After investing numerous hours and quarters at establishments around the state, I was able to make a list containing the best arcades in Texas.
This list has something for everyone, whether you’re searching for a family-friendly destination, a go-kart track, or Dallas’ largest arcade. So join me as I lead you on a tour of some of the top arcades Texas has to offer. Gather your quarters, and let’s begin!
Top 7 Arcades in Texas
I took into account the selection and quality of games available at each arcade, as well as the environment and overall customer experience, weighing in elements like cleanliness, staff friendliness, and cost.
I also considered the arcade’s size and if it had any distinctive attractions, such as go-kart racing or a complete bar, and internet ratings and reviews from customers.
In order to provide readers with a well-rounded list, I mixed in well-known arcades and undiscovered treasures.
Pinballz Lake Creek – Best Arcade in Austin
| Website: | Best Arcade in Austin |
| Address: | 13729 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78750 |
| Phone: | (512) 537-8737 |
| Attraction: | Classic pinball machines, Full-service bars, Mikki’s Tavern |
| Reviews: | 2,988 |
| Rating: | 4.5/5 |
Austin, Texas’s Pinballz Lake Creek is a 100,000-square-foot arcade. Pinballz offers two full-service bars and Mikki’s Tavern, a restaurant with a scratch kitchen. They do have a loyalty program that offers free play to loyal consumers.
With a wide variety of arcade and pinball games from the 1980s and 1990s, it’s a nostalgic place for millennials and older people. While the machines are old, it’s uncommon to discover a game here that doesn’t function properly.
The hours of operation at Pinballz Lake are usually 10 AM to 12 AM. While you can spend whatever you want on the machines, couple and family packs are available for a better experience. They also provide a selection of wines, drinks, beers, and ciders. The emphasis of Pinballz Lake Creek is on arcade games rather than go-karts. Go-karts are not available at Pinballz Lake Creek
Cidercade Dallas – Family Arcade in Dallas
| Website: | Family Arcade in Dallas |
| Address: | 2777 Irving Blvd #200, Dallas, TX 75207 |
| Phone: | 214-208-1922 |
| Attraction: | Retro arcade games, Hard drinks, Food trucks |
| Reviews: | 2,135 |
| Rating: | 4.7/5 |
Cidercade Dallas is a family-friendly arcade place during the day and becomes an adult arcade bar after 8 pm. With a $10 ticket, you will be able to play all 140+ arcade games at the place. The best part of the ticket is that it allows unlimited play on any of the great games.
There are more than 140 games at this arcade. Many of them are classic retro ones like Rastan, Donkey Kong, Carnival, etc. They also have pinball, shooter, sports, and driving games.
As the name goes, it is both an arcade and a cidery. The open hours of Cidercade are 10 AM-12 AM. They also have skee balls, basketball hoops, and other fun machines.
Game of Dreams Esports Arcade – For Gamers in Houston
| Website: | For Gamers in Houston |
| Address: | 930 Farm to Market 1960 Rd E Suite F, Houston, TX 77073 |
| Phone: | 281-849-9909 |
| Attraction: | PC Games, Console Games |
| Reviews: | 169 |
| Rating: | 4.8/5 |
If you enjoy modern PC games over older arcade machines, an esports arcade is a good choice. A community for gamers, Game of Dreams Esports Arcade provides a range of competitive video games, gaming gear, and a large space for players to gather and compete.
There are several games in Game of Dreams Esports Arcade, like Apex Legends, Astroneer, Batman: Arkham City, Battlefield V, etc. My favorite ones were Apex, Overwatch, CS:GO, etc. If you want to enjoy these games at this specific arcade, it is the most fun to have your friends with you.
The open hours of Game of Dreams are usually from 12 PM to 11 PM. You have to spend $7 for an hour of playing, $15 for 4 hours, and $50 for 7 hours.
Andretti Indoor Karting and Games – Go-Kart & Arcade
| Website: | Go-Kart & Arcade |
| Address: | 5527 N Loop 1604 W Acc Rd, San Antonio, TX 78257 |
| Phone: | 210-469-0700 |
| Attraction: | Arcades, Go-Karts, Laser Tag |
| Reviews: | 3,466 |
| Rating: | 4.4/5 |
Andretti Indoor Karting & Games is a top entertainment and event destination. It has high-speed electric Superkarts on multi-level courses, a cutting-edge arcade, laser tag, indoor mini-golf, and a number of completely immersive multiplayer virtual reality experiences.
Active members of the military, police, fire, and EMS are also eligible for discounts at the facility. Andretti Indoor Karting & Games has locations in San Antonio, The Colony, and Katy. The open hours are 11 AM to 11 PM on weekdays, 11 AM to 1 AM on Friday to Saturday, and 10 AM to 12 AM on Sunday.
The pricing structure is pay-as-you-go with no entry charges. You can buy a membership for savings on karting, attractions, arcade games, and bowling. For a single adult race, a non-member will have to pay $27.95. Moreover, laser tag costs $13.95, VR is $14.95, $12.95 for the 7D experience, $2.50 for bowling, and $10 for 250 game credits on arcades.
Round1 Bowling & Amusement – One of the Biggest American Arcades
| Website: | One of the Biggest American Arcades |
| Address: | 3000 Grapevine Mills Pkwy, Grapevine, TX 76051 |
| Phone: | 817-873-7981 |
| Attraction: | Arcade, Bowling, Pinball |
| Reviews: | 3,276 |
| Rating: | 4.4/5 |
Round1 is a popular name all across the United States, and it has two locations in Texas. You can enjoy bowling, arcade, pinball, karaoke, darts, billiards, ping pong, and many other games at this place. The first thing I noticed about Round1 at Grapeville is they do not accept cash. Therefore, you have to get a game card and purchase game credits for playing the arcades.
A Round1 card costs $2. On average, a single game credit can be bought with $0.25. For bowling, Round1 charges $5 per person, billiards at $7 per hour, $6 an hour for karaoke, $7 an hour for ping pong, and $6 an hour for darts. If you want to save money, you can get their All-You-Can-Play deal at $14.99.
All things considered, Round1 is a bit more expensive than most other arcades I mentioned on this list, but the experience is worth the cost. The place has been around since 1993, and it is a fun spot to visit if you want to enjoy other games alongside pinball and arcade.
Quarter Lounge Arcade – Family Friendly Retro Arcade in DFW
| Website: | Family Friendly Retro Arcade in DFW |
| Address: | 1424 Brown Trail, Bedford, TX 76022 |
| Phone: | (469) 992-2389 |
| Attraction: | Pinball, Retro Consoles, Retro Arcades |
| Reviews: | 402 |
| Rating: | 4.8/5 |
If you are looking for a nice retro arcade in Bedford, the Quarter Lounge is a decent place with classic machines. This facility has retro games like Street Fighter, Super Mario Bros, Ms. Pacman, etc. In addition to arcade games, they also feature old consoles and pinball. The only issue I have with Quarter Lounge is that it feels crammed due to insufficient space.
Quarter Lounge has two locations – one in Fort Worth and another in Bedford. Bedford’s one is open from 4 PM to 10 PM during weekdays and 12 PM to 10 PM during weekends.
The best part of this arcade place is how cheap it is. You can play all the arcade, pinball, and console games for the entire day for only $9. Moreover, this place is excellent for rental as per hour costs only $50 for the whole spot.
Free Play Arcade – Drinks & Games
| Website: | Drinks & Games |
| Address: | 400 E South St, Arlington, TX 76010 |
| Phone: | (817) 242-8483 |
| Attraction: | Retro Arcade, Bar |
| Reviews: | 2,254 |
| Rating: | 4.7/5 |
The Free Play Arcade is an arcade bar with more than 130 retro games available. The place also has good food and a large selection of alcoholic beverages. After spending a $12 entry fee, I was able to play any game without additional costs. They have some very old retro games like X-men, Super Mario Bros, Tekken, SEGA’s Mega-Tech System, Street Fighter, and many more.
While the place is more suited for adults, you can bring your kids as well before 9 PM. The open hours are 3 PM to 11 PM on weekdays, 3 PM to 2 AM on Fridays, and 11 AM to 2 AM on Saturdays and Sundays.
Free Play is also known for being one of the best bars in DFW. Along with many drinks, they also have a great selection of food. Overall, I’d recommend this place for 21+ adult friend groups who want to drink and have fun playing retro arcade games.
FAQ
What is a good arcade in Dallas for adults?
Cidercade and Dave & Buster in 9450 N. Central Expy are excellent choices for adults as they offer superb drinks and are open late at night with various arcade machines.
Any arcade in Dallas that has go-karts as well?
There are a few. You can pick Celebration Station in Mesquite or Adventure Landing in Coit Rd.
Conclusion
Many of the arcades I listed above have multiple locations in Texas and even in other states. Therefore, don’t forget to check out the nearby locations of whichever arcade you like. If you’re lucky, the best ones will be nearby!