this place is incredible! i used to go to their original location in chesterfield regularly when i…read morelived in the area, but hadn't been in a long while until i went a month or so ago. in truth, this place is much more enjoyable than the one at premier lanes.
the ambiance is better, the number of games is greater, and the quality of everything seems a little more maintained. $22 gets you an all-day wristband, and you can come and go as you please. if you're just thirsty or want a small snack, they have a small counter where you can get water for $1, pop or chips for about $2, candy for $3... really almost-too-fair pricing from a business in 2025, and it's refreshing to see. there's no alcohol which could be a bummer for some, but i just think of it as more money saved, personally.
i normally like to plant myself firmly in front of newer machines when i see them (currently this location has Elvira, Rush, Foo Fighters, and 007), but there are so many great older machines to get a few plays on as well: Cactus Canyon, Dracula, Medieval Madness, Monster Bash, and Taxi are just a few of my favorites.
as i already mentioned, they have other non-pinball games including bubble hockey (damn, i love bubble hockey), shuffle bowling, skee ball, and a slew of arcade cabinets throughout. there's guaranteed to be something that'll grab your attention -- in truth, there'll be many things that will. and, whenever you have an issue with a game, there are always a couple super friendly people on site to help you out.
TIP: enter up the stairs near JC Penney on the John R. side of the mall for quick entry to the arcade.
tl;dr: go. this is a gem at oakland mall. it does everything the chesterfield sparks location does, but better.