Finally after years of waiting DFW has a genuine "barcade" concept up and running. Thank goodness. At Free Play the games are first and the drinks are 2nd. That's important. People in DFW will be familiar with places like "Barcadia" and "Kung Fu Saloon", or modern places like "Dave and Busters" or "Main Event". Well, this is totally different than any of those. What we have here is a genuine, honest to goodness vintage arcade featuring some of the greatest hits of the 80's and 90's. I didn't see a single game newer than 1997 or so in there. Free Play is pretty simple. $10 at the door gets you in. All the games are on free play. It's that easy. A lounge area doubles as a searing for a cafe. A small menu offers a variety of panini type sandwiches and glass bottle sodas. Plenty of beer is on hand also both in the bottle or on tap. I tried the chicken pesto sandwich and found it on par with a place like panera bread. Pretty good! The game selection is tightly packed, making several long rows. Games range from 4 player "Simpsons" to single player racers to Atari classics to obscure titles you never saw when you were a kid. The games are generally in good working condition, but considering they are all low antiques many of the machines wear decades of abuse like a tattoo on a Vietnam veteran. 5 pinball machines line the back wall, which are my favorite. Pinball machines more than anything have replay value because there is no true ending to the game. You can't just keep pressing continue. You require skill. Sadly, pinball is also high maintenance so we may not see more of them here. I hope that changes. For the price you would be hard pressed to find better entertainment. You and some friends could have hours of fun here for just a couple of dollars an hour. Well worth the trip to see. No other business currently offers what Free Play does in Richardson. *** Here are my tips to improve: 1. More Pinball Machines. With more you could start a league and really get crazy. Pinball is he ultimate gaming machine. 2. Lower lighting. The overall lighting was 20-30% too bright for me and the desired mood. 3. JukeBox. While I noticed and appreciated the 100% 80's rock tunes, I wish we could select out own favorite throwback jam. 4. HighScore Board. Getting "on the wall" would be a very cool bonus and would encourage people to play specific games. 5. Projector: I have seen a game (like Street Fighter 2) be projected onto the wall. The players still use the games screen, but spectators watch the wall. This creates massive hype and can even build a crowd. Very fun. 6. Better Menus. The selection is there, just needs to be better presented than black and white. 7. Louder Game Volume. Many of the games volume was too low. Crank it! Despite these suggestions, Free Play is certainly a 5 star business even in its current form. Well worth the visit! I will be back! read more

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LOVE LOVE LOVE This place!! Free Play Arcade is a hidden gem in a shopping center in Richardson. I was looking for a new spot for date night and since the boo enjoys old school arcades games, I thought this would be great. It had pretty good reviews from the Yelp community so I definitely wanted to see what all the hype was about. Well this place took me back to the days where I stayed up late trying to conquer video games except I can drink beer while doing it. If you are into beer they have a variety of craft beers, they also have 40 ounces of malt liquor. We did not have anything to east but from my understanding they have sandwiches. The concept is simple you basically pay about $11.00 dollars for unlimited pay while listening to 80's tunes. We went through the week so it was a small crowd and there was no wait for games. The popular games if there was a wait, people stuck to the two game limit. They have 5 pinball machines that have vary in difficulty. The fact they have the game Paperboy made this place a winner for me. Now my player did get hit by a couple of cars at first but eventually I got the hang of it. I will definitely be back! read more

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80's and 90's arcade games, check 80's classic tunes, check Beer, check Appetizers and pizza, check It's a 11 per person to get in and all the games are free!! Classic games like Mortal Kombat 2, Xmen, ninga turtles, pacman,galiga, pinball machines and way more. The beer is around $4 to $6 per glass. Most beers are bottled or canned. There are about 4 beers on tap but they aren't your traditional budlight or coors. The food is exceptional and a bit pricy. Come here to relive your childhood and drink a cold one. read more

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We wanted to do something different. Nice concept. I probably wouldn't return on a weekend again. It's was too crowded for such a small place. read more

Free Play - Bars Near Me - Richardson, Texas

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Great, friendly, knowledgable service coupled with clean, fun atmosphere If you grew up in the 90's playing video games, this place is your wet dream. Well-maintained with functioning games and user ease, this place is fun for all ages. We brought the bday boy and everything else fell into place! They serve food + booze + arcade games!!! Our bartender was knowledgable and so friendly as was all the staff. Every one of us had a stellar time and would recommend this place! read more

I'm so glad that this place was still open during all this covid mess! They have sanitizers all over the place, masks are mandated, and they have an area where you can eat. Atmosphere is still super fun and covid hasn't made this place any less amazing! I surprised my fiancé and took him here and we loved it. read more

Snapshot: 4/5 Game Selection, 5/5 Beer Options, 4/5 Food. If you want to relive the 80s-90s, go check Free Play. They have must of the Nintendo and Arcade Classics: Pac-man, Street Fighter 2, Mortal Kombat, Super Mario Bros, Donkey Kong, Missile Command, Burger Time and more. Copious amount of local and craft beer choices along with cane sodas. The food was good for the atmosphere. Worth checking out. read more

Free Play - Bars Near Me - Richardson, Texas

It is sooooooo cool. It has all of the old games. I would stay forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a really cool place. $10 gets you in the door and all of the games are on free play mode. BEER The beer selection is pretty extensive and prices are comparable to other bars. They have everything from bottles, cans, tall boys, 2 draft beers, and even a 40 oz. of Colt 45! GAMES They have a wide array of different games and an employee said that some of the games will be changed out over time. FOOD The food that I ordered was pretty good, but the menu items aren't really what you would expect to find in an arcade/bar. I was expecting bowling alley type food. It would be nice to see some of those types of foods make it onto the menu in the future even though they are widely considered crap food. ATMOSPHERE This place really embraces that retro vibe. The color choices are well thought out and ooze nostalgia. Although I would invest in some hand sanitizer with it being flu season and all. TLDR VERSION Great place! Great beer! I would add some menu items and hand sanitizer though. EDIT: More menu items and hand sanitizer have been added since I wrote this review. read more

Free Play - The menu has changed since the first week. - Bars Near Me - Richardson, Texas

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Who knew that we would lose track of time in an arcade but we did. Walked in at 5:30pm on a Saturday afternoon. I had read what others had said about this place and I was sure it was going to be backed to the brim but surprisingly it wasnt. Paid a $10 cover and walked around to get a feel of the games and what this place had to offer. All the games are in great condition and every single one of them was up and running. I did not see a single out of order sign which to me said a lot. After playing for maybe 10 minutes I went to the bar and opened a tab. After a few drinks I placed an order for tacos and an avocado sandwich. When I placed my order I told the guy no cheese and he asked if I was vegan. I told him yes and he said that they toast the bread using butter. He was very gracious enough to have them use olive oil which automatically gave this place a 5 star. There was a female bartender there that made a mixed drink that was perfect, not to sweet and not to strong. Over all this is a great place to lose yourself. They have a very nice selection of drinks and some good little eats too. On the way out ( 4.5 hrs later) I had to get a shirt. The games here definitely bring back memories. Going to have to visit them after they kick all of the kids out. read more

Free Play - Vegan avocado toast. They were gracious enough to use olive oil instead of butter and skip the cheese. - Bars Near Me - Richardson, Texas

I'm so glad this barcade is still able to operate during COVID. They have a great mix a machines old and new. Perfect place to play pinball on free play. read more

So fun!! $10 entry fee and you can play as long as you'd like. Machines were all working and it's great fun for the whole family.

I heard about this place from a few friends who are big gamers so I decided to come check out the place & see what the hype was all about. The guy who owns the place has a TON of vintage arcade games & he swaps out games every week or so. Typically they've got around 60 video games which range in date from the early 80s to early 90s. Great selection. They do serve food & alcohol & it's not as noisy as I expected it to be. They've got a bunch of tables for you to sit & eat at. I'll definitely be back!! read more

Free Play - Bars Near Me - Richardson, Texas

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If I had to compare two, I think the Cidercade was definitely better. atmosphere, amount of games, food choices, beer! read more

The owner of this place is such a darling lil older fellow. My boyfriend works at German Motor Works nearby and he brought us all lunch one day. This place is a brilliant idea and it is a lot of fun too. read more

Well Jared pretty much said everything! Though I'll disagree with the projector and pinball machines... I love this place! Games are rotated around soo next trip there could be a new game in place of another Nothing is better then beer and arcades! Don't let the fact that beer is served stop you from bringing kids! It's for sure a kid friendly area and a great way to show your kids something you loved to do your self as a child/teen and creat great bonding moments Not to mention arcades are great way to socialize with new people, I was there yesterday and challenged a random guy on street fighter vs xmen, a bit little we're were joking around and talking smack! And to the guy who rated it one star... There is guys walking around that will fix the machines... Or hell you notice something broken let the people know! They run out and fix it immediately! You don't tell them it won't get fixed fast enough until the guy noticed... This place does need some stuff to improve on but it doesn't take away from this place being 5 stars! The staff actually are really friendly and care a lot! This for sure is my new hang out! read more

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Was pretty fun i gotta say. Location is kinda hidden away but maybe thats what makes it cooler? The wife and i had a lot of fun playing. Pinball was top notch. Few games had some broken parts (as most places do) but i noticed they have a box where you can report broken machines. Worth the money just go. read more

All you can play video games for $10. Okay so the drinks are not great...but just order a bottle of something and you will be fine. Other than that...they have every game you could ever want to play. Seriously, a fun and great place to hang out. read more

One of my favorite spots. Sasquash sandwich is divine. Other than food the beer and games always makes it a worthy journey.

It was all fun and games (literally) until the racist bartender had to start bothering us. My brother in law, who is African American, was waiting in line at the bar for a beer and asked the bartender with a beard (didn't get his name unfortunately, but he has a major problem with anyone not white) freaked out on him when my BIL asked the name of a beer. One of the girl bartenders tried to tell him he's just simply asking for the name of the beer, and he called the cops???? Clearly racist and clearly an issue especially in this day and age. My cousin in law, who is also African American, waited in line for a drink and food at the bar, as he continued to take everyone else's order besides her. Nice job, racist piece of shit. Hope they find someone else to bartend for them. I have to applaud the women who were bartending though, they did an amazing job compared to that dick bag. read more

What can I say? This place takes me way,way back!!! My boys and I been here a few times already, all 5 times we had s blast. I have not tried to food yet, but my son said it was good. He had a chicken pesto wrap. Said it was big, and pretty tasteful. (Coming from a kid who is kinda picky.) What I like is the beer selection. You can get a regular domestic beer to a micro brewed, to a old school 40oz of Ol'E!!! (Old English) which is a FINE Malt liquor for those who do not know what that is. Soda selection is pretty awesome as well. read more

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RUDE RUDE RUDE SERVICE...the front door man was AWFUL and extremely confrontational. DO NOT GO, i'm trying to tell ya!

Have you ever wanted to relive your childhood? Have you wandered into a Chuck E. Cheese lately? It's the worst. The video games are now catered to little kids. Ridiculous. It used to be your 7 year old self had to play the same video games your 13 year old brother was getting high scores. Well, rue those days no longer! Now at 40, you can show your past 13 year old brother that you can beat him at Digg Dugg and Burger Time! Seriously so much fun. I would recommend going on a weekday because the weekends are ridiculously busy and if it's still early there will be little kids(!!!) everywhere. Yes, yes, some of them are my friend's kids, but they're still in the way of my video game playing. I can't even imagine how much money I invested playing video games as a kid. Probably hundreds of dollars. My 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Zimmerman, would say, "You have more dollars than you have sense!" Well, now it's all paying off! I'm a professional video game player and I'm making on the order of $40k a month! Take that Mrs. Z! Anyhoo, check this place out. It is everything you want it to be, PLUS, they sell food and alcohol! By the way, I wish I was making $40k/mo. playing video games. I am however making $10k/mo as a mystery shopper. Click here to find out how! Or click here to find out how to flip houses using other people's money....... read more

Waste of time and money. Kids were running around playing tag and the adults had zero gaming etiquette!! We paid $24 to get in and played 1 game before I got fed up with the clientele in general. I would rather support the National Video Game museum and play in their arcade then go back to Free Play. read more

I've not yet tried the food, but for $10, you get unlimited play time on all your favorite childhood games. They have a great selection of beers. Only 4 on draft, but they're from top notch breweries, and the prices for menu items are reasonable. *Update* - I did try the food. I had a pressed sandwich, and a bite of a couple other pressed sandwiches, and they were all great. read more

Free Play - Bars Near Me - Richardson, Texas

Being a child (well.. teenager) of the 80s, and a lover of video games, I knew I was going to like Free Play. And I did! I went with a friend on a Saturday night and the place was rocking, but not so bad that you couldn't get a game to play when you wanted to. We ordered food and it did not disappoint.. the pulled pork pizza is excellent. A nice array of beers as well, so we were all set. The games were as I remembered them, some I had forgotten about over the past decades. The machines were all in working order, and the gaming area was relatively clean. (the tables for eating... not so much.. I think they were just so busy, they couldn't keep up). The one drawback for me is that the games were all set to a high difficulty level... so things got hard really quickly. I suspect that's to keep the turnover on the games high so that no one is hogging a machine for a whole night. All in all, a fun experience. I'd go back again. read more

What an interesting place. Even though I'm still a big kid, I truly felt like a kid again playing all the nostalgic games of my childhood. The beer selection is nicely organized and well stocked. The game selections were even better with some of my favorites like NBA jam, the Simpsons, TMNT, Killer instinct, I could go on but you should check it out for yourself. To top it all off, they had 90s music playing that just completed the atmosphere. The only bad thing was we had to wait for some games as people wouldn't leave, even after their turn was up multiple times due to their lack of skill. But it was still a fun experience and I would recommend everyone to try at least once. read more

Free Play - Boomshakalaka - Bars Near Me - Richardson, Texas

Love the 80's music. Love the games. drinks are good food is not quite my taste. A little new wave for me. I am a burger fries chips hot dog kind a guy. Especially at a game arcade. read more

Been here so many times before the pandemic. Cheap to play all day for as long as you like . They have great apps and pizzas / sandwiches . Lots of choices for beer. All the gaming will make you thirsty! read more

This place is really fun! It gets pretty packed on the weekends but people are really good at not hogging the machines. I really like that you pay a $10 flat-rate and play as many games as you like. They've got plenty of beers by the can, bottle or draft (no liquor). The location is a bit off the beaten path but definitely well worth the drive! It was the first time for anyone in our group to be here, but it won't be our last. There's also another location in Arlington if that's closer. read more

Omgosh this place is fun! Now, admittedly, as someone who was a teen when many of the games in the arcade came out, I might be just a tad biased, but I'm going with it! Went on a recent Saturday afternoon - Free Play was absolutely packed - which made it all the more fun by seeing what folks were playing and listen to the amped-up tunes from the 70s and 80s. Went with the entire family - my boys, currently Xbox aficionados, were very impressed with the games and how fun they were. While they dabbled with many different games, I went to my old standby Tempest and pretty much created a case of carpal tunnel on one visit. I kid, of course(ish). Note: if you want to see the entire game list, they are available from Free Play's website. Lots of Free Play swag for sale at the front counter, and a great variety of brews on tap/cans for you to enjoy while you dominate the electronic universe. Can't wait to 'sneak' back for more fun at Free Play! read more

Free Play is amazing! Hands-down, it's got an incredible concept and is a must-visit for any gamer, retro enthusiast, or anyone who was simply alive during the 80s. For $10, you have access to dozens of games: pinball, co-op, 4 player setups, and solo play. The games are obviously well taken care of and I didn't see anything out of order. However, a regular wipe down of the joysticks and buttons would be appreciated. I don't know if they do that, but I put my hand on a greasy pinball flapper and shivers went down my spine as a germaphobe. [Internal thought: Why. So. Greasy?] Come on a Saturday afternoon and this place is packed. I can see why Free Play's so popular and it is, rightfully so. They also have a decent selection of food, drinks, and beer. I can't personally comment, but the group I was with ordered and I heard zero complaints. AND someone--from the looks of it--was having a wedding reception there. I mean, c'mon. They've gotta have good food if someone's going host a reception there! One quick comment about drinks: they have the "real sugar" sodas so if you're hunting for the Coke, Sprite, Dr. Pepper, etc. old school versions with the Made in Mexico branding, you're search is over. Enjoy this oasis! read more

Had a great time here with a group from the office. They reserved our table ahead of time, and had a smooth process for large parties. HUGE beer selection, even Dogfish head 90 min IPA and Arrogant Bastard. This place brought out the 80s kid in me. Lots of classic arcade games and about 10 pinball machines too! We will visit again! read more

I know this review will be non recommended but at least you'll see the review. Your place is awesome. The beer is awesome. But when you allow kids to run all through your establishment, on top of them screaming at the top of their lungs, I had to leave 40 minutes after paying for entry and buying a beer. So obnoxious. I reported it and nobody cared. So I'm outta here. Btw, I'm out at my car and I can still hear those kids screaming. Where are the damn parents? read more

Living in the greater DFW area (Richardson, TX). It's been many years since I've been to a top notch and high quality arcade joint. Prior I've been to Barcadia, Kung Fu Saloon, and Nicklerama. In early 2016 I have discovered Free Play arcade. Literally walking distance from my residence. I felt like I was in my inner youth playing the awesome 80's and 90's arcades. There is roughly 75 arcade machines give or take and every now and then they swap some out with different ones. Plus a half dozen pinball machines. You pay $10 plus tax but if you go within the first hour being open, you pay half off admission. And as long as you wear your "Free Play" bracelet you can run off to do errands and come back in during the day. The food menu is a unique pub style, but absolutley delicious! They have 8"-9" personal flatbread pizzas, sandwiches (The Texan is my favorite), street tacos, and fruit and veggie plates. It ranges around $6-$12. Everything is excellent. Drinks range from Mexican pure cane sugar sodas in glass bottles, Surge, Mr. Brown, New York Seltzer, and many varieties of beer from domestic to import. Sodas are $2 to $3. Beer varies and they have 40 ounce Colt 45 Malt Liquor. It's open everyday Sunday from 11 AM to 11 PM, Monday to Thursday from 3 PM to 11 PM, Friday from 3 PM to 12 AM, and Saturday from 11 AM to 12 AM. It's very busy Friday nights, all day Saturday, and early Sunday. But quiet Monday through Thursday except the Summer months. Curfew is everyday at 9 PM (Under 18 Sunday through Thursday and under 21 Friday and Saturday). Other than just playing games, there is competitions that occur if you are on the facebook community group. Tuesday Night Fights which rotate from there and Arlington, monthly high score challenges, puzzle nights, ladies night which is the final Thursday of the month. You can win some cash and cool prizes. The staff is excellent and very friendly and are always knowledgable about the beer. Corey who is the owner is an awesome person and makes sure everyone has a fun time there and enjoys it. I am a regular at Free Play and trust me. It is without a doubt one of the greatest places to spend a fun time at. Update: The hours are now 11 AM to 1 AM on Saturdays! read more

This place is so bad ass!! What's not to love? $10 (plus tax) admission to play UNLIMITED arcade games for however long your heart desires!! My inner child screamed! This place is pretty packed at night so I would recommend coming early if there's a specific game you're wanting to play. I came with a group around 10pm and was able to play a good variety of games. They sell food and beer and no one under 21 after 9pm. Great place to come hang out with friends, get drinks and play games. Definitely coming back! read more

I really had a blast here! Went in for date night with the hubby and we spent about 50 bucks. 20 to get in and 30 on drinks between the two of us. It was fairly cheap considering we had three beers each. The beer selection is really good too (lots of craft beer and ciders as well) The arcade itself was not very packed on a weeknight so that was a plus. The bartender was very friendly, and the games were not being hogged really. We played everything we wanted! I will definitely be back! read more

Free Play - Rampage! - Bars Near Me - Richardson, Texas

What an awesome concept! Unlimited play on some childhood favorites and I absolutely love it! The fiancé and I stopped in on a Saturday right after they opened and had a great time. Around 1pm things started getting a bit more crowded, but we didn't have a huge issue with people monopolizing games. When we finally got around to leaving, we couldn't believe we had spent four hours in there! It was like the twilight zone that sucks you in and takes you down memory lane. They have an awesome selection of drinks and though we didn't try the food, it looked pretty good! I also like that after you pay for admission you can come and go as you please until midnight. Talk about getting a bang for your buck! read more

Free Play - Bars Near Me - Richardson, Texas

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This is an inexpensive fun place to check out. Bar to grab some beers and play lots of old school arcade games for $10. Get there early because it gets crowded with kids bday parties etc. read more

Dragons Lair.... Galaga.... Star Trek.... Burger Time....Tapper... Qbert.... street fighter... and on and on. This is a slice of heaven on earth, I have never been more excited to step back in time. I felt like I was 10-11 yrs old again and played my all old arcade favorites. There was also every beer imaginable, what an amazing selection. I took my own son who's now 11 yrs old and watched him melt into the background of the machines--- he truly loved it. This was NOT like Dave and Busters, this is something way cooler. If you love the 80s and are fan of anything true arcade, then free play is the place for you! There is a small area to grab some food--- pizzas are actually really good!!! Not some refrigerated pizza, seems like they make from scratch and it's pretty tasty! There guys have events all the time and is definitely worth the crazy drive I have to make to get here--- I really hope they open one in denton (think college town guys) I will definitely make the trip to the Arlington location real soon. read more