Arcadecraft, from indie developer Firebase Industries, sees you set up your own arcade from scratch. Starting from the year 1980, the game is a Tycoon-like simulation as your aim is to expand your cabinet collection and make a tidy profit.

Naturally, there are various setbacks and events that spice up the campaign, from jammed coin slots and angry gamers to hot import machines and world record setters. In addition, releases of home versions can have a negative impact on a machine’s popularity.

The game is perhaps best appreciated by those who have a reverence for or knowledge of arcades, as there are plenty of winks to that gaming era such as the infamous 1983 video game crash, which is replicated mid-way through the game.

Arcade machines also reference real-life classics – for instance, ‘Phantom’ aka Pac-Man later gets a sequel called ‘Lady Phantom’, while ‘Gorilla’ and ‘Future Ace’ are inspired by Donkey Kong and Time Pilot respectively.

Arcadecraft is plain fun and a great way to spend a few hours of your time. It’s not the deepest of games, but it never tries to be. All that matters is that running an arcade is as addictive as you would like and expect from a well-put together management game.