Polygon.com / 26.04.25

Documenting Japan's classic arcades before it's too late

Depending who you ask, arcades have been dead or dying or on their last legs for almost 40 years now. The reality is more complex, with new business models, barcades, bigger complexes like Dave & Busters, and VR/immersive/experimental options taking their place.  But the classic arcade, where you could drop a couple quarters to play the latest game from one of the industrys best studios, has certainly seen better days. And while a number of local arcades in Japan have held on longer than most, their numbers have been dwindling in recent years as well. To capture those spots before its too late, photographer Víctor Alonso spent a month in 2023 traveling across Japan and visiting dozens of classic arcades for a photography book called The Last Game Centers. Thus far, the book hasnt received an English-language release (the original release includes Spanish and Japanese text), though starting this weekend and running through May 5, Alonso is exhibiting photos from the book in Los Angele...
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