Amazon has dropped the price on the Arcade1Up Class of ’81 Countercade to $150. This was the original price for the countertop arcade machine, but for the past few months the retailer has listed it for $168 more often than not. This combo Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga machine was restocked in late August after being sold out since last holiday season. At the end of September, Amazon restocked Arcade1Up’s Pac-Man Countercade for $150; this model had been sold out since early April.
Both of these miniature cabinets include three preloaded Namco arcade classics, 7-inch, vertically oriented displays, and full-size arcade controls. Just like last year, we’d expect these budget-friendly machines to be popular this holiday season. The same can be said about Arcade1Up’s new Classic Special Edition Arcade Cabinets themed around Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, and Mortal Kombat. This trio of standing arcade machines offers a more affordable alternative to Arcade1Up’s Deluxe series.
Take a closer look at the Class of ’81 and Pac-Man Countercades below. We’ve also included a roundup of all Arcade1Up machines in stock now, including the aforementioned Classic Special Editions, Deluxe Cabinets, Head-to-Head Tables, and more.
$150 (was $168)
The Class of ’81 Countercade has a 7-inch, vertically oriented LCD screen surrounded by Ms. Pac-Man artwork on the left and Galaga artwork on the right. Despite the compact form factor, Arcade1Up Countercades have full-size controls. This one has a red ball-top arcade stick, two yellow buttons, a red button, and switches for power and volume. The marquee, side panels, and control deck have Class of ’81 art icons and logo art.
As mentioned, the machine has three arcade classics developed by Namco:
The full dimensions for the machine are 8.7 x 9.4 x 13.11 inches, and it only weighs 6.3 pounds. Though designed to be played on a flat surface like a desk or countertop, it’s light enough to rest on your lap while you’re on the couch. You don’t even need to be near an outlet, because the Class of ’81 Countercade can be powered by the included Micro-USB cable or four AA batteries (not included).
If you hate Micro-USB as much as we do, grab this charger kit with four AA batteries for $13.
$150
Unlike Class of ’81, the Pac-Man Countercade has maintained its original $150 MSRP since it was first restocked about a month ago.
The Pac-Man Countercade originally launched last November. It has the same core design as Class of ’81, just with a classic Pac-Man theme and a trio of Pac-Man games:
- Pac-Man
- Super Pac-Man
- Pac-Mania
Arcade1Up’s Countercades are solid little machines, but if you want the best countertop arcade, we’d highly recommend the Evercade Alpha Bartop Arcade. The Mega Man and Street Fighter editions are no longer available, but Blaze Entertainment is releasing an Evercade Alpha Taito Edition on November 12. Though substantially more expensive ($260), the Alpha is a higher-quality machine with 10 preloaded games and support for the massive Evercade cartridge library. Check out our Evercade Alpha review from last year to read more about the impressive arcade machine.
Arcade1Up Classic Special Edition Cabinets
The Classic Special Editions are throwbacks to Arcade1Up’s early cabinets you’d see on display at your local Walmart and Target stores. Priced at $334, these 4-foot cabinets have 15.6-inch displays and 13 preloaded games. Adults who plan on using these cabinets should either purchase an adjustable barstool or the $59 riser that’s sold separately. Even with the riser included, the Classic Special Editions are $393–roughly $100 to $200 less than the Deluxe Editions.
Arcade1Up Deluxe Arcade Cabinets (October 2025)
Arcade1Up’s Deluxe Cabinets don’t require a riser because they are typically 61 inches tall (just over 5 feet). Other upgraded features include 17-inch displays, light-up marquees, and faux coin doors on the front. Deluxe Cabinets usually retail from $500 to $600. As of October 27, there are a handful of $500 cabinets, including Golden Tee 3D, NBA Jam, and Class of ’81. The $600 cabinets include the ones with light guns–Big Buck Hunter Pro and Terminator 2–or a racing wheel (The Fast & the Furious).
$600
Arcade1Up recently launched a new Ms. Pac-Man machine in its Head-to-Head Arcade Table line. The table has a light-up control deck and joysticks/buttons on each side of the 17-inch LCD screen. The $600 Ms. Pac-Man Arcade Table comes with 12 games:
- Ms. Pac-Man
- Pac-Mania
- Dig Dug
- Dig Dug II
- Galaxian
- Galaga
- Galaga ’88
- Mappy
- Rolling Thunder
- Tower of Druaga
- Rompers
- New Rally X
If you’re interested in Namco arcade classics, check out the upcoming Atari 2600+ Pac-Man Edition Console Bundle. This special-edition system plays real Atari 2600 and 7800 cartridges and comes with a yellow wireless joystick and Pac-Man: Double Feature, a cart with a newly developed version of Pac-Man and the original 2600 release. Extra joysticks themed around the Ghost Gang are available to preorder separately, as are three additional Namco classics on cartridge, including Galaga and Dig Dug. The Atari 2600+ Pac-Man Edition launches October 31.