Arcade Game Value & Price Guide

Arcade game collecting encompasses a diverse range of coin-operated entertainment, from early mechanical bagatelle games to the high-tech video cabinets of the 1980s and 90s. This hobby allows enthusiasts to preserve the physical history of gaming while enjoying the tactile experience of authentic pinball and joystick-controlled hardware.

Price Range: $400 - $475 based on recent sales

History of Arcade Game

The arcade industry evolved from the mechanical penny arcades of the early 20th century, where games like the Poosh-M-Up offered simple gravity-based entertainment. The mid-1970s marked a pivotal shift with the introduction of solid-state electronics, leading to the Golden Age of Arcades. During this era, iconic titles such as Space Invaders and Pac-Man became cultural phenomena, filling malls and dedicated game rooms across the globe. As home consoles gained power in the 1990s, the arcade market shifted toward specialized experiences like pinball and high-end fighting games like Street Fighter. Today, the market is sustained by nostalgic collectors and the rise of 3/4 scale home replicas that bring the arcade experience into modern living spaces.

Value Factors for Arcade Game

The typical price range for Arcade Game is $400 - $475 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Rarity and production numbers, particularly for limited-run pinball machines like Gottlieb's Strange World.
• The presence of licensed themes or pop culture icons, such as the highly sought-after 1979 Bally KISS machine.
• Functional condition of mechanical components, including flippers, solenoids, and coin mechanisms.
• Cosmetic integrity of the side art and control panel overlays, which are prone to wear in high-traffic commercial environments.

Tips for Buying Arcade Game

• Inspect the monitor for screen burn-in, as replacing CRT tubes in vintage cabinets like Galaga or Centipede can be costly and difficult.
• Verify the condition of the playfield and backglass on pinball machines, as original artwork significantly impacts the value compared to reproductions.
• Check for battery leakage on the circuit boards, which can cause irreversible acid damage to the game's logic system over time.
• Confirm if the machine is an original dedicated cabinet or a conversion, as original factory-built units are more desirable to serious collectors.

Items in This Collection

• Atari Centipede Arcade Game
• Bally KISS Pinball Machine
• Midway Space Invaders
• Bally Fireball Home Edition Pinball Machine
• Gottlieb Raven Pinball Machine
• Midway Galaga Arcade Game
• Nishijin Pachinko Machine
• Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors' Dreams
• Tabletop Pinball Game
• Arcade1Up Pac-Man Countercade
• Shell Mr. President Coin Game
• Williams Rollergames Pinball Machine
• Poosh-M-Up Big 5
• Star Explorer Pinball Machine
• Gottlieb High Hand Pinball Machine
• Midway Pinball Machine
• Gottlieb Strange World Pinball Machine
• Mission Alpha Pinball Machine