Neon & Nostalgia: The Gamecraft Arcade Guide
Cool Places in CT: Gamecraft Arcade is Southington’s Best-Kept Secret
Tucked right inside Factory Square (168 Center St, for anyone who needs to throw it into Maps), this place is a full-blown, two-story, neon-drenched paradise that feels like stepping straight onto a 1990s movie set. We’re talking over 100 vintage arcades, a massive physical pinball lineup, and rotating cocktails & New England craft beers on tap.
If you’ve been looking for an excuse to put your phone on do-not-disturb, put on a cute outfit, and just go be in a cool space for a few hours, here’s why this spot is an absolute gem.
Two Floors of Pure Retro Texture
Walking through the front door is an immediate mood booster. You're hit with that iconic, chaotic wall of sound: mechanical pinball flippers, 8-bit sound effects, and that deep neon purple glow bouncing off worn-down joysticks and glossy cabinet art.
The First Floor: Packed with classic heavy hitters – Mortal Kombat 2, House of the Dead, Skee-Ball, Cruis’n Exotica, and DDR (if you feel like sweating through your outfit). The pinball selection down here is top-tier too – they’ve got John Wick, Ghostbusters, and the classic Attack from Mars.
The Second Floor: The actual throwback vault. We’re talking 6-player X-Men, Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Ghouls n’ Ghosts, and iconic, moody pinball setups like Creature from the Black Lagoon and Evil Dead. If you are like me and ADORE skeeball, you are so in luck – they recently added new, shiny machines.
The Bar Situation: You can literally sit at the bar, order a game-themed cocktail made with local spirits (or a cold local craft draft), and play Nintendo Switch right on the bar screens for free. It’s ridiculously amazing, and I love it.
Curious for more? 👇
Even though new designs have just launched, you can still collect the original designs. I left the direct link to hunt down the remaining OG boxes right here! Grab one, roll the dice on whichever vintage 1987 shell design you get, and let's entirely abandon perfect sharpness together.
The "Know Before You Go" Basics
The 21+ Rule: Gamecraft is strictly 21+ Tuesday through Saturday. Make sure you bring your real, physical ID – they do not accept photos of licenses on your phone!
Family Day: If you’re under 21 or bringing younger crew along, Sunday is Family Day from 11 AM to 6 PM.
Drinks & Vibes: If craft beer isn't your thing, their bartenders mix up specialty cocktails, wine, cider, sodas, and mocktails.
In all seriousness, stop overthinking your weekend plans, grab a cold drink, and spend ten dollars in tokens on pinball. You deserve it.
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