IAAPA 2025 Arcade Games: Bandai, Sega and LAI

Part two of our IAAPA 2025 coverage reviews the major arcade releases displayed by Bandai Namco, Sega Amusements and LAI Games. UNIS is held over for a later instalment because of its unusually large showing, while Player One Amusement Group provides an additional bonus section.

Bandai Namco

Bandai Namco’s American and European amusement divisions combined their displays again, creating a booth that included both in-house releases and games distributed exclusively in particular territories. The stand also highlighted a growing number of video games from Chinese partners, alongside continued work with developers in Asia and Europe.

Bandai Namco’s principal line-up, excluding the European distribution network, included:

Speed Rider 4DX
The Future
Mini World
Pac-Man Pixel Bash Bistro
Pac-Man Street Range
GoldStorm Pirates
Taiko no Tatsujin
Animal Kaiser Plus
Rockin’ Bowl-O-Rama
Jumpin’ Jupiter
Ball Madness
Tower Island
Strike Hook
Tom & Jerry Kitchen Chaos
Looney Tunes Red Zone Rush

Speed Rider 4DX

Speed Rider 4DX is the latest motorcycle racer from Taiwanese veteran IGS and Chinese cabinet manufacturer Baohui. Bandai Namco has secured it for North America, while other companies hold agreements in different regions. Compared with earlier entries, this version makes a substantial improvement in both presentation and cabinet design, with its drift-shift feature adding a distinctive handling mechanic.

Two Superwing rail shooters

Bandai Namco is also distributing two environmental-motion rail shooters from Superwing across Western territories, although the company logo on the cabinets unusually reads “Superwin”. The Future is an original science-fiction shooter, while the three-player Mini World targets younger players with a Minecraft-like visual style based on a Chinese property.

The pair are less polished than GoldStorm Pirates, but may offer a lower-cost alternative. Both use a forceful gun kick-back system that Superwing describes as a first, while The Future adds a surprisingly expressive motion seat that sways as the on-screen soldiers move.

Pac-Man and rhythm games

Pac-Man remained a major part of the booth. Alongside Pac-Man Street Range, its Baller Jr addition and the Pac-Man Pixel Bash Bistro edition, Bandai Namco showed the renamed Whack-The-Ghosties machine and an interactive kiddie ride previously seen at GTI Asia China. A new 45th-anniversary-themed skin was also fitted to the upright Pac-Man Pixel Bash cabinet, without any obvious software additions. The products were attractively themed, although their pricing was reportedly high.

GoldStorm Pirates and Taiko no Tatsujin returned after their US debuts at the previous IAAPA. The Western rollout of Taiko no Tatsujin has been paused indefinitely because of issues with US-assembled cabinets, believed to involve the drum harnesses. Cabinets have continued arriving at many Round1USA locations, but players have been advised not to attempt advanced content because of the defects. The situation is a reminder that rhythm-game hardware needs to meet the same quality expectations as the software.

For broader arcade-industry coverage, visit the RETROCADE Arcade Blog.

Sega Amusements

Sega Amusements presented a broad mix of video, redemption and social-entertainment products. Apex Rebels appeared in standard form, while Alpha Ops VR Strike returned as a complete production version. Prize games still occupied considerable space, including Mini Cube Prize World, but the booth also featured several substantial new attractions.

The displayed line-up was:

Putt It! Par-Tee
Simon Arcade
Daytona Championship USA Motion Edition
Hyper Cross Single
Apex Rebels Standard
Alpha Ops VR Strike
Maimai DX
Subsoccer Arcade
Big Sea Fishing
Mini Cube Prize World
On Target
Cyberboxer
High Five Tickets
High Five
Key Magic
Skill Fall Revolution series
Allstars Sports series

Maimai DX and Daytona

Maimai DX made its first IAAPA appearance and attracted strong interest from its established fan base. Sega again had professional players demonstrating it, following the company’s Amusement Expo appearance in March. Its US rollout appeared to be progressing, with cabinets reaching numerous Genda-owned venues after Round1, although networking paperwork caused minor delays in some locations. Independent operators have also taken a few units, despite the substantial investment required.

Daytona Championship USA Motion Edition brought the classic racer back in a new deluxe motion format. Its air-compressor motion base uses the design originally developed for Apex Rebels; the new non-motion version of which was sited next to it. This gives Daytona a proper motion cabinet after the earlier SDLX version proved difficult to find. It was heavily played throughout the show.

Redemption and social entertainment

Simon Arcade combines a straightforward ball-toss game with the rules of the classic electronic memory game. Putt It! Par-Tee takes a more involved approach, blending mini golf with alley-roller competition and adding video screens, character and a social-play focus. Some visitors found its playfield narrow, but the concept remained enjoyable.

Subsoccer Arcade is now available through Sega Amusements, while Cyberboxer is being carried by Sega outside North America. Existing products including Hyper Cross in its new single-player cabinet, On Target and Big Sea Fishing were also shown. The expected two-player On Target was not present.

There were fewer Japanese representatives from Bandai Namco Experience and Sega Fave than in previous years, possibly because their own Amusement Expo had only recently taken place. Sega’s UK teams were well represented, and the booth included a tribute to Paul Williams following his death the previous month.

LAI Games

LAI Games has steadily expanded its IAAPA presence, and once again occupied one of the event’s larger arcade booths.

Its displayed products included:

Phantom Vanguard
Kaiju Rampage Unite
Hyper Grid
Cube Clash
Soccer Rocker
Ubisoft All-Star VR
Cyberpunk 2077: Turf Wars
Asphalt Moto Blitz DX
NASCAR Pitstop
Galaxy Hunter
Tornado
Seasons Cranes

Ubisoft All-Star VR and Phantom Vanguard

After its world premiere at IAAPA Expo Europe in September, Ubisoft All-Star VR received its first US play opportunity outside location testing. LAI presented two linked units, supported by large curved rear billboards that made the attraction particularly conspicuous. Whether many venues will purchase two machines remains to be seen.

Phantom Vanguard, made by IGS and the original Modern Combat creators at Gameloft, was also available through LAI’s exclusive distribution arrangement. The booth additionally showed the new four-player Kaiju Rampage Unite from Wahlap and IGS, although the environmental-motion version was not displayed.

Other LAI products included Playmore and IGS’s Cube Clash, plus the social-entertainment attractions Hyper Grid and Soccer Rocker. Returning titles included Cyberpunk 2077: Turf Wars, which played and felt considerably better than at Amusement Expo earlier in the year. It also earned second place in the IAAPA Brass Ring awards, behind Coastal’s Hot Wheels Ultimate Speedway.

Player One Amusement Group

Player One Amusement Group brought a larger selection than in previous years. Its display included Blue Motion Games’ two-player Desert Chase, Taito and Wahlap’s Getter Spin D and Kiddleton-branded mini cranes.

Two Japanese additions were linked to P1AG’s new ownership by Genda: Marvelous’ Try Catch prize game and Naruto Emblem Battle. Both had already appeared at Genda-owned North American locations. Naruto Emblem Battle appeared likely to be offered to other operators through revenue share, although booth staff did not provide a definitive answer.

This concludes this instalment of IAAPA 2025 coverage. Upcoming coverage is expected to include exA-Arcadia, UNIS, JET Games and other exhibitors, subject to the release of further video material. Operators comparing new cabinets with options for a home setup can also explore RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide, browse racing arcades or view the wider arcade machine range.