Entry No. 63 — the Wichita file — filed under: arcade-play
The Arcade
This downtown barcade is the anchor of the Wichita retro-gaming scene, with more than 100 video games from the 1980s and 90s set to free play once you pay the flat door charge. A separate room holds 22 pinball machines, each running 50 cents a play, with a screen mounted above so onlookers can follow your game. There's a full bar pouring video-game-themed cocktails plus a kitchen turning out Hunt Brothers pizza, burgers and bar snacks, and in warm months a patio with yard games like Jenga and Connect 4.
The story
Pay the door fee at 906 East 3rd Street North and your childhood anxiety about running out of quarters evaporates. The Arcade operates on an all-you-can-play floor model: once you're inside, more than 100 video game cabinets from the 1980s and '90s are flipped to free play. You can dump twenty lives into classic side-scrollers or beat-'em-ups without digging into your pockets, settling old playground grudges one joystick at a time.
The room design makes a sharp distinction between cabinet chaos and mechanical pinball. Down a separate wing, 22 pinball tables sit in their own dedicated space where coin drops still rule—every machine takes 50 cents per play. To turn casual pinball into a spectator sport, mounted monitors hang directly above the playfields, broadcasting ball physics and multiplier ramps live to anyone standing in line behind you.
When your wrist gives out, the perimeter holds a full bar pouring video-game-themed cocktails alongside a kitchen serving Hunt Brothers pizza, burgers, and bar snacks. During warmer months, the competition spills onto an outdoor patio stocked with oversized lawn games like Jenga and giant Connect 4, giving you a breather from the 8-bit neon glow inside.
What it's like
Arrive early on a weeknight if you want uninterrupted runs on the popular 90s cabinets without waiting over someone's shoulder. The space is family-friendly by day, but after 9:00 PM on Friday and Saturday, the venue pivots strictly to 21+ with a bar-heavy crowd. Remember that while the arcade cabinets are fully covered by your door entry, you'll still need two quarters per play for the pinball machines and Skee-Ball lanes.
The move: Pay the flat all-day admission, grab a beer and a pizza, and chase each other's high scores across the free-play cabinets before settling a grudge match in the dedicated pinball room.
📍 Before you go Flat admission (around $12, less for kids); video games are free play but pinball and Skee-Ball cost 50 cents. 21+ after 9pm on Friday and Saturday. Closed Mondays.
- 📍 Old Town / Downtown Wichita
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Big night
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 906 E. 3rd St. N, Wichita, KS 67202
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Entrap Games — Trade free-play cabinet buttons for physical puzzle solving at this immersive escape room venue located just a minute away in Old Town.
- CityArts — Pair high-energy arcade gaming with a hands-on glassblowing workshop at Wichita's municipal art center down the street.
- Dockum — Balance out the neon arcade light and 8-bit sound effects with a quiet craft cocktail inside this underground 1920s bank vault speakeasy nearby.
- Gallery Alley — Stroll four blocks south to stretch your legs among interactive, touch-and-sound outdoor art installations set in a repurposed downtown alley.
Good to know
How much does admission cost and what does it cover?
Admission is a flat fee (around $12 for adults, less for kids) that covers unlimited free play on over 100 classic arcade cabinets. Pinball machines and Skee-Ball cost an additional 50 cents per game.
Are children allowed at The Arcade?
All ages are welcome during daytime and early evening hours, but the venue strictly transitions to 21 and over after 9:00 PM on Friday and Saturday nights.
What food and drinks are available?
The Arcade features a full bar with themed cocktails and a kitchen menu offering Hunt Brothers pizza, burgers, wings, and standard bar snacks.
Is pinball included in the flat admission price?
No, pinball requires 50 cents per play across its 22 machines in a dedicated room equipped with overhead video monitors for onlookers.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · kwch.com · visitwichita.com · wichitabyeb.com
last checked: 2026-06-23