Arcadecraft

About

Arcadecraft is a single player casual real-time strategy game. It was developed by Firebase Industries Ltd. and was released on May 22, 2014. It received neutral reviews from players.

"Arcadecraft" is a simulation game that lets you manage your own arcade business in the 1980's. Buy and place over 100 unique arcade machines, customize your arcade's appearance, and manage finances to become successful. Overcome challenges such as broken machines and jammed coin slots while interacting with in-game characters like the Game Collector and Import Salesman.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

56%

Audience ScoreBased on 124 reviews

gameplay5 positive mentions

replayability4 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic experience for players who remember the arcade scene of the 80s, with recognizable game parodies and a fun atmosphere.
Gameplay is fast-paced and engaging, especially in the early years, providing a sense of accomplishment as players build and manage their arcade.
The graphics are colorful and appealing, and the ability to customize the arcade adds a layer of creativity to the experience.

The game lacks depth and becomes repetitive quickly, with limited gameplay options and no new content after 1987, leading to a lack of replayability.
Difficulty spikes and unbalanced mechanics make it frustrating, especially in the early stages where players struggle to stay afloat financially.
The controls can be cumbersome, and the game feels more like a clicker than a true simulation, with minimal strategic elements involved.

gameplay
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
47%
20%
The gameplay is generally enjoyable and retains its fun factor from years past, featuring simple mechanics that can become tedious over time. While the core gameplay is solid and offers a nostalgic experience, many players find it lacks depth and complexity, making it feel limited and repetitive. Overall, it appeals to those seeking a casual gaming experience but may disappoint players looking for more intricate gameplay elements.
- “The gameplay is just as fun as it was a decade or so ago.”
- “The idea and gameplay were pretty original.”
- “The gameplay is great fun.”
- “The mechanics are pretty simple but get tedious after a while.”
- “I don't have the feeling that keeping up surviving through years will bring anything new to the gameplay.”
- “The base gameplay is solid but is lacking details.”
replayability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
46%
31%
Overall, the game suffers from a significant lack of replayability, with many players noting that once they complete the main content, there is little incentive to return. The repetitive gameplay, absence of randomization, and limited events contribute to a feeling that the experience is more of a one-time playthrough rather than a game worth revisiting. While enjoyable initially, the lack of new challenges or achievements diminishes its long-term appeal.
- “This game is loads of fun and it's worth a playthrough; however, there isn’t much replay value.”
- “Enjoyable the first time through, but lack of randomization, too few games, and too few events really kill the replay value.”
- “The problem is that once you've played it through once and gotten the achievements, the only replay value is trying to beat your high score (in terms of cash).”
- “It also feels like someone's final project, not to mention its replayability is zero since once you finish years 1980 to 1987 there's nothing else to get or achieve other than try to last until you lose.”
- “Once completed, the game has little replay value which is a shame, and the game has so much potential to improve and expand on the basics that are there.”
- “Enjoyable the first time through, but lack of randomization, too few games, too few events, really kill the replay value.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often leading to a sense of busywork rather than enjoyment. While it may appeal to casual gamers initially, the lack of engaging mechanics and camera control contributes to a monotonous experience that can detract from the overall fun. Many reviewers express disappointment that what starts as an interesting simulation quickly devolves into a grind for progress.
- “The mechanics are pretty simple but get tedious after a while.”
- “The game starts off well enough, but after half an hour you've seen everything and you are just grinding to the end.”
- “It's just tedious busywork stopping you from leaving the game running.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
49%
38%
The music aspect of the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the jukebox feature that allows syncing with their own music libraries, particularly enjoying 80's tracks that enhance the gaming experience. However, some users noted the drawback of the PC port lacking custom avatars and music options. Overall, the game's atmosphere and mechanics are complemented by carefully chosen music, making it a significant part of the enjoyment.
- “This music can easily be found: just launch Spotify and search playlists named 'arcadecraft'.”
- “The only drawback of the PC port is the exclusion of custom avatars and music on the jukebox.”
- “I still love the game for itself, the atmosphere, the mechanics, the arcade games, and moreover, for the music that's not in it: play the game with some carefully chosen 80's music, and the whole becomes a tremendous experience.”
- “With the 80's arcade room background, you can find music that fits the game so well, that you'll end up launching the game just for the pair it forms with the music.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics are described as clean and colorful, supporting high resolutions up to 1920 x 1080, but overall production values are considered average. While players can customize their arcade with various aesthetic upgrades, the lack of detailed animations for customer interactions detracts from the visual experience. Despite these shortcomings, the game effectively conveys important details through its graphics style.
- “The graphics are nicely done, clean and colorful.”
- “The graphics and sound are decent and the game supports 1920 x 1080 and even higher resolutions.”
- “As you progress, you can customize your arcade with neon lights, wall graphics, different color schemes, jukebox machines, vending machines, and even limited Japanese import cabinets acquired through a special dealer.”
- “Finally, the production values here are not extremely stellar, and the upgrades you're allowed to make to your arcade for aesthetics just feel kind of cheap.”
- “Customers teleport (you'd think with fancy 3D graphics it might have some walking animations, but nope) into a machine, play a bit, and then back out. Occasionally, one will hit a machine, and you'll have to throw him out; that's as far as the customer interaction goes.”
- “The graphics and sound are decent, and the game supports 1920 x 1080 and even higher resolutions.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its engaging mechanics and nostalgic elements, particularly when paired with 80's music, which enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the customizable aspects, such as game selection, decor, and event hosting, which contribute to a vibrant and immersive environment.
- “Being able to pick the games you place, the atmosphere, decor, ticket prices, food/beer selection, advertising and promoting it, and being able to throw private parties at one... these are all exciting and intriguing ideas to me.”
- “I still love the game for itself, the atmosphere, the mechanics, the arcade games, and moreover, for the music that's not in it: play the game with some carefully chosen 80's music, and the whole becomes a tremendous experience.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The story aspect of the game is criticized for lacking depth, with users suggesting that it is not a focal point and that players seeking a rich narrative should look elsewhere.
- “If you're looking for depth of story or gameplay, don't darken its doorstep.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the monetization aspect appealing due to the flexibility it offers in customizing game experiences, including choices in atmosphere, decor, pricing, and food options, as well as opportunities for private events and promotions.