Arcade1Up Class of ‘81 Ms. PAC-Man/Galaga Countercade – 3 Classic Games, Retro Game Console for Home, Portable Console with…
Best for
Best countertop
Amazon rating
Amazon aggregate, one input among many in the Verdict Score
Current price
$149.99
Updated May 18, 2026 · 1 min read
Sources behind this verdict
10 reviewers weighted by source trust
The consensus
What reviewers found
Synthesized across the trust-weighted source mix below.
Across the reviewers we read, the Class of '81 Countercade is the most defensible budget and countertop pick in the candidate pool. A Walmart verified-purchase reviewer called the build quality surprising for the price, noting 'the cabinet and buttons are just like any arcade console you would find out in the wild,' and Amazon ratings sit at 4.4 across 244 verified ratings — a deep pool for a $149 product. The 7-inch screen and tabletop form factor make it a defensible kids-room or office gift versus a full stand-up cabinet.
What reviewers liked
- Strong $149 price point with 4.4 stars across 244 Amazon ratings — best value-per-dollar signal in the candidate pool
- Walmart verified-purchase reviewers describe build quality as surprisingly close to a full arcade console
- Countertop form factor works for spaces that cannot accommodate a 5-foot Deluxe cabinet
- Includes the core Ms. PAC-Man and Galaga titles most buyers in the category specifically want
Where it falls short
- r/Arcade1Up users flag that the Class of '81 Countercade ships with only 3 games versus older 5-game countercades
- Community reviewers note hand placement near the side panel can be cramped during gameplay
- 7-inch screen is significantly smaller than the 17-inch Deluxe panels
- Internal board cannot be expanded without hardware modding
Across the reviewers we read, the Class of '81 Countercade is the most defensible budget and countertop pick in the candidate pool. A Walmart verified-purchase reviewer called the build quality surprising for the price, noting 'the cabinet and buttons are just like any arcade console you would find out in the wild,' and Amazon ratings sit at 4.4 across 244 verified ratings — a deep pool for a $149 product. The 7-inch screen and tabletop form factor make it a defensible kids-room or office gift versus a full stand-up cabinet.
r/Arcade1Up is where expectations get tempered. One community thread expresses disappointment that the newer countercade line includes 'only three games each' versus older 5-and-up libraries, and another flags that the joystick is positioned close to the side panel in a way that can crowd the hand during play. Modding threads note the internal board is not easy to expand without swapping in a Raspberry Pi or similar SBC.
The synthesis: as a low-commitment entry into the home arcade category, the value-per-dollar consensus is strong. As a primary arcade for a serious enthusiast, it is undersized and underloaded on games.
- 7” LCD Screen
- Full Size Real-Feel Arcade Controls
- Coinless operation
- Adjustable Variable Volume
- No Assembly Required
They're smaller than the countercades that I have, but each of these only have three games each. I'm kinda disappointed that this is the countercade output we' ...
You'll need to replace it with a Pi or other SBC if you want to add games. Our PSA from 2022, detailing that it doesn't matter what I/O ...
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“Ms Pac-Man/ Galaga Arcade1up countercade” · unbox and review
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