Arcade Block is a monthly geek subscription box which provides mystery items for video gamers. There is no particular theme for these boxes, also sometimes hints are released in advance.
The price varies depending on which of the other blocks from the Nerd Block family you subscribe to and the length of the subscription, but, for me, this was $32.49 USD including shipping to the UK. That’s approximately £22 GBP. Shipping within North America is cheaper.
There were issues with shipping this month, which was delayed. I understand from comments elsewhere that this was a common problem, affecting many subscribers, although some reviewers did still receive their box quickly. Mine took nearly three weeks from the original dispatch notification email. Delivery within the UK was by Royal Mail.
Hopefully, this is a one-off, as otherwise Nerd Block, Arcade Block and Horror Block have some of the most reliable deliveries out of all the subscription box series.
Box Contents
Kingdom Hearts T-Shirt (Exclusive)
Not too familiar with this, but I like the striking design and colours. I value T-Shirts of this type at $10 USD.
Pac-Man Salt And Pepper Shakers
These were billed as the main item on the information card which came with Arcade Block. These are nice heavy ceramic items. These are selling for $12 USD on Amazon.com (at a discount). These are imported from the UK, so likely available cheaper here.
Treasure Chest Zip Pull (Exclusive)
This quaint little keyring like item attaches to a zip. Hard to price this, but similar pendants sell for under $5 USD.
Skylanders Figure
The card for this arrived detached from the main figure. I got Flameslinger. A similar figure sells for $9 USD on Amazon.com, although I think you’d be mad to pay it.
Video Games Live – Level 4 (Exclusive)
This is a CD of video game tunes in orchestral arrangements. Similar video game music sells for around $15 USD on Amazon.com.
Retro Magazine
I always like getting magazines in boxes, particularly when they’re ones not easily available in the UK. This magazine is focused on fighting games. Cover price is $7 USD.
More from this box: all our Arcade Block reviews.
Box Review
I’m mostly a retro gamer, so many of the contents of this box work for me.
The magazine is a great addition. It’s only published every two months, which is a pity, as it would fit right in each box. I’m tempted to subscribe to Arcade Block every other month just to receive it.
I also love the Salt and Pepper shakers, although they seem less valuable than some of the other featured items often included in these boxes.
The games music CD is also something very different to what we often find in these boxes. Any type of CD or DVD media packs very well and is light to mail, so I’d like to see more items like this.
There is some tat. The Skylanders figure is really aimed at children who already collect the series.
The zip pull is another item that I don’t know what to do with, but it would hang nicely off a belt. The design of it has a real retro feel to it.
And, the T-Shirt is decent. Arcade Block really does have excellent designs.
Overall, I’m happy. I get $58 USD of value, although I’d knock a few dollars off for the detached card on the figure and the zip pull value is debatable. Not as strong as Arcade Block last month, but still a strong box.
Arcade Block has since stopped running, so the subscription link that originally sat here has been retired. You can still browse every Arcade Block review on this site.
