Arkadia Retrocade, located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, is one of my all-time favorite places in the city. Whether you’re looking to indulge in some 80s and 90s nostalgia by playing your favorite childhood games or you’ve never even seen an old-school arcade before, one thing’s for sure — you’ll have a blast here playing unlimited games for only $5 a day.
Arkadia Retrograde is an arcade center located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It has over 160 vintage games and many more new ones, so there’s plenty for everyone. For only $5, you can play as many games as you want.
If you’re in Fayetteville and want to spend a fun day doing something other than sightseeing or visiting local cafés and museums, Arkadia Retrocade is the place to be. I’ll take you through everything you need to know about the place, from what you can expect from your experience there to information like business hours, location, tips to make the most out of your day, and so on.
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Everything You Need To Know About Arkadia Retrocade in Fayetteville, Arkansas
Here’s what you need to know before going to Arkadia Retrocade in Fayetteville:
Overall Experience
All you need is one ticket for the day, with which you can enjoy over 160 games. There are games for everyone, so you’re sure to have fun.
When you’re tired of playing (if there’s such a thing), you can hang around on a comfy couch beside an N64 and either kill some time talking to your friends or watch others play.
The place looks exactly as you’d expect it to, with game lights and noises coming from every direction, complete with hundreds of machines with some of your all-time favorite games plastered on the sides. The staff does a wonderful job at keeping the center as clean and pleasant as possible, so you can feel at ease having your family spend an entire day here.
If you’re an 80s or 90s kid, the atmosphere here will take you right back to your childhood. The lively, exciting atmosphere here is unlike anything else you’ll find in Fayetteville, so I recommend Arkadia Retrocade to gamers and anyone looking to spend their day doing something different from their usual routine.
Business Hours
Arkadia Retrocade is open from Monday to Sunday. However, remember that they might close during national holidays, so check the calendar before going there.
The place usually opens at 2:30 pm and closes at 10:30 pm on weekdays. That means you’ll have plenty of time to finish a good breakfast before heading to the arcade. You can even explore some other places in the morning and then head to Arkadia Retrocade for an afternoon or evening activity.
Here’s their weekend schedule.
- Fridays: 2:30 pm-12:00 am
- Saturdays: 12:00 pm-12:00 am
- Sundays: 12:00 pm-6:00 pm
Keep in mind that their usual schedule is subject to changes. So if you’re not a local, I’d recommend contacting the staff before going.
Location
You’ll have a pretty easy time finding Arkadia Retrocade even if you’re not a Fayetteville local. The place is located in Evelyn Hills, 1478 N College Avenue. That’s roughly a 5-minute drive or a 20-minute walk from the town center.
So if you’re out visiting the city’s attractions, you won’t have to go out of your way too much to get to Arkadia Retrocade — yet another reason why I believe it to be a Fayetteville must-visit.
Reviews
A simple “Arkadia Retrocade Reviews” search in Google will tell you everything you need to know about the place. Trip Advisor, for example, is full of raving reviews about how fun and unique the center is, with some even describing it as a “time machine” that took them back to their childhoods.
Others love how affordable the place is, with $5 giving you access to a day of unlimited games, which is hard to find anywhere else in the US. Another great feature about Arkadia Retrocade is that it doesn’t cater to a single demographic, as people of all ages can have the time of their lives here.
That’s why many consider it the perfect place for families to spend a great day with each other, as everyone, from parents and college-aged young adults to children, will find something they enjoy here.
The only downside that some reviewers point out is that some of the 160+ games might be out of service or busy (especially all-time favorites like Pac-Man). However, few found this to be a big issue, as there’s still plenty to do and see. So even if you don’t get to play a certain game, you’ll still have something else to do.
The overall consensus is that the value for the money here is insane. For the same price, you can barely get a coffee in some places. Here, you can enjoy a whole day of playing for just $5.
Events
If this article didn’t convince you to visit Arkadia Retrocade yet, you’d undoubtedly be tempted to when you learn that the place holds themed events from time to time. Many of these feature themed music, decorations, and food.
So, if you’re lucky enough to catch one of these events while in town, I highly recommend joining in on the fun.
And that wraps up this quick overview of Arkadia Retrocade. Now if you were to feel hungry after a long retro gaming session, there’s an awesome Taco joint a few minutes away. Check out my review of Taco Loco for more information.
Also, I have a 3-day itinerary that can help you decide what activities to do if you’re overwhelmed by everything Northwest Arkansas has to offer.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a foodie, a sports person, a sightseer, or want to spend quality time with your kids; I have something for you. Check out the link below to learn more:
https://www.allthingsnwa.com/3-day-itinerary-northwest-arkansas
Similar Businesses
While Arkadia Retrocade is the only retro-themed arcade here, there are other unusual places to visit in Fayetteville, like record stores, anime-themed stores, and more.
For example, if you’re not into retro games and prefer modern e-sports, you can check out The Grid. It’s a computer café containing some of the most popular video games, like Fortnight or Super Smash Bros. They even hold game nights and local tournaments.
You can check out more fun businesses to explore in Fayetteville on my blog.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a gamer located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, you won’t want to miss out on Arkadia Retrocade. There, you can spend a whole day enjoying classic and never-seen-before arcade games for just $5 — it really can’t get any better than this.