I went to The Bumper Factory twice in two days during some of my limited time in NYC. That's a…read morepretty solid endorsement right there. Even better, they have the deluxe versions of many machines while some arcades only offer the stripped down versions. For example, at The Bumper Factory, their Godzilla machine features the building that crumbles to the ground as it gets destroyed. That's pretty cool, and certainly adds to the fun. If you are a good pinball player, you will certainly find the pricing model to be vexing. I do enjoy going to a place where all the games are set to "free play". But $15 for 30 minutes, even in Manhattan, feels steep. Largely that's because I am a good enough player that a few bucks can keep me busy for over an hour. That said this is a great place, and a great price, to teach younger kids the game. And that is exactly what I did with my nephew. What I discovered was that on Monday, despite the hours posted on Yelp, The Bumper Factory was still open. However, the games were not set to free play, and instead of taking the admission fee I was able to simply use quarters to play. Woo hoo! I had one of the best games of my life on Guardians of the Galaxy. One ball alone was kept in play for the better part of fifteen minutes. Had I been paying by the half hour, that victory would have been tinged with sorrow. One other small ding against the place is that the Stern machines which feature the Stern Insider Connect feature were not activated. This is always a bummer, and also why I wasn't able to find this really nifty arcade on the Stern Pinball site. Most of the machines are new and in great shape. The space is pretty small and cramped, but it is NYC. From the arcade's website it also looks like there is a $35 all day rate, which I think I would much rather pay than $15 for 30 minutes. I'd have to take some breaks for coffee and pizza, but there are nearby options for both. More than anything, it's great to see pinball making some kind of comeback and salute the good folks at The Bumper Factory for putting in some machines in a space where kids can discover this great game.

Strangest thing, walked into a martial arts school and found Pinball machines. Went to a Kids…read morebirthday party here yesterday and had a blast playing pinball. They have about 10 pinball machines and I had to battle my kids to get in on the action. Downside, they are open on weekends.

This reminds me so much of the Floor Is Lava game and is such a fun place for kids and adults…read morealike! They have 3 rooms to choose from depending on the difficulty level and the number of people in each group. We opted for Blue's Arena, which is best suited for 2-4 first-time players. There's a small locker area where you can store your belongings during the game. The hour we booked for was divided into 2 sessions. Each session features a different game with about 10-12 levels each. If you fail a level, no worries because you can always repeat it. You can also take a short break in between the sessions, which we definitely did because it was quite a good workout session.

We loved it! It's in a weird location, but once you get inside it's all good and it's a lot of fun…read more They should tell you to come in short sleeves or tanks because we were definitely way too hot wearing sweaters and jumping around the way we did

An anime crane game enthusiast's wet dream .. LOL. Came here with my son who was looking for…read moreHololive merch and was happily surprised that they had a few figures. The customer service here was great, someone was actually very helpful in helping my son find Hololive merch. The only reason why Project KE isn't getting 5 stars is due to the size of the basement area, which could be bigger. Besides that, Project KE is a very cool spot!

Super cool snacks-by-the pound proposition! I came here as I saw it online and was very intrigued…read more They have a large variety of sweet, savory, and even spicy snacks for you to try. They're mostly very Chinese snacks, but it's the perfect opportunity to try some different snacks without having to commit to a whole bag.

The place was clean. You can buy a package of races or do an a la cart. There are a variety of…read morearcade type games. The races are about 8 min long. The karts are electric and the staff is really helpful and nice. It is a little pricey but worth the experience.

Rachel is the best, super fun! I definitely think it's a great spot for kids and family to enjoy…read morethe day

What a tremendous experience. This place is clean, well-kept, with a very comprehensive collection…read moreof arcade cabinets and pinball machines. All of the games are operational and in wonderful condition. Galaga, PAC Man, super Mario, virtua fighter, street fighter - you name it from your youth, and it can be found here. This place truly harkens back to a different time, and I had a sense of nostalgia during my entire stay. The 80's music definitely helped! The staff were absolutely wonderful, and were attentive, kind, and courteous. If you're craving a trip down memory lane to the arcade era, look no further!

Marcade Family Fun Center is located in the Rockaway River Commons. It has a corner space in the…read moresmaller building on site with plenty of parking. Space is large and open with several rows of arcade cabinets, pinball machines, and gaming consoles. Machines were in generally good shape with only a few being out of order or needing attention. Marcade has a good selection of the usual machines you'd find at a retro arcade, along with a few unique machines, including several sit down racing cabinets. I personally enjoyed the Rampage World Tour and Terminator 2: Judgment Day machines. Space was very clean and prices for an hour were reasonable. Marcade is a average but solid retro arcade that is absolutely worth a visit if in the area.

This was my second (maybe third) visit to Coexist, and unfortunately, it has been a disappointment…read moreevery single time. Against my better judgment, I decided to give it one more shot and it just confirmed everything I already suspected. Total waste of money, it's not worth it. Most of the gaming systems have issues: the remotes are barely functional, some consoles aren't even fully set up, and a few aren't signed into accounts so you can't even play properly. The foosball table is completely broken, and the pool table is wobbly and unstable. The atmosphere is just as bad. There's no music playing, which makes the entire place feel dull and lifeless. The employees seem completely uninterested and not helpful at all -- whether it's empty or packed, the service and vibe don't get any better. When it's crowded, it's even worse because there's barely any space to move around or enjoy yourself. Bottom line: I won't be coming back. If you're looking for a better gaming spot, BrookLAN is miles ahead of this place.

Went here for a show that was happening in the basement/ speakeasy of the venue on Saturday night…read more This place looks pretty good if I was into gaming and stuff. The vibe and decor is there. Service lacked a little, as there was only 1 bartender and the drink I had tasted good but was on the weak side. So much so that my next drink was a mocktail. I also ordered the sliders which were basically glorified White Castle mini burgers. The power went out maybe 2 or 3 times while I was there which was weird!

If you're too highbrow to visit an arcade then let's call it a museum. They do have historical…read morebackground on the games. I learned about Mappy, obscure for good reasons, which oddly features a microwave in its cat-vs.-mouse battle. Silverball is acclaimed for its unique pinball collection but I veer more to video games, especially Super Breakout. An offseason weekday in Asbury Park means hotels aren't $400 but the boardwalk is also a bit too quiet at that time, so I'm thankful that Silverball helps create a sense of place year-round. (For my financial news nerds, Silverball's current rating average is 4.6 and there should be an "adjusted EPS"-type number that excludes any negative reviews about the food. I have nothing bad, or good, to say about Silverball's cuisine having never tried it but I assure you there's fine fare within the designated Asbury Park/Ocean Grove/Neptune/Bradley Beach Designated Metropolitan Area.)

So far a pleasant experience for us. Got dining(mostly quick to eat foods) and arcade on the other…read moreside, has one way flow of traffic. More of al fresco dining. Accepts credit/debit card. High chair available. No restroom. See images for reference.

Came to Activate for a date and arrived a little early. The front desk associate suggested we wait…read moreuntil our selected time so we'd have more room and space while playing the games, which I appreciated. Once we were checked in, we were given a locker to store our belongings, which was convenient. The only thing I didn't like--and was a bit disappointed by--was that I had to seek someone out to let them know it was our first time so they could explain how to utilize the rooms, gain access, and understand exactly what needed to be done. A brief intro or automatic walkthrough for first-timers would have made the experience smoother. That said, the games themselves were extremely fun. Some were a bit complicated at first, but I loved that you can either verse the person you're with or work together as a team, which made it perfect for a date. Overall, a fun and unique experience with just a little room for improvement on first-time guidance.

Right in the American Dream mall, easiest if you park in parking level A on the ground or first…read morefloor. We went on a Saturday, and it was quite busy. I suggest coming on a weekday if you do not want to wait a minute or two for each game! You have 45 minutes for unlimited game access, with about 9-10 games to choose from. Each game only lasts 2-4 minutes tho, depending on the game. When entering, they provide a locker for any bags or items you want to place. They give you two wristbands (one for game access and the other for a locker of your belongings). The staff was so friendly. I was running out of breath and trying to rush to get our last game in and he told me to relax and have fun! The staff also takes the time to explain each game in the beginning and although it was busy, they definitely made the experience so much more fun. Some of the games are a bit complicated, and hard to understand even after the game explains it to you! My favorite was the grid. Me and my boyfriend made a tiktok about activate and it went viral! At the end, you can redeem your points earned for a prize. Me and my boyfriend got the keychain that also provides 10% off your next visit within the next 30 days. Definitely can NOT wait to come again!