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    The Ice Box Arcade

    4.5 (46 reviews)
    Open • 1:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)

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    Alexis C.

    I only ordered a soda and a beer for my partner at fair price l. They allow kids until 8pm which is nice. This is a pinball heavy arcade with not a lot of space and limited arcade games with one claw machine, air hockey, some shooting games and Mario kart. However, they seam to have a cool community with pinball tournaments and were live-streaming a pinball machine while we were there. They have an outdoor area but did not lounge there as it was cold with no heaters. If you live in the area,looking for a pinball community or like cool pinball machines I think it is worth checking out!

    Erica C.

    So glad I came across this neighborhood gem. I was at Bad Jimmy's across the street for an event and gladly ended the night here. Games are a decent price and the place has a cool outdoor area to hang out and take a breather. There's even a separate room with more pinball machines and games. There's 2 gender neutral bathrooms, the times I've used it are clean. 1 of the bathrooms door doesn't lock so just be aware. They sell drinks and some local artists goodies at the register too.

    a row of pinball machines
    Chandra P.

    The Ice Box Arcade is pure nostalgia, my husband and I felt like we were in the 80/90s walking into Tilt (a once popular arcade.) The arcade is really well put together, and even when private parties are being held it's still very accommodating for walk-in patrons to play. My husband was bouncing from game to game sharing so many stories from his childhood. This was such a great find, and I'm happy my toddlers will be able frequent an arcade that resembles our childhood. Places like The Ice Box Arcade are rare, I'm looking forward to returning!

    Dragon hidden by umbrella
    Marcus S.

    Came here for an event which highlighted a sort of gem of a place in Fremont. Not too many arcades or pinball museums around so The Ice Box is great but doesn't just offer those couple things. Lots of events take place here. Of course, the Yelp event I attended, but they have live music nights, regular karaoke, Free play times, tournaments and probably more, which can be found on site and on the website. It's a great hang out spot where like the many breweries in the area, they'll serve up the beer, but you can bring your own food. What a great place to bring food too, particularly in the warmer weather though. There are outdoor benched seating making for an awesome place to hang out, drink some beers and play some games. Dogs and kids are welcome too. There are over 25 Pinball machines, and, on the website, there is even a link to strategies on how to play a lot of the games. I'm not great at pinball by any stretch but that is cool. Not just because there is help, but that for such games that even exists. Ice Box is definitely one of the cooler places in the area, pun intended.

    Inside
    Claudia C.

    Super chill place, the perfect place to drink, relax, play games, and bring kids. Was looking for an arcade that has drinks and is kid friendly and this place was perfect. They don't have any food here but they are right next to a pizza place which you can order and bring over to eat. It had a great vibe, the workers were super nice and I really enjoyed my time here. Its more of a pinball place with a couple real arcade machines, nerveless it was super fun! The place becomes not kid friendly after a certain time at night so be warned. Overall I really enjoyed my time spent here and would come back1

    Sandra S.

    This is a fun spot to grab a drink and play some games. They have air hockey, pool, shooting games, old school video games, and the biggest collection of pin ball machines I've seen! Great music and a nice sized out door area with picnic tables if you want to play jenga. Will be back!

    Roger B.

    Lovely, local neighborhood arcade bar offering pinball games, video games, pool table, air hockey and drinks (beer, NA canned drinks, water) and snacks. You'll also find stickers, earrings and other miscellania for purchase. Owned by a couple who want to be a friendly and inviting spot to hang out in Frelard. I think they've achieved that.

    Nightly events
    Alyssa B.

    This is the best pinball arcade in Seattle. We just went to go check it out for a bit and ended up hanging out for 5 hours. They have an amazing selection and the games are clearly well taken care of and run smoothly. We had an issue with one of the flippers on a game and went and told staff - they immediately came over to try and fix it and refunded our coins. The space is nice and open, there's a decent amount of space between all of the machines so you're not on top of other people. They have hand sanitizer all over the place and everything feels very clean. There's also great lighting which can be hard to come by when playing arcades in bars. In addition to pinball, there's a pool table, a room of arcade games and air hockey. It would be nice if all of the machines were more clearly labeled how many quarters they take - a few of them ended up being guesswork. The outside space is really cute and it's nice to be able to take a break in fresh air, but even inside has good air circulation. I wish only one area of the outside was for smokers but there's an ashtray at every table. They sell beer and other canned beverages. It'd be awesome if they had a couple of beers on tap. You can also bring outdoor food and there's a couple of good nearby options - Mario's pizza and Hooligans, or bring whatever food you like! I can't wait to come back and have more fun! They have special stuff going on nearly every night, and even drag brunch on saturdays.

    Andrea M.

    I just came from a party that was held at this awesome place! It was a great way to find out about somewhere that I didn't know existed. I love pinball so it was a lot of fun trying my skills at the different machines. The music was loud but in a good way (like the days of dance clubs in the 80's-90's). Loved the colorful atmosphere and it's easy to find. I did have a few problems with some of the pinball machines not working correctly, but that was overlooked by the fun I had playing the other games. This place is so much more fun than going to a casino and I didn't mind "blowing" $5! Will definitely come back in the future (hopefully I can get someone to join me) and stay a little longer.

    Art V.

    Three years later, this place still rules--and is *still* getting better. It'd be tough to argue this isn't the best pinball spot in a city with some really great ones. The vibe is always perfect, whether you're cutting loose on the weekend or just want to get some games in on a chill weeknight. The games are so good, too--always rotating and they always manage to snag the latest release. Owner, Alex, is an awesome dude who's clearly passionate about making this spot great for everyone. And, yeah, mission accomplished. This is literally my favorite establishment in the city.

    Entrance

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    Alex S.

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    2 years ago

    I drive through Seattle traffic to come here! Amazing ambiance and so many pinball machines! Great selection of drinks!

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    5 years ago

    Great pinballs and friendly staff. The owners are rad and there is generally stuff from local artists for sale.

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    3 years ago

    Ok. 1st visit Took 6 yo grandson ... meh.....but he did better the 2nd time at a birthday party w/,friends

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    7 years ago

    Classic pinball games at reasonable prices per play. Air hockey for those moments where I need to be taken down a peg or two. Great spot!!

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    5 years ago

    Good beer and music. There is an awesome South Park pinball machine that I enjoyed playing.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - The Ice Box Arcade

    Is this all ages?

    All ages until 9 pm

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    Review Highlights - The Ice Box Arcade

    “Not too many arcades or pinball museums around so The Ice Box is great but doesn't just offer those couple things.”

    Mentioned in 20 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Shorty's

    Shorty's

    3.9(719 reviews)
    3.2 mi•Belltown
    •$

    This is it, the emperor of Seattle dive bars. Inimitable. Sui generis. My favorite place to hang…read moreout in downtown Seattle when bad decisions and fun are on my agenda. Time without number I've found myself here, be that first dates, my birthday, or New Year's Eve, and it always feels like home. If home were a clown/carnival themed acid trip of a pinball arcade bar, that is. And what's not to love about that? The bar tenders here are cool and friendly people who pour drinks with a heavy hand, and understand the mission: get the patrons who want to be drunk, drunk. The first few times I visited, I felt a leeriness about ordering food. But once I got over myself, I kinda fell in love with the menu, and I've probably eaten everything on it (including the clam chowder). Their hot dogs are wonders to behold, utter symphonies for the senses, and I refuse to visit Shorty's without getting one. Best dog in Seattle? Why yes. I think so. To paraphrase one reviewer: "Take your date here. If she doesn't like it, she's lame and you shouldn't waste your time with her anyways." Shorty's is the bomb.

    The male bartender was extremely rude. As soon as we walked in, he aggressively asked for our IDs…read more Then, while my cousins and I were looking through the food menu, he barely gave us a chance to read it before saying, "I'll take whoever is ready to make my life easier." That's not something paying customers want to hear. I ended up ordering a drink for myself while the guys were looking at the menu because they were doing a food hop, and us girls were doing a bar hop. During that time, the bartender came back to our table at least four times within about five minutes. Instead of being attentive, it felt pushy and aggressive, especially since they were still deciding what they wanted. I've been here a few times before, but after this experience, this will definitely be my last visit.

    Photos
    Shorty's - Tables are made from pinball machines

    Tables are made from pinball machines

    Shorty's - Spicy Pepperand Cheese Hot Dog, topo Chico seltzers

    Spicy Pepperand Cheese Hot Dog, topo Chico seltzers

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    GameWorks - Mocha-Spresso milkshake. Love that presentation!

    GameWorks

    2.9(621 reviews)
    3.6 mi•Downtown
    •$$

    Came here for a date after passing it numerous times bumping around downtown…read more I've always pegged this place as sort of a more local Dave & Busters and it sort of is on a smaller scale. Food, drinks and of course a bunch of games to play. Difference here is they seem to host ESports and other games beyond arcade games which is cool. This particular visit was kind of like a Classic play some games and laugh along the way rather than expect to find gem games of days gone by or even present. There is a good assortment of light gun, classic fighters and of course DDR which they were real generous with - 6 credits on a swipe which is like 9 song/sets! There is a bar but it's kind of basic compared to the afformentioned Dave & Busters, which makes that part of their identity. Also the person selling me the game card was fast on talk, and slow on the explanation of how things work which could've been better. It was nearing close so I wasn't going go through the whole rundown. Fun time here if you're looking for something to do in the area, but a Barcade or Dave & Busters will do the job all the same.

    I hadn't been to GameWorks for a couple of decades when I went last week for a relative's birthday…read more He is really into video games and enjoyed Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) along with the driving games where you can race against your friends/family members. So, I am glad he had a good time. But I don't think I will go back to GameWorks in the future, even for special events. First, the loud noise and flashing lights made me feel like I was in a casino for kids. Something creepy about the vibe there. Second, there was no real air conditioning on a hot summer day, just these mobile a/c fans that blew cold air and were quite loud, adding to an already noisy place. Third, the games were very expensive. You have to buy a card for game credits and swipe that card whenever you play a game. We calculated later that it was cost us $1.60-2.30 PER GAME. That is including vintage games like Frogger and Ms. Pacman and other games like Operation, Skeeball, and driving games that only give you one life. Growing up in the 70s and 80s, I went to A LOT of arcades as a kid and teen. I don't expect places to be like the arcades I went to back then, but I do expect a fair and decent exchange for my money for the experience of playing a video game. Three lives/tries per fee is a fair exchange. GameWorks is nothing like that, and for that reason, along with others I've given here, I won't be back.

    Photos
    GameWorks - There are two floors of games. It is pretty loud.

    There are two floors of games. It is pretty loud.

    GameWorks
    GameWorks

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    Penny Arcade Expo: PAX Prime - Faefarm in Expo Hall.

    Penny Arcade Expo: PAX Prime

    4.0(40 reviews)
    3.7 mi•Downtown

    Late review. Went to Pax Prime 2023 after attending Pax East a number of times so I was quite…read moreinterested in the West coast version and after many years not going. Breaking up the events into buildings in the surrounding area was a bit confusing, even with the map and the event staff giving direction. Pax East everything is under one roof, so this took some getting used to. The check in process was very organized and impressive, hats off and thanks to the staff who process a few thousand people, some of whom I know volunteer. Went to panel, played some games in free play and of course hit the main floor to try out some up and coming AAA games as well some indie games. Bought and picked up some swag, you know, the usual at these conventions. After years of not going, it was nice get back into it and would definitely consider going again next year. If you're into games even in a small capacity, get a day pass and have some fun!

    Dang, did I pick an unideal time to finally put in a review for this annual gaming convention I've…read moreonly been going to since 2017, because I would have had a lot more good things to say about it. Now it sounds like I'm gonna be comparing everything from past years, which is inevitable to do especially among me and my peers who've come here longer than I have. To start off, this review is for 2026 from September 4-7, and I only went Friday and Monday this year due to Bumbershoot on Saturday and Sunday. As with every PAX I go to, panels and events are the least of my interests; most of my thoughts go for the logistics, vendors, and already in-your-face games that are set out in front of everyone at both the Arch and Summit buildings where the convention is split between. The general layout for this year's PAX was the same as last years; the Expo hall is all in the Arch building, and includes many vendors showcasing indie games and art. The Summit building has tabletop games, BYOC setups, game-related merch and tons of auditoriums and rooms with many different events with set times for each. I don't follow most events though I did get to do drag bingo, hear a master pianist play game music (like the end credits for Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64), and spend a ridiculous amount of time playing Groove Coaster at the arcades set up by 100 Yen Life or gamecenter. The map included in the event brochure did not have any layout information on booths for the Summit building, and legends were hard to read for the more detailed maps for the Arch building and all its floors. Gaming wise, the biggest games I got to play were Among Us Story: On Guard, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 and Hello Kitty Party Land. Other releases like Stranger Than Heaven, Persona 4 Revival and Castlevania had long, capped lines that were impossible to get to given how easily time constraints form when a convention has so many things going on at once. Even worse is the lack of strong phone signal in the Arch building, and slightly better but still hindered signal in the Summit building, though that's a very common sentiment for the Seattle Convention Center during any large convention like this one. Compared to other years, this convention is a huge step up from its iteration when we all just recovered from the pandemic, but a massive population downgrade from last year's. I could feel that while walking around, and it feels mostly due to the lack of really large and hyped up games to look forward to, especially from Nintendo which was notably absent this year except for the booth showcasing the new mobile game Pikmin Bloom. I always have to question every year whether I'm gonna come back to PAX, and I have skipped some years as a result. That same thought still holds today as of this writing, and I've only noticed a downhill trend year after year. At this point, I only go for the company I go with, not the events or thrills that this convention promises but hasn't been delivering consistently.

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    Penny Arcade Expo: PAX Prime - Konami booth

    Konami booth

    Penny Arcade Expo: PAX Prime - Tribes of the Wind Board Game in Tabletop Freeplay.

    Tribes of the Wind Board Game in Tabletop Freeplay.

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    Main floor

    HUB Games

    HUB Games

    4.5(6 reviews)
    2.8 mi•University District
    •$

    When I was looking for some indoor activities to get away from the rain I was pleasantly surprised…read moreto see that UW has bowling alleys on their campus! Not only do they have bowling but they also have board games, arcade games, and pool tables all for the enjoyment of students. I came here just for their bowling but it looked so fun I might just come back for their other activities. For bowling they allow you to play by the game or by the hour. They also allow you to book all 12 lanes for a private event. All of the prices are on their website and they were all pretty reasonable. They also have discounts for faculty, staff, and students. We played three games with two pairs of shoe rentals and the total came out to be about $30 with a UW staff discount. Our lane malfunctioned once but one of the workers was swift in helping us resolve the problem so we could continue having our fun. The facilities were pretty clean and overall we both had a great time. Most people were students but even as a visitor I still felt welcomed. It made me feel old being in the college atmosphere around all these youngins but at the same time I felt like I looked like them and probably could've fit right in. One thing that made me feel old though: the worker at the front asked for my ID and my mind defaulted to my driver's license and the worker replied, "Oh, I meant your student ID." Ouch.

    This place is amazing! Went on a Saturday afternoon , the crowd was perfect. We were able to bowl…read moreand play arcade games all evening.

    Photos
    HUB Games - Bowling alley on campus in the hub building

    Bowling alley on campus in the hub building

    HUB Games - The party room is available to rent or a variety of activities!

    The party room is available to rent or a variety of activities!

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    Bowling Alley 2020

    The Ice Box Arcade - arcades - Updated October 2026

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