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

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

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

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

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

But just because the Tucson 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.

Tucson Video Arcades

These are the arcades in and around Tucson:

Dave & Busters

1390 E Tucson Marketplace Blvd
Tucson, AZ 85713
(520) 330-3400

Monday-Thursday: 11 am – Midnight
Friday: 11 am – 1 am
Saturday: 10 am – 1 am
Sunday: 10 am – Midnight

Games:

• Skill Games
  • Skee-Ball
  • Basketball
• Riding/Driving Games
  • Cruisin’
• Console Games

Vibe: Energetic/Hectic

Main Event

4700 S Landing Way
Tucson, AZ 85714
(520) 503-3301

Monday: 11 am – 1 am
Tuesday-Thursday/Sunday: 11 am – Midnight
Friday: 11 am – 2 am
Saturday: 9 am-2 am

Games:

• Console Games (New & Classic)
• Skill Games
• Dance Dance Revolution
• Racing Games

Vibe: Energetic

Peter Piper Pizza

(Closest to Downtown) 1380 N Silverbell Rd
Tucson, AZ 85745
(520) 624-7475

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

Games:

• Skill Games
  • Skee-Ball
  • Basketball
• Console Games
• Driving Games

Vibe: Energetic

Lucky Strike Bowl

4015 E Speedway Blvd
Tucson, AZ 85712
(520) 327-4926

Sunday-Thursday: Noon – 11 pm
Friday: Noon – Midnight
Saturday: 9 am – 11 pm

Games:

• Console Games (New & Classic)
• Pinball

Vibe: Energetic

Round1 Bowling & Arcade

Park Place Mall
5950 E Broadway Blvd #110
Tucson, AZ 85711
(520) 485-4288

Daily: 10 am – 2 am

Games:

• Skill Games
• Riding Games
• Dance Games

Vibe: Energetic

Chuck E. Cheese

6125 E Speedway Blvd
Tucson, AZ 85712
(520) 777-1077

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

Funtasticks

221 E Wetmore Rd
Tucson, AZ 85705
(520) 888-4653

Monday-Thursday: Noon – 8 pm
Friday: Noon – 10 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 10 pm
Sunday: 10 am – 8 pm

Games:

• Skill Games
  • Skee-Ball
• Riding Games
• Console Games

Vibe: Kids, Kids Everywhere/Hectic

Tucson Barcades/Tucson 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 in Tucson, here’s where you can find it:

Cobra Arcade Bar

63 E Congress St
Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 499-3999

Monday: Closed
Tuesday-Sunday: 4 pm – 2 am

Games:

• Console Games
  • Tron
  • NBA Jam
  • Tetris
  • X-Men

Vibe: Chill/Hoppin’

Tucson’s Arcades Out Of The Past

Ah, the ever pulsating heart of Tucson’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 Tucson’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 Tucson’s arcade scene remain.

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

The Tucson 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 Tucson’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, Tucson. We’ve got high scores to beat and new worlds to conquer.

Game Over?

Never!