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    I/O Arcade Bar

    4.3 (41 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 3 months ago

    I/O Arcade Bar Photos

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    I/O ARCADE BAR ATMOSPHERE

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    Tricia C.

    My husband surprised me with a date night to this bar, and I was super excited! Total 80's vibes, reminiscent of Aladdin's Castle at the mall. The best part is that the games are priced from 25 cents to a dollar! We played so many games and still had some extra change left over. The games are all in great condition. I was very happy to see they had Skee-Ball, as it's one of my favorites! There is an ATM on site as well as a coin exchange machine, just in case you're unprepared like we were. I'm a huge fan of this place, and I will definitely be back!

    Jackie F.

    Pro: Games! Cheap Booze! Clean Bathroom! Con: Missing some classic games. North of downtown Madison hides this gem. Pinballs in the back, Smash bro by boardgame room, guitar hero by the front entrance, bar right in the middle. There are tons of retro games from paper boy to TMNT to MK2. Drinks are cheap, Long Island, Sex on the Beach, and beer was only 18 dollars. Freaking amazing. Do respect the neighborhood and be quiet when leaving the joint, it's around residential area.

    Salvatore's Pepperoni Pizza and a vodka pineapple
    Amy M.

    I/O Arcade Bar is a 21+ barcade in Madison near Lake Monona. There are many vintage games, and most of them are just a quarter. The staff seemed nice enough. I will say that the crowd tends to be in their 20s. I love going here with my friends on the weekends. I only have two complaints. One, some of the games have eaten my quarters before. Two, the food selection is minimal which is not great when you are drinking. Overall, I recommend I/O Arcade Bar for a fun night out with friends if you want to play some games and sip on some cocktails.

    a man and a woman playing a game
    Katherine V.

    Went to I/O for the first time a few weeks ago and really enjoyed the whole experience. There are tons of arcade games, pinball machines, and board games to choose from and all are in good condition. Make sure to bring a good amount of quarters so you can play to your heart's content - or you can use their coin exchange machine too. They've got fun alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks too - I got their nonalcoholic "Full Restore" and it was much better than most mocktails you can get other places. We went earlier in the afternoon and it was fairly quiet, but got much busier as the day went on. So, if you want a more intimate experience, definitely go earlier. I/O Arcade is a great place to spend an afternoon and I can't wait to go again soon!

    Some Guitar Hero I didn't play!
    Lex K.

    Okay, some things I loved about this place: all gender multi person bathroom like it's Ally McBeal, $3 PBR tallboys, super great lighting and the best wallpaper I've ever encountered in person, dollars turn into quarters not tokens so if for some reason you need to leave before you spend all your gaming money you just have a pocket full o' change and not a bunch of tokens that you can't use anywhere else, good service, spots for all different types of gaming (tables for board/ttrpg, skeeball, pinball, standard arcade cabinets), and interesting variety of music playing that I was mostly down with. I will say I was a little sad that the games I really wanted to play were all out of service. Teller 4 was just facing a wall next to the bathroom. Another game had a sign on it that it was broken. Some other games DIDNT say they needed repairing, but they do. I do love a good barcade, I really do. Sadly, I think this is missing out on some of its potential. Swap out some of these rando retro (not the classics, just the no name crap ones) cabinets for something else like House of the Dead. Make sure all the games work. I know it's hard because people are spilling drinks on them all day, but imagine how many more people are going to come in if you do! Take your four stars to a five! I believe in you!

    Pinball
    Eli T.

    Super fun "barcade" went here when visiting some people in Maddison. The beer selection was good and reasonably priced. There's arcades, pinball, Mario card, and even board games. Love the vibe very chill hipster place. Highly recommend if you're looking for a fun night out!

    Smashed Bandicoot
    Allison G.

    Games, drinks, and nostalgia!? I'm in! I/O is in arcade bar located inside a refurbished warehouse in Madison. They have arcade games, pinball, skee ball, board games, video games, and video game themed cocktails! They even have lockers you can put your things in while you play. The games are so much fun and the drinks are delicious! The only downside is all the machines take quarters. It can be a bit expensive, especially since I've been to other arcade bars that give you tokens with every drink you purchase. However, it's totally worth the money! I will definitely be returning for more! This is such a unique, fun spot in Madison!

    Dance revolution
    Kayla C.

    A super fun spot. Obviously, I miss plan b but this is a great replacement. They have all different types of arcade games that are fun for anyone. We mostly stuck to dance dance revolution for the majority of our time. I wish my friends would've seen that they offer Mario kart for multiple players but we missed it until the very end. The arcade bar has a nice offering of drinks, but the food took awhile to get after ordering. I can't wait to go back and try some new games.

    hot mfs
    Emily H.

    Noodle was the best bartender ever and they make the best drinks ever the service was great and the drinks even better

    Eric B.

    The line up of pinball machines is pretty impressive and known even by a friend of mine in the Netherlands. The local tap bear line up isn't bad either. The coin-up vintage video games are what you would expect. Joist was on had and I enjoyed a couple of games. There were several contemporary games on hand as well, including an interesting riff on pong. The vibe is decent... pinball machine variety trumps the coin-op video games.

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Love going here. My ADHD stays happily stimulated, while also soothed by Bob Ross frequently playing on a tv.

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great staff and games are awesome! The variety of games is very good. They also have an area to play board games!

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    7 years ago

    Games are fun, but service and drink/snack selection not so much. Bar staff may have had a bad day, but not the usual Midwest friendly.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - I/O Arcade Bar

    Review Highlights - I/O Arcade Bar

    There are tons of arcade games, pinball machines, and board games to choose from and all are in good condition.

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    Geeks Mania - Entrance from parking lot

    Geeks Mania

    4.3(90 reviews)
    6.4 mi

    $15 per person for unlimited play. An awesome price point for the amount of games and experiences…read moreyou can have here. Fair pricing on snacks and drinks as well. We had a great time here and if we are back in the area we will be back.

    This is an arcade with a set price admission and everything is free once you get in…read more Goods $15 for unlimited play is a fraction of the cost of spare time or Dave and Busters. You don't need to reload cards. Kids can use any machine as quick as they can. Just using a few continues on arcade games alone gets there very quickly. They have a bunch of the good Star Wars arcade games that are slightly older yet still tons of fun. I love the 4 player X-men arcade game room along with all the marvel comics variants as four player games. That is awesome to play through and beat them all with friends. Needs improvement They desperately need better HVAC. Having teenage boys and gamer kids inevitably means fewer showers. It's noticeable as you walk in and hits you like a truck. While we have been here before and it didn't have an odor then, this is a hurdle you need to cross if not remedied immediately. A surprisingly low amount of pinball cabinets and of the ones they have, half of them work. A bunch of the seats have ripped edges, duct tape and broken plastic. Overall It's a B sort of place that older teenagers will not be thrilled with but middle school kids will love it

    Photos
    Geeks Mania
    Geeks Mania - Games for days

    Games for days

    Geeks Mania

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    Aftershock Classic Arcade - Frogger

    Aftershock Classic Arcade

    4.6(15 reviews)
    0.7 miTenney - Lapham

    A Wonderful Experience I threw a surprise party for my…read morepartner for his 60th birthday here at Aftershock. They were super laid back and flexible on how i wanted everything to happen, it was glorious! The room rate was REALLY reasonable and they have games for everyone....we had ages 2 to 72 at the party and there were games for all. We had it catered by a local sandwich shop and they allowed the caterer in early to set up. They DO make pizzas, but for a larger group, i would think it would be difficult, so we went with sandwiches and it was perfect. I had an open tab at the bar with a limit and Steve (our super bartender) kept me up to date on where we were, in case i wanted to close out OR keep it open for longer. That was wonderful. We could just enjoy and not worry that i would turn around and be over by hundreds of dollars. Thanks Steve! All in all, it was such a fun experience for all and it was a really easy party to plan/execute thanks to the really relaxed and open nature of the Aftershock folks. Great place and thank you so much!

    Stopped by Aftershock on a recent trip to Madison and had a great time…read more Full disclosure: I want 4 things from a classic barcade: + Pinball + Pacman + Frogger + Solid drinks Aftershock delivered! They're listed in the Wisconsin Old Fashioned passport, so we were able to get bogo old fashioned cocktails. We opted for bourbon and were pleased when she offered us any bourbon they stock (as we had expected with the deal, to only be offered rail). They're a barcade so it's not like they have an expansive bourbon list but we were pleased to be able to get Woodford. Our cocktails were beautifully made in the Wisconsin style (except with bourbon not brandy). They were everything a Wisconsin old fashioned ought to be and more. We played some pinball, pacman, and frogger and had a blast. If I were to make one tiny suggestion, it would be to have more strategically placed tables--we were constantly trying to find somewhere to put our drinks while playing. They do have some tables to sit at (as well as the bar itself) and after we were done with video games we enjoyed a couple games of cribbage while finishing up our cocktails. Get to it!

    Photos
    Aftershock Classic Arcade - Bourbon old fashioned x 2

    Bourbon old fashioned x 2

    Aftershock Classic Arcade - Inside

    Inside

    Aftershock Classic Arcade - Games

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    Games

    Isthmian Gaming - Custom gaming PCs

    Isthmian Gaming

    5.0(3 reviews)
    3.1 mi

    Love this place, a definite need for gamers in Madison! One part LAN computer gaming, one part…read moreopen tables for collectible card and board games, TV video game lounges, and most importantly a bar. It's rare these days to see such variety in one spot, and their prices for both drinks and rentals are completely reasonable. My friends and I hung out for hours and got great service from the staff and had an overall fantastic time. This is the hidden gem that needs to be less hidden, highly recommend a visit. They have Magic the Gathering casual commander games on Thursdays, a discord, VR simulators, and excellent long hours. Finca and JDs are next door too for some delicious food to sustain the long sessions in addition to snacks onsite. Grab a few friends and definitely check them out! 10/10

    I had the opportunity to be a regular and go to isthmian 2-3 times a week during my temporary stay…read morein Wisconsin for an internship and Isthmian and its employees made me feel so at home! The feel of the place was so nice and the low lights made the gaming experience even more immersive! I really appreciate the employees who knew me by name and were there whenever i had a gaming itch! I would definitely recommend this place and would absolutely go back if I was still in the city!

    Photos
    Isthmian Gaming - Bar with Beers, Ciders, and Seltzers!!  And they come by and give you service while gaming.

    Bar with Beers, Ciders, and Seltzers!! And they come by and give you service while gaming.

    Isthmian Gaming - Board game selection

    Board game selection

    Isthmian Gaming - Video Game Lounge #2

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    Video Game Lounge #2

    Chuck E. Cheese

    Chuck E. Cheese

    2.7(31 reviews)
    6.6 mi
    $

    We've been here a few times, now that our kids are of the age to be able to enjoy it, and it's a…read morepretty good experience for what it is. It is a bit pricier than I was expecting, but it's been years since I've been to one as a playing guest and I suppose you can blame it on inflation. If you download the app or search for coupons before you head in, the prices can be manageable for two kids. I suggest paying by time to get a better deal, but know that you cannot split that time between two game cards. If you have more than one kid sharing, it will be a pain to have to run around and swipe for each kid's game unless they are playing the exact same game, or one that is nearby. It may be worth it to get two separate reusable game cards if your kids are far apart in ages, if they just play different games, or if you intend on returning to Chuck E Cheese frequently. You can also pause the time on the cards to eat food or something, but you can only do that one time for each card. They got rid of the climbing gym and ball pit (probably for the best) and there are decent options for the 2 year old - preteen age kids. If your kid is any older, Dave and Busters might be a better location. We try to go when times aren't super busy and we've never had a problem. The place seems clean and well kept, but there were 1 or 2 games each time we went that had problems. Perhaps they need to do more routine maintenance on the machines. Staff is friendly and patient when answering questions (just don't be confrontational as that never ends well with any customer service). We will definitely be returning here in the future. Attached are photos from the October 2023 menu, but I don't think the prices are too far off from the regular season's prices.

    First time visiting and was genuinely surprised by the staff. The manager was working his tail off…read more Running the register, prize desk, trampolines, making pizza, and cleaning. He even, without us asking, turned off a game machine that we making my toddler nervous. We saw another group with cotton candy. I asked another staff member about it and he searched frantically for some. The manager ended up starting up the machine again just to make us one bag. The place was clean and the food was hot. Overall a great value for what we paid. I wasn't expecting much but we left pleasantly surprised. The manager was truly the highlight. We just moved to the area from Orlando and Disney would be thrilled to have a guy like him working there.

    Photos
    Chuck E. Cheese - Games Pricing by Minutes or Points

    Games Pricing by Minutes or Points

    Chuck E. Cheese - Apps and Salad Bar menu

    Apps and Salad Bar menu

    Chuck E. Cheese - October 2023 food deals menu

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    October 2023 food deals menu

    I/O Arcade Bar - bars - Updated May 2026

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