The most successful coin-operated game is Pac-Man. It has the biggest game franchise and sold over 700,000 units. Street Fighter II/Champion Edition sold 132,000 cabinets. Consoles were designed with a price and form-factor in mind while arcade games had better graphics because the arcade boards had higher specs and were more expensive.
A few real arcades still exist today. The cost of arcade machines ranges from $900-$5000. Average weekly revenue per game is $200 to $485. A full arcade in GTA Online generates $6000 per hour. Pinball machines mostly go in homes now instead of locations. Casinos make money on coin pushers from coins that spill over edges and not returning them, plus the time limit.
The top 10 highest grossing arcade games are:
- Pac-Man – over $3.5 billion
- Street Fighter II – $1.5 billion
- Mortal Kombat – $1.045 billion
- Donkey Kong – $280 million
- Defender – $270 million
- Asteroids – $228 million
- Centipede – $115 million
- Pole Position – $113 million
- Space Invaders – $102 million
- Tempest – $62 million
Redemption and crane games are often the most profitable arcade machines. An arcade cabinet with controls costs around $500. Running an arcade game uses about $0.01 in electricity per hour. Location, games offered, demographics, and facility size impact how much money an arcade owner can make.
Are arcade machines profitable? Yes. Redemption and crane games generate high profits. Controls cost $500. Electricity is $0.01 per hour. Location, games, demographics and size determine profits.