Raw Thrills
Raw Thrills is a privately held US arcade game manufacturer that designs, builds, and distributes coin-operated arcade cabinets and VR attractions — spanning driving, shooting, hunting, card redemption, sports, and family entertainment genres — through authorized B2B distributors to arcade operators and family entertainment centers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersSkokie, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Raw Thrills does
Raw Thrills, Inc. is a privately held arcade game manufacturer founded in 2001 and headquartered in Skokie, Illinois. The company designs, engineers, and manufactures coin-operated arcade cabinets and VR attractions spanning driving simulators (Fast & Furious Arcade, Super Bikes series, Cruis'n Blast), shooting games (Halo Fireteam Raven, The Walking Dead, Terminator Salvation, Aliens Armageddon), hunting titles (Big Buck Hunter Reloaded and earlier series entries), card redemption games (Minecraft Dungeons Arcade, Marvel: Contest of Champions, The Wizard of Oz, Injustice Arcade), VR motion attractions (Godzilla Kaiju Wars VR, King Kong of Skull Island VR, MotoGP VR, T-Rex Safari VR), and sports/family titles (NBA Superstars, Stranger Things Arcade, Angry Birds Boom!, Top Gun: Maverick). The technical platform combines proprietary motion and input subsystems — Thrill-D and Thrill-D NXT motion platforms, AirRide and AirForce air-jet systems, Thrill-Scan ball sensing, Earthshaker 6-channel audio, and dual 65-inch GigaScreen displays — over commodity compute hardware (Dell PCs, HP REVERB and DPVR headsets).
The company monetizes almost entirely through one-time hardware sales of complete arcade cabinets to the coin-op amusement industry. Distribution is exclusively B2B and two-tiered: a primary network of nine named authorized US distributors (Betson, Player One Amusement Group, Shaffer Distributing, Moss Distributing, AVS Companies, Central Distributing, Game Exchange of Colorado, Pioneer Sales and Service) plus Bandai Namco Europe handles international accounts, and a secondary retail dealer network (Amini's, Birmingham Vending, Blacklight Attractions, BumperNets, Coin Taker, Flip N Out Pinball, Game Room Guys, and others) reaches smaller operators. Software revenue is a secondary stream through conversion kits, upgrade packages, and the CoinUp online platform providing tournaments, leaderboards, and stat tracking. Customer segments are business-to-business: traditional arcade operators, family entertainment centers, bowling alleys, and amusement parks, with no consumer-direct sales channel. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company is led by President Eugene Jarvis and co-develops many titles in partnership with Play Mechanix.
Raw Thrills firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Raw Thrills
- Legal name
- Raw Thrills, Inc.
- Website
- https://rawthrills.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Raw Thrills is a privately held US arcade game manufacturer that designs, builds, and distributes coin-operated arcade cabinets and VR attractions — spanning driving, shooting, hunting, card redemption, sports, and family entertainment genres — through authorized B2B distributors to arcade operators and family entertainment centers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Raw Thrills industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Arcade Gaming Equipment
- NAICS
- Amusement Arcades (713120)
- SIC
- Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Amusement/Redemption Arcade Machines (Ticket & Prize) (MPAEAJAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Arcade & Retro Gaming Hardware (Mini Consoles, Arcade Sticks, Cabinets) (HDACANAK), Coin-Operated Entertainment (Pinball, Crane/Claw, Jukebox, Darts/Billiards) (MPAEAJAF)
Keywords
Where Raw Thrills is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Skokie
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Raw Thrills business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Arcade Cabinet Hardware Sales: Raw Thrills designs, manufactures, and sells arcade gaming cabinets to operators. Products include driving simulators, shooting games, VR attractions, and redemption games sold as complete hardware units through distributor network.
- Software Updates & Upgrade Kits: The company sells software updates, conversion kits, and upgrade packages for existing cabinets (e.g., Big Buck Hunter Reloaded update for BBHD cabinets, conversion kits for older racing games)
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels10 records
Marketing channels3 records
Raw Thrills product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Raw Thrills designs, manufactures, and sells coin-operated arcade game cabinets and simulators including driving simulators, shooting games, hunting games, VR motion attractions, and ticket/redemption games. Products are sold as complete hardware units through a network of authorized US distributors (Betson, Player One Amusement Group, Shaffer Distributing, Moss Distributing, AVS Companies, and others) to arcade operators and family entertainment centers.
Product overview
Raw Thrills is an arcade game manufacturer specializing in coin-operated arcade games and VR attractions. The company produces a diverse portfolio of arcade games spanning multiple genres: driving simulators (Fast & Furious Arcade, Cruis'n Blast, Super Bikes series), shooting games (Halo Fireteam Raven, The Walking Dead, Terminator Salvation), hunting games (Big Buck Hunter Reloaded), card redemption games (Minecraft Dungeons Arcade, Marvel Contest of Champions, The Wizard of Oz), VR experiences (Godzilla Kaiju Wars VR, King Kong of Skull Island VR, T-Rex Safari VR), sports games (NBA Superstars, X Games Snow Boarder), and family-friendly titles (Stranger Things Arcade, Angry Birds Boom). The product lineup includes both current flagship titles and legacy games. Raw Thrills operates through a network of authorized distributors and retail dealers, with headquarters in Skokie, Illinois.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Stranger Things Arcade Ball-throwing quest arcade game for 1-4 players based on the Netflix series Stranger Things, featuring the proprietary Thrill-Scan ball sensing system, family-friendly gameplay, iconic characters, locations, and soundtrack. Location dimensions 118" x 94" x 104", weight 2231 lbs.
- Godzilla Kaiju Wars Deluxe Non-VR motion Godzilla battle game featuring dual 65-inch screens, motion cabinet, 5 intense levels plus Final Battle boss showdown, story-driven gameplay, and optional Redemption Mode.
- Jackpot Racer Redemption racing arcade game combining high-speed racing with ticket winning, featuring LED topper, fast cycle time, and electrifying gameplay. Available in Single and Twin configurations.
- Top Gun: Maverick Flying simulator arcade game based on the Paramount Pictures Top Gun film, featuring F-14 Tomcat, F-15E Strike Eagle, and F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets, rotomold cockpit, dual 65-inch displays, motion platform, jet engine infinity mirror, and licensed music. Linkable up to 4 units.
- Fast & Furious Arcade Driving simulator arcade game featuring the Fast & Furious film franchise with THRILL-D motion platform, dual 65-inch UHD screens, LED cockpit, 5-channel audio, 8 super cars, 6 wild tracks, and secret missions. Linkable up to 8 games. Also available in 43-inch configuration.
- Godzilla Kaiju Wars VR VR motion arcade attraction featuring five action-packed levels of cinematic VR, Thrill-D NXT motion platform, patented force-feedback blasters, wind and vibration effects, 6-channel Earthshaker audio, dual 65-inch GigaScreen video displays, and DPVR e4 headset for unattended VR operation.
- Angry Birds Boom! Physics-based video redemption arcade game featuring the Angry Birds franchise. 2-player cabinet with custom Red- and Chuck-themed force-feedback controllers and 65-inch display with interactive RGB LED border.
- NBA Superstars Basketball arcade game featuring 120 NBA players across all 30 NBA teams, 75-inch screen, LED stadium scoreboard, 4 player positions, and online player accounts for stat tracking.
- Minecraft Dungeons Arcade Multiplayer dungeon crawler arcade adaptation of Minecraft Dungeons featuring 144 collectible cards, card-vending system, 4-player co-op gameplay, and 11 levels. Officially licensed from Microsoft and Mojang Studios with CoinUp online connectivity for automatic software updates.
- Marvel: Contest of Champions Multiplayer fighting arcade game featuring over 100 Marvel superheroes and villains, collectible Champion Cards, and 3-on-3 battle gameplay. Developed in collaboration with Kabam, a Netmarble company.
- The Wizard of Oz Card collection redemption arcade game featuring Wizard of Oz characters with 110-inch vertical screen, interactive adventures, reusable character cards, crystal ball spinner, and original movie clips. Officially licensed from Turner Entertainment.
- Halo Fireteam Raven Co-op shooter arcade game based on the Halo franchise featuring force-feedback guns, Xbox Live integration for stats and rewards via QR code, available in 2-Player and 4-Player Tethered Gun and Environmental editions. Officially licensed by Microsoft and 343 Industries.
- Big Buck Hunter Reloaded Hunting arcade game featuring 11 huntable animals, 33 bonus games, and bow hunting. Includes five premium campaign modes, online features via CoinUp with global leaderboards and tournaments, and conversion kits for upgrading existing BBHD cabinets.
Companies that use Raw Thrills
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Raw Thrills technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature10 records
Raw Thrills partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
24 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- NetflixcoreStranger Things Arcade is officially licensed by Netflix. The game features the show's iconic characters, locations, and haunting soundtrack.
- Paramount PicturescoreTop Gun: Maverick arcade game developed in partnership with Paramount Pictures. Features iconic real-world fighter jets and licensed music from the film franchise.
- Rovio EntertainmentcoreRaw Thrills, Play Mechanix and Rovio Entertainment collaborated to bring Angry Birds Boom! to arcades. Rovio owns the Angry Birds franchise intellectual property.
- Kabam / NetmarblecoreMarvel: Contest of Champions arcade adaptation developed in collaboration with Kabam, a Netmarble company. Kabam developed the original mobile game and partnered with Raw Thrills for the arcade version.
- NBA / NBPAcoreNBA Superstars developed in partnership with the National Basketball Association and National Basketball Players Association. Features 120 NBA players across all 30 NBA teams.
- Toho Co., Ltd.coreGodzilla Kaiju Wars VR officially licensed from Toho Co., Ltd., featuring the iconic Japanese monster franchise.
- Turner EntertainmentcoreThe Wizard of Oz arcade game officially licensed from Turner Entertainment, featuring characters and elements from the classic film.
- Play MechanixcorePlay Mechanix is the primary development partner for many Raw Thrills games including Big Buck Hunter series, Guitar Hero Arcade, Terminator Salvation, and many others. They co-develop arcade games together.
- DeVito ArtWorkscoreKing Kong of Skull Island VR licensed from DeVito ArtWorks, LLC, the rights holder for the King Kong franchise.
- Universal City Studios LLCcoreFast & Furious Arcade officially licensed from Universal City Studios LLC. Features the iconic film franchise branding and vehicles.
- Microsoft / Mojang StudioscoreMinecraft Dungeons Arcade is officially licensed from Microsoft and Mojang Studios. Minecraft has over 200 million copies sold and 126 million active monthly players. Raw Thrills produces the arcade adaptation.
- TaitocoreBust-A-Move Frenzy officially licensed from Taito, the original creator of the bubble-popping puzzle game franchise.
- Microsoft (343 Industries)coreRaw Thrills and Play Mechanix collaborated with Microsoft to bring Halo: Fireteam Raven to arcades. The game is officially licensed by Microsoft and features Xbox Live integration with QR code stat tracking and rewards on Halo Waypoint.
- Universal Studios LicensingcoreTerminator Salvation arcade game officially licensed from Universal Studios Licensing, based on the Terminator film franchise.
- ESPN / Lowtech StudioscoreWinter X Games SnoCross officially licensed from ESPN and developed with Lowtech Studios, featuring authentic X Games branding.
- Warner Bros. (DC Comics)coreInjustice Arcade is officially licensed by Warner Brothers and features DC Comics characters including Batman, Superman, and other superheroes from the Injustice franchise.
- Taito CorporationcoreSpace Invaders Frenzy officially licensed from Taito Corporation, featuring the classic arcade game franchise.
- NintendocoreCruis'n Blast officially licensed from Nintendo. The driving game features licensed vehicles and courses.
- AMCcoreThe Walking Dead arcade game based on the AMC hit TV series, officially licensed with authentic crossbow controller and characters.
- Universal City Studios / Amblin EntertainmentcoreJurassic Park Arcade officially licensed from Universal City Studios and Amblin Entertainment, featuring the iconic dinosaur franchise.
- Disney / PixarcoreDisney Pixar Cars arcade game officially licensed from Disney/Pixar, featuring the animated film's characters and world.
- ESPNcoreX Games Snow Boarder officially licensed from ESPN. Features the X Games branding and winter sports content.
- Nickelodeon (Viacom)coreNicktoons Nitro Racing officially licensed from Nickelodeon/Viacom, featuring characters from popular Nicktoons shows.
- Activision / KonamicoreGuitar Hero Arcade was a collaboration between Raw Thrills, Konami and Activision to bring the Guitar Hero franchise to coin-op arcades.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Raw Thrills competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SEGA Corporation: Japanese coin-op and consumer gaming giant with an extensive arcade cabinet catalog (racing, shooting, redemption) and global distribution. Directly comparable to Raw Thrills as a manufacturer of licensed-IP-driven arcade hardware and the operator of SEGA's own arcade IP (e.g., racing franchises).
- Bandai Namco Entertainment: Major arcade game manufacturer behind Pac-Man, Mario Kart Arcade GP, and other coin-op titles. Raw Thrills already distributes through Bandai Namco Europe, confirming the overlap. Comparable in IP-driven arcade cabinet development and global footprint.
- Taito Corporation: Japanese arcade game manufacturer and creator of Space Invaders. Raw Thrills is a licensed partner (Bust-A-Move Frenzy, Space Invaders Frenzy), confirming Taito's role as both peer and licensor. Compares directly on coin-op redemption and shooting cabinet categories.
- Konami Group Corporation: Coin-op and video game company that co-developed Guitar Hero Arcade with Raw Thrills. Comparable in rhythm and licensed-IP arcade titles, with significant broader gaming portfolio that gives Konami deeper IP licensing capital.
- UNIS Technology (Beijing) Co. China-based arcade cabinet manufacturer producing redemption, sports, shooting, and prize games for global FECs. Direct competitor to Raw Thrills in the redemption and amusement machine category with broad international distribution.
- Play Mechanix, Inc. Co-developer and co-producer of many Raw Thrills titles (Big Buck Hunter series, Terminator Salvation, Guitar Hero Arcade). Functions as both development partner and competitive peer in shooting and hunting arcade cabinets.
- Coastal Amusements Inc. US-based manufacturer of coin-operated amusement machines including redemption games, cranes, and kiddie rides. Smaller scale than Raw Thrills but directly comparable as a domestic competitor in redemption and prize arcade equipment.
- Innovative Concepts in Entertainment (ICE): US manufacturer of redemption arcade games including the popular Deal or No Deal, Monopoly, and other ticket-dispensing cabinets. Direct competitor to Raw Thrills' redemption lineup (Angry Birds Boom, Minecraft Dungeons, Wizard of Oz).
- Stern Pinball, Inc. US-based manufacturer of pinball machines and arcade-style gaming products. Comparable as a domestic coin-op manufacturer targeting operators and collectors with licensed IP (e.g., Marvel, Star Wars), competing for placement on arcade floors.
Broad incumbents
- Dave & Buster's Entertainment: Large FEC operator and significant downstream customer for arcade cabinets including Raw Thrills products. Listed as a broad incumbent because while not a manufacturer, its scale and procurement power shape demand patterns and pricing for the entire arcade cabinet category.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Raw Thrills social profiles
Digital presenceRaw Thrills financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Raw Thrills leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Raw Thrills funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Raw Thrills M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Raw Thrills
What does Raw Thrills do?
Raw Thrills designs, manufactures, and sells coin-operated arcade game cabinets and simulators including driving simulators, shooting games, hunting games, VR motion attractions, and ticket/redemption games. Products are sold as complete hardware units through a network of authorized US distributors (Betson, Player One Amusement Group, Shaffer Distributing, Moss Distributing, AVS Companies, and others) to arcade operators and family entertainment centers.
Is Raw Thrills a public or private company?
Raw Thrills is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Raw Thrills founded?
Raw Thrills was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Raw Thrills based?
Raw Thrills is headquartered in Skokie, United States, in the North America region.
How does Raw Thrills make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Arcade Cabinet Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are software Updates & Upgrade Kits.
Who are Raw Thrills's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SEGA Corporation, Bandai Namco Entertainment, Taito Corporation, Konami Group Corporation, UNIS Technology (Beijing) Co., Play Mechanix, Inc., Coastal Amusements Inc., Innovative Concepts in Entertainment (ICE) and Stern Pinball, Inc.. Dave & Buster's Entertainment is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Raw Thrills have an API?
No public API is recorded for Raw Thrills.
What industry is Raw Thrills in?
Raw Thrills's product category is Arcade Gaming Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAEAJAD, Amusement/Redemption Arcade Machines (Ticket & Prize), with a secondary code of HDACANAK, Arcade & Retro Gaming Hardware (Mini Consoles, Arcade Sticks, Cabinets). Its NAICS code is 713120 and its SIC code is 3944.