In the heart of the Merriweather District is the GameOn Columbia location. This location has two bars, and a ton of arcade machines. I remember there was a Dance Dance Revolution machine if I remember correctly and a Guitar Hero arcade machine. This one I believe has the largest selection of games and is possibly the largest location out of the 4 locations GameOn offers. The service, food, and cocktails are great and they provide a nice laid-back experience that makes a great date night or day activity with your family! read more

This place is chaos in the best possible way. Game On in the Merriweather District is basically your inner child with adult money. The arcade selection is legit. Not a couple random machines tucked in a corner, but enough games to keep you busy way longer than you planned. The cocktails? Oh they're gimmicky. Fully. And that's the fun of it. They're colorful, dramatic, a little extra, and totally fit the vibe. If you want a quiet, serious cocktail moment, this isn't that. If you want something playful in your hand while you dominate skee ball, you're in the right spot. Now the food -- this surprised me. The cheesesteak egg rolls are a must. Crispy, cheesy, packed with flavor. Absolutely order them. The buffalo chicken sliders were also a win. Messy in the best way, saucy, juicy, and perfect for grazing between games. What really made it though was the staff. They genuinely look like they're having a good time working there. Not fake smiles. Real energy. That kind of vibe changes everything and makes you want to hang out longer. Game On knows exactly what it is and leans all the way in. Fun first, good food, playful drinks, great energy. We'll be back. read more

Nice place! I had stopped in a while back, but my son and his friend wanted to play the typical games like at dave and busters so we went there. This time, i was there for my sister's birthday, and we had a blast. This place specializes in the nostalgic games of the 80's and 90's. So pinball machines and classic arcade games. The bar had an awesome selection of cocktails like butter beer and margaritas, as well as a few soju inspired drinks. The staff was great and friendly. I ordered the "cactus juice" drink and tried some of the nachos my sister ordered. They were good in spite of the cheese sauce. I like shredded cheese only. To play the games, it is cash only, as in you need to put dollar bills into the token machine. You can tap/ use cards at the bar for food and drinks. read more

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Having only been to the Annapolis location, I have to say I am a much bigger fan of this one. But before we talk about GameOn itself, we have to talk about the parking in the lot across the street. It's a mad house over there -- I felt like I was back at Eden Center with all that chaos! I had to park really far away... just be advised of that when in that area of Columbia. So, GameOn... even before stepping inside, I could hear the music and the excitement because they have the bar setup where there's both outdoor and indoor bar seating. I love that! And then I went inside and my buddy who was celebrating his birthday had reserved the table section. It's on the opposite side of the bar, and we were able to order as we liked. It looks like its the case across all the locations, but I remember how small their food menu was about 2 years ago. It's definitely expanded since then. We had wings and pizza at the table that were all fantastic. The cocktail menu may have expanded slightly, but there was already a lot. And they have that infamous shots wheel to spin. From the ingredients, the cocktails do lean on the sweeter side, but it kinda fits the theme, you know? I found the Columbia location to have a much more open feel, and I like that there are two bars. There is a second floor mainly for seating that's cool. The bathrooms were lit with blacklights, and seriously the wall artist / designer is fantastic. This is an easy bar to recommend to anyone, especially gamers. I'll be returning -- especially to try some of the games that were unfortunately broken down (looking at you, DDR)! read more

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GameOn Bar+Arcade is definitely the place to be if you just want to hang out with your friends and have a good time playing old school arcades and pinball. I think the big appeal is that the games are really cheap and you have the option of using tokens to pay for your games. Kind of like a throw back when we were kids where we would go to Chuck E Cheese or Time Out in malls when those were big. The nostalgia is real going here. I didn't really order the food here, but I did get drinks. I'd say that the place is busier at the bar section and it does take a bit for you to get your drinks but they do make it fast once they reach to you. The arcade of course is the main highlight. I'm personally a big fan of Dance Dance Revolution, and they had it here. It's not what I remembered but it'll get the job done. They also have fighting games like Street Fighter 2 or Tekken if you're into that. And the pinballs... There was a Godzilla pinball and a Metallica Pinball that was hard to pass up on, those were so cool to play. What else can I say about this place? I think it's popular on weekend nights and I'll say that it's better if you go on weekdays when it's not so packed ! read more

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Met up with a group of friends here during the holidays. Cool spots with arcade games, music, drinks and food. Plenty of free nearby parking. They have fun themed drinks and shots at a reasonable price. Tried the sonic blueberry mule which was pretty good. The bartenders were attentive. Bring cash as it needed to get tickets for the games. They also have a small selection of board games to play. read more

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Came here to try it out. There were many people in this space. Not a lot of places to sit inside but a good amount of space outside. I had a cider that was mango and peach but I expected apple. Guess I should have read. I didn't enjoy that beer. And I thought it was rather expensive. The drink menu was very fun I must admit. So maybe I'll come back to try out a few more drinks. The general vibe was cool. Games were about 1$ per play. The bartenders seemed to not be very engaged but it was so many people who could not even here yourself think. I'm gonna try again to see if I really like it. read more

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This place is so cute and full of so many memory games from when I was a kid! We came in to get a drink while waiting for a reservation at a nearby restaurant. We had never been so didn't know what to expect, but in looking around they had so many games! To include my old past time fave PacMan. We will definitely be back to try out the gaming, but it was nice grabbing and drink and watching a part of the Ravens game at the bar. read more

GameOn bar+arcade - Bars Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Pretty young place! We just stop by for couple of drinks İ like what I drink... Service was good. Ambiance was cheerful... read more

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GameOn is such a cute and nostalgic spot--perfect for a date or just a fun hangout with friends. From skeeball and pinball machines to a basketball hoop race, the place is filled with games that instantly transported me back to my childhood. It's the kind of place that reminds you how fun simple, old-school games can be. Each game costs about a dollar, which feels like a steal these days for something this entertaining. There's also a bar on site, so you can sip a drink while playing, which adds a fun adult twist to the arcade vibe. The decor is awesome too--playful and colorful, with neon-lit bathrooms that are actually a highlight (yes, really!). If you're looking for a laid-back, feel-good activity that doesn't break the bank, GameOn is absolutely worth checking out. I'll definitely be back. read more

GameOn bar+arcade - Bars Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

My favorite bar in Columbia hands down! What can I say besides I'm obsessed with game on! It gives a whole new meaning to hanging out with friends or whoever while enjoying drinks and games! The bar tenders are also very personable and chill and are gamers too! It's a whole vibe out here! The food is so freaking good! The fried pickles and burger is my to go to! I feel like the cocktails are a little over priced but they're hand crafted and I can't get enough of that delicious butterbeer! Yum! Or the sonic slush with Malibu and vodka! I come here often and I feel valued as a customer. So this place gets a 5/5 without questioning! Check out their fed hill location, it's like a club in there! read more

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2.28.25 Had a fun time playing the arcade basketball. I beat three of my husband's relatives. This bar/arcade is located in the Merriweather District. It's alongside Banditos and Clove and Cardamom. They have a bar and refreshments. I didn't look at the menu, but I believe my hubby's relatives ordered wings. This venue is not as big as Dave and Buster's, but it has a nice vibe and they play great music. A very fun atmosphere. read more

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GameOn Columbia is lit. I've met people who skip their local GameOns to come to this one. I've come for video games and drinks. I especially enjoy the bar, their Old Fashioned, the Pinball machines, and Fruit Ninja on the big screen. It's hard to tell how clean the space because of the dim lighting. There are a few extra adjustments GameOn needs to make that could take them to the next level. But as of now, the vibes are so immaculate that I'm going to give 5 stars anyways instead of a 4. The space is medium sized and compact. Parking is easy but can get difficult depending on the day. Overall I'd recommend ! read more

stranger Things part one Initial gameplay Skill shot: Aim for the roving light when it lands on the second drop target from the right. Hitting it can lead to the left scoop for a large point bonus (MXV). Start modes: Hit any of the four main shots (left orbit, left ramp, right ramp, right orbit) three times to start a mode. Light ball locks: During a ball save, shoot the two "light lock" targets to the side of the left ramp. This allows you to lock balls via the left ramp to start multiball. Start multiball: Lock three balls to start Telekinesis Multiball. After collecting five jackpots, the left eject shot will light for a super jackpot. read more

GameOn bar+arcade - if it wasn't for this review, I would've never known there was Pinball at this arcade. Many arcades DO NOT have Pinball. - Bars Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Small than I expected but super fun and nostalgic. Decent bar food. Solid music. Super nice staff and quick service. read more

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Such a Vibe!!!!! I stumbled upon this bar/restaurant/game spot after visiting Merriweather Pavilion which is across the street. I'm so glad I did! It turned out to be such a great experience, and I had an amazingly fun time. The two bartenders, both named Sydney, were fantastic--super welcoming, fun, and attentive. They took the time to listen to my order, checked on me often, and made absolutely delicious drinks. Not only were the drinks great, but the food exceeded my expectations. I ordered a large pizza, which even came with free game tokens (a fun bonus), and the chicken wings were incredible--some of the best I've had in the area! I have to mention there $5 shot wheel (see pics). That was super exchange a fun addition to the spot. The highlight of the night was the old-school arcade games. There's a bunch of them, and they made for such a fun and nostalgic experience. This place really has it all--great drinks, great food, great music, and a great vibe. I'll definitely be coming back a few times a month to hang out with friends, play games, and enjoy some drinks. I highly recommend checking it out if you're in the area--you won't be disappointed! read more

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This is a very fun, nostalgic type of place where you come for a quick round of pacman or mortal kombat and end up 3 drinks in, passionately explaining why you could've beaten your high score if the joystick hadn't betrayed you. The vibes are 80s/90s: neon lights, throwback tunes, the drink selection is solid, and the staff are friendly (even when you're overly competitive about air hockey). My only complaint is thay some machines eat tokens like they're at an all-you-can-eat buffet. Overall, it's a blast and a great spot for date night, friend meetups, or anyone who wants to button-mash their stress away. read more

We had our wedding after party here on Saturday and it was perfect! Everyone in our party had an amazing time since there was a space for some people to just talk, grab drinks, and, of course, play games. Super fun vibes with both the staff and other patrons. We had about 60 people in our party so booked both the upstairs and downstairs seating. We had ordered food with our party booking, and everything was tasty. The staff was super friendly, big shout out to Sydney for giving my husband and I jello shots on the house and being so accommodating/helpful! The booking process was easy and Casey was so communicative over email. Planning a wedding can be stressful, so I was so thankful to GameOn's crew for making our after party so easy & the best experience! read more

Met a friend there for a quick drink and some old school games . We sat at the bar, it was a warm day so the bar was partitioned you had seating half inside and half outside, which was nice. I had a frozen mango margarita drink with an extra shot which was amazing . I ordered some buffalo wings and for me they were just ok. I wouldn't recommend the wings for me they were devoid of flavor and not crispy kind of like rubber . If you reheat chicken in the microwave it was that kind of texture . I did have a side of some Brussel sprout's that were absolutely delicious, like just thinking of them makes me want more. They have a ATM in the establishment , I encourage you to bring cash to obtain the tokens from the token machine in the restaurant. They had all the classics , from the basketball hoop game to old school galaga and centipede arcade games . It was fun I would return for sure it's a cute date night idea or even time with friends . read more

Fun place! We came on a Wednesday night for the half off games. Half off means you get $10 worth of tokens (aka 40 tokens) for $5 that you buy at the bar, but they only have 25 cups of those 40 tokens to give out for the night. We got there around 7pm and there weren't too many people there at that time.. I'd say it got progressively more crowded as the night went on really started getting busy around 9. There are a few scattered tables and a little corner with tables to sit and eat at. Some little tables/barrels to put your drinks on around the bar while you play games. Food/drink is ordered at the bar; you get your drink at the bar, but the food comes out from the back and you pick it up when your buzzer goes off. The food was surprisingly good! We got pizza, crispy brussel sprouts, and boneless wings (they were basically nuggets/tenders) - everything was fresh and tasty. The drinks were good too! $4 draft beers on Wednesdays. The nostalgia factor is through the roof. They have a lot of games including a few skeeball machines (and they have a skeeball league on Wednesdays? though I didn't really see evidence of it), pinball, hoops, one DDR machine, and a bunch of arcades. Upstairs they also have a pile of board games! The art on the wall is fun - classic characters from 80s and 90s mostly. But honestly one of the things I really loved was their music!! So good and danceable. Also their little disco light made it a fun environment. I could imagine just coming here to chill on a regular basis if I lived nearby. One negative for me is that as it gets more crowded, the less I want to stay. I could also smell the smoke wafting in from outside since they had their bar area open between inside and outside. I also felt like the bartender wasn't the most inviting, though maybe it was just that day and that person.. but who knows. I'd come back to see what it's like on a different day. read more

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21+ After 8 pm Customer Service was awesome!! They were packed for a Friday night and the bartenders had the drinks flowing. Some of the games were malfunctioning but, the employees helped with getting them back up and running. Food The fries were good Ambiance- It is a vibe, the artwork is beautiful. Whoever did the murals did a tremendous job. Lots of retro games and new ones. Skee Ball was my favorite Parking-Plenty of it on the lot read more

GameOn bar+arcade - Bars Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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This review is coming from someone who is only familiar with the Annapolis location. I love love loveeee this location, and sorry Tay - but would love to only visit the Annapolis to see the best bartender, Tay again. This location is bigger and better than Annapolis. Their kitchen is bigger (actually exists), and there are more games available to play. Including ones that actually work. Super cute spot for date night, solo night, just because night, etc. read more

GameOn bar+arcade - Bars Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Went on a Thursday night and the place was pretty packed! LOVED the adult swim / retro vibe / music- it was such a fun environment to be in. Drinks were on the pricier side ($10 for beer, $15+ for cocktails) so I opted for a glass of draft beer. What I really liked is their draft beer seems to be from local breweries. I tried one from Brookville Beerfarm and really liked it. Haven't tried their cocktails so unsure how good / strong they are. They seemed really fun and interesting (e.g. Tiki themed). Games are ~$1 each, which I thought was reasonable. We spent an hour at GameOn trying to spend $20 between me and my friend.. had a TON of fun. There are games like DDR, skee ball, basketball hoops, fruit ninja, PacMan and a lot of other oldschool, retro arcade games. Bartenders are SUPER friendly and welcoming. I'm glad we have such a fun bar in the Columbia area :) Would love to be back! read more

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Whats better than having an adult party that's set up like a kid's party? Nothing. It's great you show up, eat, drink, play games and leave. No muss or fuss. Casey was fantastic to work with to plan the party and Sydney was great behind the bar. read more

Small building with lots of old school games, retro decor, and kind service. The food and drinks did not look appetizing, but my partner and I only went to play games. You exchange cash for tokens and you hold them in a plastic cup. Some games are two tokens (50 cents), but most of the popular ones cost 4 tokens ($1) to play which felt pretty steep to me. Sam at the bar was awesome, welcoming, and taught us a fun board game. Games frequently ate tokens, but employees were quick to reimburse us. My partner was disappointed they didn't have Time Crisis, but we enjoyed Pop a Shot, Skee Ball, and some other games. I get that nostalgia is a thing, but lots of games don't age well and are hard for me to watch morally. read more

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Poor staff training and lack of accountability. The owner was not present but responds to reviews as if she was, placing all blame instead of acknowledging her staff's role. Her staff did not handle things professionally. In this environment, knowing how to de-escalate patrons respectfully is essential and that standard was not met. In a bar, that's a fundamental skill and its absence here was obvious. read more

Stopped into GameOn Saturday evening around 11pm to check it out. I'm not big on arcades, but wanted to see what is was all about. The overall experience was FUN. It's packed with old school arcade games that seemed to be well received by those that were in there. We sat at the bar and grabbed a few drinks and snacks. Grabbed a slice of pizza and wings. Our bartender was super friendly and attentive. It was extremely busy in there, but she was holding it down. When you order the food you get a buzzer that will alert you when your food is ready for pick up towards the back of the space. I don't know that I'd come here regularly, but it will be a spot I stop in every once in a while to grab drinks. read more

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Didn't get to try the food, so this review is strictly based on the ambiance. While doing a little babymoon getaway with my wife, we stumbled upon GameOn. Now, I enjoy some video games, while my wife loves them. Anytime we have a chance at checking out a barcade, we go, so this was no exception! The whole barcade brought me back to the 90s/early 00s with the neon graffiti everywhere, along with the change machines and arcade cases. I love it when a barcade does it the old school way with quarters (or tokens) rather than loaded play cards. We played a bunch of video games (together and separate), some skeeball, and some basketball. Overall it was a fun night. I think 1-2 hours is perfect if you're not sticking around to eat or drink. Fortunately we didn't run into any issues with the machines eating our tokens. We will definitely stop by again if we're in the area! read more

I got invited to checkout GameOn ahead of their opening. They opened officially yesterday, January 19. I had a lot of fun! I loved the chill atmosphere. It isn't a huge space, so don't come in expecting a large space like Dave & Busters. Their drinks were good but not too strong. I only tried the Adult Capril Sun (which I am not sure if that's the official name). It was delicious! I had 3 and is also the reason I didn't get a chance to try other drinks lol. They didn't serve the food they sell during this night, so I am not sure how the food tastes. I think if you're in the area or looking for an arcade you've never been to, it's a cool place to go to. read more

GameOn bar+arcade - Adult Capri Sun - Bars Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

The staff here is very friendly, there is a good (but small) selection of arcade games available, and the decor is amazing! Some of the games include Street Fighter II, the original Mario Bros, Temple Run, DDR, many pinball tables, and skeeball. They offer food and alcohol, but I did not eat or drink anything on my visit. This location is currently only open for private events. The grand opening will be on Friday, January 19. I am very excited for this new addition to the Merriweather Plaza! read more

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I was so excited to come here with my sister. When I walked in I felt like a kid in a candy store! I was starving so I grabbed some fries. The basket of fries were HUGE! I can't see myself hanging here for hours but an hour is all you need to play a few games, grab a drink or a bite and vibe to the music. I've been a few times and to be honest I feel like I have the same exact experience each time. It's cool and vibey. The first time they did say kids aren't allowed after 8 or 9 pm buttttttt they didn't leave LOL. I heard an announcement or something but the parents didn't budge. The kids didn't really bother me too much. When the place is packed, you will definitely have to circle the place quite a few times to get on a game. The guests tend to be considerate and play maybe two times before letting another customer have a turn. This is a place where you can start your night out with your friends. DO NOT bring a coat it's too hot for all of that in there. I sweated my whole outfit out! read more

Meh, it was an okay time. I was invited here for a first date. I wouldn't recommend. It's rather loud and a hard pass on the food and drinks. It's probably a place more suitable for teens. PAC Man was the star of the show!!! I wouldn't return read more

We've visited here twice. The first time was a lot of fun. Most games are 4 coins, which is a little steep, but it's ok. The second time we visited every game was broken or had an issue. Mortal combat only 1 of 2 controllers worked, beer pong had broken/flat ping pong balls, guitar hero's buttons were stuck, the basketball game only counted correctly on one side, the pink controller on Pac-Man was broken. Otherwise, I guess it's a cool ambiance to hang out in, just needs basic maintenance. Bartenders were nice. read more

I finally got to check out Game On last night. The happy hour deals were pretty good (got a vodka cran for $5). Jello shots were $6. I didn't get anything to eat, but I did play some games. It's smaller inside than I thought it would be, but I also didn't check out the small second floor loft area. I played some skee ball (2 of the 3 machines were working) and one of my friends got into a basketball competition with some other people there which was fun to watch. The music playing was good, and I loved all the pop culture references and video game and anime murals around. I will definitely be back, but would love to check out one of their larger locations. read more

We recently hosted a graduation celebration here and couldn't have asked for a better experience. From start to finish, the team was responsive, flexible, and incredibly accommodating. Casey, the events manager, made planning easy and enjoyable; she was so helpful in arranging everything ahead of time and making sure we had what we needed on the day of the event. The food was great (we put the order in ahead of the event, and it all came out hot and delicious), and the drinks were creative and fun. The staff was friendly and attentive throughout, and the atmosphere struck the perfect balance between festive and relaxed. Our mixed-age crowd had a fantastic time. Would absolutely recommend for group events or just a casual night out! read more

My coworkers and I hit up Game On for happy hour and it was lit. They have all the classic games. Made me feel like a kid again in my prime arcade days. On the second level of the arcade are the card games and boardgames. Drinks were amazing, happy hour special prices were phenomenal. Check this place out. You will not regret it. read more

GameOn bar+arcade - Bars Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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This is a great spot if you're a fan of pinball, classic arcade games, or just want to hang and vibe. There's a space upstairs that looked like it could host a very small, semi-secluded gathering. The decor is delightfully nerdy and they have a reasonable selection of games: - Like 10 pinball machines and some non-video arcade games (Skee-Ball, a claw machine, a coin pusher, Beer Pong Master lol) - Quite a few fighting games (Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Tekken, Marvel vs Capcom, Punch-Out) - The classics (Asteroid, Pacman, Frogger, Super Mario Bros, Donkey Kong) - Some iconic and unique ones (DDR, Crazy Taxi, Fruit Ninja, Temple Run) - A few sidescroller beat-em-ups (TMNT, The Simpsons, X-Men) - Two light gun games (Time Crisis and Big Buck Hunter) - A two-player racing game (I can't remember which one, but it's not Mario Kart) They pack a lot into a pretty small space, which is both a pro and a con. Even on a Wednesday night, it was busy. But that might've been because Wednesday is their 1/2 price token night. Which you DON'T need cash for, by the way. You can get tokens at the bar and pay with a card. But they DO require you to buy a drink if you do that. Speaking of drinks, this is one of the areas where they shine. Tons of choices, fun thematic names, and friendly bartenders. But I only bought the one drink I needed to get tokens so I can't attest to how good most of them are. The bar is also two-sided with one side facing the sidewalk where they have a few tables. Nice option if you just want to sit and enjoy the weather and listen to arcade merriment. This has been mostly positive so far, but I had a few gripes. Some of the machines didn't work or kept freezing (Beer Pong Master and Crazy Taxi respectively), the space is cramped, parking was horrible (not much they can do about that though), and the only "modern" game they had was Fruit Ninja. No Mario Kart, Minecraft, Guitar Hero, Jurassic Park, Star Wars, or newer fighting games. I imagine these are expensive and pinball machines are cheap, but I was disappointed nonetheless. If I owned the place I'd take out half the pinball machines and Skee-Ball and put in some newer cabs. Overall, if you're looking for some nostalgia or just want to chill and socialize, you'll probably enjoy this place. There seemed to be some sort of pinball tournament going on when I was there. But if you're looking for a full-on arcade experience, go to Main Event at the mall. read more

There's a lot of games to choose from! Good vibes, can be a bit slow for drink orders on weekend nights. Make sure you have cash to get tokens for the games. Overall, a fun place to hangout. read more

This is a really cool idea. Parking: While there are many parking spaces, there arent enough spaces for the number of businesses in the area. Get there a little early to account for circling the lots. When you walk in the door, there is so much stimulation. There are pinball machines, arcades, bars, tvs, etc. I got excited seeing the various games and familiar logos; pure nostalgia. We played 4-person pac man, dance revolution, etc. Thing to note, the arcades require tokens like back in the day. They have a token machine that exchanges your dollars for tokens, so bring cash. The ATM requires a $4 fee. I found my friends sitting at a table. The table was full of food and drinks e.g. hot dogs, fries, wings, adult capri suns, etc. The prices for food and drink were a bit pricey. I was glad to see that they had High Noons. It works well with my "nutritional needs" (100 calories 2 grams of sugar). Lol. The High Noons were $8/can. I ordered the Watermelon, gave the server $10, and she brought me back a dollar. I repeated the calculations to her; she said that GameOn does not provide change. The total of the $8 can of seltzer was $8.50ish. The company chose to keep the .50. I was disappointed by the blatant stealing of my change; it was the principle. This was enough reason to never return because we ethically disagree. I didnt make a big deal about it because the server did not make the rules. I had the wings and french fries. The wings were okay and the fries were super salty. My friends did the adult capri suns and said that they were watered down. The cost versus the experience did not add up for me. I do not intend on returning, but I would recommend that people check it out to see if it works for them. Its a cool vibe and a nice mental escape. read more

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Did not play any of the games my first time in. Just did a walk about and enjoyed a hotdog. Service was good and timely. Tons of video and arcade options. Definitely a fun time, nice adult atmosphere with nostalgic vibes. read more

GameOn bar+arcade - Glizzy and fries! - Bars Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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