The Evercade Alpha is unlike anything else in the Evercade lineup. It’s a bartop arcade cabinet — a proper upright unit you sit at a desk or counter, with a screen, joystick, buttons, and that unmistakable arcade feel. But is it the right choice for you? Let’s break it down.
WHAT IS THE EVERCADE ALPHA?
The Evercade Alpha is Blaze Entertainment’s take on a home bartop arcade cabinet. It features dual Evercade cartridge slots and plays the same Evercade cartridges you know and love, but the experience is completely different from the handheld or VS console. You’re getting an 8″ IPS screen, a proper joystick and button layout, and a cabinet design that genuinely looks the part sitting on a desk or shelf unit.
It’s designed to scratch that arcade itch without requiring a full-size cab or a dedicated games room. Think of it as the middle ground between a tabletop machine and a full standing arcade unit.
THE THREE EDITIONS
The Alpha launched in three distinct editions, each aimed at a slightly different buyer.
The Street Fighter Edition is the headline version. It features official Street Fighter branding, artwork across the cabinet, and comes bundled with the Street Fighter cartridge. If you’re a fighting game fan, this one makes an immediate statement on any surface it sits on.
The Mega Man Edition celebrates classic Capcom arcade titles — think Mega Man, Final Fight, Strider, and more. The artwork leans into Capcom’s golden-age arcade aesthetic, and it’s a great fit if you love those iconic Capcom franchises but aren’t solely a Street Fighter fan.
The Taito Edition celebrates classic Taito arcade titles — think Bubble Bobble, Elevator Action, and more golden-age gems. If your retro tastes run a little broader than just Capcom, this is the one with a different flavour of nostalgia baked in.
All three editions share the same hardware — the difference is in the cabinet artwork and the built-in games.
WHAT’S THE ARCADE EXPERIENCE ACTUALLY LIKE?
This is where the Alpha earns its place. The controls genuinely feel arcade-grade — the joystick has good resistance and accuracy, and the buttons are responsive with satisfying tactile feedback. For fighting games, shoot-’em-ups, and classic platformers, it’s a noticeable step up from a gamepad.
The screen is bright and sharp, and the slight upward angle of a bartop cabinet puts you in exactly the right position for extended play. It’s comfortable in a way that hunching over a handheld simply isn’t.
Two-player gaming is supported via the USB ports on the front of the cabinet — plug in a second USB controller and you’re good to go. Fire up a beat-’em-up or a co-op shoot-’em-up and it immediately becomes the centrepiece of any gaming session.
One honest caveat: not every Evercade cart suits the arcade format equally. Games built around a D-pad and buttons translate perfectly, but anything that leans heavily on analogue input or shoulder buttons can feel a little awkward. Stick to arcade-style games and you’ll be grinning the whole time.
HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO THE HANDHELD RANGE?
The Evercade handheld — in both its original and EXP forms — is about portability and personal play. You’re gaming on the go, in bed, on the sofa. It’s intimate and convenient, and the flip or landscape form factor suits a wide range of games beautifully.
The Alpha is the opposite in almost every way. It’s fixed, social, and immersive. You’re not taking it anywhere. But what it gives you in return is a shared experience — the kind of gaming moment that gets people gathered round, competing, cheering, and talking about it afterwards.
If you already own a handheld and want to expand your Evercade setup, the Alpha adds something genuinely different rather than duplicating what you have. Your cartridge collection works across both, which is one of the smartest things about the Evercade ecosystem.
If you’re buying your first Evercade device and you’re a solo player who games in different rooms or on the move, the handheld might serve you better day-to-day. But if you entertain, game with friends or family, or just want something that looks incredible on a desk — the Alpha is hard to argue with.
WHO IS THE EVERCADE ALPHA FOR?
It’s for you if:
- You love arcade games and want that authentic joystick-and-buttons experience at home
- You game with a partner, friends, or kids regularly
- You want a display piece that also happens to be a serious gaming machine
- You already own Evercade cartridges and want to play them in a completely new way
- You’re a Street Fighter, Capcom or Taito Arcade fan and the themed editions speak to you
It might not be for you if:
- You want flexibility of where you play
- Your collection skews heavily towards RPGs, puzzle games, or console-style titles
- Space or budget is a significant constraint
Want to dig deeper into specs, availability, and all three editions? Head over to our dedicated Evercade Alpha page for everything you need to know before you buy.