The video game arcade at Magic Mountain Fun Center in Columbus features large-scale games. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

By Ken Drenten

Video game arcades, successors to pinball arcades, became popular in the late 1970s and bloomed in the 1980s as youths frantically fed machines with millions of dollars’ worth of quarters.

I remember when the video game craze started with Pong in the mid-1970s. It quickly evolved into popular late ’70s games like Space Invaders, Asteroids and Lunar Lander.

For me, the height of the era was 1981 to 1984. By that time I was no longer a teenager, but even as a young adult in my 20s, I enjoyed going to local video arcades and playing games like Frogger, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Rally-X, Elevator Action, Pole Position, Galaga and Golden Tee Golf.

When I wasn’t working at my first job as a newspaper reporter at the Sandusky Register, I fed a lot of quarters into games at several arcades back in the day; one at the Sandusky mall and the other in a shopping center next to a Hill’s Department Store on Perkins Avenue. Both, I’m sure, are long gone now.

The store-arcade craze had faded by the end of the 1990s when home video consoles became improved and affordable.

Aside from some arcades that hang on in shopping malls, bars, bowling alleys, skating rinks, mini-golf courses, pizza shops, amusement parks and other venues, there are still a handful of retro video game arcades in Ohio that are open year-round, offering vintage refurbished games to play. Some also offer games for sale.

These days, video game arcades are almost things of the past, but if you’re willing to drive a little, you can find one. Most of the ones listed below are family-owned and operated. There are a number of Chuck E. Cheese and Dave & Buster’s franchised arcade game spots in Ohio as well.

View the complete list under Video Arcades in Dusty Tires.

16-Bit Arcade – Retro-themed bars with more than 40 classic video games marketed to the over-21 crowd. You drink, you play games for free. Locations in Cincinnati (1124 Main St.), Cleveland (1880 W. 25thSt.), Columbus (254 S. Fourth St.), Dublin (6564 Riverside Drive) and Easton Town Center (4117 Worth Ave., Columbus).

Arcade Legacy – Cincinnati area’s premier classic gaming destination since 2009, with more than 15,000 square feet and full bar. Admission is $5 for 1 hour, unlimited $10, kids 3 and under free with paying adult. Pay one price and enjoy arcade games, pinball, classic and current gaming console stations, bring-your-own-console stations, giant projection screens for your favorite Nintendo Switch, PS5/4 games and Rock Band. A media store has classic and current video games, consoles and accessories and more. 2241 Crown Pointe Drive, Sharonville (513) 874-8766.

Fun-n-Games Rewind – A popular entertainment destination with a wide range of retro-themed arcade games. Hours are 4-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-9 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. 6989 Market St., Boardman (330) 330-8440.

Gaming Adventures – A family-friendly retro arcade with more than 60 video arcade games, 25 gaming consoles, air hockey, a ping pong table and more. All games are set to free play; admission is $8 per hour or $15 all day. Snack bar, movies, board game tables and more are offered. Hours are noon-8 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday; noon-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; closed Monday. 320 W. National Road, Englewood (937) 540-8888.

Magic Mountain Fun Center – This is the type of family-friendly mega-entertainment venue that is becoming hard to find now. Features include a video game arcade with large-scale games, go karts, batting cages, miniature golf, bumper cars, a kids gym climbing area and rooms for kids’ birthday parties. Features more than 80 interactive and ticket redemption games. Hours are noon-7:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon-9 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. 5980 Scarborough Blvd., Columbus (614) 490-5071.

Old North Arcade – Premier arcade bar in Columbus’ campus area. Features a rotating selection of free-play arcade, pinball, air hockey and console games. Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 4 p.m.-midnight; Thursday, 4 p.m.-1 a.m., Friday, 4 p.m.-2 a.m., Saturday, 1 p.m.-2 a.m., Sunday, 1 p.m.-midnight. 2591 N. High St., (614) 598-0821.

Pastimes Pinball & Video Game Arcade – This spectacular arcade has approximately 400 pinball games and nearly 200 video arcade games available to play, plus many more in its collection. Pricing is for all-day admission ($20 for 16 and older; $10 for 15 and under; free for 5 and under); all games are set to free play. Enter at the door and play as much as you like. Hours are 4-9 p.m. Thursday, 4-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. 419 N. State St., Girard (330) 765-4121.

Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Retro – Family owned store that offers video arcade games for sale as well as for play at the store. Approximately 25 retro arcade games available to play with quarters. Hours are noon-5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday, 1-6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday; noon-8 p.m. Friday, Saturday. 127 S. Main St., Bowling Green (419) 806-4750.

Smashing Barrels – Offers a wide selection of classic arcade games and retro consoles for play in a unique, family-friendly entertainment venue. Offers snack bar, billiards and party room. Located in Colony Square Mall, 3575 Maple Ave., Zanesville (740) 297-8163.

Ken Drenten is creator and editor of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

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