Arcade Game Rental Guide: Space, Power, Staffing, Tournaments and What Affects the Price

An arcade corner gives guests something to do the minute they walk in. Some people jump straight onto a racing seat, others gather around a dance game to watch, and a few settle into a classic cabinet for one more round. Getting that energy at your event takes a little planning: the right mix of games, enough floor space, safe power and a clear plan for who’s running things.

This guide walks through how an arcade game rental works with Party Pros East Coast, from Philadelphia and our Bridgeport, PA base out across the East Coast. To browse the full lineup, start on our arcade game rentals page.

The short version

  • Space: most arcade games need a 5 ft × 8 ft footprint. High-end simulators or multi-game setups may need extra width.
  • Power: most games run on a single 110-volt outlet (a standard household plug). Some simulators or multi-game setups may need an additional circuit.
  • Setup: we deliver, set up before guests arrive and come back for breakdown at the agreed pickup time.
  • Staffing: full-service packages include a game tech on site. For dry-drop rentals, you get a help line.
  • Rental length: our standard rental time is 4 hours, and we also offer full-day rentals and custom durations.
  • Booking: we recommend reserving at least two weeks in advance, and earlier in busy seasons.
Guest playing a Multicade multi-game arcade cabinet with a two-player joystick and button panel and a classic maze game on screen
Our Multi-Game Arcade Station packs 17,000+ games into one two-player cabinet.

Choosing the games: build a mix, not a single machine

The best arcade setups mix a few kinds of play so every age group finds something. Multiple stations also keep lines short. Here’s how the games on our arcade hub group together:

Type of gameExamples from our lineupWhy it works
Classic cabinetsMulti-Game Arcade Station, Retro Arcade Machine, Video Arcade Game StationFamiliar games, quick rounds and repeat attempts. The Multi-Game Arcade Station puts 17,000+ games in one cabinet.
Simulators and VRCar racing simulators, virtual realityHigh-impact attractions that draw a crowd, especially at corporate mixers, trade shows, colleges and large parties.
Music and danceDance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, Rock BandHigh energy and fun to watch. Rock Band encourages team play.
Sports arcadePop-A-Shot, Skee-Ball, electronic darts, Zap-A-MoleFast head-to-head competition. Electronic darts is compact and indoor-friendly.
Table and prize gamesFoosball, air hockey, ping pong, prize claw machine, video bingoRec-room favorites that round out the zone and keep guests busy between other games.

Not sure where to start? Our city pages list ready-made packages, like a Game Room Package that pairs the Multi-Game Arcade Station with air hockey or foosball, a ping pong table, a prize crane machine and a photo booth option. See the Philadelphia Multi-Game Arcade Station page for the full package list.

Guest seated in a racing simulator seat with a steering wheel, driving a race on a large mounted screen
A racing simulator is one of the biggest draws at corporate events and large parties.

Space and layout

Plan the room around the games and the people waiting to play them. Here’s what our pages say about space:

Power: what arcade games need

Most arcade games run on a single 110-volt outlet, which is a standard household plug. High-end simulators or multi-game setups may need an additional circuit, so tell us where your outlets are and what else is on those circuits.

If you’re outdoors or away from building power, our generator sizing cheat sheet lists typical draws to plan around:

ItemTypical running draw (from our cheat sheet)Notes
Arcade cabinet (each)200–400 W, about 2–4 AClassic and rhythm games vary.
VR station + PC + TV500–900 W, about 5–8 AShort GPU peaks. Plan ventilation.
Game lounge: 2 arcades + VR/PC + TVSuggested generator: 5–7 kW gas inverterSized with headroom for the whole lounge.

The cheat sheet also says to always check the label on your exact item, since these are common ranges, and to add a 20–30% buffer for startup surges. We confirm the actual power plan with your quote.

Indoor or outdoor?

Arcade games are electronic, so most setups do best inside. Our pages say tech games work well indoors, in lounges or as a compact attraction, and that the Multi-Game Arcade Station often works best indoors, under cover or in controlled lighting.

Planning an outdoor event? It can work, but the conversation covers power access, weather cover, screen visibility, sound and line flow before we confirm placement. Some games, like Skee-Ball, are listed for both indoor and outdoor events. Let us know your plan when you request a quote.

Young girl stepping on the glowing arrow pads of a dance arcade game in front of a screen at an indoor party
Dance games light up the room and get guests of all ages moving.

Staffing and support

Tournaments, leaderboards and friendly contests

A little competition turns an arcade corner into the center of the party. Our pages describe several ways to run it:

Simple ideas that work: fastest lap of the night on the racing sim, a high-score board for the classic cabinet, or a department-vs-department Pop-A-Shot bracket at a company party.

Yellow Toy Taxi prize claw machine filled with plush prizes
A prize claw machine adds a prize to the competition.

Where arcade rentals fit best

Our arcade pages list a wide range of good fits:

Planning other entertainment too? Arcade games pair well with photo booths, concessions and inflatables. If you’re building a bigger party, see how many casino tables you need or our guide to renting a mechanical bull. Planning near Montgomery County? Our Blue Bell VR and arcade party guide covers local venues. For October parties, our Halloween party rentals in Philadelphia page includes the Video Arcade Game Station alongside glow games and photo booths.

How far ahead to book

We recommend reserving arcade games at least two weeks in advance, especially during graduation season, the winter holidays and the summer festival months. Short-notice requests are welcome. Availability just depends on which cabinets are already booked.

What affects the price of an arcade game rental

We don’t publish one flat rate, because every lineup and venue is different. Your quote depends on:

For exact pricing, add the games you want on our arcade game quote page and send your date, venue and guest count.

Arcade Game Rental Planning Checklist

Have these ready when you request a quote.

  • Date, venue, city and guest count, plus the age range.
  • Your event window and whether it’s indoors or outdoors.
  • Room size and access: about 5 ft × 8 ft per game, plus room for lines, and any stairs, elevators or tight doorways.
  • Outlet locations and circuit capacity, or a plan for a generator.
  • Open play or tournament rounds, and whether you want a game tech on site.

Party Pros East Coast
partyproseastcoast.com · 844-PARTY-HQ

Arcade game rentals across the East Coast

Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs are a primary focus, and our arcade hub lists delivery across PA, NJ, DE, MD, NY, CT, MA, RI and VA. Local pages: Philadelphia arcade game rentals and Delaware arcade game rentals.

AreaMulti-Game Arcade StationVideo Arcade Game Station
Philadelphia, PAMulti-Game Arcade StationVideo Arcade Game Station
Wilmington, DEMulti-Game Arcade StationVideo Arcade Game Station
Montclair, NJMulti-Game Arcade StationVideo Arcade Game Station
New York, NYMulti-Game Arcade StationVideo Arcade Game Station
Winchester, MDMulti-Game Arcade StationVideo Arcade Game Station
Electronic dartboard arcade cabinet with a lit scoring display standing by a window at an event venue
Electronic darts fits indoor lounges and adult-heavy parties without a big footprint.

Ready to build your arcade lineup?

Send us your date, venue, guest count, age range and whether you’re indoors or outdoors. We’ll help pick the games, confirm space and power, and plan staffing. Or call 844-PARTY-HQ.

Arcade game rental FAQ

How much space does an arcade game need?

Most arcade games need a 5 ft × 8 ft footprint. High-end simulators or multi-game setups may need extra width. Leave room for the line and spectators, and we’ll confirm exact specs once you choose your games.

What power do arcade games need?

Most run on a single 110-volt outlet, a standard household plug. Some simulators or multi-game setups may need an additional circuit. Our generator cheat sheet lists a typical arcade cabinet at 200–400 W running, but always check the specific item.

Can arcade games be set up outdoors?

Most tech games do best indoors, under cover or in controlled lighting. Outdoor setups can work, but we review power, weather cover, screen visibility, sound and line flow first.

Is someone from Party Pros on site?

Full-service packages include a game tech who monitors play and keeps the games running. Dry-drop rentals come with a help line. Staffing depends on the rental and is quoted separately.

How long is an arcade rental?

Our standard rental time is 4 hours. We also offer full-day rentals and custom durations. Just share your event schedule.

How far in advance should I book?

At least two weeks, especially during graduation season, the winter holidays and summer festival months. Short-notice requests are welcome, depending on which cabinets are already booked.

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