These days, many of us are looking for things to occupy our time during the times of COVID. It’s an interesting time that we live in where people have plenty of free time on their hands with record unemployment levels, people working from home and generally spending less time outside, at friends, visiting restaurants, etc.
On the flipside, ratings for televised sports is surprisingly low which is the opposite of what you’d think. More time on our hands should equal record tv ratings but the opposite has occurred and ratings have tanked. If you’re going to spend time at home for the foreseeable future, you might as well have some fun there, no?
While the term home arcade might conjure up images of a basement with full sized arcade-grade coin operated machines, this doesn’t have to be the case. But it would be pretty cool if it was… Truthfully, we’re just talking about a room or space in your house with some games of some kind if that’s all you’re after. And there are plenty of options to choose from depending on your budget, age, interests and the space that you have available.
If you’re spending more time at home and you’re not watching tv, you might as well something around to have some fun with, no? Plus a game room can be a great way to spend more time your family and friends because a game room isn’t something that most people have.
Here are some options to fill a game room that encompass a wide variety of interests that you can pick and choose from, for any sized room and budget.
Pool Table
A pool or billiard table for your basement is the classic and perhaps most obvious example to start with. Ranging in size from 7′ – 9′ in length and made with slate or wood, there are many options to consider depending on your budget and space.
Starting price: A very wide range of prices. A reasonable 7′ table starts at around $700, an 8′ will run about $900, a 9′ starts at $1,100. Keep in mind that there are plenty of pool tables particularly slate tables that cost $2,000 – $11,000 and even more in some cases.
Classic Video Games
This specifically refers to home video game systems like Atari 2600, Intellivision, Colecovision and the like. Once you get the console and games, you just need a tv. If you have an old tv with a coaxial cable hookup, you can attach the classic video game directly to the tv as we did when we were kids. With a newer tv with HDMI attachments, you can purchase an upscaler to hook it up to your tv. It’s a plug and play attachment that quickly gets you up and running and upscales the resolution of your original game to current (better) standards.
Starting price: Classic home video games can easily be found online from collectors, video game stores that specialize in classic games or from people just trying to offload their old games. Old consoles like this that are in working order (look for games that actually work!) are in the $100+ range depending on who is selling and how many cartridges (games) it comes with and the condition of the console.
Arcade Video Games
Full size arcade games are definitely something to consider if you have the budget and space for your game room. When was the last time you went to a friend’s house and saw a full size video game(s) that came from the arcade? While arcade video games from the 1980s typically only had one single game on it, modern arcade video game systems are now built for home purchase and use with dozens and in some cases hundreds of actual arcade-quality video games built in, in one single game unit.
Starting price: $399 and up for actual size arcade-style games although licensed arcade games with multiple games are in the $2,300 – $5,000+ range for games like Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Space Invaders and Centipede among others. Many arcade size consoles come with multiple games on them, too. There are some arcade consoles that offer hundreds of games on one game console. Ensure you are getting licensed games that are 100% ports of real arcade games. Also consider that these full size machines are in the neighborhood of 24.5″ W x 33.25″ D x 68″ H often weighing 275 lbs or more.
Mini Arcade Machine
Ok, you don’t have the money or the space to buy a full size arcade machine. Or perhaps you want something retro that is portable and you can play in any room in your house. Consider a mini retro arcade machine, a tabletop version of your favorite old school game like Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and more. While not a 100% port from the real game, it’s a cheaper and smaller portable way to get a piece of video game history.
And you can also get tiny arcade games that are in the neighborhood of 3 3/4 x 1 3/4 x 1 3/4 inches in size. Expect to pay $20 + for this type of game but the smaller and cheaper you get, the less realistic the game play compared to the full size version you may have played in the past.
Starting price: $160 – $180 and up for various mini arcade games. A typical size is 18.5” H x 12.625” D x 11.25” W and weigh 17 lbs. The mini versions are 3 3/4 x 1 3/4 x 1 3/4 inches in size, are literally pocket sized and is used with your fingers. It’s a novelty more than a real game.
Dartboard
A dartboard is a classic and cheap way to start a game room. All you need is a wall and a room that measures at least 5′ wide x 11′ in length. Many old school quality dartboards are available from $25 and up or you can choose a more expensive one with electronic scoring and other modern options.
Having said that, if you’ve got the budget and desire and really love your darts, you might consider a bigger, more upscale electronic darts machine like the one above with full scoring, laser throw line, sensors, the whole 9 yards. Expect to pay around $3,000 for an arcade-grade model like this one.
Starting price: While a cheap dartboard starting in the $25 – $50 range might suit your needs, you can spend $100 and more for a higher end electronic dartboard with cabinet and other features.
Air Hockey
Air hockey is a fun game for a game room and can be played by young and old. Available in small tabletop versions (40″ x 20″ x 8″ that weigh 5 – 30 lbs), medium-sized tables (5′ x 3′ and that weigh around 75 – 90 lbs) and full size tournament regulation size (8′ in length x 6′ in width and will typically weigh 385 – 650 lbs.)
Starting price: Tabletop = $50 – $70. Medium-sized = $500 – $700. Full size 7′ – 8′ tables = $600 – $1,400 although the actual range can be larger with lower or higher prices depending on the brand and quality.
Shuffleboard Table
While many people think of shuffleboard as an outdoor activity, table shuffleboard is a somewhat different game that can fit into a basement or game room, an option that many people are probably not even aware of. Shuffleboard tables tend not to be widely known for some reason but are a fun, low impact activity that any age can take part in as part of an indoor game room.
The last time I saw a table shuffleboard game was years ago in a bar. So if you’re looking for a unique game room option that none of your friends have, a table shuffleboard might be something to think about. They are available in a wide range generally from 9 feet to 22 feet in length to handle many budgets and room sizes.
Starting price: $740 for small 9′ cheaper brands all the way up to $17,000 for higher end 22′ models. Many 9′ – 20′ foot models are also available in between for $1,000 – $16,000. A wide range of prices exist due to different manufacturers and brands.
Jukebox
Another classic option, albeit one that you might not have thought of. With most music going digital these days and the days of vinyl and cassette-based music long since passed for most people, a jukebox isn’t top of mind for the average person. While you probably won’t be able to pick up a old classic Wurlitzer or Rock-Ola jukebox playing 45s from the past for cheap, there are plenty of newer models offering both digital and CD technology available. Full size digital and CD jukeboxes range in price these days from $1,500 – $8,500 but expect to pay more for Rock-Ola jukeboxes. Look for high quality machines made with glass, steel, wood and chrome from manufacturers like Crosley, Victrola and Pyle. And if you really want an old school jukebox that still plays 45s, you can get a Rock-Ola Vinyl jukebox for about $9,300. They make digital and CD-playing jukeboxes too.
Starting price: $1,500 – $8,500 but Rock-Olas are in the $8,500 – $12,500 range.
Games
Board games, classic handheld video games and other games you can think of can make a nice addition to a game room. Mattel, Coleco and Tomy were the big electronics manufacturers but Parker Brothers, Milton Bradley, Tandy and Tiger Electronics were the other big names of the day.
Starting price: Classic handheld games generally run $20 – $100 for original Mattel, Coleco and Tomy games. You can also find modern “retro” games that are recently manufactured but recreate old classics from the 1970s, 80s and 90s.