Long before indie developers embraced rogue-like mechanics, arcade cabinets were silently perfecting the formula. The quarter-munching machines of the 80s and 90s implemented core rogue-like elements through ingenious design constraints and business models. Permanent death wasn't just a feature—it was the foundation. Games like Gauntlet and Rampart used password-based progression systems that functioned as primitive run-based checkpoints. The procedural generation seen in Pac-Man's ghost movement patterns and BurgerTime's evolving level layouts created endless variability. Cabinet design itself reinforced the rogue-like mentality: limited lives meant real consequences, while high score boards created permanent records of failed runs. These machines mastered the balance between fairness and cruelty through predictable patterns that demanded mastery, much like Spelunky or Dead Cells today. The physicality of inserting coins to continue mirrored modern meta-progression systems, creating tangible stakes for every decision. Arcade developers understood that tension comes from real loss, designing ecosystems where every playthrough mattered and every mistake carried weight—proving that the heart of rogue-like design beats in the arcades of yesterday.