If you host a short-term rental, you already know the amenities arms race is real. Guests scroll past a dozen nearly-identical listings before they book, and the amenities section is often where the decision actually gets made. This checklist covers what genuinely matters — and makes the case for one addition that tends to outperform almost everything else on this list for the space it takes up.
The Amenities Checklist That Actually Matters
Not everything on a typical amenities list moves bookings. Here's what does:
The fundamentals guests expect
- Fast, reliable Wi-Fi with the password clearly posted
- Full kitchen essentials — not just a coffee maker, but actual cooking equipment
- Quality bedding and enough towels for full occupancy
- Climate control that actually works in both directions
- Basic toiletries and paper products for the first day
The differentiators that turn a 4-star review into a 5-star review
- A dedicated workspace for remote-working guests
- Outdoor space with real seating, not an afterthought
- Local guidebook or curated recommendations
- Self-check-in that's actually smooth, not a scavenger hunt
The centerpiece that gets photographed, reviewed, and remembered — an arcade machine
This is the one most hosts overlook, and it's worth walking through why it performs the way it does.
Why an Arcade Cabinet Outperforms Most "Fun" Amenities
A pool table takes up a room and splits opinion. A home theater competes with guests just watching their own phones. A hot tub is expensive to maintain and a liability concern for some hosts.
An arcade machine solves a specific problem: it's the rare amenity that's genuinely fun for a solo traveler, a couple, and a family of six, all at once — and it takes up roughly the footprint of a large bookshelf.
- It's a photo. Guests photograph novelty. A well-wrapped arcade cabinet in a living room is exactly the kind of image that ends up in a listing's guest-submitted photos, which do real work for future bookings.
- It fills dead time without a screen. Evenings after dinner, rainy afternoons, the hour before checkout — an arcade cabinet gives guests something to do together that isn't everyone on their own phone.
- It's low-maintenance compared to the alternatives. No water chemistry to manage, no felt to replace.
- It's genuine differentiation. Most listings in a given market look similar on paper. "Full arcade machine" is the kind of line that gets a listing clicked instead of scrolled past.
What to Actually Look for When Choosing One for a Rental Property
Not every arcade cabinet is a good fit for a rental. A few things matter more here than they would for a home purchase:
Durability under guest turnover. A rental sees far more hands on the controls than a home unit ever will. Look for hand-built construction with reinforced internals, not a lightweight kit shell.
No assembly, no ongoing tech support burden. A plug-and-play unit that arrives fully assembled and just works is the right call for a property you're not managing hands-on every day.
A design that photographs well and fits the property's aesthetic. A full-wrap cabinet in a design that matches your property's theme does more for your listing photos than a plain black box in the corner.
Realistic footprint. A home arcade machine in a wall-mounted or pedestal-style format works where floor space is tight; a full-size cabinet makes sense where you have room to make it a real centerpiece.
A real support line if something does go wrong. With guests cycling through constantly, you want a builder you can actually reach — not a resold import with no one to call.
Setting the Right Expectations With Guests
Any shared amenity — a pool table, a hot tub, an arcade cabinet — does best when it's mentioned in your house rules or welcome guide, the same way experienced hosts note care instructions for anything else in the space. A quick, friendly line like "please treat our arcade cabinet with the same care as the rest of the home, so future guests can enjoy it too" does double duty: it sets a warm tone, and it's exactly the kind of documented expectation seasoned hosts build into a listing for any amenity, not just this one. Like any furniture or fixture in your unit, it's worth keeping under whatever damage protection or security deposit process you already use for the property — no separate policy required, just the same good practice you'd apply to anything else guests use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will an arcade machine actually get used, or just sit there?
Interactive, shared-activity amenities tend to get disproportionate engagement in guest reviews and photos relative to their cost, compared to passive additions like extra decor.
Is it worth it for a smaller property?
A wall-mounted or pedestal cabinet solves the space concern directly — the same guest experience in a fraction of the footprint of a full-size upright.
How long does it take to get one set up in a property?
This varies by builder and whether you're choosing an in-stock design versus a custom one — confirm current lead times directly before planning around a specific turnover date.
What's the realistic cost range?
Pricing varies significantly by cabinet size, finish, and whether you buy factory-direct versus from an import reseller or middleman — that gap is often larger than the gap between cabinet styles.
Considering an arcade machine for a rental property? Explore our full-size arcade cabinets or any of our factory-direct multicade options — all shipped as fully assembled arcade machines, with a real team to call if you ever need one.