Fabrice traveled to Péronne to meet the founders of Tenzen Arcade, who talk to us about the origins of their project, share buying advice, provide technical insights, and point out the pitfalls to avoid in the world of arcade gaming.

In this video, the Tenzen Arcade team looks back at the genesis of their project: an adventure born from a shared passion for authentic arcade machines and a simple observation — in 2026, it is still possible to source original historic arcade cabinets, particularly from Japan. After traveling there themselves to meet suppliers and inspect machines in game centers, Tenzen now imports cabinets by the container, with a clear goal: to offer an arcade experience that is faithful to the original conditions of the era, with full transparency.

Tenzen Arcade positions itself as a turnkey service, covering everything from import and restoration to sales and customer support. Legendary candy cabs (Astro City, New Astro, Blast City…), dedicated cabinets, race cabs, or gun games — no limits are set. Machines can be sold as-is or fully restored (paintwork, control panels, electronics, tested CRT screens), with clear warranties, photos and videos provided before delivery, and genuine after-sales support. The aim is to secure a purchase that is far from trivial and to avoid the unpleasant surprises that are common on the private second-hand market.

The video also addresses key questions for enthusiasts: compatibility with modern solutions like Recalbox, constraints related to CRT screens, frequency choices (15/24/31 kHz), logistics, pricing, lead times, and advice for newcomers. Tenzen reminds viewers that an arcade cabinet is an old, living machine that requires a minimum level of involvement — but that maintenance and understanding are an integral part of the pleasure. A passionate and clear-eyed testimony on the current state of retro arcade gaming, caught between revival, increasing rarity, and the transmission of a unique heritage.

We would like to remind you that if you support Recalbox via Patreon, you benefit from a free Recalbox RGB JAMMA 2 Kit + Raspberry Pi 5 with the purchase of a Japanese candy cab, such as (New) Astro City, (New) Net City, Blast City, Aero City, etc. (excluding NUC), using the promo code available in your Patreon space.

Enjoy watching!