Welcome to Location Watch, a collection right here on Arcade Heroes that endeavors to trace and report on new arcade location openings from all world wide. This can be our ultimate have a look at new areas for 2024, whereas additionally giving us a preview of some areas which might be new and contemporary for 2025. Our final Location Watch was on the finish of October; H/T to numerous customers on our Discord server channel (#arcade-locations) and social media pages who share information on these areas, in addition to RePlay Journal and InterGame On-line; in case you have any new arcades we’ve missed, you should definitely tell us and they are going to be added.
We’ll get into this extra within the upcoming end-of-year publish, however all in all this 12 months has been a bumpy experience for the trade. Openings have been gradual in November, solely to choose up in December. However that’s then been barely offset by strife on the indie/combating sport neighborhood aspect of issues, the place there has sadly been a number of high-profile closures simply introduced this month that gamers have been reeling from. Nevertheless, use it or lose it does sadly apply, and these posts are all about giving the following technology of areas publicity for a cause. Let’s get absolutely caught up with all the brand new arcade openings for late 2024…
New Arcade Finders
Simply earlier than we get to these, I need to shortly spotlight two new arcade locators which have just lately begun operations on-line. The primary is the Insert Coin App, which does work discover on a desktop browser. It seems to supply up all arcades on the market world wide, however is missing a whole lot of venues because it wants consumer enter for all that; the second is extra area of interest with Retro Arcade Hunter. Unsure in the event that they require solely retro video games and what the deadline for “retro” is (everybody appears to have their very own arbitrary date in thoughts), nevertheless it’s protected to imagine that anyplace targeted on the 80s is a positive guess there.
North America
Varcade PVP Enviornment (Detroit, MI)
Our buddies at No Money Worth LLC have been busy, now opening a venue on the Oakland Mall that options the VARBOX VR system, and some Blast Metropolis cupboards operating some older arcade titles, uniting two generations of compact video amusement into one place. I’ve seen the VARBOX at IAAPA a number of instances, however by no means have seen a location that has one. Examine them out on Fb or their web site.
Max Funland (Brooklyn, NY)
This new opening for Brooklyn has its arcade hooked up to an journey playground. This oddly has numerous Asian imports, with Japanese ones together with Chunithm, Ongeki, Wacca, and Preliminary D Arcade Stage 8 (offline). Their Zenius-i-vanisher.com itemizing might be discovered right here. Hopefully this will take out a number of the sting from the upcoming closure of Brooklyn Video games & Arcade (scroll down for extra on that).
Get together Time (Brooklyn, NY)
One other new Brooklyn opening right here, this one being an instance of what arcades there can try this others can’t by opening for twenty-four hours around the clock. Get together Time affords a contemporary mixture of what seems to be all Chinese language video games, mixing prize, redemption, and video video games right into a vibrant household atmosphere. The movement model of Deadstorm Pirates and the non-US model of Dinosaur Period are the one video games I acknowledge at a look although. I’m guessing that is in a Chinatown space of the town, however somebody who is aware of the realm that is at must fill me in if that’s incorrect.
Mana Pinball (Ontario, Canada)
Beginning off as a pinball servicing and rental store, Mana has converted to additionally working them as an arcade. They function utilizing a free play mannequin, and appears like they’ve a big selection of video games that get rotated out frequently. Discover them right here.
Gary’s Place #2 (Seattle, WA)
Seattle is getting extra arcade love from this firm as they’ve simply opened their second location, now in West Seattle. Gary’s Place is devoted to Gary Cichi, an arcade operator who was a fixture of the scene within the area. This arcade is co-operated by one in all Gary’s sons, Matt. When you’re within the space, you’ll discover an ecclectic mixture of previous and new video games, from beloved classics (Asteroids, Donkey Kong, Ms. Pac-Man) to a row of pinball machines to newer video stuff – together with some exA-Arcadia ARC-32 cabs.
Enjoyable Spot Arcade (Salem, NH)
Enjoyable Spot continues their growth, now opening a spot at The Mall At Rockingham Park. You may’t see a lot from the low decision photograph on that linked web page, except for a number of prize video games and what seems to be a Pump It Up… I’ve to imagine which have extra video goodness than that to be discovered inside.
Sip ‘N Flip Arcade (Windsor, CO)
Hopping over to Colorado is a brand new bar/arcade (consists of grownup drinks in addition to soda), with 13 pinball machines (a number of from the ’90s with a number of newer Sterns) and a bunch of video classics. Most of these are from the ’80s, nonetheless, I discover on their record that they point out the just-released Asteroids Recharged by Alan-1. I did think about that it could discover its means into extra retrocades/ arcade bars than your typical fashionable title. As for pinball, I see an increasing number of arcade bars utilizing these set ups, however I do surprise the way it pans out on the price profit (i.e., will pinball earn extra this technique to make it definitely worth the expense?). It actually makes for a formidable scene:
MallRats (Worcester, MA)
This location references the basic 90s movie with each an arcade and a used retro sport retailer. For the arcade, there’s Dig-Dug, Ms. Pac-Man, Donkey Kong Jr., The Simpsons, and Tekken 3, which all got here from a earlier location opened by one in all its homeowners, as talked about on this native information report which matches into the placement’s backstory. Discover them at their official web site.
The Tokyo Membership (Columbia, MO)
This one has a et up I’ve by no means heard of earlier than – a cyberpunk-themed pinball venue and comedy membership. That’s fairly a combo. They’re positioned in a brand new enterprise space known as “The Arcade District”, which isn’t unique to arcade venues (typically the phrase is used for ‘arcade’ as in structure, nonetheless, this explicit district does appear to steer into the video arcade as properly, as there may be one other arcade within the space). Tokyo has round 25 machines, principally newer Sterns, however they’ve a number of classics like The X-Information and Arabian Nights. Discover them on Fb.
Purple Quarters (St Louis, MO)
St Louis will get a bar arcade within the type of Purple Quarters, opened final month. Their easy however efficient lineup consists of Skeeball, NBA Jam, a number of pinballs, a twin Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, foosball, Galaga Assault, and a basketball. Discover them on Fb right here.
Castlecade Southridge Mall (Greendale, WI)
Castlecade continues to develop throughout Wisconsin, opening their newest location on the Southridge Mall. This seems like an analogous dimension to their different areas, then with a sport combine that focuses on merchandisers and redemption first, supported by a number of video video games. These at present embody a Huge Buck Hunter Reloaded, an exA-Arcadia operating Chaos Code, an Injustice Arcade, a pair of Mario Kart Arcade GP 2’s, a Pac-Man Battle Royale Chompionship, and a Step ManiaX. Discover them on Fb.
In The Recreation (Las Vegas, NV)
After wallowing in growth hell for twenty years (with many alternative companies saying to be coming there, solely to by no means materialize), Household Leisure Group lastly determined to show this location on Fremont Road into an arcade. It seems to be heavy on redemption, though Jdevy seen a Godzilla Kaiju Wars VR in one of many linked tweets about it.
FEC Openings & Updates
Dave & Busters CEO Resigns; Similar Retailer Gross sales Fall – Conflicting to listen to that even D&B have been seeing a decline in latest months, though given what myself and plenty of different small ops have seen all through most of 2024, it isn’t a lot of a shock. In a wierd means, it’s truly aid that it hasn’t simply been the little guys experiencing tough waters within the economic system over the previous 12 months. However maybe with them it has much less to do with the arcade aspect and extra their F&B enterprise… as just lately noticed by Kevin Williams within the newest version of his Sound Off podcast, their meals does have the repute it does for a cause.
Dave & Busters Opens A Location In Clarksville, TN – D&B are additionally nonetheless opening new areas, regardless of their administration woes; together with a web site in India quickly.
Round1USA Opens In Mission Viejo, CA
Bowlero Rebrands As Fortunate Strike Leisure
Fortunate Strike Leisure Opens Location In Beverly Hills, CA
One other Fortunate Strike Opens In CA, This Time Orange County
Rush Maxx FEC Opens In San Antonio, TX
Henry Dorrbaker’s Pub & Play Opens In Beloit, WI
A New Mr. Gatti’s Pizza Opens In Ft. Value, TX
Winner’s Circle Opens In Longmont, CO
A Peek At The New GATCHA Arcade Venue In Edison, NJ – H/T to S1ckh4nds for the video
A Denny’s In Alhambra, CA Opens A Recreation Room
21+ Grownup Redemption Arcade Swingers Opens In Las Vegas
810 Billiards Opens A New Venue In Panama Metropolis Seaside, FL
Gametime Lanes & Leisure Opens With A Massive Arcade In Peabody, MA
New Playdium Retailer Opens In Toronto
Strike & Spares Opens Sixth Location, This One In KY
Hudz Household Enjoyable Zone Opens In Paxton, IL
CA Arcade Op Storms Homeless Camp Who Raided His Arcade – Feels like fiction, however this was a loopy, actual story
RIP To Brooklyn Video games & Arcade – I bear in mind after we reported on them opening again within the Summer time of 2021, actually unhappy to listen to this.
Europe
England’s entries come courtesy of UK-based AH co-contributor Ted, who notes that the final three of them are all oddly across the West Midlands – not that lengthy away from him, but additionally not very close to both…
Gravity Arcade (Dartford & Studying, England)
Having beforehand opened Funbox arcades as a part of their bigger Gravity MAX facilities, Gravity now appear to be on the warpath with opening arcades the place their smaller trampoline park-focused UK areas are too. One in Dartford’s Bluewater procuring middle has simply opened as a standalone venue close by its trampoline park, and one other is being instantly co-joined with the corporate’s current Studying venue. Owing to their affiliation with Sega Amusements, each have a whole lot of their latest large releases (Mission: Inconceivable Arcade, Apex Rebels).
Fortunate Claw (Birmingham, England)
The Asian-inspired crane arcade idea is spreading, with areas such because the USA’s Gatcha and Australia’s Paradigm Zone talked about in latest LWs, and this seems to be the primary of the bunch to land within the UK. Whereas these ‘new wave’ neon cranes are largely the order of the day right here, there may be additionally some multigame cupboards, and one factor particularly that makes this location stand out from others… an imported Taiko No Tatsujin (albeit additionally a poorer high quality unofficial Chinese language one). Attention-grabbing that they’d bounce the gun on a potential European launch…
The Retro Realm (Walsall, England)
The Retro Realm in Walsall flies the flag for freeplay retro arcades right here. They purport to be the one a kind of in Midlands, though Ted disputes that (The Arcade Warehouse in Lincoln can lay declare there). What’s for positive is that as advised by their identify, the sport choice right here couldn’t be extra totally different than Fortunate Claw, providing arcade-goers in and round Birmingham extra alternative as it’s not too far. Highlights amongst their lineup from the seems of some images embody Sega Race TV, Dariusburst EX, and a uncommon twin deluxe After Burner Climax setup.
Star Pins (Coventry, England)
Making what Ted says is a West Midlands hat-trick, this new location additionally just lately opened in Coventry there. Coming from the identical firm that opened the King Pins areas which were talked about earlier than in these posts, this one justifies the identify change with totally different video games – the place these had a number of retro cupboards, Star Pins goes for extra customary FEC fare, although there’s a wholesome smattering of latest video releases too. It hasn’t been introduced anyplace as of but nevertheless it’s doubtless Sega Amusements additionally furnished this location – a whole lot of their titles seen on the Gravity areas talked about above are right here too, together with a pair you don’t see as typically (Drone Racing Genesis, Males In Black).
Degree Up (Rodez, France)
Not probably the most unique identify for this new French bar arcade, however it could possibly serve for some illustration exterior of the UK right here. There’s no images of this one on the market but moreover one of many exterior added by the placement to their Google profile although, so what video games they’re principally a thriller. On the very least InterGame studies that they’ve a number of apparent classics in Mortal Kombat, Pac-Man and Road Fighter 2, in addition to some quiz-themed rooms.
FEC Openings & Updates
Hollywood Bowl Studies Report Income – Ted in contrast these to the “D&B of the UK” within the AH Discord, in that they’ve areas all throughout the nation and a few very redemption/Uncooked Thrills-heavy arcades
Bandai Namco Amusement Europe Installs A Recreation Room At Topgolf Watford (UK) – Feels like they’re open to StepManiaX tournaments
Archie’s Atomic (A UK Burger Model) Opens A Curler Rink FEC In Manchester, UK – Yet one more new location stocked by Sega Amusements
Arcade Membership UK Celebrates 10 Years
Immersive Baseball Idea For London
Nikito Domus, Rosny-sous-Bois, France
Italy’s Largest Recreation Museum Has Cabs
Kooglana Opens third Location In Croatia
Gamestate Acquires Legendary Arcade Venue Circus Zandvoort In The Netherlands – It’ll shut down in April, then re-open Summer time 2025
Asia/Oceania/Center East
While development is broadly robust throughout Asia, it’s arduous to not ignore the approaching lack of the well-known Kyoto combating sport mecca A-Cho this time. That location has been a lot beloved by combating avid gamers each in Japan and abroad, notably for his or her early adoption of utilizing the Web to ship out movies of their titles (many over right here acquired their first have a look at numerous obscure Japanese fighters in motion this fashion). Sadder nonetheless is how there aren’t actually any new openings of its sort to interchange it – simply extra established chains increasing additional with largely crane-focused areas, regardless of some attention-grabbing new developments with their ideas right here and there. Hopefully issues change in Japan sometime although…
GiGO Tateishi (Tokyo, Japan)
Over a 12 months in the past now, GiGO needed to make one other unlucky closure of one of many previous Sega areas, Excessive-Tech Land Sega Tateishi. This one was not business-related because it was pressured on them by council redevelopment plans; it has taken a while to take action, however they’ve now lastly opened a brand new middle in that space to take its place. All of the charming colourful décor it had (you possibly can see a few of it in these images by Arcade Tokyo) sadly hasn’t made it over, however these pondering this brings solely UFO Catchers with it could be improper, as its higher flooring homes all the most important Japanese rhythm, racing and community video games, in addition to a number of Taito NESiCAXLive2 and Sega APM3 cupboards (no exA although…).
In different Genda GiGO information, they’ve now built-in their karaoke enterprise with areas correct after hoovering up an organization in that aspect of issues some time in the past, and made so many bulletins of different new acquisitions and the way their enterprise goes properly that it’s getting arduous to maintain up
Feedy Diner & Arcade (Osaka, Japan)
‘Eatertainment’ is one thing that hasn’t actually taken maintain for arcades in Japan, with no actual Dave & Busters equal, however that may very well be about to vary. In addition to a latest renovation to Namco’s flagship Tokyo location to accommodate extra foods and drinks, and a brand new nightclub with a crane sport zone on the Grand Hammer meals and leisure advanced in Shinbashi, Aeon Mall (recognized for his or her family-focused Molly Fantasy facilities) has simply launched a brand new idea in Ibaraki, Osaka – Feedy Diner & Arcade. This fuses a retro American diner with a giant arcade, comprising cranes, medal video games, and a number of titles extra of curiosity to AH readers (Maimai DX, Preliminary D, BEMANI video games and so forth).
If this place and Aeon Mall’s different arcade areas curiosity you, keep tuned for AH for an upcoming particular report targeted on them from one in all our greatest abroad contributors…
Namco / Joypolis Sports activities + Sonic Stadium (Kai Tak Mall, Hong Kong)
Namco and Sega’s rivalry is the stuff of legend, and although it doesn’t fairly play out in the identical means these days it could possibly nonetheless occur in locations. The newest instance of that’s two new areas from abroad Hong Kong associates (Namco Enterprises Asia and CA Sega Joypolis) opening proper subsequent to one another in the exact same mall. Namco’s location (pictured beneath) is extra a standard family-oriented arcade, while the Joypolis Sports activities idea is marking its first location exterior of Japan with a flagship ‘sportainment’ providing of a ninja zone (that includes Sega’s attention-grabbing Ninja Coach Arcade), dynamic themed bar, and a Sonic Stadium with a children play space and Joypolis points of interest like Sonic Atheltics.
Area Arcade PH (Pasay Metropolis, Philippines)
When you’re within the Philippines and are searching for a gamer’s arcade, this place seems like it’s got you coated. With a futuristic, fashionable look, they’ve the largest and greatest variations of a number of model new video video games, together with some Chinese language VR techniques that I’m not tremendous accustomed to, moreover a few them being the VR Agent ripoffs we noticed pop up after its launch. A number of the video video games embody 4x Asphalt Moto Blitz DX, Halo: Fireteam Raven 4P, 4x NFS Warmth Takedown (Wahlap mannequin), and extra. Most attention-grabbing of the remaining, this “Star Wars” shooter by an unknown Chinese language firm that we beforehand noticed on the GTI Asia China Expo in September – lawsuit bait of the very best order…
FEC Openings & Updates
Round1JP Abandons Pre-Paid Card Experiments Already – This didn’t final lengthy. Regardless of makes an attempt, evidently the idea simply gained’t absorb Japan…
GiGO Arcade Cafe Osaka Provides Extra Retro Recreation Choices – One other one for the ‘GiGO’ and ‘eatertainment’ recordsdata. We talked about this one a number of months in the past, however all it had within the retro space have been a number of tabletop cupboards. That’s now modified with neat unique machine alternatives (Harley Davidson King of the Street, Punch Out, Fortunate & Wild)…
Bandai Namco Unveils Themed Areas For Taiko No Tatsujin & Fishing Spirits At Namco Marvel Metropolis Minami-Kumamoto
Saitama Leisureland Omiya Opens With 200 Of The Newest Cranes, 50 Video, Music And Driving Video games
Masti Zone FEC Opens In Dwarka, New Delhi, India
Timezone Opens At The Fortunate Chinatown Mall With 70+ Video games
Timezone Opens A Retailer At Ayala Malls Vermosa In The Philippines
Timezone Opens At The SM Mall of Asia, Pasay Metropolis, Philippines – Area Arcade up above has somewhat competitors to start out
Dave & Busters Opening A Location In Bengaluru, India
Funworld Frenzy Opens In Jakarta, Indonesia
Neo Akedo Opens In Malaysia
Are any of those new arcades close to you? Then you should definitely exit and go to them! Doorways can’t keep open on the idea of likes and hashtags.
Coming In 2025
Extra New D&Bs Deliberate For California
Quarter Drop Arcade Opening Jan. twenty fifth In Cottage Grove, OR
Downtown Flavortown Coming To Myrtle Seaside, SC
Barcade Opening Their tenth Location Spring 2025
Andretti Karting & Video games Increasing Throughout The US By means of 2026
New Lounge, Bar And Arcade Deliberate In Northampton, UK
Subsequent Hollywood Bowl Beneath Building For Preston, UK
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