Arcade machines rely on various types of storage media to deliver fast and reliable gaming experiences. The most common types include:

1. ROM Cartridges: Early arcade machines often used ROM cartridges for game storage. These were durable and allowed quick swapping of games but had limited capacity.

2. Hard Drives (HDDs): Modern arcades frequently use hard drives for larger game libraries. They offer high storage capacity but can be slower than solid-state options.

3. Flash Memory (SSDs/CF Cards): Flash-based storage, like SSDs and CompactFlash cards, is popular for its speed and reliability. It’s commonly used in newer arcade systems.

4. CD/DVD Drives: Some arcade machines use optical media for game distribution, though they are less common due to slower load times.

5. Network Storage: In digital arcades, games may be stored on remote servers and streamed to machines, reducing the need for physical media.

Each storage type has its advantages, balancing speed, capacity, and cost to optimize gameplay.