Mission Control is a BLAST! It's a not-so-hidden gem on the second floor of a market in DTSA, which…read moreis the perfect way to spend the evening after walking around and eating in the area. There's a variety of pinball machines and classic old school arcade games to choose from (as well as some new machines which were recently added). You can exchange cash for tokens and all the games are reasonably priced, either 2 tokens (50¢) or 4 tokens ($1). They've got a DJ bumping live music to set the mood, a couple bartenders dishing out fun themed drinks, and there's even a dance floor with a disco ball if you feel like getting down. It's got a little something for everybody, even if you're bad at the games you can still have fun with friends, on a date, or even on your own! HIGHLY recommend you check this place out, it's a guaranteed good time that isn't expensive which is rare nowadays!!

I hadn't been to Mission Control in about two years, so I was really looking forward to going back…read more Unfortunately, it just wasn't the same experience I remembered. There used to be an area with around a dozen pinball machines, but that area was completely bare this time. There were still pinball machines along another wall, but I remember them being in both areas, so it felt like there were quite a few fewer machines overall. A few of the other games weren't working either, including the air hockey and basketball games. I also noticed there wasn't a DJ that night. That may have been something that simply wasn't scheduled for that evening, so I'm not going to hold that against the place. I'm just mentioning what I experienced. I did get to play Galaga, which was fun, but I was hoping to play Centipede and it wasn't there that night. I ended up playing only two games before heading downstairs to the tiki bar. Maybe it was just an off night, and I may have caught Mission Control at a bad time. I just remember it being a much more lively and fun arcade the last time I was there. I was disappointed because I had really been looking forward to coming back. I hope it was just an off night, because I'd like to see it get back to the place I remember.

The location has improved. Owner was very nice and help rearrange some machines to help my kids win…read moresome prizes. Definitely like the changes so far. Adjusting review to 5 stars

TL;DR: The win rate on the machines seems to have gone down significantly, and more than half of…read morethe machines now seem to offer items in blind bags, which are close to impossible for claws or kids to grab compared to plushies and other items. The value-to-experience ratio just isn't what it used to be. We've come to Top Canvas multiple times before and always had a great experience. We've even recommended it to friends. They still have a really wide variety of machines, but unfortunately, the experience and service seem to have gone downhill. In the past, the workers were incredibly attentive and would help our daughter and her friends rearrange items to make them easier to grab. They weren't just giving things away for free, but they made sure the kids had a reasonable chance of actually winning something. The win rate on the machines was also relatively high, and the prizes were generally easy enough for kids to grab. It was a great, albeit slightly expensive, value. Our most recent visit was very different. The machines had a close-to-zero win rate, and even when a worker rearranged a couple of items for us, they basically just tossed them around in the container and walked away. They didn't actually make them any easier for a small child to grab. We left with one small item, and while we completely understand that winning isn't guaranteed (that's the nature of these games) that's not really what made Top Canvas great in the past. What made it stand out was that it felt accessible and fun for young kids. Unfortunately, that no longer seems to be the case.

We came with a giant group of 18 adults for a birthday celebration. The location is in kaleidoscope…read moremall (which felt completely dead and dirty) but the actual laserland was super fun. We had a private time slot for an hour and were able to play 4 games during that hour and played different rules (teams, zombies, gladiator elongation style) which were all very fun and we had a game master who told us the rules before each game and called out the top scorers at the end. It is really sweaty in there. There's not much airflow in the game room and don't event think they have air conditioning on. We were all dripping sweat so dress accordingly. They gave us all mini waters after the games which was nice.

This is our go-to spot when my three boys need to burn off some serious energy. They watch their…read moredad "slay" on Call of Duty all the time, so they jump at any chance to try and outdo him at Laserland. The arcade games up front are a big bonus too. They are perfect for keeping them busy while they wait for their turn or for squeezing in a little more fun before we head out. And shoutout to Andy, the awesome and super friendly manager. He always makes us feel welcome and keeps the whole place running smoothly. Always a great time.

Got a Boxer machine for my bar about six weeks ago and the reaction from customers has been…read moresomething else. Thing gets used constantly on weekends -- we've had people line up to take shots at it which is exactly the kind of energy I wanted in the space. Ordering was simple. Knew what I wanted, reached out, got a response same day. They answered everything I asked without trying to upsell me on stuff I didn't need which I respected. Machine showed up on schedule and in perfect condition. Setup was straightforward and the build quality is obvious the second you see it in person. This is not a cheap machine -- it looks and feels commercial grade because it is. Giving it four stars because the website could do a better job showing pricing upfront. Had to go back and forth a bit before I got a clear number. Not a dealbreaker but it would make the buying process faster. Overall really happy with the purchase. Creative Arcades delivered exactly what they said they would and the machine is genuinely driving more engagement at the bar. Already in talks with them about a second unit.

I initially reached out to Creative Arcades to purchase a couple of machines for my game room…read more Brian was great to work with at first, very responsive and easy to talk to. Based on that experience, I placed an order for approximately $18,800 on January 27, 2026, for two Jet Hoops machines and one Fun Dart machine. I was told delivery would take a couple of months and would include white glove service, with their team personally ensuring everything was set up and working properly. After months of follow-up, I finally received a delivery, but it was not what I ordered. Only two machines showed up, and they were not the correct models. The dart machine was never delivered. Since that point, Brian has stopped responding to calls and emails altogether. I was also told the dart machine had shipped, which turned out to be untrue. On top of that, the hoops machines that were delivered do not even connect properly. I understand that some customers may have had a positive experience, but unfortunately, that was not the case for me. I have since ordered machines from other vendors and had no issues whatsoever. At this point, I am pursuing resolution through other means, but I felt it was important to share my experience. Brian is responsive and friendly during the sales process, but once issues arise, communication completely stops. I would strongly advise against purchasing from this vendor. If you have questions about my experience, feel free to reach out and I'm happy to share more.

Sid took great care of us. Ask for him and he will walk you through any issues you might experience…read moreor if you want to create a private server for your friends. Great place.

My kiddo came here for 1 week of eSports camp this summer, and this venue was a great place for…read moresome intense 6 hour gaming time daily with other peers who have similar interests. Cooper's partnered with XP League to host a Fortnite Showdown, and kiddo came in 1st place. Fun times and friendly staff! Thanks Cooper's! The summer camp was held inside their own private room with maybe a dozen computers. The rest of the place was open to the public for open walk-in play. There are food and drinks available on site for purchase, and restrooms are relatively clean. Environment felt safe.

Arcade with a view of Newport Harbor? Yes please…read more This is a great little family owned and operated arcade in the Balboa Fun Zone. Pro tip: If you need more than one card (so each kid can have their own), you can select the number of cards you need, and then the total amount with bonus credits, and it will automatically split the total credits among each card. This lets you maximize your bonus credits. Nice!

Came in to check things out and it was really crowded!!…read more They have plenty of games and lots of games that dispense tickets to redeem prizes. The prices of the credit vary on amount and it can get quite expensive, the prizes are not worth the credit we spend but that isn't the point of the prizes. Also you get a reusable card which I think if you come often to make sure to bring it and just refill the amount to waive the new card activation fee. We didn't get to stay long to play the games we wanted since it was crowded and the game we wanted was pretty popular. Would like to try again next time and will bring our card for a refill!

First time coming to this location and my family & I were very pleased. First off it wasn't that…read morebusy so that was definitely a plus on a Sunday afternoon. When we arrived we got something to eat before doing some of the activities. We ordered a kids chicken tenders and a kids hotdog meal. The food was good better than I expected. After that, we headed over to the bumper boats and the gentlemen working was so nice and helpful. I believe his name was Deon! That was a really fun experience and definitely nice on a hot day. After that, we did some go karts, I think you get a pretty decent amount of time to drive them. Then we went to the arcade played some games before heading on out. Overall, it was a nice time! They also have alcohol for the adults, which is pretty cool.

I grew up coming to Boomers with my dad and my sister. After my dad recently passed away, bringing…read moremy own kids here for the very first time was a deeply special trip for our family--and the experience couldn't have been better. A huge shoutout to Deon, who provided the best customer service we've experienced anywhere in a long time. Our kids had an absolute blast, and Deon was fantastic with them. He was super helpful, patient, and attentive while getting them set up and safely having fun on the go-karts and bumper boats. Stepping back onto the track brought back so many cherished childhood memories of my dad, and Deon helped ensure my kids walked away with those exact same happy memories today. Thank you, Deon, for making a meaningful day so incredible for our family. We will definitely be back!

We come often and always have a great time! Food is good, drinks are great and who doesn't love to…read moreplay games! The bartender Ally is amazing! She is attentive and fun and always makes us feel welcomed. Its also so refreshing to see management on the floor involved with their customers. Mike was present all day and checked on us and made sure we were happy! You can tell he truly cares for his customers and staff! We will continue to come back!

My son had a lot of fun here! There's a great variety of games, and we had a really enjoyable time…read moreoverall. A few of the machines weren't working properly during our visit, but the staff was quick to assist whenever we had an issue. They either got the machine working or credited us back, which I really appreciated. Great customer service and a fun place to spend a few hours!

First went here for my friend's birthday party and is now my go to place for arcades. Idk how much…read morehas changed when it comes to bowling and food there but I did try out the food and drinks. I actually thought they were decent and especially when going bowling with your friends and all. I remember my friend ordered the standard chicken tenders and fries for his other friends and I to share. The arcade selections is not bad, better than my last visit but I sort of missed the selection they had when I first visit this place. Especially since my first visit had tons of variety ranging from fighting games like BlazBlue and Persona (I miss that Persona fighting game), racing games, rail shooters like Time Crisis, and games where you earn tickets like Space Invader and that pirate wheel spinning game (don't know the name). I didn't mind the airsoft ones like Onpoint and the Cyberpunk game (which didn't work when I visited btw) because it always felt good using those but I'm not a fan of the VR ones. Mostly because it invalidated the rail shooters and you get sick of it easily. It's the reason why I rarely see anyone play those. The good part about the arcade selection is that unlike most arcade places, tickets are a lot easier to rack up and especially if you know which game to play. The plinko ones I highly recommend if you want to earn tickets. Speaking of comparison, this is place is surprisingly a lot quieter (outside of kids acting like you know kids) but that's because most of the people that go to Round 1 are like teenagers and young adults. Which makes sense given the amount of anime stuff this place provides. The claw machine is obviously the main attraction and they've honestly gotten much harder than previous first few visits, which is why I deduct one star. Though the staff were helpful enough to reposition the plushie so that I could get it but I'm not sure if they still do that. They have a lot of selections of anime merch but good luck trying to win those given how hard they've gotten. It'd be a miracle if the claw even lifts it up. The balls underneath the prize certainty didn't help either.

The food is fair, but overpriced for the quality. However, the real issue here is the incredibly…read morepoor customer service. During my visit, I spent a significant amount of money playing a claw machine to win a Pochacco plush. I had successfully maneuvered the doll halfway over the prize chute when the machine suddenly threw an error right after a card swipe. When an employee came over to reset the machine, she didn't just fix the error--she actively pushed the Pochacco all the way back into the main play area, completely ruining my progress. When I told her how much I had already paid to get the prize to that point, her only response was a dismissive, "Oh." She didn't offer to reposition it or help at all. Out of pure shock, I managed to reach in and slide it slightly closer while she was closing the door, but the momentum was lost. I put even more money into the machine afterward but ultimately walked away empty-handed and incredibly disappointed. To put this into perspective, I drove 380 miles to check out this specific location and spent about $325 for just a few hours of play. To be treated with such complete indifference after spending that kind of money is unacceptable. I doubt I will ever return to this location. I will stick to the Round1 locations in Northern California and Reno, where the experience is much better.

Food is groovy , bowling is groovy , karaoke is groovy…read more What a fun nite I have a minuscule suggestion for karaoke . Because so many people arrive the deejay should tell the singers to try to do songs under 3 minutes ! Jeff is the iconic figure in this area of entertainment

Forest Lanes is a good spot for a fun, laid-back bowling night, not too fancy--just a good time…read more The lanes are generally clean and well maintained. I just wish they have smaller balls for petites like me. Food and drinks are classic bowling-alley style--pizza, wings, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, and bar drinks that hit the spot while you're playing. We had fun with the cheese pull. Too bad they ran out of Icee when we went. Service is friendly overall. Prices are reasonable for the area, especially when splitting lanes with a group.