Arcade1Up vs. Simple Arcades: The Real Difference

Spot the difference: one’s mass-produced, the other’s hand-built.

We get asked the same question all the time — and I’m sure other custom arcade builders do too:

“Why does your arcade cost more than an Arcade1Up? They both play games, right?”

That’s fair to ask. It’s a common question, and one that deserves an honest answer. So rather than keep typing out the same reply to every email or message regarding this matter, we figured we’d put it all in one place.

We’re not here to bash anyone — Arcade1Up has done a great job getting people excited about home arcades again. But if you’re here comparing Arcade1Up vs Simple Arcades, this post is for you. Think of it as an open letter from the people who build these things every day.

A Quick Story from the Aisles of Costco

I’m going to get a little personal here. I’m one of the lead fabricators at Simple Arcades — one of the people who actually cuts, assembles, and finishes these cabinets by hand. I’ve been building and refining them for years, and I take a lot of pride in the work that goes into every one of them.

My mom knows what I do for a living, and she’s proud of it. She’s seen the passion, the long hours, and the craftsmanship that goes into every cabinet. She also loves Costco — she’s there all the time.

And without fail, whenever she spots someone standing by an Arcade1Up display, she’ll call me later and say,

“I told some guy at Costco not to buy that cheap arcade. I told him my son makes the real ones.”

That’s my mom. She means well — and she’s not wrong. Even she can see the difference between something mass-produced for impulse buyers and something hand-built by people who actually care about what’s inside the cabinet.

Arcade1Up vs Simple Arcades: What They Get Right

Let’s be fair — Arcade1Up tapped into the same thing we did: nostalgia. They gave people an easy, affordable way to relive a few classic games without much setup.

If you love Mortal Kombat, Pac-Man, Buck Hunter, or Golden Tee, and that’s all you want to play — great. Those cabinets deliver those experiences for a decent price.

They’re light, compact, and look nice sitting in a corner of a game room. For someone who just wants a taste of arcade fun, they’re fine.

But what most buyers don’t think about is what comes next.

When the Charm Wears Off

Play the same 10 or 15 games for a week, and eventually, the magic starts to fade. It’s human nature — we crave variety.

Try this: do a quick check of Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or eBay in your area. You’ll probably find several listings right now. Most of them are barely used, sitting half-assembled in someone’s garage or basement, selling for half what they paid.

It’s not that people didn’t enjoy them — it’s that they hit the limit fast. Once you’ve beaten those same handful of titles, there’s nowhere else to go.

And the build quality doesn’t help. The cabinets are made from the same kind of MDF you’d find in cheap flat-pack furniture. It looks fine when new, but it’s not built to last decades. There’s a reason you don’t see 20-year-old MDF furniture holding up like real wood.

The Modding Phase: Turning It Into What It Should’ve Been

If you’ve spent any time online looking up Arcade1Up machines, you’ve probably seen the massive community around modding them. There are entire forums, YouTube channels, and step-by-step guides showing how to add trackballs, LED marquees, extra buttons, and even how to rewire the whole system to add more games.

People are literally drilling new holes, rewiring panels, and converting boards — all trying to make their Arcade1Up into something it was never meant to be.

And that’s fine if tinkering is your thing. We get it — it’s fun to customize. But here’s the question:

Why are so many people trying to turn their Arcade1Up into something that already exists — a Simple Arcades multicade?

All those mod kits, marquee upgrades, and conversion tutorials exist because people want more: more games, better screens, sturdier controls, and better sound. In short, they’re trying to turn their Arcade1Up into what ours already is.

Simple Arcades: Built for the Long Game

Our arcades are built like the real deal — solid, heavy, and designed to last. Each cabinet is handcrafted from ½″ or ¾″ cabinet-grade maple plywood, not MDF or particle board. The artwork is laminated for durability, not just printed vinyl.

We use true computer-grade gaming monitors, not cheap low-cost no-name brand monitors. Our monitors were chosen for their higher refresh rates, pixel density, and color accuracy because we want every frame to feel authentic. When paired with our CRT shaders, you get that classic glow and scanline look — just like you remember.

Each system features menu music, video previews, screen savers, free updates, favorites lists, search filters, and save/load options. Everything is plug-and-play, fully configured, and built for fun the moment it powers on.

Because we build everything in-house, you can customize your arcade however you want — lighting, artwork, button colors, trackballs, spinners, or light guns.

It’s Not About Cost — It’s About Category

An Arcade1Up and a Simple Arcade might both fall under the word arcade, but they’re two completely different categories. One is a mass-produced toy meant to look like an arcade. The other is a professional-grade machine built for long-term play, precision, and craftsmanship.

It’s like comparing a $10 Bluetooth speaker to a studio sound system — both play music, but only one was designed for real performance.

The Bottom Line

We’re not trying to convince anyone that Arcade1Up is bad. If it fits your budget and your goals, go for it — you’ll probably have fun for a while.

But if you’re ready for something more — something that feels, looks, and plays like a real arcade — that’s what we build.

Arcade1Ups are fun and affordable.

Simple Arcades are built to last.

If you want to play for a while, grab an Arcade1Up.

If you want to play for life — get a Simple Arcade.