This place is mostly amazing, with a couple of minor blips. The majority of the people working are great. There is a mother-daughter duo that are so friendly and helpful. Most of the games are well-maintained and fun to play, which is a heck of an accomplishment when most of the games are as old as I am. I did get somewhat annoyed that my kiddo and I had sat at the bar when nobody was there so we could eat and drink and then we left our drinks on the bar since we were still drinking and they were very cold. We came back a few minutes later and sat back in the seats with our drinks and the new bartender told us that my kiddo couldn't sit there since it was 21 and older only. Okay, that's annoying, but we grabbed our sodas and moved to the table beside the bar, BUT THEN a dad and his kid come up and sit at the bar... and she serves them without chasing them off... So... apparently it's only SOME 12 year olds can't sit at the bar with their parents? Or maybe only the ones whose parents are drinking cocktails and not ones who are drinking diet sodas and eating fries? Also, the bar is HUGE and it is not at all crowded on a random weekend afternoon. And even though there are tables and cup holders near every gaming station, my kiddo has ASD and he is a wanderer, so we left our food and drinks at our table, and they change bartenders about every two hours, so our table got bussed by the new bartender and we had our almost entirely full basket of funnel cake fries and drinks thrown away. The sodas got remade, which was nice, but also... that's like $8 out of $11 worth of funnel cake fries that got tossed. Not like we can walk around with those at the small gaming tables. So I wish there was a little "I'm still gaming, please don't throw away my food." Coaster or something you could put on the table so they know not to waste your food. Or avoid ordering greasy bar food unless you can eat it all in one sitting, which... isn't always easy. I would absolutely come back and play the heck out of the games. I would just probably eat first next time. read more

Richmond Draftcade - Mac n cheese - Arcades Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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When I say date night, family night or just need a night out.... This is it! The video games takes you to an era of wrist control and late nights. The Pac Man Family and Donkey Kong had the body moving to rotate levels and curves. Skeet ball and basketball shoot had me sweating to beat the high score. The beef chili dog with fries was delicious. It's spacious and see Jack for a great drink at the bar. Plenty of parking and you will leave with a smile and memorable experience. read more

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Draftcade is a hot spot for game lovers! For $10 you get unlimited game play all day on all of their retro arcade games, including Ms. Pacman, Frogger, Donkey Kong, Skeeball, Pinball, Street Fighter and so many more! My partner and I stopped by to celebrate his birthday and had a blast playing all of the games. We spent almost 3 hours here and still didn't play everything they have. Draftcade also has a full bar and food menu available, we didn't indulge this time but the options were quite expansive. Before 7PM draftcade is open to all and during our visit there were a lot of kids present making it difficult to maneuver around to machines but after 7PM it is 21+. This was a great date night spot and would also be a great place to hang out with friends or celebrate. Excited to return and can't recommend it enough. read more

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This place is cool! Pay admission at the door and play all the classic games. A bar is interesting center for ordering drinks and food. Awesome music playing! Very fun! read more

Richmond Draftcade - Arcades Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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So at 7 pm this place becomes adults only, so we had happy hour here after work. Before 6, the cover to play games is just $5 (WOOT!) The drink menu is extensive, just like you'd expect with a name like draft-cade. The bartender was friendly and fast, even on a Friday. The pinball games had some issues, and only one worked, but it was fun. The variety of games and game types was great too. There really wasn't that much as far as food on the menu, and the hush puppies our table got were really hard and dry. The quesadilla was delish and no one had any issue with the wings. I would definitely come back, but I would recommend this place if it had more food menu items read more

I hosted my son's 11th birthday party here last weekend. We had kids arriving at different times and ordering food at separate times and may have been a touch high maintenance due to that. I feel an obligation to point out to ownership and management that the bartender Lola (who also covered the front desk as the check-in person as well as food runner) was a phenomenal comfort for the entirety of our event. She was always close by, always courteous and personable and all over whatever was needed. This young lady is cut out for management in my eyes, and I've been managing folks for most of my life. Thank you for a great event and thank you Lola. Aaron Travers read more

The staff is a joke. Rude, miserable people. I mean I don't expect 5 star service at this place but at least pay attention to the patrons around you. Be mindful of conversations you're having, shouldn't be scrolling on your phone as I'm paying you for bands, nor hanging with your friends/coworkers drinking at the bar and turn to yell at a child for "dribbling a basket ball" when it literally just bounced on the floor from hitting the plastic barrier, and continue your conversation without even turning around. Honestly, I dont know if I'd come back just after witnessing that. And the place looks like it needs all the business it can get. However, on the upside, the games are cool and it's only $10 to play. So I guess the terrible employees just come with the package. read more

Draftcade is my go-to barcade in the Richmond area. They're the only place I know of that does unlimited game play, and only for $10. They have a lot of retro games as well as skee ball, basketball, and air hockey. You can easily spend 1+ hours here. They switch out games periodically. They have plenty of seating and space so it's a great spot to bring a group. They also serve food and have a massive draft list and full service bar. The food does take some time to be prepared. read more

So. Many. Games. So. Many. Beers. Had a great time playing the classics. Great selection of beers and the sandwich was fantastic. Great night out! read more

While spending the wknd in Richmond found this spot. We went on a Thursday night. Amazing setup and the pricing can't be beat! $10 all you can play. There were only about 4 games not working which was nothing compared to what was working. The place is clean - games, bar, and restrooms and service was great. The bartender was attentive and helpful. We ordered a beer flight with 2 ciders 1 ale and 1 sour. The sour #41 Dewey secret machine - berry bounty was soooo good! If you're not sure about sours but like ciders I highly recommend. The food was definitely made to order. The chicken sandwich by itself didn't have much flavor (seasoning) so the sauce helps and the slaw actually compliments it well. Will definitely visit again if in the area. read more

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Had a great time with some friends for a birthday celebration. The game is were amazing along with the staff. I enjoyed the several types of draft beer their is on taps. Will keep coming back. Also all the games are free to play and they are all working read more

If you're looking for a fun and affordable night out, the Richmond Draftcade is a wonderful spot for you. It's located right in the Short Pump mall so there is a lot of free parking available nearby. After my best friend's rehearsal dinner, she had an after party here. It's only $10 entry for unlimited game play. Which is fantastic in my book since other spots are much pricier for quality arcade games like these. You can find all the classics like Galaga, Donkey Kong, Pac-man, Frogger, BurgerTime, Space Invaders, skeeball, pinball, and more. You just press a button to start the game. The best part about this barcade is that is they have a lot of two player options so if you're hoping to hang out with a friend or go on a date, you can do interactive stuff together. One of the coolest things about them is they'll refresh their game selection. They have other systems in the back and will rotate machines out. If you're hungry or thirsty, they have a huge draft selection as well as menu items. I highly recommend checking Draftcade out. read more

Went on a weekday which was a smart choice-lowkey, and didn't have to wait in line for games. They have so many options and it's $10 for unlimited games! They have all the classics and the drinks are good and well priced too! Staff was friendly and attentive read more

My husband and I stopped in to check it out after a local dinner and before a movie we were going to see. We only had about 30 minutes so we weren't sure if we wanted to pay the $10 to play but the hostess explained it would cover the entire night so we could play a few now and come back later to play more. We each grabbed a beer and played a few games. It was great as we hadn't seen most of these games in years. We came back after our movie and found it even more enjoyable atmosphere as the kids were gone. It is 21 and over after 7pm. read more

I'm a sucker for barcades, and Richmond Draftcade is a worthy addition to my list of favorites! Came here with two friends from out of town to check the place out. They have plenty of nearby parking, and it's right in short pump town center so you still have access to all the other shops nearby without having to repark. The price is $10 for unlimited arcade time, which I feel is quite fair if you enjoy games a lot and plan to be there for an hour or more (which we were). The game selection is extensive, with all the classics and a ton of games I had never seen or heard of before. While most of the pinball machines were out of order, the ones that did work were quite fun. Skeeball and basketball were fun as well. We had drinks after our gaming and they have an impressive selection of local beers. We did not eat here, though the menu did look like fun. As you might expect, the place is on the loud side, so if you're bringing someone there you want to get to know better, conversation might be challenging. My friends and I had a great time here and I will definitely come back again soon. Overall: 4.5 stars ---- Pros: - $10 is quite fair for unlimited gaming. - Game selection is impressive, especially if you're into hard-to-find ones. - Draft selection at the bar is extensive and sure to please any palate. - Tons of easy parking and very close to everything else Short Pump Town Center has to offer. Cons: - All arcades have the same two issues: noise levels and broken machines. Thankfully, neither are too terribly bad here. read more

Richmond Draftcade - Nice bar! - Arcades Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Dope spot let's just say if you need a reminder of how cool it was to grow up in the '90 go to this place. Oh and they have a bar too

A nice little variety of games to keep you occupied. A little disappointed at the amount of "hands on" games (throwing balls, driving/racing games, shooting games), mostly just old arcade games and pinball. Cheap beer and food make for a fun time! read more

Richmond Draftcade - Arcades Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Draftcade is located at the back of the mall between Macy's and Dick's Sporting Goods. I entered from the parking lot but it looked like there was another entrance from inside the mall. When you enter there is a person charging you to enter. It costs $10 for a band and you can play anything you want. This seems cool if you plan to spend some time there. Maybe play some games eat drink and continue playing games. There is a nice sized bar when you enter. There are also a few tables to that side of the bar to eat at. I had a few drinks and played games but I didn't eat anything. There were some classic games that I remember playing and enjoyed them. There were also some older games that I didn't know. Skeeball and basketball are always fun. read more

Daniel and Luke were amazing!!! I hope to see them every time we come here!! The customer service was amazing!! Above and beyond!! Thanks for a great first time experience!! read more

We just happened to pass this cute place at Short Pump Mall and decided to give it a try. The space is not large, but it is stuffed with retro video games. Who knew there were so many versions of Pac-Man? We started with food (just ok) and a $5 rotating draft menu. Excellent beer choices, and full bar. The all you can play video games, pinball, skeeball, and basketball for $10 is pretty good. A bit crowded but we definitely got our moneys worth. After 7pm it's 21 and up but we were informed it will probably only be enforced on Fri/Sat nights. read more

The bartender is very rude. There was only 1-2 people ordering and I asked to put in my order, and the bartender straight up ignored me.

The nostalgia is real for this one, The staff, the games, the drinks, the aesthetic. I would recommend this place for parties or after work vibes. read more

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What a cool place in short pump to hang out at late night. My boyfriend and I came here for a little date night. We were hungry, so did enjoy a few things off the menu such as burgers, fries, drinks, and dessert, which was fried Oreos with ice cream. If you also would like to play it is $10 for unlimited plays. my boyfriend and I enjoyed shooting hoops. read more

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It was fun if you're a pinball game person. My boyfriend just kept telling me that he was having such a great time. So that alone made me happy. We had dinner reservations somewhere else so we didn't eat there but the people eating seemed to be enjoying their food. I enjoyed the skeeball and basketball hoops. I got a soda from the bar but they had a wide selection of different beers. When i think of an arcade, I want all the games... and this just wasn't it for me. You pay like $10.50 per person when you come in for the games. And it's a wristband they give you and you play all the games unlimited. That was nice. I ended up sitting down when I was done and just let my boyfriend play his heart out. They had like the bigger jenga game but it's in a bad place. It's right in front of some of the arcade games on a table that was too small for it so when people are playing it, and the pieces fall, they go all over the floor and it's close enough to hit people or for someone walking by to trip. Kids are there but it's 21 and over after 7pm. They could add some tables in that little space that was closed off for some table games like checkers, connect 4 (like the giant one), shuffleboard... etc. but it was an okay time for me.... after 15 mins, I felt like I had nothing else to do because I played all the games. OH... almost forgot... the bathroom was really clean and nice and that's always a plus when I go somewhere!! read more

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Heaven was our waitress and she was professional and humorous! She suggested the Watermelon & Blackberry coders to my husband and he was truly satisfied. The crinkle fries were served with ketchup and we added a side of beer cheese. The tequila sunset was a true delight of deliciousness! read more

Came with wife for a date night had a great time playing a lot of the game I play growing up when going to the arcade.

Bartender needed a class in hospitality - didn't realize gratuity was included - he was not a nice person. he also gave us the wrong beer the second time and was like oops. he still charged us for the more expensive beer. Half the games didn't work - we tried it and won't be back. read more

All I can say is every town in America should have one of these!!! I'm an 80s child and this place was DIRECTLY up my alley! We are from out of town and 10 of us visited for a relatives birthday -- it's adults only. You pay $10 at the door which gives you unlimited play of totally awesome retro video games like Pacman, Galaga, Frogger, Street Fighter and more. They also have Skeeball, air hockey, basketball and pinball machines. Oh and how could I forget the unlimited 80s music!! We had so much fun. The food was pretty good as well. The bartenders were really working their butts off and they kept a great attitude so I tipped them very well to thank them. Loved this place!!! read more

Sat at the bar for about ten minutes. The bartenders ignored us. Hostess was rude. Music was too loud to hear ourselves think. We left before ordering. We will not be coming back. read more

Totally decent burger, great beer selection and a lot of retro arcade games. It's hard not to have a good time! read more

Richmond Draftcade - House burger looks delish! - Arcades Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

First of all, let me say me and my kiddo had a well deserved fun, action packed night! The zombie dust is my fave beer, aaand they have it on tap. Songs from my yoot. Everything a family night out should be! My kiddo got 2 high scores on pinball machines. And sunk some major hoops. The games brought much more than just fun, "there was some skill involved" said my teenager. Overall would totally recommend to anyone! This is our happy place. read more

Drove an hour for our daughter's birthday. We were there about 45 minutes most of which was spent eating. We were told we had to leave after 45 minutes due to a private party coming in. We were never told when we paid $10/person for unlimited play that they would be closing in 45 minutes. Brought it up to the manager who would not refund the money and only offered an "I'm sorry you weren't told." Pretty poor way to run a business. I enjoyed the beer and food but we won't be back. read more

A cozy bar and arcade in the Short Pump Town Center mall. It has quite a large bar area, with a wide selection of food and drink, and a lot of arcade machines and other arcade-type games that are free to play with a general admission fee. It's relatively new and definitely seems to be doing well, with a significant amount of people there but also not so crowded that there's waits for machines. It uses a previously empty area of Short Pump Town Center and is connected right to the main plaza area. Very moderately priced, a place with local flavor, and a great value for what you're getting! read more

Richmond Draftcade - Arcades Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Super fun arcade! They have food and beer, which is unexpected very good. They have all the pinball and packman variations you could be looking for. Honestly a really great place to spend the day for $10! read more

So much fun!!! All you can play wristbands for $10! Great 80s music!!! Full bar and great food!!! Can't wait to go back!!! read more

The food is ok and the games are fun. The waitress was unmotivated. It is disappointing that the tip is automatically included in your bill as I do not feel she deserved the tip she received. read more

Luke and Daniel were great bartenders. They were exceptional and exceeded our expectations.

This place appears run down and needs a thorough cleaning! Many of the games are broken and/or aren't working. Every one that we played was sticky or just gross. Definitely wasn't worth the $10 a person. They only have one game for the top ones (Donkey Kong, Frogger, etc) so you have to wait forever to play them. I'd stick with Dave & Busters. read more

I've been a regular at the Circuit for my retro game & brew fix since they opened. So, I was excited to check out another, barcade. They both have their pros & cons. RDC. has the largest selection of retrogames I've seen so far & most of them are in working order. The layout of the bar is roomy, not crowded. After paying $10 you get a bracelet & off you go, the games are all "free play" something "The Circuit" may wanna consider due to the hassle of aging coin slots jamming & stealing tokens. The only con was having to wait for a brew due to just 1 bartender. RDC may wanna consider a "beer wall." Due to the bartenders being "swamped" w/hard drinks & food orders. My 2nd visit, after 10min of waiting I gave up on a brew & just played games. Once you've gone "beer wall", you never wanna go back !! And their brews where a little higher too. They may also wanna rethink the kiddy angle, my last visit I watched a kid jerking on the game joysticks like he was on a "jungle gym". The games won't last long under that type of abuse, just saying. read more