LeaderBoard Arcade Bar & Pizzeria Jax

LeaderBoard Arcade Bar & Pizzeria Jax

Reviews Summary

The consensus is overwhelmingly positive, with most reviewers praising the extensive game selection, great food (especially pizza), and friendly staff. Many highlight the excellent value of $25 for unlimited play. The nostalgic atmosphere and variety of imported Japanese games are frequently mentioned as standout features. A few negative reviews cite issues with broken games, unclear policies (like air hockey being turned off on Sundays), and occasional technical problems. Some mention spotty WiFi and minor service hiccups, but these are outweighed by the overall fun, vibrant experience. The new location is particularly praised for its size and improved offerings.

About This Listing

Has Retro Games
Has Arcade Cabinets
Has Food
Has Pinball Machines
Good for kids
Wheelchair Accessible

Who Can Play?

Most arcades welcome all ages (some may have age restrictions for certain games)
Minors may need parent/guardian supervision (policies vary by location)
No gaming experience required - games range from beginner to expert level
Comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes recommended for safety
Valid ID may be required for certain attractions or age verification
Groups and parties welcome (advance booking may be required)

*Note: Age restrictions and policies may vary by arcade. Check with your local facility for specifics.*

First-Time Visitors

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.

Common Restrictions:

Age-Based Some games may have height or age requirements for safety reasons
Capacity Popular games may have wait times during peak hours

*Note: Policies vary by arcade. Confirm with your local facility.*

What to Bring

Cash or card for tokens/credits (some arcades are cashless)
Valid ID for age verification or membership signup
Phone to capture high scores and memories (check photo policies)

*Note: Payment methods and requirements may differ by arcade.*

Preparing for Your Visit

Check arcade hours and peak times online before visiting
Eat beforehand or check if the arcade has food options
Bring friends for multiplayer games and competitions
Wear comfortable clothes you can move freely in
Avoid bringing valuable items that could be lost or damaged
Check for special events, tournaments, or discount days
Set a budget for games and stick to it
Stay hydrated, especially during long gaming sessions

*Note: Tips may vary by arcade type and location.*

How to Get Started

Most arcades accept walk-ins, but call ahead during busy periods or for large groups. Check for membership deals!

Other Helpful Info

Most visits last 1-3 hours depending on games and group size
Popular games may have longer wait times during weekends and evenings
Many arcades offer unlimited play packages or time-based pricing
Some locations host tournaments and special events regularly
Prize redemption available at many arcades - save your tickets!

*Note: Policies, pricing, and features differ by arcade. Contact your local facility for details.*

What to Expect from Pinball Tables in Arcades

Step up to a pinball table and dive into a vibrant, hands-on experience! Modern machines, like those from Stern or Jersey Jack, feature dazzling LCD screens, immersive themes (Star Wars, Stranger Things), and dynamic soundtracks. You’ll use flipper buttons to launch a steel ball, aiming for targets, ramps, and bumpers to rack up points. Each table has unique missions—hit specific targets to unlock bonuses or multiball modes for high-scoring chaos. Expect tactile thrills, flashing lights, and a lively crowd vibe, with tables rewarding skill and quick reflexes. Perfect for casual fun or competitive play, pinball delivers timeless arcade excitement in 2025.

What to Expect from Retro Games in Arcades

Step into the glow of retro arcade games and expect a nostalgic rush! Classics like Galaga, Donkey Kong, or Mortal Kombat await, housed in vibrant cabinets with joysticks, buttons, or trackballs. You’ll dodge enemies, chase high scores, or battle opponents in fast-paced, pixel-perfect gameplay. Modern restorations include sharp CRT or LED screens and authentic controls, preserving the 80s/90s vibe. Games are easy to learn but tough to master, offering quick sessions or deep challenges. With leaderboards and arcade crowds cheering, retro games deliver timeless fun in 2025.

Features

Has Retro Games
Has Arcade Cabinets
Has Food
Has Pinball Machines
Good for kids
Wheelchair Accessible

Contact Information

Address

5285 Shad Rd Suite 316

Jacksonville, Florida 32257

Hours

Monday 11AM-2AM
Tuesday 11AM-2AM
Wednesday 11AM-2AM
Thursday 11AM-2AM
Friday 11AM-2AM
Saturday 11AM-2AM
Sunday 11AM-2AM

Customer Reviews

First time here for my birthday and this did not disappoint. I got the 25 play all day and it was so worth it, you definitely get your money's worth here. It was a good crowd for the afternoon weekend but not unbearable. I like this location better than the orange park one with plenty more gaming options here than there. I didn't eat here but I heard their food was delicious. I'll try something when I go back

I was already familiar with the previous leaderboard location, but this new location surpassed all my expectations. The simplest way to play is to buy the $25 card which allows for unlimited game play, which might be a steep cost at face value, but it also includes pool and karaoke which absolutely justifies the price. Pool would otherwise be $10 so I feel that as long as you take advantage of this, the card pays for itself. There's a wide variety of games and everyone will find something to enjoy no matter

This place is undeniably amazing! I went here with my kids after visiting their other location. We were here for about 6 hours, had a blast playing all the games. We liked the pinball room to the 'right' more than the 'DDR/Guitar Hero' like games on the left - but that didn't stop us from trying nearly everything in the place. I cannot recommend this more highly for a sweltering day in the summer! I cannot wait to visit again! Amazing effort building out the new location, if I lived closer I'd beg them to i

Loved it! So much fun. I love pinball machines and they have so many awesome ones. My husband loved all the arcade games and retro consoles. The artwork and decor is so fun. The food is solid and on theme. The personal pizzas remind me of old school Pizza Hut. We also got the fried banana peppers and they were very good. $25 for mostly unlimited all day play. We had a lot of fun and will be back often.

This place is a great place to go to hang out and have a good time. I have to be honest, I am a little bias to the Orange Park LeaderBoard. This LeaderBoard does have a lot of games and feels roomier compared to the one in Orange Park. The food was good but felt like the food in OP was a tad bit better. Was not impressed with the egg rolls and the quesadilla felt below par. The space was open but it also felt warm. We were only eating our food and started to sweat a bit, then again it's FL. Here are the mai

This place is great! The vibe is very nostalgic and has a lot of great arcade games. But my friends and I go every Monday for the trivia! Morgan is a great host and always likes to spice up the rounds with a variety of subjects. The food and drinks are also great to have while we compete. I'm so happy to have found the trivia and this place to hang out with my friends, it always feels like a fun and safe place to go to!

I've been here now three times since finding out that Monday nights are service industry night. After 11pm it's only $11 for unlimited game play. This place is huge with probably 200 games! The bartender Kam is also awesome! Shes great and super friendly. Also come hungry because their pizza is damn good. I look forward to Mondays now just to come here.

25 dollars gets you unlimited play until 2 am. What's not to like about that? Old school video games and a ton of pinball and alit stern connected. Oh and they have a good number of drafts and bottled drinks. They serve food but didn't get that far this time. Will be back for sure.

This place is great! $25 all you can play (includes $5 card for the ticket/prize games like ski ball, basketball, and skill cranes). Honey siracha pizza was delish! We also liked the fried mac n gouda bacon bites. Staff were friendly and helpful. Went during the day and very kid friendly. Will definitely be back.

Super spacious and very clean. I mostly stayed in the rhythm game section off to the left, but they have something for everyone. Food was nice for the small amount I had. The 25 all day play deal was well worth it for the 7 or so hours I was there. Definitely recommend for anyone visiting Jacksonville.

The best arcade with the best customer service! I purchased 25$ worth of tokens but then saw they had a 25$ unlimited play card and realized I made a mistake by buying the tokens, but they gladly exchanged the two and gave me unlimited play at no extra cost! The only catch was that you can't play games that give you a physical reward with the unlimited play card, but it was still more than worth it for the immense selection of games. Will definitely visit again!

Totally worth $25 to play all day or if you want to just stop by you can play a few games and get points on a card. They have pool tables, a bar and grill I Really enjoyed their custom pizza?s all the retro games you can think of even have the unique air hockey initial D and maximum tune. Literally makes you feel like you're a teenager again. ??

I went here as a delayed birthday excursion back in October and I'm happy to report I had a blast here! The game selection here is nothing short of incredible, boasting a wide variety of genres across both their Japanese import and retro game areas. Whether you like fighting games, racing games, pinball, or old-school stuff, there's bound to be something for you. One part I would like to highlight is their curation of rhythm game titles. I had found out about this place when looking for nearby locations w

For unlimited games for $25 and it being local on our side of town, I think it's worth visiting once. I genuinely had fun playing all the old school games there with some friends of mine, as well as some modern games. However, the place did smell of smoke sometimes due to smokers outside bringing it in as well as some vape smells within the building. We didn't try any of the food or drinks, so there is no comment there. Spent a total of 3 hours just gaming before the smoke got too bad for us. Guitar hero

Yesterday a group of us went out to the new Leaderboard Arcade off Shad road to spend time together and have a good time. If you haven't been yet, and you enjoy a great barcade atmosphere, or looking for something fun to do this summer with the kids, check this place out. They have a "play all day" wristband for $25 that allows you to play as many arcade games as your heart desires. They have a full service bar and kitchen too. So while the kids are having a blast, you can sit at the bar and enjoy a drink o

Very fun place! Saw some games I haven't seen in decades! More kid friendly than the OP location, which is a good thing. Can't wait to go again!

What's not to love? We like the original location in Orange Park but wow.....the Shad Road location is HUGE. I have never seen so many rare Japanese ganes in one spot. I've also never seen so many pinball games in one spot. They have a karaoke room, old games, new games, a bad with nice servers and great food. I'll say it again: what's not to love?

Visiting from AZ, this place was strongly suggested as a place to go that was an alternative to a specific national arcade. I'm guessing the nostalgia factor is what brings the ratings up so high. Amount spent: $75 entry, $60 for ticket games, $30 pizza and soda, $40 alcohol (3 people x 2 drinks each). Here's the explanation for the score: - Entire center row of games were not set up for free play. This included classic games like zaxxon and arkanoid. -QR code to report the games as not working would not op

This place is amazing. So many games to play. They have two versions of play, One that uses credit and an all-day play. It's super reasonably priced. They also have food and drinks (the alcoholic kind). You could easily spend 6 hours in this place and not even play half the games. The staff is super nice and friendly. It's also a safe place for LGBTQ+

We had a great experience tonight! Kam was our bartender and did a fantastic job with our drinks and did a great job of checking with us for when we wanted a other drink. The arcade itself is also amazing. Large selection of old school, new school, rhythm, racing etc. Overall great experience.

Round 2, Fight! So i reviewed the leaderboards on wells rd about a year ago and i visited Leaderboards 2 on Shad Rd today. Here are some of my thoughts. I been playing video games since i was 5. im 47 now. and still play daily for hours. ive had every system from atari 2600 , turbo grafix 16 , nes , playstation, n64 , snes, ps1- ps4 .. im also into magic the gathering . ive been going to leaderboards on wells for over a year and i love it. Now for leaderboards 2. its definetly a 5 out of 5. 10 on nostal

Great Pizza and even more amazing games! Great atmosphere matched with a talented staff. This new location is a lot bigger than Wells road location and has a wide assortment of import arcade cabinets. The design of the space is very well thought out and there is even a private karaoke room!

Our first time going and the vibe is so cool! We ended up playing trivia and that was hella fun! I may suggest having the teams bring their paper to the MC rather than the MC tracking everyone down. The variety of the games and the $25 dollar play all day is such a steal! The tap list was pretty good and the mixed drinks were nice. Food was okay. We will definitely be coming back.

I am soo excited to discover this place! I had the Absolute Best time! Will be returning everything was on point the games the food the drinks. Most importantly the staff thank you for all your hard work! Beyond Satisfying

Me and my boys had a great time! For only 25 a person you can play unlimited games. Their food and drinks are really good too!! Definitely going again!!

So uh really just doing because some person thought it was okay to eat another person's food then leave a bad review for the business... As if it's the business's fault. I am a black women and I highly recommend this place to everyone I meet and know, unless you're an oddly entitled individual. It's a great family establishment for all. My friends and I go there and the Wells nearly every week. We have had zero issues with the staff. Just don't be weird, respect others yadda yadda. Signed your local autis

Fun place. They need to keep a tech on site though - got a ball stuck on a pinball machine but a tech wasn't going to be in for several hours. Good variety of games (and the big Pong machine is way cool). I'll be back

This site is huge and has as big selection and variety if games, as well as a bar with a reasonable amount of beer and cocktails. Just be careful when purchasing credits. The kiosk upsells you from your selection. Don't proceed too fast thru it's dialog screens.

We decided to try out the new leaderboard location on Shad Rd. This was my first time at any leaderboard location but my bf has frequented the other location quite a few times. I love how it's decorated and the flow is really nice. It doesn't feel super crowded even though there are a lot of people there. There is plenty of parking. The a/c and fans were great in most of the place. There are certain spots that do get kinda hot, like near the Pac-Man 4 person table. I'm sure they'll tweak these issues as th

Me and my friends went for a karaoke night and played in their arcade. We got a pepperoni pizza and it was so good. And the bartender Kamron was incredibly nice and helpful. 10/10 will come again

I come here as much as possible. It's a great place and the selection is amazing! The atmosphere is amazing! Does get loud at times. You can definitely tell they take care of their machines with care! The workers here are very lovely and great to talk to! If I lived in Jax; I could go here everyday

There was a misunderstanding of food being sat at the table my friends and I were occupying. Myself and my other poc friend stepped outside while others in our party remained at the table. Within the time we walked outside and came back in, a plate of califlower wings was brought to our table. Mind you, there were still 3 people still at the table and their drinks were still on said table. Someone in the party mistakenly ate off the plate thinking it belonged to one of us, which was not the case but a compl

As a first generation son of an immigrant mother, I was glad that the staff of LeaderBoard Arcade had openly welcomed me and didn't treat me as a social pariah. The games and food were all available to me, even though I am a cis gendered straight male of color. Though I am not neurodivergent, I was able to quickly get the hang of how to play all the games without any stones or nasty glares thrown at me. I have White and Asian friends that come over there too, so I'm allowed to say these things. I come to bo

I am obsessed with this place! My spouse and child have both had birthday parties here and we frequent for date night, it's such a gem. I love the variety of games and food and drink! From the karaoke room to the pinball extravaganza to the room of many beats, Leaderboards on Shad Rd puts all other arcades to shame. The food too! Tasty pizza, not soggy or greasy, wings with so much sauce you need a mound of napkins (I love saucey wings so if that's not your jam let them know!), corn nuggets, fried cheese go

Reminds me of the 90s, love it. Much needed hang out spot. Great selection of games, love the pizzeria bar with vegan & non-alcoholic options. Logan is the best!

Absolute, hands down, the best barcade in Jax. Games are incredibly varied, food is immaculate, and the value is unmatched. Will forever be a fan of this spot

This place is AWESOME!!! I arcade for pinball and this place is the best pinball arcade I've EVER been too!!! I travel for work and every place I go I play pinball. HANDS DOWN THE BEST OUT OF AT LEAST 20 ARCADES IN 5 STATES!!

$25 to play ALL DAY?!? Why are you going to Dave and Busters when you get hooked up here yo?!? You haveta be insane to pass up on this place!

I am so so happy Leaderboard now has a location in Mandarin!! I've been going to leaderboard in orange park for a while but this one is so much closer to me and has a LOT more games imo. Both are awesome places to have fun but I am very impressed with this location.

I really enjoyed the place, the staff was amazing and helpful, the service was even better, the variety of games available was impressive. Compared to the location in Orange Park, the cocktails felt weak and or watered down.

What a cool and fun local spot! Heard about this place so I sent my brother with my kids a few weeks ago. They totally enjoyed it so today I took my kids a second time with my husband and another family. We all enjoyed ourselves! Great price for all day play. Staff is really nice. So many games, I didn't see any broken like you would at other places. There's a clean bar that doesn't smell like a dish rag. The bartender was ultra attentive, even noting my comment on one of the games having sticky controllers

Spent $75 for the kids specifically to play air hockey. We were told the table was turned off because it's too loud and we were not offered a refund.. Edit: They refunded us one person ($25 card) and let us know they always unplug air hockey on Sundays. The girl working the front was very nice about it at least.

First time in yesterday. Tons of drink choices, ATM for cash for the arcade, a variety of fun games. We loved it and will be back!

Obsessed with this establishment! The experience is so fun and the food is to die for, especially the pizza and wings. All the employees are always helpful and friendly as well. I'd love if they had a membership option.

This is a great arcade. Amazing pizza ?? but it was tiny, it has games like Pong, asteroids, and like 50 pinball machines. Overall experience 5 stars

The deal they got here is a STEALLL like pizza and drink with unlimited time with imported arcade cabinets?! Dave and busters count your daaayys cuz this place is the hangout spot now to be with friends personally. Oh and the pizza slaps and maybe just me but nostalgic??? Whatever they put in there ima come back for more!!!

Visited leaderboard on a Sunday 11/24 and it was great as always even better than last time. We were greeted by a nice lady at the front desk named Leeann (black and green hair) she helped us with our cards and explained that we could use the karaoke machine. Last time we came a lady denied us use of the karaoke machine because we didn't have our id for her to hold while we used the area. Leeann informed us that it should not have happened and let us use the karaoke area without use of ID although we had t

The ultimate game/date/family night experience. I'm glad there's something to do on this side of town. I had a blast my first time here celebrating my birthday with family & friends. The food & alcohol beverages were delicious 8.5/10. Had the pepperoni pizza and lemon pepper wings with tater tots! Yes, tater tots!! Nostalgic feelings with all the arcade games & pinball machines. They have a lot of stuff to do! Staff were amazing and friendly. I'd recommend this place to anyone wanting to have a fun night!

I loved going to this place the few days I was up here at Jax. The arcade games I liked the most were Initial D, Wangan Midnight, and Pop'n Music. The pizza was really great too. I'd love to come here again if I move up to Jax and get the chance next time.

Fantastic place, wonderful atmosphere, good alcohol and food selection, fantastic crowd. must visit part of nerdom. 5/7 perfect score.

Fun spot and 25.00 all day free play. The asian game section was fun to learn how to play even though I understood nothing. Pizza ok macncheese bites good but small portion. New games and better air hockey

The environment has a lot to do, but there's a very emotional man working behind the bar. I would avoid ordering anything from him!

i love this place it's amazing i come every week it's my favorite place to go me and my boyfriend love it . there are so many games my only thing is it gets really loud in some areas and i can't focus on my game so i use earplugs , which i think this place could benefit from selling some cute ones if they wanted. i have a great time here. the people that work here are amazing i feel so comfortable here.

So much FUN!! They have all sorts of games, great drinks and excellent food!! This is the place for pinball!!

Saw this location opened recently and its 5 min from my house instead of having to drive to OP. $25 free play all day was awesome. We spent about 4 hours there playing all the classics and then learning the wide variety of Japanese arcade games. Good pizza & decent selection of craft beer. 5/5 will return

A solid and genuinely fun experience with friends or alone. The variety of games and arcades pair great with the atmosphere and awesome staff. LeaderBoard is my go-to whenever i want to enjoy my free time, meet some cool people, and have a nice drink. Truly grateful for this spot.

Me and some friends went to leaderboard and it was a great experience the host Trevor was really nice would definitely recommend coming here

Amazing place, had really good car games, the pinball is a wonderful game, I love it so much, my son's didn't know that arcade games can be so cool. They want to go back soon.

This was my first experience here following a recommendation from my brother after hearing you'd have all-day play following a purchase of a $25 play card. There is a wide selection of cabinets ranging from classic options to new and modern games that certainly leave you with many great experiences; HOWEVER, I had brought some friends here for my birthday and we had ordered some food early into our evening. We weren't able to finish all of it, and was told our pizzas would be held at the front desk for us t

Nice layout! Open and airy with a ton of games. $25 to play as long as you want, yes! Gluten free pizza, yes! Spent several hours here. Waitress was amazing at running out all the food. Clean place, lots of areas to sit and chill. My pizza was excellent. They took all the necessary precautions for my gluten allergy. That means so much to me. Thank you!

A lot of fun. So many old school arcade games.

This place is FUN, FUN, FUN!!! So many old school games, pinball machines and even new games! Bar is fully stocked and nice craft beers. Pizza is average, nothing to write home about but definitely a great time!

I truly love and enjoy this place. I feel like a kid every time I go. Love the decor, love the food, love the staff, love the options? It's great! Yesterday I had an unfortunate situation happen on the parking lot. My car was hit and whoever hit it left without leaving insurance information. The staff helped me with the police report, helped us with any cameras that were available, and supported us through the whole ordeal. Thank you for being so human in a moment I needed it the most. You will forever hav

It's a vast improvement when comparing to the Orange Park location as it has more space between machines and more selection. If you plan on visiting, I would suggest making at least an afternoon of it. The food was fine for what it is. If you plan on having pizza, I would suggest at least the 10 party deal as it comes with pizza and drink, along with access to the games. One wrinkle I do have are the prize machines. Each machine requires 22 credits, which is roughly $4. This includes the candy and small toy

The only gripe I have is there only being a 2 song limit on the DDR cabs, arcade standard is about 5 credits per song and you're asking 12.5 per play. The machine has sat idle quite a bit on all my times there thus far (when I'm not on it). Would like to see that bumped up, especially since the Stepmania crash cab you have on the Wells location also plays for 3... The credit machine will also prompt for an "Upgrade" when refilling credits, kinda a headache. Other than that, very nice addition from the Well

Awesome place to drink and play a variety of games. They even have darts and pool tables. Also the Buffalo chicken pizza is really good.

Great place to play classic arcade games. I have been a fan of pinball since I was able to reach the flippers. The issue I have about the pinball machines is the way they are leveled front to back. The rear risers are all the way up, the front risers are all the way down. It makes the game more challenging. But it also changes the way the game is played. Some of the machines have trouble getting up ramps due to the steep incline. The Austin Powers machine flippers are barely able to push the ball up to the

Love this place. Games are great and Bar staff is amazing. Logan and Kam always take such great care of us.

I don't usually review places, but I felt I should after such a stellar place. This place is irresistibly charming. Even alone the decorations?the little rips of video game manuals, art of classic video game characters spray-painted on the walls?made me feel really at home as a huge geek. There's this certain air of excitement and nostalgia that Leaderboard captures perfectly. I also love the range of activities (karaoke, pool) and types of games you can play here, although I haven't been to the OP area h

Great place. This a pay one price and play all day which I love!

So many games to play! I did the $25 all you can play all day and it was definitely worth it. Played everything I wanted multiple times. The deep dish pizza is amazing and the spicy ranch that comes with one of the appetizers should come with everything!

We had an amazing day here and will definitely be back! Great people, food is delicious, and lots of great games to play for any age.

Worth the $25 to play, ???? Tina of game to keep everyone happy. Deep dish pizza was good.

Very good environment, plenty of arcade game varieties, and you can get a delicious pizza and a drink along with all day play for 25$ in a package deal!

Megan the bartender was fantastic and we had a great time in the karaoke room!

I had fun playing games, but there were some issues with the $25 all-you-can-play cards and the karaoke room.First of all, they don't tell you that with the all-you-can-play card, you can't play any of the little claw machines for candy or small trinkets. In fact, anything that can give you prizes is off-limits. I understand Not letting you play the games for big prizes, but we're talking about an at most 5 cent piece of candy from a kids' claw machine, and it's $25 for the card. They might have signs but I

Wide assortment of games my only complaint is the location of the airhockey table the tinking of the puck gets annoying when youre trying to play the pinball machines theres gotta be a better location for it near games that dont need so much focused attention. my best experiences are when nobody is using that machine.

I was VERY excited to see this location. I drive by there at least a half dozen times a week, and I live close enough to walk. So this was going to be one of my goto lunch spot. Stop in have a drink, a little food, and play a few games. They removed this as a possibility when they decided that the games would not run on quarters and/or tokens, there is no way to pay for just a few games. The only play option is an all-day arm band for $25. That's AMAZING if I want to stay there all night, and we will

literally the best arcade in jax i dont care what anyone says. will be going to this one always and the fact you guys still have working wacca machines and such a big variety of game is amazing. more space. better food and kinder staff. god bless. even having a karaoke room that you can have private if you want to bring your friends to sing with you, which again the old leaderboard doesnt have.

What a great place! Walked in on a Tuesday night and had a fantastic 14th birthday party. 4 teens and and 9 adults- 4 pizzas later and hours of game play. Good times! Will definitely be back.

By far my favorite barcade to go to in Jacksonville. Very great selection of rhythm games from Chunithym, to Beatmania IIDX, SDVX, Project Diva, and even more obscure games like WACCA (Which is my favorite arcade rhythm game). They also host trivia nights and events that are very fun to take part of. Had a lot of fun with the Pokemon Trivia, my team smoked the competition and had a blast. Great, great barcade with a fantastic atmosphere and selection of both modern and retro games. Love this place!

It was so great that I lost track of time. Hours went by as if it was just minutes.

Best arcade in Jacksonville. They have a huge selection of great machines. The entrance price is $25 and allows you to play all day. This is such a great deal. I hope they always offer this option.

Fun place to be, Barcade is definitely back in style! One thing to note though, signal for most providers sucks and your phone will probably be on SOS, and their Wi-Fi is just simply not enough. Makes it a little more annoying having to walk out of the front door every little bit to make sure your family is not dying on the side of the road or a tornado is about to roll through.

This place is awesome. All the retro arcade, pinball, modern gaming, redemption, and consoles you can handle. Full bar, plenty of beer and cider. Pizza and friendly staff.

Really cool place. I set a high score on the pac man original but it didn't ask me for my name :(

One of the best arcades I've been to! Nostalgia overload!!!

So so fun, big venue! So much nostalgia but modern- spacious- all an adventure. Gotta get the loaded tots with the jalape?o ranch. (& of course if ur an adult- have the adult Caprisun [a MUST]). Delicious ?? LB is theeee arcade hang out spot!

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s it like visiting an arcade today?

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.

Is it better to go alone or with friends?

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.

What should I bring to an arcade?

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.

What’s the best time to visit an arcade?

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.

Can I meet new people at arcades?

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.

Are arcades still just for kids?

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.

Are there events or tournaments I can join?

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.

What if I’m not great at arcade games?

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.”

Are pinball tables still good in this modern age?

Yes, pinball tables in arcades remain a blast. Their hands-on, skill-driven gameplay delivers a thrill digital games can’t match, blending nostalgia with modern flair. Newer tables from Stern and Jersey Jack feature LCD screens and themes like Avengers or Stranger Things, keeping things exciting. Arcades are seeing a pinball resurgence with vibrant scenes and tournaments like IFPA events drawing crowds. Though less common than video games, pinball’s tactile charm and community vibe make it a standout arcade experience in 2025.

Are retro games in arcades still good in this modern age?

Absolutely, retro games in arcades remain a thrilling draw in 2025! Classics like Pac-Man, Space Invaders, and Street Fighter II offer simple yet addictive gameplay, blending nostalgia with timeless challenge. Modern arcade cabinets often feature crisp displays and restored controls, enhancing the experience. These games thrive on quick reflexes and strategy, with vibrant pixel art and iconic soundtracks that spark joy. Arcades host tournaments and leaderboards, fostering a lively community. While modern games dominate, retro titles provide a unique, accessible thrill that keeps arcades buzzing.