A search for a Pac-Man arcade machine can refer to several cabinet types: an original 1980 Midway cabinet, an original Ms. Pac-Man, a new multicade cabinet with Pac-Man artwork, or one of the modern Bandai Namco machines built for today’s arcades. They range from under $2,000 to over $20,000. Here is how to tell them apart and what each is worth.
The original: Pac-Man by Midway (1980)
Namco designed Pac-Man in Japan; Midway built and sold it in the United States from 1980, and the yellow cabinet with the blue marquee is the one most people picture. Around 100,000 were made, which is why originals are still findable. An original has a CRT monitor, the period Namco/Midway board, a single joystick and cabinet art that has usually faded and scuffed with forty years of use. Prices for a working, serviced original sit in the low thousands; a cabinet with a fresh monitor, restored art and a tested board sells for more. See our Pac-Man Arcade Machine by Midway – Used Original Cabinet.
Ms. Pac-Man (1981/82)
Made by Midway a year later with four mazes, moving fruit and a pink cabinet, Ms. Pac-Man outsold the original in North America and plays faster. Many surviving cabinets carry a “speed chip” upgrade that quickens the game; a listing should say whether one is fitted. Originals trade in the same range as Pac-Man. See our Ms. Pac-Man Arcade Machine with Speed Chip – Used Original Cabinet.
The reunion cabinet: Ms. Pac-Man / Galaga Class of 1981
In 2000 Namco released a licensed cabinet that runs Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga, and in most versions the original Pac-Man as well, with a new board and modern monitor in a cabinet that copies the period art. It is the most common “official” Pac-Man cabinet you will find in bars, and a good middle ground between an original and a multicade. See our Ms. Pac-Man / Galaga Class of 1981 Reunion Arcade Machine by Namco – Used.
The multicade: Pac-Man artwork, sixty games
A new upright cabinet finished in Pac-Man artwork, built around a 60-in-1 board that includes Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Donkey Kong, Frogger and the rest of the early-1980s catalogue, with an LCD monitor, new joysticks and buttons and a new power supply. It is the cheapest full-size Pac-Man cabinet and the one most home buyers end up with. The games are emulated rather than run on original boards, and a listing should say so. See our Pac-Man Multicade Upright Arcade – 60 Classic Games.
Modern Bandai Namco machines
Bandai Namco still builds Pac-Man for arcades: World’s Largest Pac-Man with a wall-sized LED display, Pac-Man Battle Royale for four players, Pac-Man Baller basketball and the Pixel Bash home cabinet. These are commercial machines priced from several thousand to over $20,000, built for family entertainment centres and the odd very well-equipped game room. See our World’s Largest Pac-Man.
What to check before buying an original
- Monitor. Original CRTs fade and “burn in” the maze. Ask whether the monitor has been capped or replaced, and look for a photo of the screen switched on.
- Board. An original Namco/Midway board is what makes it an original. A cabinet with a 60-in-1 board inside is a multicade in original clothing and should be priced as one.
- Cabinet and art. Water damage at the base and side-art wear are normal; replacement side art is available, so judge the cabinet’s structure first.
- Controls. The joystick should return to centre crisply in all four directions. Replacements are cheap; a sloppy stick is a bargaining point, not a reason to walk away.
Size and weight
For room and access planning, use the machine dimensions and weight guide, then confirm the exact cabinet model. Bandai Namco lists installed and shipping dimensions on the Pixel Bash Home Cabaret specifications page; those figures apply to that model rather than every Pac-Man cabinet.
An original Pac-Man upright is roughly 67 inches tall, 25 inches wide and 32 inches deep and weighs around 250 lb. Multicade uprights are similar; cocktail versions are about 29 inches tall and 32 inches wide. The exact figures are on each product page and the crated size is listed for delivery.
Prices on our floor
Original and reunion Pac-Man cabinets currently list between $810 and a few thousand dollars depending on condition; Pac-Man multicades sit at the lower end of the $510 to $16,926 multicade range; the modern Bandai Namco commercial machines run into five figures. Every listing shows the price you pay, the condition and the flat $200 US freight. Every Pac-Man cabinet we list is on one page: Pac-Man arcade machines for sale. For the wider picture read the home arcade machine buying guide, or browse all arcade video game machines for sale.
Quick answers
How much does a Pac-Man arcade machine cost? A serviced original Midway cabinet sells in the low thousands; a Pac-Man multicade is the cheapest full-size option; modern Bandai Namco machines cost from several thousand to over $20,000.
Is a Pac-Man multicade an original? No. It is a new cabinet with Pac-Man artwork running sixty emulated games on a modern board.
What is the difference between Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man? Ms. Pac-Man (1981/82) has four mazes, moving fruit and faster play; Pac-Man (1980) has one maze. Both were built by Midway in the US.
How big is a Pac-Man machine? About 67 inches tall, 25 wide and 32 deep, around 250 lb for an original upright.
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