*Note: Age restrictions and policies may vary by arcade. Check with your local facility for specifics.*
First-time visitors may need to sign a waiver or register for a game card. Staff are typically available to help explain games and provide tutorials. Some arcades offer newcomer specials or free play sessions to help you get started.
*Note: Policies vary by arcade. Confirm with your local facility.*
*Note: Payment methods and requirements may differ by arcade.*
*Note: Tips may vary by arcade type and location.*
*Note: Policies, pricing, and features differ by arcade. Contact your local facility for details.*
315 N 36th St #2b
Seattle, Washington 98103
Great venue, fun bar, tons of non alcoholic options. Perfect for a night out with friends, a date, or alone. Friendly and personable staff, clean accessible bathrooms. Games on all floors. Went to see Hard Maybe here on Friday, amazing sound, not too loud, a little warm so be prepared to take off layers. Love it! Will be back for music and pinball
I absolutely love this place! it's like stepping into a time capsule back to the 80s. Staff is very friendly, and lots of good pinball machines and cheap beer.
Add-A-Ball has a retro and nostalgic vibe. Every time we come here, we're armed with quarters and are accompanied by a gaggle of friends. The staff is friendly and the drinks are cheap. They are strict on ID'ing, which is never a bad thing. We've always have a pleasant experience with the other patrons, and the vibe is laid back.
I didn't dislike it but I do think they're are other places that have more options like coindexters??(closed now I guess) or another castle arcade but if you like pinball and want to try a place some beers not a terrible experience. They had pacman, a unresponsive Simpson game but I did enjoy looking around. They have a upstairs and are open late.
I've been here 50+ times, I've never had a bad experience, weekdays, weekends, doesn't matter. Owner is great, great team of bartenders. So many cool games hidden in every corner. 25c for most games. Best place to be in Fremont
I've heard great things about add a ball, and my friends all got together to go after our concert. But despite being of legal age for two whole years, and having a valid, legal ID, as well as a full beard, I was denied entry just because it was still vertical. ?New law.? That's total BS, and has never happened to me before at ANY venue. Forced me to go home far earlier than I would have liked, and separated me from my friend group. I felt utterly humiliated for no good reason. if one of my friends hadn't of
Add-a-Ball is a gloriously grungy arcade bar with a killer mix of vintage pinball, cheap drinks, and a no-frills punk rock attitude. The place has an incredible divey, DIY energy, with walls covered in old arcade parts, stickers, murals, and graffiti, setting the perfect backdrop for a night of games and cheap drinks. The outdoor patio is always buzzing with lively conversation and a rotating cast of colorful characters, making it one of the best places in Seattle to just hang out and people-watch. If you?r
Went to the bathroom, got asked if I was deaf on the way outside because I didn't hear the person telling me I needed to drink my beer inside because the show was coming to a close. Took a video of me when I asked them why. Weird behavior. Other people got kicked out as well. Kinda funny.
I went to Fremont specifically for this arcade, only not to be let in for not having my passport with me (I am Swiss). The lady was also quite rude... I was there with my girlfriend (who is American) and just found the experience quite humiliating. I had all kinds of other official IDs (driving license, national ID) with me. I was expecting better from this lovely inclusive area... The only other time I got refused service without a passport was at a gas station in rural Nebraska!
Phenomenal place for a band venue! Had an awesome time!
Such a cool place to play some pinball/arcade games and have some beers. Just a really laid back fun establishment. Went during the day to kill sometime but I bet it gets pretty hopping at night.
I don't know if anyone read a review a few weeks back about a guy who got denied for a military id and harrassed. But I frequent this bar, and was there that night. He harrassed staff members and threw water at the door person before being driven off the premises. He showed a photo on his phone of a military ID as well. This bar is serious about ID use, the washington state liquor board technically requires all patrons to have a current unaltered ID to enter any 21+ establishment. That being said; bring you
Super rad barcade with a small, quaint feel. Gets really packed so it's best to go a bit earlier. Decor is mad personable and they have a great selection of local beers on tap. Loved how old and rickety the building feels, too.
We had so much fun! Great variety of pinball games, all exciting and well kept.
I heard this was cat themed? It's not. There are about 12 machines in total. Whole placed smelled like urine. Many of the seat cushions were ripped and uncomfortable to sit on. Only reason it isn't a one star is because the drinks on tap are pretty good and reasonably priced.
To whoever the guy (owner or manager maybe) is that came out to the front and denied me access because of my military ID. I never entered the bar or had confrontation. I just don't have a horizontal ID as a Florida resident. This guy then followed me when I walked down the street and he grabbed a drink and threw it at my face when I was not paying attention. That is technically assault and I was not on the premises nor was he acting in self defense. I do not believe this guy respects people from Florida or
TLDR: cheap drinks and a few rooms of pinball and other arcade games Got a vodka soda for $7 which is very inexpensive! Spent about another $10 playing pong, pinball and Pac-Man! There are also other games that we played and spent about an hour here for a fun time! Plenty of street parking nearby
This was more fun than I expected. Just make sure you bring change! You'll need $1 or $5 bills to change into quarters at the machines there. We went late on a Friday night, and it wasn't super busy, although the music was a bit too loud. It's a great place to grab a drink and try a few games. It's fun even if you are not that good at any particular game like I am!
Hidden gem dive bar with great pinball. Good beer prices. Most games are $.75.
Quintessential Seattle barcade. Unfortunately, about a third of the machines were in disrepair and turned off. It doesn't have good food options, but there are some great restaurants nearby, and the staff let us bring in takeout food. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Fremont.
Best bar/arcade in Seattle. Amazing line up of pinball/,arcade machines, brand new pinball tables are only .75? to play, new modern arcade cabinets are .25? to play(!!) plus 16oz Rainier's for $4. They have a really cute 2-slot Neo Geo machine that has the two best Neo Geo games, Metal Slug 3 and Bust-a-Move, I don't know who the arcade operators are but it's clear they have incredible taste and want me to be happy. This place is a blast
A very hidden gem. I don't think there is a sign so you really have to keep your eyes open for it. The interior is amazing! it is so kitschy and really cool. it could use a good sweep but the decor is really fantastic. A good selection of pinball machines - be sure to check out the upstairs.
Only regret is checking this place out after *seven years* of living in Seattle and in the same neighborhood. This is now one of my regular haunts. The mood here is always amped and the interior is like stepping into the 80s/set of Stranger Things. I hope Add a Ball is here for decades to come. I never fret blowing $20-$40 on games and drinks here because the time just flys by. Killer Queen and Pac Man Battle Royale FTW. A great place to spend time with a small group of friends. Staff are always low key and
Add-a-ball is a super fun casual bar. They have a lot of old and new pinball machines with cupholders attached so you can drink and game with no sweat. My friends and I really had a good time playing the games, all the games worked with no issues and the quarter machine worked - thank god lol. Definitely plan on heading back!
It was super quiet when we called in, but we enjoyed a few games of pinball and Pacman battle royale. Fun place, would have stayed longer if we'd had a little more time.
Had a great experience here on a Wednesday afternoon. Lots of quality pinball games and a few additional retro games. Spent $15 and was able to play for a little over an hour.
Cute little hole-in-the-wall arcade bar. Nice setup, fun decor and game selections. Friendly staff and service, awesome merch. Love Add-a-Ball ??
Introduced to this place by a friend and it was awesome. A lot of old arcade games in addition to a lot of pinball and delicious pitas right before I left. The only thing I could ask for is that it was open until the wee hours of the morning. Thanks so much for being out there.
What a strange grungy little spot. Kind of fun to poke your head into or even walk around with a beer (which are all $5). Unfortunately, the games all cost money, which is fine, but I'm used to spots in Chicagoland that don't charge for their pinball or arcade games. A few of the machines were also off, so that was a little limiting. I liked being able to buy some penny candy ? it's been a while since I've had a Laffy Taffy. The worst part of this place, though, was the proximity of the smokers? area to th
THE BEST pinball bar in Seattle in my opinion. Great variety of awesome and well maintained machines. Really fun and whacky atmosphere. Sweet ass Kurt Russel mural. I mean, what else do you want?
Fun spot but wouldn't let my friends who are 22 and 23 in because they have vertical IDs?!
Lovely business. Family friendly/dog friendly with great food and beer selection!
The curation of the machines is awesome, some amazing toppers on the pinball machines, custom cabinet games, great old style control games like Toobin and Smash TV.
Pretty cool arcade in Fremont. Two levels filled with classic arcade games and pinball machines. It was fun to spend a couple hours here.
We've been coming here Everytime we visit Seattle which is about once a year. It's a fun little dive with pinball machines filling every room. They have great classics like galaga, Pacman, bust a move and my favorite Zeke's Peak. It also has new games. It's 21 and over and you can drink and play. I would give five stars to this place a couple years ago, but right now I think they just need to maintenance some of the older machines. This is a must stop if you are in Fremont.
It's a dive bar in the best of ways. Large selection of games makes it a really fun place to go. Only problem I have is the place is a huge fire hazard with so many machines and people crammed into such a small space. I still would recommend it.
This place was super cool! They had so many pinball machines! The people in there are also so friendly. I really liked the enviornment since it was dark but with all the lights from the games, it felt lit up. It feels like youre in someones attic, but in a good way. Its going to be hard to find something like this where I live.
I rate this place 4 stars as an arcade, but I'd give it 5 stars as a bar. There's a good amount of games and all are in good working order. Some old classics and a few oddballs you might not find anywhere else. It was pretty busy when we went and we thought we might not get to play, but most people were just drinking. Good people watching in addition to the arcade action. It was fun!
This place has it all - good prices, good vibes, patio, probably the worlds only functional microwave popcorn vending machine, and fun stuff to do and look at. Don't miss the puppet rave. Pinball tourneys on Wednesday nights. Instagrammers' gold mine ?? . Don't forget your quarters!
Add-a-ball is great. Sure it gets crowded and the bar area is small, but the bartenders handle it with aplomb. Sometimes people get out of hand, and they are also on top of handling it. I've seen more adult patrons throw tantrums for not getting their way there than I'd like to, but that's what happens on Friday and Saturday nights. The games are great, the bartenders are good people who I trust to pour my drinks, and they in turn trust me to know when to close out. ??
Great idea. Would give 5 stars if they kept machines in better working order. All the machines I played were in poor condition which is sad as they have some great titles in there.
Cool place with some good machines. I wish the music wasn't so loud that you can't even hear the machines though.
Looks shady from the outside, but it's a shining gem on the inside! Tons of arcade games to choose from (from classics to Killer Queen), decent beer, ATM and a change machine to fulfill your coin needs indefinitely.
I think this is probably the best barcade I've been to in Seattle. It's very spacious, super unique, full of art and retro decor. The games are fun and affordable and they did a great job with ensuring there's multi-player games available for more than a couple people. Always a great time! We need an add a ball in Kirkland!
Incredible way to spend an evening, sober or not! Make sure not to miss Mars Attacks pinball and Zeke?s Peak. Booths on the second floor are your place to chill with your buds.
What's not to love? I would lose my life here if it were twenty years ago ?
I just went to my first babes tournament for femmes and thems! It was a really great experience, people are kind, polite, and welcoming. It's also nice to go in the afternoon/evening on a weekday; it's not as busy and all the games are available
We were having a great time at Add-A-Ball, stayed for hours playing games and at the end had the rudest owner I've ever met in my entire life. He came over and asked us if we were poor because we didn't tip for the last beer. We had been tipping 20% all night. He then ripped the beers out of our hand and waved his hand right in our face. Insanely rude and unprofessional. I will never go back there again.
Best bar best arcade everyones kool.
Such a cool bar with a labyrinth layout full of different rooms each with a different ambiance. They have a nice mix of eras in their pinball collection, and have some really cool older games that you don't see around like Dragonfist! It's a great place to grab a beer and explore and play your way through the building. Must for any pinball heads visiting Seattle.
A great mix of vintage pinball and video games. Super unpretentious and chill. League play. No kiddos allowed.
Bunch of great games, modern and vintage. You gotta try the old horseshoe game!
Do not visit this bar. While heading to the patio, I saw something spilling from the roof onto everyone out there. The smell was awful. I later learned that someone has been dumping their raw sewage over the roof for multiple weeks. Very concerning.
Kitschy. Craft beer. Great atmosphere. Play Death Ball!
If you enjoy both games and beer, why not do them together? Personally recommend 4-person Pac-Man.
This place is unique. It feels like you're walking into a house party instead of an arcade. Loved the music, the bar, and the game prices. Most machines were only a quarter.
I love Add-A-Ball. It gets quite busy and sometimes the bartenders are overwhelmed but I think that's normal. Good variety of games but some are in pretty bad shape. Drinks are reasonably priced.
Awesome hang out for 21+. Most pinball games are 3 quarter's to play.
My favorite dive bar / arcade to kick back and hide away lol! Love this place.
Great place. Great vibes. Love Jimmy!
Killer spot. Great staff. Friendly. Respectful. Kind. Safe. Bitchin atmosphere. My go to spot to unwind and kick it. Plethora of radical and well maintained games. Cheers add-a-ball! I greatly appreciate you!
It's a small place, but they make the most of it. Every machine they have is a quality blast from the past, or a surprise new game. The drinks are great too, and there's live comedy!
If you're a kid that grew up in the 80's and want a cool place to go for a couple hours, or you're just a bit old-school, this is the place. It's got a house basement feel to it with all kinds of old-school arcade and pinball games, and reasonably priced beers and drinks. Cool place to chill, especially if you like 80's and 90's music as well. Fun time!
A friend brought me here last night ??. I'm so excited they did. I can't wait to come back.
We had been here all night buying drinks and tipping. We didn't leave a tip after we bought two white claws at the bar at last call. An extremely intoxicated bar tender came up to us and and asked us if we were poor. Then kicked us out after snatching our drinks. Absolute insanity.
This place is the best spot to go on a date, meet friends or just play pinball. The bartenders are true characters, absolutely wonderful souls. So many fun, unforgettable nights are had here. Check out this truly unique piece of Seattle nightlife.
Fantastic place to have some old fashioned fun! Plenty of pinball games, old arcade machines, and even some new video games with a unique team gameplay. They have a cute little bar for an easy drink or beer, just don't expect anything to complex..this is very much dive bar place after all. There is also a second story. Not as many games up there, but it is a bit more quiet if you're want to relax a bit before going back to gaming.
This came up in my timeline from Google from 2 years ago and totally reminded me of how much I love Seattle. Such a cool arcade/pinball spot! If you're considering going just do it, has all your looking for some pinball fun and drinks
Add-A-Ball is an arcade bar in the heart of Fremont. Known for its massive collection of old and new arcade games, pinball machines, and interesting layout, it's a super fun place to hang for a bit. The staff here are nice, although lines can get and stay pretty long, so if upstairs is open, head up there. Bring cash to play the games too.
A fantastic, hip arcade bar that will keep you entertained all night. Make sure to bring cash for the arcade games, and it will get very busy as the young crowd swarms this fun, trendy spot.
This is a really cool place to come and hang out. The staff are friendly and they have a good choice of beer. Good way to kill an hour or two if you are in the area, but bring cash. They've reduced the number of machines they have, probably because of COVID. Killer Queen was one of the coolest games they had, hopefully they can bring it back eventually.
Top spot to play pinball. Machines well maintained and friendly staff. Great selection of machines and process are great.
It a small hole-in-the-wall place, like a small bar, but with a great selection of video and pinball games. We especially had so much fun playing old pinball games! They have some real classics, including Twilight Zone, Medieval Madness, Attack from Mars, and others. Mostly they were 50 cents a game and if you are pretty good, you'll get your share of replays. The bar has a good selection of beers.
Love this bar! The games are great and cheap to play, the bar is small with enough of a selection to get your drunk on, and the bartenders are hot! It gets pretty busy at night, so if you love old video games but not fighting bar crowds, I recommend an early afternoon visit. 12/10 recommend.
This establishment discriminates against those with autism as I was not allowed on my birthday due to "being too quiet". When has that ever been an issue at any establishment?? My birthday was ruined last night because of this place. DO NOT GO HERE. Another Castle is way more friendly for the same stuff and price.
Love this place. What happened to the Killer Queen game though?! Miss it ??
Such a cool place! It's a bit maze-like inside, and that's half the fun. It actually reminds me a lot of the way places are laid out in places like Seoul and Amsterdam: cramped, but there's just something so cool about it. They have a good selection of games as well. Beer selection is solid, but nothing to write home about.
I have wanted to go here for years and I finally got around to it. It's delightful. The whole space is underground and feels like an 80s movie. A bunch of pinball machines are mixed in with other arcade games both new and old. The small upstairs room is a delight, featuring a couple table games, a small bar, and a handful of pinball machines. If you like coin operated games even a little bit, come to this place and enjoy yourself.
Great atmosphere, great machines, good cider selection (sue me). Was very pleasant with friends, even as crowded as it was when I went there on a Friday night. Absolutely plan on returning on a week night when it's less crowded. Keep in mind that the quarter machines only break 1s and 5s, but the bartenders can break 20s for you.
Great vibe! I like the venue. The weekends have a lot of the younger crowd there to drink and have fun. The weekdays are a little more chill. Wednesday night has the best weekly Pinball tournament in Seattle; some say the best in the state, maybe even nation.
Where to start? Well oddly enough it's the placement of change machines. As this place is large in scale for how tiny it can seem walking around. Trust me they squeeze in so much with so little space. The pinball is excellent. The old school is solid with 90s as main focus not a bad thing just some places go more retro like 70s and 80s. This place is like going back to 1994 minus the latest and newer pinball machines(yes they still make new ones) the prices are still low which is great cause arcades are goi
A true gem of a barcade! This place has been around awhile, but the vibe & the space hasn't changed. Still has flavor, still feels divey. And their lineup of pins is A+.
It's a great little "hole in the wall" pinball place. They have a large variety of machines, spanning many generations of pinball. They also regularly rotate games through, so there is usually something new to play. In addition, they have a good selection of arcade games from the current generation, as well as ones from our childhood. The upstairs is usually only open on the busier nights, but you can always call and ask about that. Most all of the games are a straight 50? per play, with the occasional exc
A fun arcade bar. Although pretty dense, it's an awesome arcade bar. They serve eats and the drinks were easily attainable. Definitely good vibes coming here and playing a few games. I'd love to check this place out again when back in Fremont-Seattle area.
The cheapest drinks you will find outside of a grocery store. Went here on a date and was blown away by how inexpensive alcohol was. Also most of the games are a quarter to play which is cool, because a lot of places will try and stiff you for 50 cent games. Only knocking this place a star because pinball can only be so fun and they could use a bit of diversity in their arcade selection. Definitely a fun spot, though!
AMAZING PLACE! Had a blast. Definitely one of my favorite bars!
Neat and lively place! Would definitely recommend! Super cool atmosphere that was darkly lit. So many games to play. Definitely bring some friends to play you in pinball or a childhood oldie arcade game. The bar is kinda small, so there is a bit of a wait sometimes.
Love this place. Great variety of pinball machines, laid back, and decent selection of beer. There's always a machine available and it's fun to watch others play. There's also plenty of seating so you can take a break from your intense game of pinball. :)
It’s a mix of nostalgia and high-energy fun! Many arcades blend retro classics like Pac-Man and pinball with modern VR games, racing simulators, and rhythm challenges — often with music, lights, and a social vibe.
Both can be great! Solo visits let you focus on your favorite games, while going with friends adds competition, teamwork, and laughs. Many people plan arcade meetups as a casual hangout or even date spot.
Usually just yourself and a way to pay (some arcades still use coins, others use cards or apps). If you're competitive, bring your A-game. If you're social, bring friends or meet new ones over multiplayer games.
Weekdays or early afternoons are usually less crowded — perfect for focused play. Evenings and weekends bring the buzz, especially at barcades or venues with DJs, tournaments, or themed nights.
Absolutely! Arcades attract a mix of casual players and serious gamers. Whether you're jumping into a four-player co-op or chatting between rounds, it's a fun, low-pressure way to connect over shared interests.
Not at all. While many arcades are family-friendly, there are also adult-oriented ones with full bars, 18+ nights, or vintage nostalgia themes. Arcades today cater to everyone — from first-timers to lifelong gamers.
Yes! Many arcades host regular competitions, retro nights, cosplay parties, and more. Whether you're into high scores or just want to watch and vibe, events add an extra layer to the experience.
No worries — arcades are about having fun, not being perfect. Try a variety of games, ask others for tips, and remember: the vibe is more “let’s play” than “let’s win.”