There’s something uniquely satisfying about blending the nostalgia of retro gaming with a hands-on project that enhances game design and testing. My journey of building a DIY arcade cabinet wasn’t just about recreating an 80s arcade experience; it was about building a platform that would become my game development companion. Fun fact: the old Remington typewriter in the background is also another DIY project, it works now as an usb keyboard.
Starting with a Vision (and a Pile of Wood)
It all began with a vision of bringing back the joy of arcade gaming. Armed with some basic woodworking tools and a pile of wood, I got to work measuring, cutting, and shaping each piece with precision. The goal was simple: build a frame sturdy enough to hold hardware but light enough to retain some portability.


Sawdust and Splinters: Building the Frame
Creating an arcade cabinet frame turned out to be a dusty, splintery affair. Each piece of wood had to be carefully cut and angled, as accuracy here would determine the cabinet’s final stability. I quickly learned that patience was essential—along with bandages after a minor mishap with the saw.


Drilling and Gluing: The Cabinet Takes Shape
Once the cuts were ready, I drilled holes to hold the pieces together. Watching the cabinet come together was incredibly rewarding. Every piece glued and screwed in brought me closer to a cabinet that would soon house hardware and an old-school arcade screen. With the frame completed, it was time for the fun part: hardware installation. This included buttons, a joystick, and a screen to replicate that old arcade feel. Wiring everything required a bit of patience, but seeing the buttons light up and the screen power on made every effort worth it.


Coding My Own Game: Bringing It to Life
The cherry on top of this DIY journey was coding my own game to run on this cabinet. Designing a game specifically for arcade controls was a creative challenge, but it brought the project full circle. Instead of building for mobile or PC, I focused on short, action-packed gameplay—the essence of 80s arcade games, Laserboy was born, which eventually worked also great as a mobile game.
Game Testing: A Developer’s New Tool
Now, this cabinet has become more than just a nostalgic throwback. I use it to test new game ideas, exploring how gameplay feels on a real arcade setup. Testing on the cabinet brings an extra layer of immersion and insight that I couldn’t get from a regular screen, allowing me to design with players’ instincts and reactions in mind. Watch a short video of my gameplay testing with one of my game projects Ninja vs Mega Monster.
Conclusion: From DIY to Development
This DIY arcade cabinet wasn’t just a fun project; it’s now an essential part of my game development toolkit. Whether it’s a nostalgia-fueled gaming session or hands-on game testing, this cabinet reminds me of the joy that started my journey in gaming. And who knows? Maybe it will inspire new game ideas as I continue creating. Below is a short video of one of my games Trigger Happy, a game specially designed for a light gun.
.Building this cabinet taught me that sometimes the most valuable tools in game design are those we make ourselves. It was a project born out of passion, creativity, and a desire to blend the old with the new—and that’s the essence of what makes gaming, and game development, so fulfilling.