Arcadecraft

About

"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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

63%

Audience ScoreBased on 72 reviews

gameplay5 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic experience for those who enjoyed arcades in the 80s, capturing the essence of that era.
Gameplay is engaging and fun, especially in the early years, with a simple yet enjoyable management mechanic.
The graphics and sound design are decent, and the game runs well on modern systems, providing a charming retro aesthetic.

The game lacks depth and replayability, becoming repetitive and boring after the initial playthrough, especially after reaching 1987.
Difficulty spikes and unbalanced mechanics make it frustrating, as players often struggle to maintain profitability and manage their arcade effectively.
Many features feel underdeveloped or incomplete, such as limited game variety, lack of meaningful upgrades, and minimal employee management options.

gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
The gameplay is generally praised for its fun and original mechanics, reminiscent of its earlier iterations, and is easy to enjoy. However, some players note limitations in depth and detail, suggesting it may not satisfy those seeking a more complex experience. Overall, it remains a solid and enjoyable title, especially when paired with nostalgic music.
- “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.”
- “Limited gameplay.”
- “The base gameplay is solid but is lacking details.”
- “If you're looking for depth of story or gameplay, don't darken its doorstep.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
Overall, the game suffers from very low replayability, as players report that once they complete the main content from 1980 to 1987, there is little incentive to play again beyond attempting to beat high scores. The lack of randomization, limited events, and repetitive gameplay contribute to a feeling that the game is more of a one-time experience rather than one that encourages multiple playthroughs. While enjoyable initially, the absence of new challenges or content significantly 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.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
43%
43%
The game's music feature is well-received, particularly for its jukebox that allows players to sync their own music, enhancing the overall experience. Many users recommend pairing the game with carefully selected 80's music, which complements the atmosphere and mechanics, making it a memorable experience. The ability to find suitable playlists on platforms like Spotify further enriches the gameplay.
- “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.”
- “This music can easily be found: just launch Spotify and search playlists named 'arcadecraft'.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics are praised for being clean, colorful, and well-executed, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the game. Players appreciate the customization options for walls and pillars, and the game supports high resolutions up to 1920 x 1080 and beyond, contributing to a visually appealing experience.
- “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.”
- “The game is enjoyable and fun to play; you can customize your walls, pillars, and graphics.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and detracting from the overall experience, as it shifts from enjoyable gameplay to monotonous busywork after a short period. Many express disappointment that what began as a casual and fun game quickly devolves into intricate bookkeeping and repetitive tasks.
- “I'm sure there's a way to figure it out and make it work, but I bought this for a casual game of mind-numbing fun, not a tedious game of intricate bookkeeping.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its engaging mechanics and the ability to customize various elements, such as decor and entertainment options, which enhance the overall experience. Players also suggest that pairing the game with 80's music can elevate the ambiance, making it a more immersive and enjoyable experience.
- “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 experience becomes tremendous.”
- “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.”
- “Being able to pick the games you place, the atmosphere, decorum, ticket prices, food/beer selection, advertising and promoting it, being able to throw private parties at one... these are all exciting and intriguing ideas to me.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
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.
- “The story is incredibly immersive and keeps you engaged from start to finish.”
- “The character development is rich and adds layers to the overall narrative.”
- “Each twist and turn in the plot leaves you wanting to know what happens next.”
- “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 event hosting. This level of personalization enhances engagement and adds value to the overall experience.