Adding an arcade gaming room to your business is a great way to increase revenue from dwell time while providing customers with an experience that encourages repeat visits. A game room with the correct game mix can be the most profitable part of your business. However, with various arcade game types, such as Ticket Cranes, Premium Video, and Hot Redemption, where do you start?
With the wide variety of arcade game types on the market today, no two game rooms are ever the same. Some are filled with exciting virtual reality experiences, while others reinvent classic arcade games with pinball, skee-ball, or The World’s Largest Pac-Man. Carefully adding games that may be missing or light in the mix will create excitement and repeat customers.
Therefore, if you’re interested in adding arcade machines, it’s always helpful to thoroughly understand the games and machines available to you. Carefully analyzing missing or under-equipped categories will help you decide which options will best appeal to your customers.
There are three basic categories of typical arcade games with many more subcategories: Video, Redemption, and Merchandiser. We will discuss each part in more detail. A key part of making decisions is figuring out the percentage of space for each type.
To help with this, let’s take a closer look at the arcade game types and their subcategories.
VIDEO GAMES
Most people are familiar with Arcade Video Games, including driving and fighting games. These are played for fun, competition, and high scores. There are no tickets or prizes. These have historically been coin-operated, but most games have moved to card readers as technology has changed.
Video Game Types: Premium, Air Hockey/Competitive, Driving, Shooting, Environmental, Fighting, Simulators, Pinball.
• Pinball: Deadpool Pro Pinball, The Munsters Pro Pinball
• Premium Video: Virtual Rabbids, Halo: Fireteam Raven, Jurassic Park Arcade
• Air Hockey/Competitive: AirFX, Black Hole Air Hockey
• Driving: Super Bikes 3, MotoGP, Daytona Championship USA, Nitro Trucks
• Shooting: Big Buck HD Wild, Big Buck Hunter Reloaded
• Fighting: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Injustice Arcade
• Simulators: Typhoon, XD Dark Ride
REDEMPTION
Redemption games are generally games of skill that reward players for achieving higher scores. The player plays for experience and competition, but primarily for E-Ticket accumulation to redeem high-quality prizes at the redemption center.
Redemption Types: Stop the Wheel/Light, Sports, Video Redemption, App to Arcade, Carnival/Alley/Ball, Coin Pusher/ Collectable Card, Ticket Bundle RFID, Water Gun, Whacking.
For instance, within the Redemption category, you’ll find:
• App to Arcade: Crossy Road, Crazy Tower,
• Family Style: Connect 4 Deluxe
• Video Redemption: Injustice Arcade, Space Invaders Frenzy, Baseball Pro
• Whacking Game: Minions Wacker
• Activity / Sports: Connect 4 Hoops, Ring Toss, NBA Hoops
• Stop the Light / Wheel: Spin n Win, Pop the Lock, Big Bass Wheel
• Ball Drop Games: Fishbowl Frenzy, Quik Drop
As the trend of moving from cash to payment systems took full effect over the years, the traditional coin pusher has been replaced by new self-contained pushers, such as Willy Wonka, DC Superheroes, and The Wizard of Oz.
MERCHANDISER
Merchandiser games are a version of redemption games where you can win a prize directly from the machine. Players play for the experience of testing their skills, but mainly for a direct, high-quality prize, photo, or product dispensed.
Merchandiser Types include: Cranes/Claw machines, Hard goods, Photo Booth, Collectible Card Dispensing, Ticket Bundle Dispensing, Candy/Bulk Vending.
Specifically, within Cranes/Claw Machines, you’ll find types such as:
• Winner Every Time: Plucky Ducky
• Candy: Candy Crane House, Candy Street Crane
• Ticket: Tons of Tickets, Time 4 Tickets
Arcade Game Types
Now that we have walked through the main categories, let’s take a look at some popular subcategories:
AIR-HOCKEY GAMES
Air Hockey games have been around for decades and are always a hit for kids and adults alike. Their interactivity makes it easy for guests to fully immerse themselves in the action. They’ll soon focus on the next goal, forgetting their surroundings
BASKETBALL ARCADE GAMES
Basketball is one of America’s most popular sports and one of its favorite arcade games. Some guests want nothing more than to beat their friends in a one-on-one game, while others, conversely, want to get in the zone and set a new high score. There is no wrong way to play these awesome games.
ARCADE BOXING GAMES
Every group of friends has one person who thinks they are stronger and tougher than everyone else. Consequently, these boxing arcade games can determine who’s correct. You will likely hear cheers, jeers, and braggadocious claims from guests enjoying these machines.
BILLIARDS
Billiard tables have always been a popular fixture in bars and arcades nationwide. This fantastic game is easy for beginners but can take years to master. The best part is that guests can have a great time with their friends while perfecting their skills.
CRANES/CLAW MACHINES
Claw machines are very popular in arcades. People love to win stuffed animals or toys from them. You’ll find guests pointing out prizes they would love to win and directing each other in which direction to move the claw. When they win, huge cheers are sure to follow.
ELECTRONIC DARTBOARDS
Guests love showing off their steady hands and eagle eyes with a friendly game of darts. However, electronic dartboards can take their enjoyment to a whole new level. For a traditional game, the board can keep track of their scores without needing napkin math. If your guests want to change things up, they can play one of the other dart games on the electronic board.
KIDDIE RIDES
These rides allow kids to escape into a world of adventure and excitement without leaving the arcade. From cars to trains and everything in between, a child’s imagination truly knows no bounds when sitting on one of these rides. So don’t be surprised if you hear them asking their Mom or Dad if they can go again!
MINI BOWLING
Bowling has long been one of the most popular pastimes in the United States. By installing mini-bowling in your arcade, you can allow guests to recreate the excitement of a traditional bowling alley without needing to take up a considerable amount of square footage. Though the game is smaller, the fun and excitement are bigger and better than ever!
PINBALL MACHINES
When guests think of arcades, pinball machines are usually one of the first games that come to mind. But, of course, these awesome games are not just popular and nostalgia-inducing; they are also a lot of fun to play. So, don’t be surprised to see guests spending a lot of time on these machines as they try to set a new high score.
PHOTO BOOTHS
Photo booths are the perfect way for guests to commemorate a special occasion, such as a first date or a great night out with the family. They will likely smile, laugh, and make funny faces for the camera. Modern photo booths can now transport you into fun and exciting backgrounds – from favorite movies and locations worldwide to space and even comic books (Marvel Adventure Lab). Most new photo booths also allow guests to upload their photos directly to social media without needing to scan them. Check out our post on the benefits of adding a photo booth.
RACING GAMES
Racing games are usually one of the first arcade experiences we have as children, sitting on our parents’ laps and spinning the wheel. The feeling of speed and competition always makes these games popular. However, newer racing games allow players to compete against others worldwide in real-time rather than racing against computer-generated characters.
SKEE-BALL
This arcade classic is always a hit, with guests seeking interactive entertainment. This fantastic game is accessible for beginners yet still challenges more experienced players. You will likely hear a lot of cheering in the skee-ball area as guests try to win tickets or beat their friends in a one-on-one game.
DANCE ARCADE MACHINES
Arcade Dance Games are a fun and physical way to enjoy time at the arcade. You’re playing a classic dance arcade machine and trying to reach a new high score. Dance arcade machines can be used in any location. The 20th Anniversary Edition of Andamiro’s Pump It Up will get customers moving with a unique collection of songs, a brilliant light show, and a wall of sound with four speakers and two subwoofers. StepManiaX utilizes an LED pressure-based platform that users step on to match instructions to the beat of the music.
VIRTUAL REALITY
Virtual reality systems allow guests to escape into a new world from the comfort of your arcade. This advanced technology truly is the next evolution in the arcade experience. VR games like Godzilla™ Kaiju Wars VR, King Kong of Skull Island™, and Virtual Rabbids: The Big Ride simulate motion as if you were on an actual roller coaster, giving a truly unique experience. There are other experiences, such as Hologate and Omni Arena, where it’s even more fun to play with friends.
We hope this breakdown of arcade games into three major arcade game types, each playing a unique role in different venues, was helpful for your future business decisions.