Comparison banner showing a man holding a DIY arcade side panel on the left and a completed custom arcade machine on the right, highlighting the choice between building or buying with Arcade Revival branding.

DIY vs Pre-Built Arcade Machines: Why Building Your Own Is 100% Worth It

If you’ve ever dreamed of owning an arcade machine, you’re not alone. Whether it’s reliving those after-school battles on Street Fighter II or late-night co-op sessions on TMNT, arcade nostalgia runs deep. But when it comes time to buy, you’re faced with a big decision:

Should you build your own arcade machine or buy a pre-built one?

Let’s break it down and show you why going DIY isn’t just doable—it’s the smarter, more rewarding option.

1. Cost Breakdown: DIY Wins Long-Term

Pre-built arcade machines often come with eye-watering price tags. A decent two-player unit can cost $2,500 or more, especially if it includes games and customisations. You could buy a 1Up machine but they are limited and just... Too small.

Building your own, on the other hand?

  • DIY arcade kits (like ours) can start around $600–$900 for all materials and a fully build custom machine set up, the best part is you can spread the costs out over the time you build if you need to.
  • You only pay for the components you need
  • No inflated markups for basic tech

With Arcade Revival, our Full Starter Kit gives you everything you need to build a premium setup for a fraction of the price.

USB arcade starter kit featuring buttons, joysticks, wiring, twin cooling fans, amplifier, T-moulding, VGA cable, and a free step-by-step arcade machine build guide — compatible with Batocera, MAME, and RetroPie.

2. Customisation & Pride of Ownership

When you build it yourself, you call the shots.

  • Choose your own T-moulding colours, button styles, joysticks, and artwork
  • Decide which emulator system you want (Pandora, Raspberry Pi, Batocera, etc.)
  • Add features like light-up marquees, cooling fans, or custom artwork or control layouts - we even teach you how to create your own printable artwork with our artwork video tutorials which are included with your step by step guide purchase.

The best part? When it’s done, it’s yours in every way. Not just another off-the-shelf machine.

Custom arcade control panel with dual joysticks, colourful retro game artwork, and full button layout — part of the Arcade Revival build-your-own machine guide.Arcade Revival cabinet surrounded by popular emulator options including MAME, Pandora Saga DX2, RetroPie, Batocera, Raspberry Pi, and LaunchBox. Text below reads: Install emulators for the most authentic arcade experience — from beginner plug-and-play to full custom setups.

3. Repairability & Upgrades

Pre-built machines are often glued, tacked, or bundled together with limited access to internal components. If something breaks? Good luck.

With a DIY build:

  • You know how everything works
  • You can replace or upgrade components easily
  • Your machine evolves as you want it to

You’re not locked into one setup. You’re free to experiment, expand, and even rebuild later if you want to.

Inside view of a custom-built arcade machine showing mounted monitor, speakers, amplifier, wiring, and power management system.Close-up of Arcade Revival control panel featuring vibrant character artwork, joysticks, buttons, red T-moulding, and twin cooling fans installed inside arcade cabinet.

4. Easy to Build with the Right Help

Most people think you need to be an expert woodworker or techie to build an arcade machine. You don’t.

With our step-by-step digital guide and Full Starter Kits:

  • You’ll get exact panel measurements, templates, and shopping lists
  • Every stage is explained in plain English with a lot of photos
  • You can build it over a couple of weekends at your own pace

Even if you’ve never built anything before, we’ll get you there.

Tablet mockup of Arcade Revival’s Build Your Own Arcade Machine guide, with trust badges for instant download, customisation, build support, and free updates

5. The Experience Is Part of the Reward

This isn’t just about saving money or flexing your skills. It’s about building something that means something.

That first boot-up. That moment when friends come over and say, "Wait, you BUILT that?" That feeling when your kids crush their first game on hardware you made with your own hands.

You’re not just buying nostalgia. You’re creating it.

Full side view of retro arcade machine with glowing Arcade Revival marquee, artwork control panel, and 80s grid background.Close-up of a person playing Pac-Man on a custom-built Arcade Revival machine, showing the screen mid-game and the joystick and button layout featuring retro game character artwork.

So, Should You Build or Buy?

Unless you’re in a rush or have zero interest in DIY, building your own arcade machine is absolutely worth it.

You’ll save money. You’ll build it better. And you’ll feel a whole lot prouder of what you made.

 

Ready to Build Your Dream Machine?

Start with our Arcade Machine Plans, or grab the Full Starter Kit to get everything you need in one go. With Arcade Revival’s guide and community behind you, this is a project you won’t regret.

Let’s bring the arcade back—one build at a time.

START YOUR BUILD

Instant digital download. No tech skills required.

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