machine and everybody else in the arcade is where it’s at. When it is done right, it’s hard to beat!”