The first arcade room that is 100% free to play, fully funded by the European community. First project: 400m² in Lausanne. 80+ authentic cabinets imported from Japan. No coins, no cards — just press Start.
— THE CONCEPT —
We are not just building an arcade.
We are bringing our passion back to life.
Over the years, society has evolved and traditional arcades have died — among other reasons — because loose change was no longer enough to cover the needs of the venues. Here, we have decided to completely reverse this traditional model:
Playing on arcade cabinets is 100% free*
How can this project become a reality? Thanks to you! We need your support! To make this dream sustainable, we need to raise 150,000 € / month. By taking a subscription – from 3 € / month, cancellable at any time - you support us and become a co-founder of the movement.
By becoming a co-founder, you get to vote every month on the next big decisions for the arcade. For example, which machines to import next and the UFO Catcher licences. If there are enough of us, we will be able to open other arcades in Europe or in Japan!
The general atmosphere: "Akihabara" style. A dark background contrasted by electric neons. Do you remember Taito Station or Mikado Game Center? That's the kind of arcade I'd like to recreate! Also, every month, Arcade Japan will partner with artists to sell you t-shirts in each artist's own style, available in the shop page; the overall design theme will be arcade, and the artists will receive 50% of the profit on the t-shirt sales! And let's not forget that tournaments will be organised every month with big prizes to win!
*Except UFO Catchers and Gashapons, kept at the legal minimum price because figures and plushies have a real physical cost that is not part of our budget.
— Select Machine —
The games awaiting you in the room
Versus & Retro
50 legendary Candy Cabs (Astro City, Vewlix, Noir) wired for tournaments, fighting games and retro.
Rhythm Games (Bemani)
DanceRush Stardom, Dance Dance Revolution, Taiko no Tatsujin, Chunithm, Maimai, Sound Voltex — rhythm-game heaven.
Action & Racing Games
Deluxe simulators: Mario Kart GP DX, House of the Dead 3 & 4, and more.
Prize Games
24 (mini) UFO Catchers + 36 Gashapons: Japanese plushies and figures impossible to find in Europe.
— Total transparency —
Where the €150,000 / month goes
Every euro has a precise role. Here is the full monthly budget breakdown.
— Rewards —
Tier Rewards
Exclusive physical items reserved for the project's co-founders.
Exclusive VIP T-shirt
A premium t-shirt with an Arcade Japan design. Reserved for supporters of the physical tiers. It can also be bought directly in the shop while stocks last.
I am looking for an artist who can draw in the same style (no AI). The work will be paid.
Please contact me via "contact" below.
Material: 100% ring-spun cotton. 153 g/m²
Exclusive figurine — Yuna, the Arcade Japan mascot
A limited-edition collector figurine of the official Arcade Japan mascot. For the most dedicated supporters. The design is temporary; if you like it, I will hire a 3D artist for the final rendering.
Design, production and shipping time: around 6 months
— Select Player —
Choose your support
Three monthly subscriptions you can cancel anytime, plus five one-time donation tiers available only until stock runs out. The one-time tiers unlock exclusive physical rewards and disappear once sold out.
⚠️ IMPORTANT — HOW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION WORKS
By choosing a monthly subscription today (Arcade Gamer, Great Arcade Gamer or VIP Arcade Gamer), you are registered as a supporter. Nothing will be debited until the project reaches 150,000 € of monthly recurring revenue. If the goal is not reached, YOU WILL NEVER BE DEBITED. The Super, Hardcore, Ultra and Ultimate one-time tiers are automatically moved to the Arcade Gamer monthly subscription once their payment is captured.
How will you know the goal is reached? You will receive an email as soon as we reach 50%, 90% and 100% of our 150,000 € per month goal. In the meantime, you can watch our progress bar in real time in our roadmap below.
ℹ️ Regarding the Tiers
ℹ️ The Super, Hardcore, Ultra and Ultimate tiers are one-time donations available only until stock runs out. They will be debited once the project reaches 150,000 € of monthly recurring revenue. Once your one-time tier payment is captured, you will automatically be moved to the Arcade Gamer monthly subscription at no extra cost. Physical rewards (exclusive t-shirts and figures) are produced and shipped once the stock is built up.
Insert Coin
ARCADE GAMER
0 active supporters
- ▸Free access to the arcade room
- ▸Access to the Discord server
- ▸Your name listed in the monthly credits
Press Start ×2
GREAT ARCADE GAMER
0 active supporters
- ▸Free access to the arcade room
- ▸€3 off every order in the shop
- ▸Access to the Discord server
- ▸Member card - Guaranteed entry to tournaments as a competitor or regular visitor with priority seating as long as the subscription is active
- ▸If the Bonus Stage is unlocked, priority access to concerts as long as the subscription is active and subject to availability (VIP Arcade Gamer subscribers have priority)
- ▸Your name listed in the monthly credits
VIP Access
VIP ARCADE GAMER
0 active supporters
- ▸Free access to the arcade room
- ▸€3 off every order in the shop
- ▸Access to the Discord server
- ▸Exclusive Silver VIP card - Guaranteed entry to tournaments as a competitor or visitor with priority VIP front-row seating as long as the subscription is active
- ▸If the Bonus Stage is unlocked, priority access to concerts as long as the subscription is active and subject to availability (priority over Great Arcade Gamer subscribers)
- ▸Your name listed in the monthly credits
TIER 1 · THE VIP PACK
SUPER GAMER PACK
0 active supporters
1600 / 1600 SPOTS LEFT
- ▸1x VIP T-shirt
- ▸1x exclusive figurine
- ▸If the Bonus Stage is unlocked, priority access to concerts for 1 month from the arcade opening, subject to availability
- ▸Access to the Discord server
- ▸Your name listed in the monthly credits
- ▸Worldwide shipping included (starter pack only)
TIER 2 · THE BEST FRIEND PACK
HARDCORE GAMER PACK
0 active supporters
100 / 100 SPOTS LEFT
- ▸2x VIP T-shirt
- ▸2x exclusive figurines
- ▸Exclusive Gold VIP card - Guaranteed entry to tournaments as a competitor or front-row VIP visitor for 1 month from the arcade opening.
- ▸If the Bonus Stage is unlocked, priority access to concerts for 1 month from the arcade opening, subject to availability
- ▸Access to the Discord server
- ▸Your name listed in the monthly credits
- ▸Worldwide shipping included (starter pack only)
- ▸€3 off every order in the shop for 1 month
TIER 3 · LEGEND PACK
ULTRA GAMER PACK
0 active supporters
30 / 30 SPOTS LEFT
- ▸Invitation to the arcade pre-opening with an aperitif and 40 tokens provided to try the ufo catchers / gashapon and win figurines!
- ▸2x VIP T-shirt
- ▸2x exclusive figurines
- ▸Exclusive Gold VIP card - Guaranteed entry to tournaments as a competitor or front-row VIP visitor for 1 year from the arcade opening.
- ▸If the Bonus Stage is unlocked, priority access to concerts for 1 month from the arcade opening, subject to availability
- ▸Access to the Discord server
- ▸Your name listed in the monthly credits
- ▸Worldwide shipping included (starter pack only)
- ▸€3 off every order in the shop for 1 year
TIER 4 · ULTIMATE PACK
ULTIMATE GAMER PACK
0 active supporters
20 / 20 SPOTS LEFT
- ▸Possibility to privatise the arcade for a day, 120 tokens offered to try the ufo catchers / gashapon and win figurines!
- ▸Invitation to the arcade pre-opening with an aperitif and 40 tokens provided to try the ufo catchers / gashapon and win figurines!
- ▸5x VIP T-shirt
- ▸5x exclusive figurines
- ▸Exclusive Crystal VIP card - Guaranteed entry to tournaments as a competitor or front-row VIP visitor with no time limit.
- ▸If the Bonus Stage is unlocked, priority access to concerts for 1 year from the arcade opening, subject to availability (same status as VIP Arcade Gamer)
- ▸Access to the VIP Discord server
- ▸Your name listed in the monthly credits
- ▸Worldwide shipping included (starter pack only)
- ▸€3 off every order in the shop for 1 year
Extra Life
DONATOR GAMER
- ▸One-time donation of any amount
- ▸Your name listed in the monthly credits
*The Arcade Gamer (3 €), Great Arcade Gamer (10 €) and VIP Arcade Gamer (20 €) tiers are shown excl. fees — PayPal banking fees (1.50% to 2.90% + 0.30 €) or Stripe (3.15% + 0.25 €) are paid by the supporter. For the one-time Super, Hardcore, Ultra and Ultimate tiers, the price is all-inclusive: PayPal fees are covered by Arcade Japan. For organizational reasons: subscriptions will be debited on the 4th of each month (January 4, February 4, etc.) Twint and Stripe payments will soon be available. In the meantime, Paypal is at your disposal.
— Roadmap —
Our expansion stages
The bigger the community grows, the more free-to-play rooms we open across major European cities. Each new milestone = a new chapter.
STAGE 1
€160,000 / month
Swiss Flagship 📦🚀
Opening of the 400m² flagship renovated in Japanese arcade style right in the centre of Lausanne. 80+ arcade cabinets. The opening is planned for late 2027 / early 2028. Ordering and shipping of the goodies for the Tier Gamers during the 2nd quarter of 2027.
BONUS STAGE
+€30,000 / month
Video game artist concerts 🎵🎮
Every month, we invite a renowned video game music artist to animate the arcade hall — such as Chipzel, SabrePulse, and why not Anamanaguchi for the hall opening? Concerts would be accessible to subscribers within available seats.
STAGE 2
€330,000 / month
New arcade in a European or Japanese city 🚀🚀
Opening of a second physical room in Europe: Paris, Barcelona or another major city — depending on where our subscribed supporters come from. Once Stage 2 is reached, it will require at least 8 months to buy the machines and renovate a new room of around 1000m2.
STAGE X
+€160,000 / month
Infinite expansion 🚀🚀🚀
An even crazier dream: each additional tier = a new free-to-play arcade in a new European or Japanese city!
— Our community —
Where our supporters come from
Each color represents the country of an active supporter.
— Devlog —
Progress updates
Every step of the project, in plain terms. We post every important update here.