Good news, retro arcade enthusiasts! After a six-month hiatus, one of the most beloved and adaptable home arcade machines is back on Amazon for preorder. You can now secure the Evercade Alpha Taito Bartop Arcade for $260, a fantastic miniature countertop cabinet preloaded with 10 iconic Taito games and adorned with a delightful Bubble Bobble theme. This Taito edition marks the third iteration of the Evercade Alpha, following the Mega Man and Street Fighter models which quickly sold out in early 2025 and haven’t reappeared. Given its popularity, if you’ve been eyeing an Evercade Alpha, now’s your chance to grab this new edition before its November 12th launch!
This special Taito edition comes loaded with a fantastic collection of 10 classic titles:
- Bubble Bobble
- Puzzle Bobble
- Space Invaders
- Cadash
- Rastan
- Elevator Action
- The FairyLand Story
- Growl
- The Legend of Kage
- The New Zealand Story
Plus, over a dozen additional digital games can be unlocked through the Evercade OS Secret menu!
While the preloaded games are a great start, they’re just a taste of what the Evercade Alpha offers. This isn’t just a standalone arcade cabinet; it’s a gateway to an expansive cartridge-based gaming ecosystem, much like modern consoles but with a nostalgic twist. The Alpha supports over 75 unique cartridges spanning three distinct lineups: console, arcade, and home computer.
The Evercade Alpha Taito Bartop Arcade features:
- Display: 8-inch HD IPS with 4:3 aspect ratio
- Bubble Bobble theme
- 10 preloaded Taito games
- 2 cartridge slots for 75+ Evercade collections
- Ball-top arcade stick
- 6 buttons
- 2 USB controller ports
- USB-AC adapter
- Dimensions: 16.1 x 9.6 x 12.4 inches
- Weight: 13.2 pounds
- Processor: RK3326 1.5GHz
- Memory: 512MB DRAM
Currently, the Evercade platform boasts 20 arcade collections, with over 150 games, and four new Taito and NeoGeo carts on the horizon. The console series is even more expansive, featuring 48 cartridges and over 400 games, while the home computer lineup, the newest addition, offers 10 cartridges with over 100 games. Most Evercade cartridges are priced around $30 and are lovingly curated collections from specific retro publishers, platforms, or franchises. Interestingly, about 20% of the library is dedicated to modern indie games that capture that classic retro vibe. New cartridges are consistently released, with seven exciting collections already available for preorder.
The Evercade Alpha isn’t just about its vast game library; it’s also about a premium arcade experience. Although we haven’t personally reviewed the Taito model, it shares the exact same impressive specifications and compact design as the highly-praised Mega Man and Street Fighter editions. The only variation is the arcade stick—the Taito model features a classic ball-top stick, while the Capcom versions sported bat-top sticks. Expect nothing less than superb build quality for the Taito edition, mirroring the excellent feel of its predecessors. Its vibrant 8-inch IPS screen delivers a crisp, clear image, and the arcade stick and buttons are notably superior to other cabinets in this price category. The intuitive Evercade OS ensures a smooth and user-friendly experience. Weighing a mere 13 pounds, the Alpha is remarkably portable, making it easy to relocate or even enjoy from the comfort of your couch.
Given the extensive library of console and handheld games, you might occasionally prefer a standard controller. While the Alpha supports wired USB controllers out of the box, a wireless adapter (like the 8BitDo USB Wireless Adapter 2) will open up compatibility with a wide array of Bluetooth gamepads, including those from PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch, along with many 8BitDo controllers. Plus, numerous wired and wireless third-party arcade sticks can be connected, perfect for multiplayer showdowns with authentic controls.
For more on the Evercade Alpha, we’d recommend reading our in-depth review of the Mega Man edition published last year.
Evercade Handhelds & Home Console
For those who love the Evercade library but prefer a different form factor or price point, Blaze Entertainment offers other fantastic options. Amazon recently restocked the Evercade EXP-R handheld and the VS-R home console, both priced at an attractive $130. Each of these systems comes bundled with the exciting Tomb Raider Collection I, featuring the original trilogy!
- Evercade EXP-R Handheld – Tomb Raider Bundle: $130 | Restocked at Amazon
- Evercade VS-R Home Console – Tomb Raider Bundle: $130 | Restocked at Amazon
Upcoming Evercade Cartridge Collections
And here’s a peek at some of the exciting Evercade cartridge collections coming soon, all priced at $30:
- Taito Arcade Collection 1 (9 Games) – September 25
- Taito Arcade Collection 2 (9 Games) – September 25
- NeoGeo Arcade Collection 2 (6 Games) – October 30
- NeoGeo Arcade Collection 3 (6 Games) – October 30
- Rare Collection (12 Games) – November 27
- Activision Collection (15 Games) – November 27
- The Llamasoft Collection (27 Games) – November 27