Inside Tim Hunkin’s handmade arcade of strange machines
July 27, 2026
Explore how Tim Hunkin combines engineering, satire and mechanical creativity to build unusual handmade arcade machines that entertain visitors while commenting on modern life.
Tim Hunkin built an arcade unlike any other
Every machine inside is handmade and unconventional
Part engineer, part cartoonist
He turns satire and humor into interactive games
His London arcade is filled with strange inventions
Each machine is designed to surprise people
Some games parody celebrity culture and surveillance
Others turn ordinary experiences into absurd challenges
Hunkin’s work draws from daily life and current events
Old arcade mechanics also inspire many of his ideas
Behind the jokes is serious engineering
Building the machines takes years of technical problem-solving
The goal was never practicality
Making people laugh mattered more than creating useful devices
Visitors become part of the experience
The machines only work when people interact with them
For Hunkin, the arcade is both art and entertainment
It blends craftsmanship with social commentary
What started as a hobby became a career
And decades later, the machines still keep people curious