Arcades in Charlotte, ranked from worst to best

Discover Charlotte’s top arcade bars for adults, plus family-friendly options for the kids.

Arcades used to be associated with childhood—spots where kids and teens killed time after school or on the weekends. But as younger generations have grown up with video games playing a larger part in their lives, the demand for arcades has grown with them. 

Arcade bars have seen a rise in popularity across urban areas of the country in recent years, going beyond a nostalgic gimmick and meeting a sincere demand for game-centered establishments among millennials and those who have grown up behind them. 

Charlotte is no different, with a number of arcade bars added to nightlife options around the city, beginning 10 years ago with the opening of Abari Game Bar, which has since been forced to relocate but is now back bigger and better than ever. 

Below, we rank arcades in the greater Charlotte area from worst to best, and if you’re looking for kid-friendly arcades rather than bars, we’ve got a bonus list for you at the bottom, too. 

Arcades in Charlotte for adults

5. Slingshot CLT

332 W. Bland St., Suite AB, Charlotte

Along with duckpin bowling, this social game club offers a mix of old-school and contemporary games including Skee-Ball, Jet-Pong, Space Invaders, Jurassic Park VR, air hockey, Guitar Hero, and pinball, among others. There are also the analog classics: Jenga, Guess Who?, Sorry!, What Do You Meme?, etc.   

Despite nearly 70 Yelp ratings, Slingshot CLT is rated below three stars. Folks have complained about the games not working, the “mid” food, and poor organization for corporate events. 

“Slingshot has always been a good time but I feel like they’ve fallen off a bit,” read one review from November 2024. “I went recently and about 40% of the games weren’t working. They need to make sure they’re investing in the games so that patrons can enjoy them.” 

4. 16-Bit Bar+Arcade

307 W Tremont Ave., Charlotte

From here, we make a big jump in quality, as the remaining arcades on the list are all top-notch visits. Located in the same South End neighborhood as Slingshot, 16-Bit Bar+Arcade features more than 35 vintage arcade games for novices and enthusiasts alike. 

“Tons and tons of arcade games, video games, skee ball, pinball, ping pong, life size beer pong, and more!!” wrote Cassie M. after visiting from Virginia. “They have swings, a roof top bar, & a slide! They also have tons of TVs to watch games on as well. So really it’s just a big adult playground … I will for sure be back here next time I’m in Charlotte!” 

3. Player 1UP

140 East Main St., Rock Hill, SC

Pinball Alley inside Player 1UP is reason enough to drive right over the border into Rock Hill, South Carolina, to see if you might challenge any high scores. The Rock Hill Wizard Killers pinball league meets on Wednesdays, but there are also other specials and events held throughout the week. That includes Board Game Night on Thursdays and Free Game on Saturdays. 

“I have never EVER seen something like this in my life. Super cool!” wrote a Yelp reviewer named Mr S from Los Angeles. “They have a ton of pinball machines and fun arcade games. It looks like high quality and vintage stuff for any geeky gamer.”  

2. The Basement Arcade Bar

14 Union St. S, Concord

Heading north to Concord, The Basement Arcade Bar hosts a bevy of classic games from the 1980s and ’90s, plus current pinball titles, all of which are set to free play. All adults pay a $10 admission fee, but visitors under 21 only need to scrounge up $5. Follow their Facebook page for information on any upcoming pinball tournaments. 

“Basement is a great place to spend an evening-nostalgic pinball, video games, and my personal favorite bubble hockey!” wrote Ryan K. in his Yelp review. “Pay a small cover charge and all games are free play … full bar for anyone that is interested too!” 

1. Super Abari Game Bar

1015 Seigle Ave., Charlotte

After Abari Game Bar opened in Charlotte’s Optimist Park neighborhood in 2015, it became a hub for gamers around the city thanks to the popularity of its pinball league, Killer Queen cabinet, throwback arcade games, and communal atmosphere. 

That’s what made it all the more tragic in 2020 when owner Zach Pulliam was forced to close the business due to COVID-19 and rising rent prices. But Pulliam and his team worked through a number of obstacles over the next two years to open a new location, Super Abari Game Bar, in the Belmont neighborhood in 2022. 

The 5,500 square feet of space at Super Abari nearly doubled the 2,800 square feet that were open to patrons at the last spot. The building allowed for a bigger arcade to fit the 60+ games and 35 pinball machines, a roomier console lounge, a larger bar, and a spacious patio.

Arcades in Charlotte for kids

5. Adventure Landing

2600 East Franklin Blvd., Gastonia

“This place used to be so much more fun, but in recent years it has gone down hill a little bit. They have 2 mini golf courses, an indoor arcade, & batting cages. It’s a nice little place to go if you have kids or if you’re looking to hit some baseballs.” – Nick S., Gastonia

4. Spare Time

Locations in Pineville and Huntersville

“The staff at this location has always been pretty nice and helpful! You don’t see that at many places where it gets loud like it does here!” – Jennie D., North Charleston

3. Frankie’s Fun Park

10621 Bryton Corporate Center Drive, Huntersville

“Always have fun with my fam when we come to Frankie’s. It’s well staffed, clean, and has lots of space.” – Nhi V., Charlotte

2. Dave & Busters

Locations in Pineville and Concord

“They had a huge selection of games, and all of them were working!!! It was such a sight to see as most arcade locations, there are always a few games out of order. Since it was not busy, we were able to play as many rounds of our favorite games at our leisure.” – Jennifer E., Charlotte

1. Monster Mini Golf

230 E Wt Harris Blvd., Suite C-4, Charlotte

“Great staff, they made the whole experience fun and exciting. Very low prices making this a perfect date night spot on a cold evening.” -Taylor L., Florida

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