Pinball to Pac-Man: 15 amazing arcades in Michigan

For retro fun and games in the Mitten, check out 15 arcades that combine old-school charm with modern excitement.

Whether you’re a bona fide scoreboard legend or have a hard time knowing pinball from ballroom dancing, arcades can be a fun place for Michiganders of all ages to let their hair down and play. From old-school favorites like pinball and skeeball to modern virtual reality simulators and opportunities to earn tickets and trade them in for prizes, Michigan’s arcades have something for everyone—and often, all these games can be found in fun and exciting surroundings.

So, what are you waiting for? Without further delay, get some quarters from the change machine, and let’s have a look at the 15 coolest arcades in Michigan:

1. Barcade, Detroit

666 Seldon Street, Detroit

One location of a national operation, Detroit’s Barcade describes itself as “The Original Arcade Bar.” With an extensive list of beers on tap (including Michigan craft favorites like Brew Detroit Ophidia’s Eye) and a menu of pub classics, you can have dinner, drinks, and a roaring good time on Barcade’s pinball machines, classic games like Crazy Taxi. Regular visitors can even enjoy events like monthly Family Sundays (the exception to Barcade’s usual over-21 policy) and Monday night pinball meetups!

2. CJ Barrymore’s, Clinton Township

21750 Hall Road, Clinton Township

Where do you draw the line between an arcade and an amusement park? That line may be located somewhere inside CJ Barrymore’s. This Clinton Township “entertainment center” has it all, including year-round arcade games, laser tag, bumper cars, and bowling lanes, as well as seasonal outdoor rides. Whenever you visit, you can expect all manner of thrills from this self-described “Daytime Nighttime Goodtime Place!”

3. Crazy Quarters Arcade, Bay City

401 Center Avenue, Bay City

Ready to go a little crazy? At Crazy Quarters in Bay City, you can do just that—in a good way, of course! Open every day of the week and offering a free party room and weekly pinball tournaments, Crazy Quarters makes it easy for guests of all ages and groups of all sizes to have a great day out. And remember, the name isn’t “Crazy Quarters” for no reason—all of their machines operate on quarters, so there’s no admission charge!

4. Klassic Arcade, various locations

22711 M-40 Highway, Gobles

With three different Michigan locations, Klassic Arcade 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 are a hit for a reason! With all-day gameplay available for just $10.00 per person, Klassic is an affordable way to have a fun day out. They offer beloved games like Pac-Man and Frogger, as well as an extensive array of their house specialty—pinball machines.

5. Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum, location TBA

New Location TBA July 2025

Try saying the name of this arcade and museum three times fast! A wonderfully strange Michigan attraction, Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum (Marvin’s M3, for short) boasts one of the largest collections of mechanical games and attractions in the country. With over 5,000 machines, Marvin’s recently closed its Farmington Hills location to move to a new, much larger venue in West Bloomfield’s Orchard Mall, so there will be plenty of room for playtime!

6. Mr Zero’s Quarter Cafe and Arcade, Oxford

35 North Washington Street, Oxford

First Marvin, now Mr Zero? Who are these Michigan arcade heroes? Located in Oxford, Mr Zero’s Quarter Cafe and Arcade is a family-run arcade that welcomes gamers of all ages. With no admission fee, games are cash-operated, and there’s an on-site change machine for convenience. There’s a snack bar onsite, but you’re also welcome to bring in more substantial food—or even BYOB!

7. Out of This World Arcade & Game, Petoskey

923 Emmett Street, Petoskey

You don’t have to travel to space to reach this spot—just to Petoskey! At Out of This World Arcade & Game, you can play in-store or stock up on supplies for game time at home. That’s because Out of This World is both a traditional arcade full of fun vintage machines and a store selling video games, trading cards, comic books, and more! 

8. Perfect Game, Farmington Hills

35000 Grand River Avenue, Farmington Hills

This Farmington Hills spot is more than just an arcade–it’s a bowling alley, a laser tag arena, and, yes, an awesome arcade all in one. At Perfect Game, the perfect game is whichever you want it to be! Swing by to try any one of their fun activities, or make it a marathon and enjoy them all. Sounds pretty darn perfect!

9. Pharaoh’s Family Fun, Mackinaw City 

328 South Huron Avenue, Mackinaw City

After a long drive to the Mighty Mac, it’s time to stretch your legs–and get your game on! Located just next to the famous bridge, Pharaoh’s Family Fun has a little something for everyone at their Egyptian-themed venue. It has an arcade, shooting gallery, laser maze, and more—and its convenient location makes it a great spot to break up a Michigan road trip.

10. Pinball Pete’s, East Lansing

1214 South University Avenue, Ann Arbor, and 220 Albert Street, East Lansing

A staple of student life at their Ann Arbor and East Lansing locations (finally, something U of M and State can agree on!) Pinball Pete’s is one of the most legendary arcades in Michigan for a reason. Despite the name, Pinball Pete’s has more than just pinball (although, rest assured, it does have plenty of pinball). You can also enjoy air hockey, classic and newer arcade games, and the chance to win tickets, which can be exchanged for prizes!

11. Rev’d Up Fun, Woodhaven

19830 West Road, Woodhaven

Rev up your engines for this high-energy spot! At Rev’d Up Fun in Woodhaven, you can enjoy an arcade full of games, laser tag, an XD dark ride, a ropes course, and more! All of this activity can build up an appetite, so be sure to swing by the bar and restaurant, which offer family-friendly fare as well as adult beverages, to refuel as needed.

12. Sparks Pinball Museum and Arcade, Baltimore

33151 23 Mile Rd, New Baltimore

For pinball wizards in New Baltimore, Sparks Pinball Museum and Arcade is the ultimate tower of mysteries. Starting out as a private collection and growing into a beloved fixture in the world of pinball, Sparks is a labor of love. With two venues and over a hundred different pinball machines, Sparks is proud to say it’s one of the largest pinball spots in the Midwest.

13. The Coin Slot, Traverse City

346 East Front Street, Traverse City

In Traverse City, The Coin Slot is a great casual hangout where you can enjoy one of two hundred rotating beer offerings and get your game on. At The Coin Slot, drinks are only part of the fun, as this bar is also an arcade, with old-school shooters to go with shots of liquor! Experienced arcade fans should also note that The Coin Slot is home to the Traverse City chapter of Belles and Chimes, an international pinball organization.

14. The Lost City, Holland

12330 James Street, Holland

It’s surprisingly easy to find The Lost City in Holland—and definitely worth the search! After entering the “Hidden Temple”-style building, you’ll find three different kinds of family fun. Whether you’re here for the arcade, the mini golf, the laser tag (which is played in Western Michigan’s largest arena), or all three, you know you’re in for a good time. The Lost City also hosts birthday parties for a next-level birthday adventure.

15. Universal Nonstop, Warren

28300 Dequindre Road, Warren

Now there’s a name that encompasses a whole lot! And at Universal Nonstop in Warren, the name suits the place. This is a large venue, where their arcade of over a hundred games shares space with go-karts, an indoor playground, virtual reality, and more! It’s, dare we say it, a whole universe of nonstop options to play.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.