Building a retro arcade cabinet starts with deciding which games it should run, as this determines the controls, computer and size of the cabinet. Early arcade titles need simpler layouts, whereas fighting, multiplayer and specialist games may require extra buttons, trackballs or spinners; testing a proposed layout on cardboard can prevent costly mistakes.

Builders can make a wooden cabinet, buy a flat-pack kit or adapt an existing machine, then add a display, controls, USB encoder, computer, storage, audio and power equipment. A 2GB Raspberry Pi 5, priced at $65, suits many classic games, while an old PC may be better for more demanding emulation; cooling and separate audio hardware may be needed for Pi 5. Example prices put a basic new bartop build at roughly $270 before the display, storage, cables and decorative additions, although reused equipment can substantially reduce costs.