Arcades offer a dose of nostalgia and make you feel like a carefree kid again. But they're not just for the little ones, as proven by the rise in popularity of barcades. Thanks to the addition of booze and higher-quality grub, arcades have become more adult-friendly and are a welcome alternative to the standard night at the bar or the typical dinner date.
You probably don't have to go too far to find one of these gaming playgrounds. Miami and Fort Lauderdale are home to several arcades. Which are worthy of your quarters? Press start to continue because here's a look at the best arcades in South Florida.
Arcade Odyssey
12045 SW 117th Ave., Miami305-253-2722
arcadeodyssey.com Located in a Kendall strip mall between a salon and pizza joint, Arcade Odyssey is the closest thing South Florida has to the arcades of yesteryear. And not just because it's home to early '90s side-scrolling staples X-Men, The Simpsons, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time. The place has a vintage setup, with covered-up windows to prevent light from sneaking in and more than 170 games stacked side by side. You won't find ticket redemption games here like at a mega-arcade. But don't think of Arcade Odyssey as outdated. Owner and arcade collector Rick Medina constantly swaps in the latest arcade imports and rare finds. He also added a bar and moved to a pay-card system (the latter was due to people jamming the coin slots with random items). One thing that hasn't changed: A dollar can still go a long way at Arcade Odyssey. Monday through Thursday 2 p.m. to midnight, Friday 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday noon to 2 a.m., and Sunday noon to midnight.
Dave & Buster's
11481 NW 12th St., Miami305-468-1555
daveandbusters.com This 60,000-square-foot Dolphin Mall mega-arcade isn't where you go to beat games. It's where you go to get wowed by them. Dave & Buster's — more than half of which is bars, pool tables, and dining areas — is loaded with tricked-out simulators that lure you in with bright lights and over-the-top displays. These simulators also have seating because God forbid you burn calories playing games. You'll find many classic franchises here, just not the way you remember them. Pac-Man has been supersized and now comes with an epilepsy warning. NBA Jam has been resurrected as NBA Superstars, now with a 75-inch display and an LED stadium scoreboard. Remember Space Invaders, the bare-bones arcade you'd find at a laundromat? It now comes with laser guns, seating for two, and a 108-inch LED screen. Visit on Wednesdays, and you can play these and most other games for half price. Monday and Tuesday 11 a.m. to midnight, Wednesday through Friday 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to midnight.
GameTime
5701 Sunset Dr., Ste. 330, Miami305-667-4263
gametimeplayers.com One of the few remaining reasons to visit the Shops at Sunset Place, GameTime offers the modern arcade experience: two floors, nearly 165 games, a separate pool table room, and a bar and restaurant with 60-plus HDTVs. The 36,000-square-foot arcade is heavy on simulators, which allow you to get behind the wheel in the Fast & the Furious Arcade or step inside the Halo: Fireteam Raven, Jurassic Park, Walking Dead, and Transformers Shadows Rising shooter games and fire at will. Go during the week to take advantage of happy-hour specials (50 percent off drinks from 4 to 8 p.m.). On weekends, GameTime has been known to draw mixed martial arts fans whenever there's a big UFC pay-per-view. Plan accordingly. Monday through Wednesday 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., Thursday 4 p.m. to midnight, Friday 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday 10 to 2 a.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Glitch Bar
905 NE Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale954-616-5762
glitchbar.com When it comes strictly to arcade decor, this Fort Lauderdale barcade has earned this list's high score. The DJ booth is covered in cassettes, and the walls are adorned with black light posters and retro figures (in addition to an alien synth-wave mural). But Glitch is more than just good looks. There's a decent selection of classic arcade cabinets to choose from, such as Ms. Pac-Man, Donkey Kong 3, Galaga, and Street Fighter II. What separates this place from most is its support for the little guy. There's a variety of indie arcade games that individuals or small companies created. And if you're into video game consoles, they have those too. Just park yourself at the bar and pick up a controller. The consoles, like the arcades, are free to play. The hope is you'll buy drinks while playing free games. It's like the opposite of a casino. Monday through Thursday 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday 5 p.m. to 3 a.m., Saturday noon to 3 a.m., and Sunday noon to 2 a.m.
Miami Arcade
14401 NE 19th Ave., North Miami786-590-5002
dezerlandactionpark.com Remember Miami Pinball? Many of the machines from the closed North Miami pinball hangout found a new home nearby in this Dezerland Action Park arcade. Pinball wizards can come here to play Game of Thrones, Avatar, Metallica, and Batman '66 pinball machines, among others. There are several non-silver ball variety games as well, from old-school Pac-Man and Popeye arcade cabinets to new-school virtual reality games, stock car simulators, and a six-lane, neon-lit mini bowling alley. But the arcade is just one of many activities offered at the 250,000-square-foot Dezerland. Other options include a trampoline park, roller skating rink, and go-cart track. This all-in-one indoor venue can be a real lifesaver for families on rainy days. Monday through Thursday 4 to 9 p.m., Friday 3 to 11 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Satellite Pinball Lounge
3501 Dixie Hwy., Oakland Park954-728-0659
instagram.com/satellitepinballlounge The newest addition to the list — from Glitch owner Dwight Slamp, a self-described pinball junkie — is home to 19 pinball machines. (Glitch, on the other hand, has no pinball machines.) These machines are based on movies and TV shows such as The Avengers and Game of Thrones, as well as bands such as the Foo Fighters and Led Zeppelin. The games aren't free like at Glitch, but the $1-per-game price at Satellite won't break the bank. Satellite hosts a pinball league sanctioned by the International Flipper Pinball Association on Mondays. And while the pinball gets people in the door, the food and drink sales keep the lights on. Satellite has a dozen beers on tap and nine different pizzas on the menu. Want a food rec? Try the Eclipse Calzone. New Times writer Jesse Scott says it's one of the best calzones he's had. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 5 p.m. to midnight; Friday 4 p.m. to midnight; Saturday and Sunday noon to midnight.
Tenth Level Tavern
1242 NE 38th St., Oakland Park954-559-1414
instagram.com/tenthleveltavern This barcade has all your nerdy needs covered. There are seven PS5 consoles, four Nintendo Switch consoles, and nine monitors with more than 6,000 retro games at your disposal. Older consoles such as Atari and Nintendo are available for private parties. And yes, the Nintendo still works. No, you don't have to blow into the cartridges. Expect weekly events such as Well, Actually Nerd Trivia on Tuesdays, Rock Band karaoke on Thursdays, and video game tournaments on Sundays. Prizes include memorabilia, booze, cash, and bar tab discounts. Sunday through Wednesday 5 p.m. to midnight and Thursday through Saturday 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Xtreme Action Park
5300 Powerline Rd., Fort Lauderdale954-491-6265
xtremeactionpark.com There are plenty of reasons to visit this multipurpose Fort Lauderdale entertainment venue, one of which is its spacious arcade with more than 100 games. You can play Minecraft Dungeons, Angry Birds Coin Crash, and Hot Wheels King of the Road and discover games that have yet to hit the market, thanks to Xtreme's partnership with arcade sellers PrimeTime Amusements. One game that stands out is the XD Dark Ride Theater, which has motion seating for eight people. Put on those 3D glasses, David Caruso-style, and use your laser shooter to fire away at zombies or whatever else is breathing down your neck. Xtreme Action Park also offers virtual reality fun in its 15x15 VR Arena, where you can play the sci-fi shooting game Raverz or, for the kiddies, Spongebob VR. Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to midnight, Saturday 10 a.m. to midnight, Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
