Entry No. 52 — the Chicago file — filed under: arcade-play
Galloping Ghost Arcade
This is the largest video arcade in the United States, packing well over 800 cabinets into a maze of darkened, neon-lit aisles that just keep going. Every machine is set to free play: you pay a single flat door fee at the entrance and then play anything, for as long as you want, until close. The collection runs from Donkey Kong and Q*bert to ultra-rare imports almost nobody else in the country still runs, and the staff track scores and world records on the Aurcade system. A separate pinball annex nearby houses a deep collection of restored tables on the same all-you-can-play model.
The story
When Doc Mack opened Galloping Ghost on Ogden Avenue in August 2010, he wasn't just building a retro gaming spot—he was pulling a fast one on local zoning. Brookfield municipal code capped coin-operated amusement machines at six per business, a rule meant to kill off gambling dens and shady pool halls. Mack dodged the restriction entirely by setting every cabinet to free play and charging a single door fee. What began with 130 cabinets in a former computer repair storefront quietly absorbed adjacent real estate along the block, expanding into a dark, sprawling arcade holding well over 850 playable video games.
The place is run with a obsessive focus on arcade preservation. Mack bought his first cabinet—an unreleased prototype version of the 1988 anti-drug shooter NARC containing an uncensored level cut from mass production—and built an empire around it. Instead of modern ticket-dispensing crane games, the aisles are packed with ultra-rare Japanese imports, prototype games like Primal Rage 2, and vintage cabinets painstakingly retrofitted with period-authentic CRT monitors. World records are officially logged through the Aurcade tracking system, bringing legendary game designers like Eugene Jarvis into the maze to see if their original hardware is still standing.
What it's like
Stepping inside feels like walking into a glowing, 1980s neon tunnel with hundreds of arcade sound chips shrieking simultaneously. You pay your flat entrance charge at the front counter, receive your hand stamp or wristband, and put your wallet away—there isn't a quarter slot or token dispenser on the premises. The narrow, carpeted aisles snake through interconnected storefronts, so expect it to get warm and crowded on weekend nights. The move is to arrive early, take advantage of the re-entry policy to grab food down Ogden Avenue when your thumbs need a break, and return for late-night session runs.
The move: Pay the one flat door fee, split a roll of nothing (there are no quarters), and spend hours hunting down the weirdest obscure cabinet you can find before facing off on a 1980s two-player classic.
- 📍 Brookfield
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Big night
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 9415 Ogden Ave, Brookfield, IL 60513
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Fleetwood Roller Rink — Trade joy-sticks for quad skates three miles south at a 1957 maple-hardwood roller rink that has never given up its mid-century soul.
- The Spindle (Car Kebab) at Paisan's — Refuel four miles away with a deep-dish slice directly beneath a 50-foot steel spike impaling eight automobiles.
- Resurrection Cemetery (Resurrection Mary) — Swap glowing CRT screens for Chicago's ultimate roadside ghost story along Archer Avenue, under five miles to the south.
Good to know
How much does it cost, and do I need quarters?
You pay a single flat door fee ($25) for unlimited play on all video arcade cabinets until close. You do not need quarters, tokens, or game cards.
Is the pinball collection inside the main arcade?
No. Galloping Ghost Pinball is housed in a separate nearby annex with its own admission fee and a dedicated room of restored pinball tables.
Can I leave for food and come back later the same day?
Yes. Daily admission includes re-entry privileges as long as you keep your wristband or hand stamp intact.
What are the standard operating hours?
The arcade is open 365 days a year from 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · Official site · aurcade.com · metv.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-23