If you're looking for a place that instantly takes you back while still feeling like a night out, this is it. 16-Bit Arcade & Bar absolutely nails the retro vibe--from the classic video games to the nostalgic energy that hits you the second you walk in. The game selection is a dream if you grew up on old-school consoles and arcade cabinets. I loved bouncing between retro video games, a few intense rounds of skee-ball, and even some ping pong--it's the perfect mix of casual fun and a little friendly competition. The drinks were a standout too--creative, well-made, and strong enough to keep the good vibes going. On top of that, the service was great--friendly, fast, and genuinely welcoming without being over the top. We also grabbed some light bites, which hit the spot without slowing us down from getting back to the games. It's the kind of place where you can easily lose track of time (in the best way). Whether you're going for a date night, group hang, or just to relive your arcade glory days, 16-Bit is a guaranteed good time. Definitely coming back. read more

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An adult arcade with drinks? Of course I wanna go! 2 floors of the old school games you remember playing as a kid. Don't wanna take the stairs back down to the main level? Try the slide! I've been here a few times and I always order the Hulk Hogan. The bartender made a vodka pomegranate lemonade that was really good. Anytime I'm downtown and need to pass some time or just need a good drink. This is the place. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Hulk Hogan - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

We visited from out of state. We were suggested to eat at The Garage Food Hall and then bar hop Mass Ave all the way to here to 16-Bit Bar+Arcade (bar with a slide, free skiball, games, etc). The maple whiskey cocktail is wayyyyyy to sweet; get the cocktail with a slim Jim interest. Beware of douchy extreme ping ping players who apparently can push your glass over to break on the floor, and say nothing to you after. Overall, fun place with a group of friends. There's outdoor seating too. read more

So many games to choose from! Our group also loved the light wall and the slide! They have plenty of outdoor space and a couple outdoor activities. Servers were helpful in helping us choose a group shot and cocktails! read more

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I've always enjoyed coming here and never once had a single issue with this place. The games are free and are typically always functioning and also are on free play. The pinball here isn't free and that's always typically because it costs a lot to upkeep a pinball machine. The drinks here tend to always be good and the environment is one I've always enjoyed. However, on this particular visit which happens to be why I'm reviving this place, our bartender Jamie failed to inform us that for their slushie's that no matter what liquor you use it's $7 (as shown in the receipt attached to this review) and the slushie flavor is $3. Now I had Bacardi in my slushie but my wife had a well version of vodka. I don't believe at all you should be charging the exact same price for a well as you do for mid-shelf rum and had I known this I wouldn't of ended up paying $26 after tip for only two of their slushie drinks which I find to be absolutely insane. Also back to the bartender Jaime, she was extremely passive aggressive when giving us our drinks, didn't seem very friendly at all whatsoever and wasn't informative or very friendly. I saw the previous review and wonder if this is the same lady that the previous review, which is 1-Star, is who my wife and I had tonight. I've been going to this bar since it opened and hav came back to it even after moving from Indy and never have I ever had someone tend to my wife and I like she did. Just want to give everyone a heads up so you know before you go or think about ordering. Our bartender failed to mention this to us as I expected them to be a different price for each liquor. read more

I heard a little about this establishment. I went inside to explore. I saw a few games like Centipede, Donkey Kong, etc. that I am familiar with playing. Upstairs are more arcade machines, ring toss games on the wall, 3 skee ball machines and entry to the metal slide. I was watching 2 out-of-state ladies play skee ball when one told me it was free to play. I was in unbelief. So I played about 4 rounds to get that 100 points hole when did not register my points. My high score for the night was 200. The ladies and I decided to have more fun by going down the slide. The first turn was a little difficult. They have a TV playing a movie surrounded with VHS tapes. I hope to go again if I am in the area but this time before having leftover takeout. read more

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We visited this establishment on a Tuesday evening and were excited to spend our date night drinking and playing games. Because the games are free, I expected for the drinks to be a bit over-priced, but I had no clue just how much. Usually, we are cognac drinkers, but for the price of a double-shot we could purchase an entire fifth and drink at home! Because of this, we stuck to beer mostly. We were greeted at the door by friendly staff members and they explained how it all worked. Games were free, except for pinball and something else. We grabbed drinks (a tall Bud Light and Angry Orchard) and headed upstairs to play skeeball. A couple lanes were open and we eyed them as we walked upstairs. Immediately, a couple of people hollered that they had next. We wandered over to the corner to check out what games were there. We tried to play Duck Hunt, but it wasn't functioning properly, so we moved on. Much to our dismay, a lot of the games were either out of service, or not functioning properly. I have to admit, we felt duped... well, I did since I'd picked the place. My man loves arcade games and all of the ones we were excited for had issues. I've returned since that initial visit (riding The Handlebar while out celebrating someone's birthday), and games appeared to be in much better working order, but that initial visit has definitely left a bad taste in my mouth. read more

12/5 stars. Everything about it was amazing. The variety of games was awesome. We loved that there were arcade, pinball, and more games. The space is fantastic. There was so much to do. We were smiling the whole and had a blast. The beers on tap were insane, the cocktails were delicious. The bartenders were wonderful! Attentive and efficient even when it got a bit slammed. There's a great patio too! Extra star for being dog friendly. Caution: Slide fun is fun as hell. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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If you are looking for somewhere with chill vibes, arcade games, and drinks than look no further because you will get that here at 16-bit. I have been here a few times and each time it has been very enjoyable. The service is great and the drinks. They have little snack foods like noodles and etc. This is not a place to come to if you are hungry. Also they have a slide inside that you can go down if you are feeling your inner childhood coming out of you. read more

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Fun. Fun. Fun. - Pinball games, arcade games, giant Jenga/Connect Four/Lite Brite, skee-ball, specialty cocktails and beer. 80s music videos playing. A guaranteed fun time! Pinball games are $1, arcade games are no charge. Lots of high top tables, several comfy leather couch areas. Just great throw-back fun! (Be sure to bring your ID as everyone gets carded at the door regardless of apparent age.) read more

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If you're looking for a place to have fun, eat, and have a few drinks, this is a great place to go. They have all the great games in a fun environment. I enjoyed playing pinball, Pac-Man, and donkey Kong along with some cool driving games. They have a wide variety of beer and drinks to choose from also. They provided great service which is always a plus. read more

I am a huge fan of barcades and had to stop by when I was in town over the weekend for the Indy 500. This spot is located in downtown Indy and is central to other bars and restaurants. My friend and I checked it out in the late afternoon on Saturday, and it was pretty busy. I tried the Atomic Blonde drink while my friend sampled a gin-based cocktail before we switched to shots (bad idea I know). Cocktails were very refreshing and reasonably priced. Service was great, and the bartenders were really friendly. I loved that the bar had games like cornhole and giant jenga in addition to the old school arcade games for those of us who don't have cash and quarters or just prefer to be outside. There's also a giant slide and video game consoles with tons of indoor and outdoor seating. This place would be an awesome stop along anyone's custom bar crawl route or could be fun for a date night. I don't know that I'll ever be back in Indianapolis, but if I happened to be, I'd check this place out again. Would recommend if you're in the city and looking for something fun to do! read more

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TL;DR: Fun place to go, can get very busy on the weekend. Drinks: Can't comment on the alcoholic drinks, but they have a few non-alcoholic and mocktails which is nice if you don't feel like drinking. I definitely think they could do better on the mocktail options (which if we're being honest barely count as mocktails). Ambiance: All the games we played were in working order so no issues there. Overall, the ambiance was fine, just crowded on a Saturday night. Overall: I think arcade bars are great if you have a mix of people drinking and not drinking or just want something that isn't a traditional bar. Will definitely go again (though we'll try to aim for a less busy time). read more

I normally love going here because it's fun for adults and good vibes but I was really turned off by the service on a Saturday night. They were really busy which is usual for the weekend especially when the weather is so nice. My husband and I were at the bar waiting to be tended too and one of the bartenders was moving fast and clumsily that she hit a glass full of beer at the bar and it spilled all over me. This is the first time that ever happened to me. I was shocked and angry at the same time. The bartender barely had any empathy, she got really defensive and kept saying she didn't do it on purpose. She really didn't take accountability or anything she was very rude and passive aggressive when talking to me. I didn't catch her name, but I remember what she looks like. I understand mistakes and accidents happen but still, customer service is key. A different bartender was making the drinks we ordered, and no one offered any type of compensation anything. I wanted to ask but I also didn't feel like or have the energy to battle with non customer serving attitudes. read more

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Excellent place if you want to be transported back to the mid 80s. Great gaming place. The likes of Ms Pac Man and TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) are highlights. Beer prices are decent. Wasnt too crowded when we were there on a rainy Saturday. My only small observation is not enough driving type games (a little Spy Hunter, Outrun or Turbo (the last 2 Sega hits from the 80s). All in all recommended!! read more

A cool, nostalgic arcade with a full bar and great happy hour deals. Free games, 21+ only, with classics like skee ball and a lounge featuring big screens playing retro music videos. Perfect spot to play or relax, plus, they even have a slide! Friendly staff rounds it out. read more

16-bit is fun bar and arcade. The drinks are creative and taste good. They have tvs, fire pits, and even a slide. The service was great and I've been there in the past when it's busy and they are always doing their best to keep up. It's often a college crowd but it's not too bad for us over 30s. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - 2 shots of casamigos! - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Definitely a fun place to go on a Friday/Saturday night with friends and enjoy some old school games. Also when it's warm out there's large trash can pong in the alley and food trucks which is cool. Drinks are definitely a bit pricey, maybe a touch overpriced for what you get but they're pretty good overall! Bathrooms being right near the entrance can cause a log jam occasionally, and when it's packed it's tough to navigate, but that's because it's a hot place to go. Recommend it. read more

This place has such awesome potential. Who doesn't love old school arcade games? But I have some concerns which makes it considerably less fun. 1. As of October 2024, there are a LOT of broken machines (out of order or joystick needs maintenance). Ex. Ms. Pac-Man and BurgerTime 2. Drinks are meh. Not bad, but not good either. And considering this is where they make the $, you would think they'd aim to excel here. The good stuff: Lots of machines to play, including skee-ball upstairs. Friendly employees. Fun music. read more

Awesome joint. Free arcade games. Drinks reasonably priced. Staff was friendly. Needs more bus boys to clear glasses from the tables.

this place was amazing! the games, the drinks, the atmosphere, everything was so fun. the staff was very nice and made good, strong drinks, too. highly recommend read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I was looking for a group activity and found this place. Many of the games are free. Only the pinball machines cost $1. There is also skee-ball, giant jenga, and my favorite was the lite-brite wall. There's even a slide that goes from the top floor to the bottom floor. The neon signs in the toilet stalls were fun to read. Even though I'm not good at arcade games, I had a great time here. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

If I could give this spot more than 5 stars I would. Man oh man do I love this place and wish that they had a located anywhere in Michigan and just generally much closer to me. 16-Bit Bar and Arcade is simply AMAZING! I love the entire interior space. It's so open and is a great mix of bar, seating, and arcade games! I am obsessed with every little thing about this place! I love their entire drink menu and all the creative names and items you'll find in them. They were able to make me a delicious mocktail and it came with a mini bomb pop too - how fun! The arcade and pinball games were all play to play, but on the second level (yeah, there's a second level that overlooks the first level) they have free Skee Ball and let's be real - SKEE BALL IS THE BEST GAME! My friend and I played Skee Ball to our hearts content and then tried out some of the pinball machines too - absolutely delightful! There's just so much seating, so many surfaces to set your drinks on, and don't even get me started about their bathrooms. They're some of the coolest and best bathrooms I've ever seen!! They even have a pixel wall at the back of their building where you can make all sorts of different designs on, which really adds to the ambiance. This place is simply just wonderful. It's a spot that immediately upon entering, I found just so open, friendly, clean, and inviting. There's walls of windows so you still feel connected to the outside world, while being in a whole into and upon its own self and it was simply magnificent. I could wax poetic about 16-Bit for hours, but I'll end my review here by just saying do yourself a favor and visit this spot!!!! I will definitely be coming here every time I'm in Indy and taking note of all the other 16-Bit locations around the US to visit as well!!!!! read more

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Mike, the AGM, was absolutely fantastic! Instead of being in the office, Mike was on the street treating his customers like family. Super nice guy, even pointed us in the direction of other places to visit. If you want to have a good time with great staff, come see Mike and his people! Great vibes, great prices, and overall great atmosphere. Collin, the head of security is one of the nicest people we've encountered. read more

Took my partner to have some fun at 16 but and we had a blast. Almost every game is free except pinball, which is quite the steal! I decided to check out the bar and was pretty disappointed in the cocktails until I asked for a recommendation. The bartender recommended Rip Van Winkle whiskey and that was the best shot I've ever had in my life. So if you want liquor that you won't find at the store, I suggest you come here for a good time. Now for the bad. They are very much lacking in food. When I asked for the food menu, I was handed something like a business card, with 4 options. I can't remember all, but I know for sure that one of them was a hot pocket and maybe a grilled cheese. Those are terrible options. It's an adult arcade, but were served children's food? I don't understand that. Upon speaking with an employee, he said that you can order DoorDash/uber eats or even go to a restaurant nearby and come back later. They're confident in you paying because you gave them your card beforehand. Overall, I'd come back. There just needs to be better food options. Wings or pizza even? read more

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We were visiting Indiana because my partner will be relocating there and wanted something fun to do! We found this super cute bar! We were only able to get one drink but! They were good drinks! It was around the holidays so apparently a company was renting it for a holiday party. We will definitely return! Great service and super cute environment read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

After my grad school graduation, my family and I headed to 16-Bit to close out the night. Unfortunately, I didn't have my physical license on me, so we were turned away. The next night, during my last night in Indy, my mother and I tried again, this time with my full wallet. We entered around 5:00p in the middle of the week, so it was understandably quiet which we didn't mind. Online, it says that purchasing drinks is required but inside that wasn't communicated. We felt odd playing for free so we both got a slushee which was delicious. Interestingly though, both my guest and I got bored quite quickly. I chalked it up to me growing up in the controller age, but even some of the familiar titles (like Street Fighter, Pac-Man, or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) didn't really get us excited. The pinball machines cost $1.00 to play, and required quarters which you can exchange in the bar. These ended up being where we had the most fun. I think we spent about 2 hours here total before leaving. I can't decide if I like this place or not. I feel like I would prefer a Dave & Busters that had more variety if I simply wanted to play games with friends. For that reason, I'm leaving a lukewarm star rating as I personally wouldn't come back. read more

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Came here for some drinks and a good time! Will definitely say I received both!! We ordered a few of their speciality candy cocktails, so fun and pretty! The drink itself was pretty good too!! I appreciate the fact that most of the games are free to play as well. Definitely a fun spot to check out if you want to do something more than just go out and grab dinner! Will be back!! read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I had some time to kill one evening and thought I'd play some video games. This place ROCKED! All the games are free for your bar tab. It was clean, upscale and the service was welcoming. Didn't have any food here, and even saw some people bring in pizza so I'm not sure if they sell food at all. But HIGHLY recommend this place. read more

This place is FANTASTIC!!! Talk about a place where I can relive the favorite parts of my childhood! The games are plentiful, the ambiance is amazing and all right here in my city??? Insane! It's clean, the staff is outstanding, and trust me, I'll likely be a regular! Had a fun convo with a manager named Mike. He was extremely courteous and has a great personality. I can see why he's in that position. read more

Bartenders were great, absolutely loved the beer selection, and the old school arcade vibes, complete with an SNES and NES classic console, was the perfect nostalgia trip. Definitely will be back soon. read more

Excellent hang out fun spot in downtown Indy! My latest visit to 16-Bit with a group of coworkers was a blast for all! Although the bar doesn't serve food, outside food is permitted, and there's more than plenty seats for patrons. Outdoor patio seating is also available with gas firepits for colder days. The beverage menu is mostly local craft beers on tap, and cocktails mostly named after 80s celebrities. A s'mores style cocktail was my choice, which was bold and rich with a touch of sweetness. Bartenders and staff were kindly and attentive to our group, serving up drinks and clearing finished glasses with upbeat demeanors! A lot of classic arcade machines are featured like Galaga, Space Invaders, along with some lesser known, deep cut titles like Double Dragon 2 and Krull. Some TVs with plug and play consoles, like Nintendo NES and Sega Genesis, are also available. The skee-ball machines are a highlight when groups are feeling competitive. Making a message on the wall sized Lite Brite was my favorite way to play! Great retro-styled arcade bar! read more

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Enjoyed a fun end to our anniversary shenanigans by stopping in at 16 bit. We loved the bigger space with many TVs and comfortable seating areas. The Lite Brite wall was so cute and I'm obsessed with the Super Mario wall paper! Also love the fin neon signs throughout. We love the vintage arcade games, but many of them do need serviced and are out of order. One group tends to monopolize the game systems and ski ball. The outdoor patio with fire pit and yard Jenga is a great place to hang out and have a boozy Sno Cone! We love the creative cocktail menu. The drink bucket is an absurd deal! It's $35 for 2 gallons of punch. It comes in 2 flavors (orange and grape) and both contain liquid IV. The drink is a bit strong/syrupy but it's enough for your group to drink all night if you don't care about variety. I did dilute mine with more water and ice and it was better. We had 4 people but ended up sharing It with several others and even pouring out the last of it into 5 glasses for other patrons as we were trying to leave. It is a 4 person minimum and you do have to let them hold your ID until you return the bucket. All in all, a great place to hang out with friends with some drinks and some games! read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Fierce Grape drink bucket for $35! A steal! - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Dear Mr. 16-bit, i am a white woman in America. Your plus size bald bouncer ruined my beautiful night. He let in all of my friends, and then he got to me, looked me in the eyes with his cross eyed, toothless smile, and said "not you." The words crushed me. It has always been my dream to go sixteen bit. I've always been drawn to the frumpy ambiance and overpriced drinks. He brushed his pixie cut before scoffing in my face and ruining my life. I went home bawling my eyes out and fantasizing my fist in his face. MY NAME IS BEN DEE AYE read more

They have a lot of old school games here that are fun to play with. The drinks can be a hit or miss depending on your bartender, but they have Modelo on tap which is great. It's a cool hangout spot for the older and younger crowd. I guess my only complaint will be the small sections where they have the NES and Genesis, the controllers are kinda wonky. read more

This is a perfect hang out spot for millennials like me who like feeling nostalgic!!! I loved spending the night here with several friends, trying many different games. I was quite surprised that the most games were free to play. There were a lot of people in line at the bar but the one upstairs had less people and we enjoyed drinks. I also liked that there were many tables and chairs too. I will definitely keep coming here. read more

16 Bit is my favorite bar to take out-of-town guests to--even my parents, and my dad doesn't drink! What I love: The selection of arcade games is great, and the only pay-to-play games are the pinball machines. The quarters from those are actually donated to charity! The decor is fun and well thought out. I'm not a beer fan, but they always have Ciderboys on tap that I enjoy. There's a decent assortment of mocktails if alcohol isn't your thing. Seating is never hard to find if you want a break from games. What I don't love: In my experience, the cocktails are very hit-or-miss, which sucks when they're $12 a piece. Pictured is the chipotle pineapple margarita I had last night, which I was hoping would be sweet and spicy; instead, it was more of a smoky chipotle with little pineapple. Weird aftertaste. The recommended tip on card reader is 25% rather than 20, so $3 a drink if that's what you choose to use. Groups tend to conglomerate right around ski ball, so you have to really stake it out if you want to play. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Chipotle pineapple margarita - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

This place is AMAZING. My husband and I could have stayed for hours honestly. This is a arcade bar and it is definitely the coolest one I've ever been to. I decided to try their Hulk Hogan cocktail while my husband tried the Snoop Dogg, which he said "tasted like how snoop dogg talks". I really loved my drink and it even came with a popsycle in it, which I let melt into my drink (I think that's why they do it) and that definitely was the right choice. The popsycle definitely added to the drink. After you get your drinks, you can start playing games FOR FREE! I stuck to skee ball mostly but my husband loved lots of the games. He was a little disappointed they didn't have tetris, but he got distracted by other things and didn't seem to mind after awhile. Dogs are allowed here too, which is fun. I love that more places are becoming dog friendly because I honestly just love having dogs around. If we end up back in Indianapolis, we're definitely making a trip back here for drinks and games. read more

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I've literally watched them build this place and couldn't wait to try it...it's been a couple years since then and I finally decided to give it a go by taking my dad out for his birthday along with my little brother. My dads face literally lit up like a 8 year old kid who got a Nintendo for his birthday. The service was amazing and 16-Bit offers a vibe you can't find anywhere else! Some of the games we played were Mortal Kombat, Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, Mario Brothers and Artari! The games are all FREE yes FREE no purchase of ANYTHING necessary! The pin ball machines do cost but everything else is free. A couple of the machines were down but again they're FREE so who cares lol. Of course I had a drink ; ) I'd already been checking out the menu ahead of time and knew instantly I wanted a Molly Ringwald because she's a classic and the drink sounded amazing. It's a whisky based drink with ginger beer and ouch snaps topped with a tasty peach ring. My dad loved this spot so much he wants to come once a month, I'll surely be back thanks for everything 16-Bit the young man at the door was everything so attentive and gave my dad a cup for his birthday! read more

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Stopped in for a drink while waiting for dinner reservations with friends. The bartender was nice and provided recommendations for each of our individual tastes. I ended up going with the Game Over. It was like a fruity Long Island. Your game really might be over after drinking this one. We were there long enough to play games but saw so many that brought back childhood memories. So we'll definitely be back to play. Pro tip: Head to the upstairs bar for less of a crowd. read more

16-Bit Bar+Arcade - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana