Our final location round-up for 2024 surveys new arcades, barcades, pinball venues and family entertainment centres across North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania, while also looking ahead to confirmed openings in 2025. November was relatively quiet, but activity increased during December. The wider independent and fighting-game scene also suffered several high-profile closures, underlining why supporting operating venues matters.
For Australian readers tracking venues while travelling, the Insert Coin App offers a worldwide arcade map through desktop, iOS and Android. It still depends on user submissions, so coverage is incomplete. Retro Arcade Hunter is a more specialised directory aimed at retro-focused venues, particularly those centred on 1980s games.
North America
Varcade PVP Arena — Detroit, Michigan
No Cash Value LLC opened a venue at Oakland Mall combining the VARBOX VR system with Blast City cabinets running older arcade titles. It brings compact modern VR and classic video amusement together in one location. Visit the venue through its Facebook page or official website.
Max Funland — Brooklyn, New York
This arcade operates alongside an adventure playground and has an unusually strong selection of imported Asian games. Japanese highlights include Chunithm, Ongeki, Wacca and Initial D Arcade Stage 8, the latter running offline. Its current game list is recorded in this Zenius-i-vanisher listing.
Party Time — Brooklyn, New York
Party Time is a 24-hour arcade offering a bright family environment filled with Chinese prize, redemption and video games. Recognisable attractions include the motion edition of Deadstorm Pirates and the non-US version of Dinosaur Era. Further details are available through its Yelp listing.
Mana Pinball — Ontario, Canada
Originally a pinball servicing and rental business, Mana has expanded into operating a free-play arcade. Its machines are rotated regularly, giving visitors a changing selection. Venue information is available here.
Gary’s Place #2 — West Seattle, Washington
The second Gary’s Place honours regional operator Gary Cichi and is co-operated by his son Matt. The venue mixes Asteroids, Donkey Kong and Ms. Pac-Man with pinball and newer video attractions, including exA-Arcadia ARC-32 cabinets.
Fun Spot Arcade — Salem, New Hampshire
Fun Spot has opened at The Mall at Rockingham Park. Available imagery shows prize machines and what appears to be a Pump It Up cabinet, although the full game mix is not clear.
Sip ’N Flip Arcade — Windsor, Colorado
This bar arcade serves alcoholic drinks and soft drinks, with 13 pinball machines and a selection of classic video games. The pinball line-up includes several 1990s machines and newer Stern titles. Its game list also includes Asteroids Recharged from Alan-1, a modern release that sits comfortably beside the venue’s predominantly 1980s selection.
MallRats — Worcester, Massachusetts
MallRats combines an arcade with a used retro game shop and takes its name from the classic 1990s film. Its machines include Dig-Dug, Ms. Pac-Man, Donkey Kong Jr., The Simpsons and Tekken 3, transferred from a previous venue operated by one of the owners. More information is available on the official website.
The Tokyo Club — Columbia, Missouri
This cyberpunk-themed pinball venue also operates as a comedy club in Columbia’s Arcade District. It has around 25 machines, mainly newer Stern tables, alongside classics including The X-Files and Arabian Nights.
Purple Quarters — St Louis, Missouri
Purple Quarters is a bar arcade with Skeeball, NBA Jam, pinball, twin Mario Kart Arcade GP DX machines, foosball, Galaga Assault and basketball. The venue shares updates through Facebook.
Castlecade Southridge Mall — Greendale, Wisconsin
Castlecade’s latest Wisconsin site at Southridge Mall prioritises merchandisers and redemption games, supported by video attractions. The current selection includes Big Buck Hunter Reloaded, an exA-Arcadia cabinet running Chaos Code, Injustice Arcade, two Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 machines, Pac-Man Battle Royale Chompionship and StepManiaX.
In The Game — Las Vegas, Nevada
After a site on Fremont Street spent roughly 20 years trapped in development limbo, Family Entertainment Group has finally converted it into an In The Game arcade. The venue appears heavily focused on redemption, with a Godzilla Kaiju Wars VR attraction also reported.
Other North American openings and updates
- Dave & Buster’s reported a CEO resignation and falling same-store sales, but continues opening venues, including a 160-game site in Clarksville, Tennessee and a planned Bengaluru, India location.
- Round1USA opened in Mission Viejo, California. Bowlero rebranded as Lucky Strike Entertainment, which opened a Beverly Hills flagship and another California venue in Orange County.
- Rush Maxx opened in San Antonio; Henry Dorrbaker’s Pub & Play opened in Beloit, Wisconsin; Mr. Gatti’s Pizza opened in Fort Worth; and Winner’s Circle opened in Longmont, Colorado.
- GATCHA opened in Edison, New Jersey. A Denny’s in Alhambra added a game room, while a 21-plus adult redemption arcade opened in Las Vegas.
- 810 Billiards opened in Panama City Beach, Gametime Lanes added a 75-game arcade in Peabody, Massachusetts, Playdium opened in Toronto, Strike & Spares opened its sixth venue in Kentucky, and Hudz Family Fun Zone opened in Paxton, Illinois.
- A California operator reportedly recovered a stolen X-Men machine from a homeless camp after police said they could not intervene. Brooklyn Games & Arcade also announced its closure.
Europe
Gravity Arcade — Dartford and Reading, England
Gravity and Urban Fun are extending their arcade offer beyond the Funbox venues inside larger Gravity MAX centres. New standalone sites near trampoline parks in Dartford’s Bluewater shopping centre and near Reading feature recent Sega Amusements releases including Mission: Impossible Arcade and Apex Rebels.
Lucky Claw — Birmingham, England
This Asian-inspired crane arcade follows the new wave of neon prize venues seen in the United States and Australia. Alongside cranes, it offers multigame cabinets, videmption attractions and an imported Taiko no Tatsujin machine, reportedly an unofficial Chinese version.
The Retro Realm — Walsall, England
The Retro Realm is a free-play retro arcade serving the Midlands. It presents a markedly different experience from Lucky Claw, with reported highlights including Sega Race TV, Dariusburst EX and a rare twin deluxe After Burner Climax set-up. The venue claims to be the Midlands’ only free-play retro arcade, although The Arcade Warehouse in Lincoln disputes that distinction.
Star Pins — Coventry, England
Star Pins is the third new West Midlands venue in this group and comes from the company behind King Pins. Unlike those retro-oriented sites, Star Pins uses a conventional family entertainment mix with newer video releases. The line-up includes Sega-associated titles such as Drone Racing Genesis and Men in Black; Sega Amusements is a likely supplier, although that has not been formally announced.
Level Up — Rodez, France
This new French bar arcade has limited published information and no game-room photography beyond an exterior image. Reported attractions include Mortal Kombat, Pac-Man and Street Fighter II, as well as quiz-themed rooms.
Other European developments
- Hollywood Bowl reported record revenue as competitive-socialising venues continue attracting customers in the United Kingdom.
- Bandai Namco Amusement Europe installed a cashless game room at Topgolf Watford, with potential for StepManiaX tournaments. Archie’s Atomic opened a burger-brand roller-rink FEC in Manchester.
- Arcade Club UK marked 10 years in business. An immersive baseball concept was announced for London, and Nikito Domus opened in Rosny-sous-Bois, France.
- Italy’s largest video-game museum added arcade cabinets; Kooglana opened its third Croatian site; and Gamestate acquired the Circus Zandvoort venue in the Netherlands, which is expected to close in April and reopen in summer 2025.
Asia, Oceania and the Middle East
Arcade growth remains strong across Asia, although Kyoto’s celebrated fighting-game venue A-Cho is set to disappear. Its importance extended beyond local play: the venue helped popularise online video coverage of obscure Japanese fighting games. At present, few new venues appear ready to replace that specialist role, while major chains continue to expand with crane-heavy concepts.
GiGO Tateishi — Tokyo, Japan
GiGO has opened a replacement for High-Tech Land Sega Tateishi, which closed because of council redevelopment rather than poor business. The new centre lacks much of the former venue’s colourful décor, but its upper floor includes major Japanese rhythm, racing and network games, plus Taito NESiCAXLive2 and Sega APM3 cabinets. GiGO also integrated its karaoke business into its venue network after acquiring a company in that sector and announced further acquisitions.
Feedy Diner & Arcade — Ibaraki, Osaka
Aeon Mall has launched an “eatertainment” concept combining a retro American diner with a large arcade. Feedy Diner & Arcade includes cranes, medal games and Japanese rhythm and driving titles such as Maimai DX, Initial D and BEMANI games. The concept follows a renovation of Namco’s Tokyo flagship to add food and drink, plus a nightclub and crane-game zone at the Grand Hammer complex in Shinbashi.
Namco and Joypolis Sports — Kai Tak Mall, Hong Kong
Namco Enterprises Asia and CA Sega Joypolis have opened neighbouring venues in the same mall. Namco’s site is a conventional family arcade, while Joypolis Sports is making its first appearance outside Japan with a sportainment complex featuring a ninja zone, Sega’s Ninja Trainer Arcade, a themed bar and a Sonic Stadium with children’s play areas and attractions including Sonic Athletics.
Space Arcade PH — Pasay City, Philippines
Space Arcade PH has a futuristic presentation and focuses on large, new video attractions. Its equipment includes four Asphalt Moto Blitz DX machines, a four-player Halo: Fireteam Raven, four Wahlap NFS Heat Takedown cabinets and several Chinese VR systems. One unbranded Star Wars-style shooter resembles a title previously seen at the GTI Asia China Expo.
Other Asian developments
- Round1 Japan abandoned its prepaid-card experiment. GiGO Arcade Cafe Osaka expanded its retro area with original machines including Harley-Davidson King of the Road, Punch-Out and Lucky & Wild.
- Bandai Namco announced themed areas for Taiko no Tatsujin, while Namco Wonder City Minami-Kumamoto added Fishing Spirits. Apina Minokamo now has the prefecture’s largest number of crane games, alongside GoldStorm Pirates and Minecraft Dungeons Arcade.
- Saitama Leisureland Omiya opened with 200 new crane games and 50 video, music and driving games. Masti Zone opened in Dwarka, New Delhi, while Timezone opened sites at Lucky Chinatown Mall, Ayala Malls Vermosa and SM Mall of Asia in the Philippines.
- Dave & Buster’s announced a Bengaluru venue; Funworld Frenzy opened in Jakarta; and Neo Akedo opened in Malaysia.
Confirmed and announced for 2025
- More Dave & Buster’s venues are planned in California.
- Quarter Drop Arcade is scheduled to open in Cottage Grove, Oregon, on 25 January.
- Downtown Flavortown is coming to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
- Barcade is planning its 10th location in spring 2025.
- Andretti Karting & Games is expanding across the United States through 2026.
- A new lounge, bar and arcade is planned for Northampton, England.
- A Hollywood Bowl and amusement complex is under construction in Preston, England.
New openings need more than online attention to survive. If a venue is operating near you, visiting and spending there is the most practical way to support its machines, staff and future.
Bring the arcade home
For Australian players inspired by these venues, RETROCADE’s arcade blog covers the wider scene, while the arcade machine buying guide can help compare options for a home set-up. Browse upright arcades, compact bartop cabinets and virtual pinball machines to choose a format that suits your space.
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