Weekly · Free
Cabinet Restoration Diaries
Step-by-step teardown and rebuild logs — recapping monitors, replacing PCBs, and getting a 1983 cabinet glowing again. Full parts lists and UK supplier links included.
Fitzrovia · London · Since 2016
Where the arcade never closes.
Weekly deep-dives on arcade classics, retro consoles, speedrun records and the indie games keeping the pixel dream alive.
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Articles published
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Cabinets restored & reviewed
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Monthly readers
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Years covering the scene
What we cover
Every corner of the arcade, in one place.
From CRT restoration guides to frame-perfect speedrun breakdowns, here's the beat we cover week in, week out.
Speedrun Breakdowns
Frame-by-frame route analysis of world-record runs, glitch explainers, and interviews with the runners chasing them.
Indie Spotlight Reviews
Honest, no-hype reviews of pixel-art and arcade-inspired indies — scored, screenshotted, and playtested to the credits.
Members · £4/mo
Become a member
The Raiders' Members Club
Early access to features, monthly high-score tournaments, and invites to our Fitzrovia arcade meet-ups — the first Thursday of every month, 7pm.
The writers
The crew behind the joystick.
Marcus Thorne
Editor-in-Chief · Arcade History
Restored his first Space Invaders cabinet at 15. Writes our long-form hardware histories.
Priya Nair
Speedrun Correspondent
Ex-competitive runner turned analyst. Breaks down world-record routes frame by frame.
Danny Okafor
Indie Reviews Lead
Plays every pixel-art release to the credits before he'll put a score on it.
Sofia Bellini
Community & Events
Runs our monthly Fitzrovia meet-ups and the members' high-score league.
Reader love
Trusted by players who grew up on quarters.
★★★★★
The recapping guide saved my dad's old Galaga board — followed it to the letter and it booted first try. Nowhere else explains it this clearly.
★★★★★
Their speedrun breakdowns are the only ones that actually explain the tricks instead of just showing them. I shaved 40 seconds off my personal best.
★★★★★
Went to a Thursday meet-up in Fitzrovia expecting a handful of people and found a proper community. Been every month since.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Is the blog free to read?+
Yes — every article, restoration diary and review is free to read, forever. The optional £4/month Members Club adds early access, monthly tournaments and meet-up invites, but nothing on the main blog is paywalled.
Can I submit my own cabinet restoration story?+
Absolutely. We publish two reader restorations a month. Email us photos and a short write-up through the contact form below and Marcus will get back to you within a week to talk through the details and editing process.
Where and when are the Fitzrovia meet-ups?+
The first Thursday of every month at 7pm, a short walk from our office at 54 Hanway Street. Members get a reserved spot and a token stack; non-members are welcome too, space permitting. Full location details go out in the members' newsletter.
Do you review modern games or only retro?+
Both. Our Indie Spotlight covers new pixel-art and arcade-inspired releases, while our history and restoration pieces stay firmly in the classic era. If a modern game shares DNA with the golden-age arcades, it's fair game for us.
Get in touch
Drop us a line or join the newsletter.
Pitch a story, ask a restoration question, or sign up for the weekly round-up. We read everything.
Hanway Street · W1T