Video games are more compact, powerful and portable than ever before, but that doesn't stop old-school arcade games from dying out. If anything, the competition is making these humble gaming rooms stronger. Retro arcade games have grown to the point where Dallas has its own chain of arcades with fans keeping the beeps and blues going all year round.
Some prefer to recreate the aesthetic of an '80s arcade with authentic stand-up arcade machines and an ambient soundtrack of Van Halen or Heart. Other offerings include sleek new machines. If you ever get the urge to play “Space Invaders” without having to sit in front of the TV or pull out your smartphone, you're probably not going to be far from the place.
Enjoy some games at arcades throughout Dallas-Fort Worth.
Free Play is the OG chain of retro arcades that started this trend. They opened their Richardson location in 2015 and have been growing rapidly ever since. Free Play now has five locations in the area and opened Dallas' first arcade a few years ago on the other side of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge. Free Play's collection of classic and new arcade games must be as big as a warehouse at this end of the road. Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Always stocking at least a few games that Gen Xers remember from their childhood, the place prides itself on offering original arcade games and pinball machines that work exactly as they did in their heyday. There's a curfew for kids, and adult guests are welcome to play quietly outside opening hours. (They even have a full bar.) There are no emulators or clones; they even have rarities like working Segas. Time Traveler A 90s machine that uses holograms as screens. 3015 Gulden Ln., 1730 E. Belt Line Rd., Richardson, 400 E. South St., Arlington, 101 W. Hickory St., Denton, 1311 Lipscomb St., Fort Worth
Bishop Cider's arcade concept has also spread to Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and Houston. Each location is packed with a ton of great games, from old-school classics to massive multiplayer racing games. The Dallas location has the biggest and best collection of pinball machines, as well as a full selection of physical games, including Skee-Ball, a baseball pitching game, an NFL-themed football toss and a carnival-style ball-tossing game where you knock down a Larry David-like clown toy. There's also a kids' curfew, so adults can get behind the wheel, too. Add in the city's tastiest cider and you might be asked to leave when closing time comes. 2777 Irving Blvd., Ste. 200; 1813 West Bowie St., Fort Worth; 500 E. Division St., Arlington
Cleveland, Ohio and Cooperstown, New York are home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Baseball Hall of Fame, respectively, but we have something even better. The National Video Game Museum in Frisco is home to the largest collection of retro games, hardware and collectibles in the United States. This is more than just a museum. You can actually play most of the games, from the original Atari 2600 to the original Microsoft Xbox. There are also rare artifacts documenting the history of the gaming industry, and much of that history began in Dallas, through id Software's flagship titles and more. Doom and Gearbox Software Borderlands franchise. (The latter is set to get its first film adaptation this summer.) Every trip ends in a gift shop, but first, you walk through an authentic replica of a working '80s arcade, complete with a running scoreboard that updates new players' high scores daily. 8004 Dallas Parkway, Frisco
Nickel Llama
A Dallas arcade staple is this new retro gaming space tucked away in Garland, where you can play almost any game for (a whopping) 5 cents. The two huge spaces focus on the latest arcade titles, which have exploded in popularity since the arcade revival over the past decade. There are plenty of huge driving, sports, and shooting games on offer, as well as a number of ticket-redeeming games so you can take home some prizes. Space Invaders It's a Pac-Man-like game, but projected onto a giant LED screen that reaches almost to the ceiling. And because arcades and pizza go together better than any other food and service industry combination, it's located right next to a pizza place. 1238 Belt Line Rd. Ste. 300, Garland and 3046 Lavon Dr., Garland
Brett Redman
Without Adventure Landing, entertainment concepts like batting cages, bumper boats and go-karts may be as outdated as stickball and Jacks. The campus also has an amazing arcade with over 100 games. Once you've played all the games on the floor, you can move elsewhere and challenge your friends to a game of laser tag. If the weather's nice, take a drive in a go-kart or drench your friends in a bumper boat. You'll also have the chance to crush your opponents in mini golf. 17717 Coit Road
There's more to Corky's than just playing classic arcade games. The concept brings a lot of fun into the mix in the form of trendier, more competitive entertainment experiences. Corky's offers an axe-throwing booth with eight different games featuring digital tracking and interfaces, four puzzle escape rooms (one Jack the Ripper-themed room has a 20%+ solving rate), and a new digital experience called Krazy Darts, featuring 12 different games on a digital dartboard. 3520 Grapevine Mills Blvd., Grapevine
Jeremy Sharp
Sometimes, instead of a place with nine varieties of bowling and house-height video game screens, you just want to order a beer and lounge while you play a game. Mortal Kombat Or Ms. Pac-Man. Barcadia on Henderson Avenue is one of the first and oldest barcade concepts in America, and not much has changed. This place has an open-air space, you won't be bothered by constant noise, and a good selection of classic quarter munchers to play between rounds. 1917 N. Henderson Avenue
This happens in almost every group of friends. You get together after work, but no one can agree on what to do for fun. One person wants to see something new, but the other person wants to see something new. Godzilla Some people want to see a movie, some want to go bowling, and some want to play arcade games. Evo Entertainment offers all three experiences at its Dallas and Southlake locations. The arcade is packed with the latest video games. The ticket redemption challenge includes: fast and furious There's a driving game with a giant screen, several 10-pin bowling lanes, a cinema opposite each store showing movies on state-of-the-art big screens, a full food menu, and special offers on Tuesdays with $5 movies and Wednesdays with half-price games. 5409 Belt Line Road and 1450 Plaza Place, Southlake
Arcades are a part of life for Japanese gamers, filling the buildings with unique games and machines that rarely make it to the U.S. Round 1 Bowling and Arcade is one of the few places in the city where you can play these games alongside old classics and new favorites. There are more than 150 crane machines that hand out adorable stuffed toys, Hello Kitty, and other familiar characters. Prizes include limited edition My Hero Academia figures and Rilakkuma cups for the group's collectors. There's also a giant bowling alley, darts, ping pong and pool tables, and a karaoke room, perfect for those in the mood to sing. 3000 Grapevine Mills Pky., Grapevine and 3811 S. Cooper St., Arlington
One relatively new retro arcade concept is this growing arcade chain that recently appeared in the downtown McKinney square. Both locations feature games for everything from kids to adults. Alkanoids To Saxon They also have some of the latest gaming machines where you can play against each other in the latest Madden NFL (assuming you can still play it by then – sigh), and it has the look and feel of a classic arcade with its brick wall aesthetic and classic music, and most importantly, the entire store is packed wall to wall with all kinds of games. 801 International Pky. Ste. 580, Flower Mound and 305 E. Virginia St. Ste. 103, McKinney
Arlington Improv Comedy Club did something unique in 2018: they decided to transform a Black Dog Pizza parlor into an old-fashioned video game arcade. This Arlington arcade has a huge selection of games, from classic titles like Q*Bert and a four-player Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Beat 'em Up, to more modern games like a Guitar Hero arcade machine and a Sound Vortex rhythm game. You'll also find a variety of consoles, from the original NES to the Xbox Series X. 309 Curtis Mathes Way State 147
This retro arcade in Rowlett may be a relatively new addition, but it's packed with tons of fun. It has over 80 old and new arcade games and pinball machines, all kept in top condition, and you'll even find some rare titles, like the original games. Chop Lifter and heat wave A pinball machine from 1964. Afterwards, stop by the bar to refuel with cold drinks and food before diving back into the digital world of gaming. Like other arcades, this arcade offers free play for a set fee, or you can purchase a monthly pass. 6320 Dalrock Road, State 100, Rowlett
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