Solution
A complete browser arcade
A searchable game room with category and mode filters, an installable PWA, an instant-play cabinet, favorites and recent sessions, local ROM import, homebrew discovery and indexed game and guide pages.
Case study · Browser arcade product
Arcade World
A retro browser arcade that turns a 50-game catalog into a searchable, playable and installable product.
Context
One room for discovery and play.
Classic browser games are often scattered across provider pages, while local ROM play, discovery and personal libraries live in separate tools.
The product needed to make a large retro catalog easy to explore without hiding the difference between external cabinets, local files and creator-approved downloads.
Stack
Technology used
- HTML
- CSS
- JavaScript
- EmulatorJS
- PWA
- Firebase Hosting
Key decisions
Catalog, guides and a local library
The interface labels external-provider, own-player and import flows separately. ROM files stay on the user's device; only library metadata and preferences are stored locally.
Game detail pages and editorial guides create indexable discovery paths, while the manifest and local library make the experience useful beyond a single visit.
Result
Fifty games across six supported systems
A live arcade product with 50 catalog entries, six listed emulator systems and a coherent path from discovery to browser play or a local session—without requiring an account.
Project constraints
Boundaries that shaped the build
Commercial ROMs cannot be bundled, external providers can introduce ads and browser storage must remain local to the device. Each play mode therefore needs a visible boundary.
Pi Development's role
Delivery responsibility
Pi Development designed and built the product structure, responsive interface, game catalog, local library behavior, browser-player flows, editorial system and Firebase deployment.
Observable product scope
Capabilities visible in the live product.
Public implementation reviewed on 23 August 2026
Product scope
50 catalog games
Product scope
6 supported systems
Product scope
3 clearly separated play paths
Product scope
0 accounts required
Interpretation
What these figures do—and do not—show.
- The figures describe published product scope, not traffic, retention or commercial performance.
- Some catalog items use an external provider; others require a local ROM that the user is allowed to use.
- Arcade World does not bundle or upload commercial ROM files.
- No claim is made about emulator compatibility for every file, browser or device.