Playing retro releases on modern platforms is a convenient, affordable way to enjoy those iconic games of yesteryear. However, playing the same classics on authentic hardware is even better.

Of course, not everybody has the space (or spare cash) to buy an actual arcade machine, which is why the Evercade Alpha Bartops are a fantastic alternative.

A year after the launch of two mid-sized Capcom arcade machines, Evercade is back with a Taito device containing ten built-in classics.

Priced at £229, the Taito Evercade Alpha Bartop Arcade comes with Bubble Bobble, Cadash, Elevator Action, The Fairyland Story, Growl, The Legend of Kage, The NewZealand Story, Puzzle Bobble, Rastan and Space Invaders.

Similar to last year’s Capcom devices, it also contains three swappable marquee panels (Rastan, Bubble Bobble and Space Invaders) that light up when plugged in.

I tend to opt for the Rastan marquee because it’s my favourite of the built-in games, but the Space Invaders panel probably looks the best and is the most iconic.

I may be alone here, but I don’t love the machine’s light blue/green colour scheme. I guess it’s similar to Taito’s Canary cabinet, but if that’s the look they were going for, then I think white side panels would have looked better.

Feature-wise, the Taito Evercade Alpha is very similar to last year’s Capcom devices and I’m fine with that. After all, why change a winning formula?

This is a big, bulky machine that’s built for comfort and practicality, letting you play arcade games the way they were meant to be played. The 8-inch IPS display means you don’t have to squint to see what’s happening on screen, while the full size components and wide base ensures you won’t get cramp when controlling the action.

Likewise, this is heavy enough not to slide around when you play it, but still light enough that you can move it around without needing a forklift (or a chiropractor).

It’s a great middle ground between something like the Sega Astro Mini that’s a bit too small, and a full-sized Arcade 1Up machine that’s too big.

The authentic arcade-style hardware also transforms the gaming experience. I’ve played these same Taito games on countless console compilations dating all the way back to the PS2. However, I forget how much more fun they are when played on something like the Evercade Alpha, or the previously released Taito Egret Mini 2.

I had much more fun playing the likes of Space Invaders, Growl and Puzzle Bobble with arcade controls than with a regular controller on consoles.

The only small issue I have with the new Taito Evercade Alpha is that all of the built-in games are available on the other Taito Evercade cartridge compilations.

Bubble Bobble, Space Invaders, Growl and The Legend of Kage feature on Taito Arcade 1, while The NewZealand Story, Rastan and Elevator Action are on Taito Arcade 2. The other three games – Cadash, Puzzle Bobble and The Fairyland Story – will be available on the upcoming Taito Arcade 3.

With such a huge back catalogue, it’s a shame the Evercade Alpha didn’t include a selection of games rarely featured elsewhere, like Elevator Action Returns, Night Striker, Aqua Jack, Darius, Dead Connection and Ray Storm. 

Of course, it’s hard to get too mad about games, because the great thing about the Alpha is that it contains two Evercade cartridge slots, which opens it up to hundreds of additional titles.

It’s perfect for purple cartridges that are dedicated to arcade games, but most 8-bit and 16-bit console collections also play well on the device. R-Type from the Irem Collection might be my absolute favourite, but Burgertime from Data East Arcade 1 is also a must play, not to mention all of those Toaplan shooters and the recent NeoGeo cartridges.

The 4:3 display isn’t necessarily optimised for vertical shooters, but the screen is big enough not to cause too many issues, so make sure you check out the likes of Truxton and Tiger Heli.

I would avoid home computer games featured on the blue cartridges and some of the 32-bit games, but otherwise you can pretty much play everything without much trouble.

Ultimately, the Taito Evercade Alpha Bartop is another fantastic piece of hardware that makes a great present for retro gaming fans.

However, while I would love to see more companies get the Alpha treatment, the Taito device has also left me wanting more. I’ve got my fingers crossed that Evercade returns in 2026 with a full-sized arcade cabinet with four cartridge slots! That would be epic.

In the meantime, you can’t go wrong with the Taito Evercade Alpha, especially if you have a sizeable collection of cartridges to complement the iconic games found within.

VERDICT: 4/5