Arcades (& Bars With Video Games) In Phoenix, AZ

Like most cities, 1980’s Phoenix was a hotbed of arcades and stand-up video games.

It was an age of Pac-Man and Galaga, Donkey Kong and Space Invaders.

Then, came the Atari, and the Nintendo after that.

Suddenly, Phoenix arcades cleared out and the world of video gaming was transplanted into player’s living rooms.

But just because the Phoenix arcade scene isn’t what it once was doesn’t mean it’s gone completely.

There are still a number of places around the city where you can pop in your tokens and play.

Phoenix Video Arcades

These are the arcades in and around Phoenix:

Châm Pang Lanes

(21+ after 8 pm)

903 N 2nd St
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(602) 922-2235

Monday-Wednesday: 4 pm – Midnight
Thursday: 4 pm – 1 am
Friday: 4 pm – 2 am
Saturday: 11 am – 2 am
Sunday: 11 am – Midnight

Games:

• Pinball

Vibe: Energetic/Party

The Rush Fun Park

Desert Palms Power Center
3865 E Thomas Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85018
(623) 432-7874

Sunday-Thursday: 9 am – 8 pm
Friday-Saturday: 9 am – 9 pm

Games:

• Skill Games
• Console Games

Vibe: Energetic/Hectic

Bowlero Christown

1919 W Bethany Home Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85015
(602) 249-1715

Monday-Thursday: 3 pm – Midnight
Friday: 3 pm – 1 am
Saturday: 11 am – 1 am
Sunday: 11 am – 11 pm

Games:

• World’s Largest Pac-Man
• Skill Games
• Console Games
• Basketball

Vibe: Energetic

Chuck E. Cheese

8039 N 35th Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85051
(602) 973-1945

Sunday-Thursday: 11 am – 9 pm
Friday: 11 am – 10 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 10 pm

Games:

• Kid-Friendly
  • Skill Games
  • Console Games
• Basketball
• Riding Games

Vibe: Kids, Kids Everywhere/Hectic

Castles-N- Coasters

2606 W Townley Ave Unit 11
Phoenix, AZ 85021
(623) 256-9964

Daily: 10 am – 10 pm

Games:

• Pinball
• Console Games

Vibe: Energetic/Hectic

Phoenix Barcades/Phoenix Bars With Arcade Games

Barcades are basically just video arcades that serve booze.

Due to this, you typically must be 21+ to enter.

(Some barcades do allow players under 21 if they are with a responsible adult, but most of them don’t.)

So, if you’re looking for both a drink and a game of pinball/skeeball/Pac-Man in Phoenix, here’s where you can find it:

Cobra Arcade Bar

801 N 2nd St #100
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(602) 595-5873

Daily: 4 pm – 2 am

Games:

• Console Games
  • Q*Bert
  • Mario Bros.
  • Donkey Kong
  • The Simpsons
  • Tetris

Vibe: Chill/Hoppin’

Stardust Pinbar

401 W Van Buren St Ste C
Phoenix, AZ 85003
(602) 354-2931

Monday-Wednesday: 4 pm – Midnight
Thursday: 4 pm – 1 am
Friday: 4 pm – 2 am
Saturday: Noon – 2 am
Sunday: Noon – Midnight

Games:

• Pinball

Vibe: Chill/Relaxed

Thunderbird Lounge

710 W Montecito Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85013
(602) 283-4621

Daily: 4 pm – 2 am

Games:

• Console Games
  • Ms. Pac-Man
  • Centipede
  • Donkey Kong Jr
  • Mortal Kombat

Vibe: Fun/Retro

Phoenix’s Arcades Out Of The Past

Ah, the ever pulsating heart of Phoenix’s gaming community – those dreamy days when arcades were not just about the games, but about the camaraderie and collective euphoria that permeated through every square foot of those glowing, bustling havens.

From the ever-popular Dance Dance Revolution dance-offs to the crowd around Street Fighter tournaments, the dedicated video arcade was the nucleus of Phoenix’s gamer culture.

Today, the gaming world is vastly different.

With the advent of home consoles and online multiplayer platforms, the need for arcade machines can sometimes feel obsolete, the blinking lights of a stand-up console a thing of the past.

But the echoes of laughter, the flickers reflecting off a sea of eager faces, and the symphony of electronic bleeps and bloops that once dominated Phoenix’s arcade scene remain.

So, let’s raise a joystick to Phoenix’s past, to those shared moments and to the friendships that were forged in the glow of those colorful screens.

The Phoenix arcade scene may not be as bustling as it was in its prime, but the spirit of those times, the pure joy of gaming, still resonates – resonates in every token dropped, every button pressed, and every high score achieved.

Even as our joysticks have given way to VR controllers and our coin slots to in-app purchases, the legacy of Phoenix’s arcades remains a testament to the city’s gaming culture.

And while the neon lights might flicker a little dimmer now, the soul of the arcade scene continues to shine brightly, its heartbeat still echoing in every ‘Game Over’ and ‘Continue?’ screen that lights up across the city.

So, let’s keep that gamer spirit alive, Phoenix. We’ve got high scores to beat and new worlds to conquer.

Game Over?

Never!