Animal Kaiser Plus, Bandai Namco Amusement’s rebooted animal-battle card game, is now available for US arcade locations. The release follows earlier appearances and teasers in the UK.
What Is Animal Kaiser Plus?
Animal Kaiser began in Japan in 2007 as a children’s card-dispensing and animal-battling arcade game. The series found its strongest audiences in Japan and the UK, while its US following was concentrated mainly in Hawaii rather than the mainland.
That made the new US launch an unexpected development when the reboot was shown at Amusement Expo 2024. It had previously been teased for the UK on social media late last year and demonstrated at EAG in January.
For operators researching specialist attractions, our arcade news and editorial coverage offers more updates from the industry.
US Pricing and Availability
Bandai Namco Amusement America has confirmed that Animal Kaiser Plus is shipping to the US market. Its manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $4,995, although the final amount may vary between distributors.
That is a significant investment in the current arcade market, but the cabinet is aimed at a focused audience of children and collectible-card players rather than general-purpose arcade gaming.
Bandai Namco’s decision to revisit the property reflects the growing popularity of card-based games. That interest helped make a reboot more suitable than producing another conventional sequel.
How the Card Dispensing System Works
Operators should be aware that the cabinet uses a count card to manage card dispensing. Each machine includes one count card, covering 600 dispenses. When a new box of cards arrives, the operator inserts the count card into the cabinet, allowing those 600 transactions to run.
After the 600 dispenses have been used, another valid count card must be inserted before the cabinet will operate.
The machine is not expected to run without a recognised count card, even if a player wants to use the game without receiving a card. In that situation, it will display an error and remain unplayable until the card is read by the IC reader.
This type of card-management system is common across many card-based arcade games. Replacement cards can be ordered through the operator’s distributor. The initial “version 1” release includes 78 cards, while a “version 2” set is expected to be announced soon.
Bandai Namco’s catalogue already includes replacement parts for the Animal Kaiser range. Operators planning maintenance should also review RETROCADE’s resources on arcade parts and arcade repairs and servicing.
A Specialist Addition for Family Locations
Animal Kaiser Plus occupies a specific niche: a child-friendly arcade experience combining battles, collecting and physical card dispensing. Its US availability gives operators another option for locations that already attract families and card-game fans.
For businesses comparing different cabinet types, RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide can help frame the practical questions around space, audience and ongoing operation.
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