Welcome to Location Watch, a regular series of posts here on Arcade Heroes that tracks the opening of new arcade venues from around the globe. Country does not matter – we try to cover every corner of the world, generally separating them out into the three major regions that tend to see the most action in this regard (North America, Europe, Asia and elsewhere if possible).
Thanks as always to our many readers on the Arcade Heroes Discord server and our presences on other platforms for sharing news for this, as well as sources like RePlay Magazine and InterGame Online. Let’s see who has opened up, before March is over!
North America
Antisocial Pinball (Toronto, Canada)
My sincere apologies on this one as it’s a venue that has let us know that they opened, but somehow we missed adding it. Rectifying that with a place at the top! Antisocial Pinball lays claim to being “Canada’s largest pinball arcade.” Opening their doors late last year, they bring together pins both old and new, with plenty of bangers that should please the most picky pinball wizard. They also have a few video games (including what looks to be a Maximum Tune 3DX, from one photo I saw on their Facebook page.)
Elston Electric (Chicago, IL)
A special shoutout to this new location too, seeing as one of its consultants (Jim at No Cash Value) regularly engages with us on Facebook. They, Logan Arcade and 16 On Center have opened this big new bar arcade in Chicago’s Salt Shed venue, with a highly varied mix of retro titles, rarities, imports and pinball, alongside some more standard FEC and ticket redemption fare. RePlay and Eater Chicago (they’ve also got some food options courtesy of Pizza Friendly Pizza) have some more coverage on them.
The Circuit Arcade Bar (Jacksonville, FL)
Continuing the bar arcade trip, Jacksonville in Florida gets yet another new location (they came up several times last year) with The Circuit. Again we have a mix of old and new, with games like Aliens Armageddon, Killer Instinct, Space Invaders Frenzy, and Mortal Kombat 3. Check them on Instagram here.
Pop’s Pinball Parlor #2 (Medford, MA)
More pinball now as Pop’s Pinball Parlor has opened their second location in Medford, Massachusetts recently, following their first for Somerville from 2023. Their machines include the vintage likes of The Games and classics including Addams Family and Twilight Zone. Read more at the RePlay report and follow them on Instagram here. The aesthetic has a very late 1970s/early 80s vibe to me, for some reason.
Taroko Sports (Katy, TX)
As well as batting cages and other sporting activities, this ‘sportainment’ destination that opened up just a few days ago has a pretty well-stocked arcade. The games include several banks of basketball machines, in keeping with the theme, alongside four player linkups for Asphalt Moto Blitz DX and UNIS’ recent release Monster Kart, the original Assault Model version of Halo Fireteam Raven, and a Pump It Up Phoenix 2024.
Max Funland #2 (Bensonhurst, NY)
We only mentioned Max Funland a couple of LWs ago when they opened their first location in Brooklyn, and already they are opening a second elsewhere in New York. The game mix looks similar to that previous one; almost entirely imported Chinese product, including a rare sighting of the single version of VR Agent (this was only sold in China via Wahlap, despite a few showings out West by Sega Amusements).
Wunderland #5 (Salem, MA)
This big former Costco outlet in Salem transformed into the fifth Wunderland by Electric Castle is a little more than an arcade, with an indoor go-kart track and a laser tag arena co-located. Those seem to have not opened just yet, with the arcade being the first to launch in its soft opening about a week ago now. That features a pretty typical FEC-like mix of redemption and Raw Thrills releases from the looks of the photos.
The Juncture (New Caney, TX)
The Juncture, a new Texan family-ran spot, prides itself on being both an arcade and a self-serving ramen cafe, which is a pretty unique proposition at the moment (Round1USA have started to offer more Japanese food at their locations of late too under the “Delicious” scheme, but seemingly with a bigger focus on desserts). For the game selection, the photo below shows a contrast between an Asian neon crane with some neat unique branding and a few classics, with much more elsewhere not seen here.
Big Sky Arcadia #3 (Belgrade, MT)
Big Sky Arcadia are another small independent operation, launching their third location opened so far up in Belgrade, Montana. Their game selection looks a little light on pure video games, but does include the recent Angry Birds Boom!, as well as a few pinball machines by the door. Find them on Facebook.
Scrappleland (Brooklyn, NY)
A second new New York opening and S1ckH4nds tour here, this time for Scrappleland, a pinball bar and arcade part-owned by the guy that also runs the existing Sunshine Laundromat in the area. S1ckH4nds was saying recently in the AH Discord server how it feels like NY has been experiencing a big spate of openings just recently, particularly in and around Brooklyn, with him going all over the place to cover them. Besides these showing that arcades can still make money in an area as pricey as NY, it’s good that these display some variation in style and game makeup too, with the pinball here, then more Asian influences like Max Funland above and the Bandai Namco Cross Store mentioned last time around.
FEC Openings & Other Location Updates
Times Square D&B Gets Remodelled With A Big Reopening Bash
D&B Edina, MN Also Gets Remodelled With Top Gun Maverick
Round1USA Opens In Elizabeth, NJ, S1ckH4nds Has The Tour
Betson Furnishes Incredibowl Entertainment Toledo, OH
Family Entertainment Group Opens Okanarama Game Hall At Resort
PINSTACK Opens Largest Ever Location Yet In Westlake, TX
Vegas’ Treasure Island Expands The Cove Arcade And Bar
Maryland’s Game On Arcade + Bar Moving Into New Location
In The Game In Las Vegas Replaces Their Human Crane With Pinball Machines
Velocity eSports Suddenly Closes Schaumburg Location – This was a hot topic at the start of the month, especially seeing as their Maimai DX test had only just concluded. Unfortunately, opening in a mall with not just one but two existing major operations (D&B and Enterrium) with little to differentiate themselves besides esports may have not been the greatest idea
Wilcox Arcade Continues To Expand Route With Indie Options – AH site friend Dustin Wilcox is expanding his route by focusing on indie arcade video titles instead of cranes
Europe
Where a lot of the openings mentioned here last time were freeplay arcades, this time we have a few more bar arcades for Europe, as well as one or two other freeplay examples.
NQ64 (Nottingham, England)
AH co-contributor Ted finally gets a location near him to mention here, with the UK’s most widespread outfit of bar arcades opening in Nottingham. This one was a long time coming according to him, having been announced several years back now, and ends something of a drought for arcade in his home city (besides a very poor failed bar arcade effort that only lasted a couple years, all it has apparently had is a few standard FEC-type arcades, most attached to bowling alleys). This has NQ64’s usual lineup, with an emphasis on 80s/90s classics but also a select few 2000s and 2010s games (e.g. OutRun 2, Mario Kart, Rambo, Guitar Hero Arcade and Maimai Finale). From the sounds of things the machine quality isn’t exactly perfect, even right on opening day, but that’s sometimes the price you pay for a location like this…
The Four Quarters (London Bridge, England)
NQ64 may now be the UK’s largest bar arcade chain, but the original one is still expanding. The Four Quarters got their start in London way back in 2014, and with one or two exceptions their openings have stayed focused on the capital, with this one no exception. Four Quarters’ own Facebook page shows that though not their biggest venue, they have some decent games including Rave Racer, Tekken 6, Daytona USA, and a little bit of newer pinball in the form of a Stern Godzilla.
High Score (Worcester, England)
Another well-established UK chain, this time on the freeplay side of things, is now opening its seventh location in Worcester. One big surprise at this one is the appearance of an extremely rare arcade edition of the 2018 indie game Lethal Lawns by LAI Games – though tested during late 2019 and early 2020, that ultimately never made it into full production (it was looking like it would turn up at AEI 2020, but mere minutes after our preview post got published, LAI got in touch to say it and another indie-to-arcade piece they were looking into carrying called Beam Team were canned). This is so uncommon now that LAI developer Liam in the AH Discord was saying how he doesn’t even know how a cabinet made it into the UK, but it sounds like the gameplay is a better match for the freeplay format than credit-based arcades.
FEC Openings & Updates
Milton Keynes Gets A Lane 7 And Arcade
Funstation Leeds Announces Opening Date
Hollywood Bowl Liverpool Gets An Update
Sonic Comes To Sega Prize Zones Across Superbowl UK Locations This Easter
French Shopping Center Gets Smile World FEC
Asia/Middle East/Oceania
Most of the location news in these regions seems to revolve around renovations, reopenings and postponements, so it has been a struggle to find proper examples to mention here. However, the one that is there should be a pretty unique venue to check out.
Netmarble Game Museum (Seoul, South Korea)
It’s not every day that a game company opens a museum dedicated to the form at their very own headquarters, but that’s what South Korea’s Netmarble has just done. A chunk of the 2100-strong game collection is taken up by arcades, so those warrant its inclusion. Check out this Korean report for more details on it; the photo below shows some strong stuff, including a Pong:
FEC Openings & Updates
GiGO Marks Their Largest Ever Location With The Rebranded Game Fantasian Okazaki
Bandai Namco Opens Idolmaster Tours “Producers Stations” At Several Namcos
Taito’s Exbar Plus Tokyo For Akihabara Postponed To Late April
Amusement & Game Maghreb Moves Into A New Venue
DREAMFUNS Opens New You Zone Arcade In China
Are any of these new arcades near you? Then be sure to go out and visit them! Doors can’t stay open on the basis of likes and hashtags.
Coming Soon
Lansing Township, MI Gets A D&B Next Month
Sandbox VR Opens 60th Location In April
B&B Theaters Plan Location With Arcade
Second Andretti Indoor Karing In Arizona
Tarpon Springs, FL Arcade Planned
York, UK Getting Pinball Arcade, “Oh Flip!”
Chuck E. Cheeses’ First Australian Location Is On The Way
The post Location Watch March 2025: New Arcades Open For Business appeared first on Arcade Heroes.
Go on.... treat yourself to a new game.
1 Comment
Wow, March 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting month for arcade lovers! It’s awesome to see so many new venues popping up across North America and Europe. Antisocial Pinball in Toronto sounds like a dream come true for pinball fans—Canada’s largest pinball arcade? Count me in! I love that they’re mixing in some classic video games too.
Elston Electric in Chicago sounds like a blast, especially with that mix of retro games and food options. Who doesn’t love a good slice while chasing high scores? And The Circuit Arcade Bar in Jacksonville is another great addition, especially with classics like *Mortal Kombat 3* and *Aliens Armageddon* on the lineup.
I’m also really intrigued by Wunderland #5 in Salem, MA. An indoor go-kart track and laser tag? That’s a combo I didn’t see coming! And the Juncture in Texas with a ramen cafe? That’s a unique twist that I think could attract a lot of gamers looking for a chill spot to hang out.
Over in Europe, NQ64 finally opening in Nottingham is huge news for UK gamers. The nostalgia of 80s and 90s classics is always a good sell. And I can’t believe a rare cabinet of *Lethal Lawns* is making its way to Worcester—talk about a collector’s item!
It’s great to see the arcade scene thriving again. I can’t wait to check out some of these places and support local gaming communities. Let’s keep these arcades alive!