Oscar's Playground

Oscar's Playground

Reviews Summary

Oscar's Playground is highly praised for its fun, family-friendly atmosphere with a mix of arcade games and top-notch escape rooms. Reviewers highlight the well-maintained games, affordable pricing, and excellent customer service, often mentioning friendly staff and owners. The escape rooms are particularly noted for being immersive, clever, and enjoyable for both beginners and experienced players. While most reviews are glowing, a few mention the space being smaller than expected or the escape rooms slightly pricey. Overall, it’s a beloved spot for birthdays, group outings, and casual visits, with many planning return trips.

About This Listing

Has Retro Games
Has Arcade Cabinets
Has Food
Good for kids
Has Prizes
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 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.

How Arcade Prize Games Work

Dive into the excitement of arcade prize games! Expect claw machines, skee-ball, whack-a-mole, or basketball challenges where you test your skills or luck to win tickets or prizes directly. Claw games require precise joystick control to grab toys, while redemption games reward accuracy with tickets to trade for plushies, gadgets, or trinkets at prize counters. Modern setups boast colorful displays and smooth mechanics, blending nostalgia with fresh fun. The thrill of winning and the vibrant arcade vibe make prize games a captivating draw in 2025.

Features

Has Retro Games
Has Arcade Cabinets
Has Food
Good for kids
Has Prizes
Wheelchair Accessible

Contact Information

Address

685 Cannery Row Third Floor

Monterey, California 93940

Hours

Monday 1-9PM
Tuesday 1-9PM
Wednesday 1-9PM
Thursday 1-9PM
Friday 1-10PM
Saturday 11AM-10PM
Sunday 11AM-9PM

Customer Reviews

Strong in the Force, this place is. A sanctuary of play and challenge, Oscar?s Playground is?a hidden gem where the lighthearted and the bold may test their skills. The arcade, a battleground of reflex and strategy, offers trials aplenty: ticket redemption games, air hockey, pinball, basketball, and swift-moving racer and shooter games. Most demand but a modest tribute of credits?$1 to $1.50?though some trials, great in reward but steep in price ($5), I chose to forgo. Yet, the wise may find value in their

What a great place to throw a birthday party! Oscar's Playground is where the old Blue Fin bar used to be so it's on the third level of the building in Cannery Row. This is one of the best deals in town!! They really take care of you and give you a beautiful, clean and spacious party room to set up a party in. They put out the tables for you and the chairs and even had a Bluetooth speaker to play music through. I didn't even realize until the actual party day that there was a beautiful balcony/patio that ov

We LOVED Oscar?s playground! We played all three escape rooms here. I've played hundreds of escape rooms and these ones are top notch. The set design was immersive and highly impressive. These themes were well thought out and most importantly the puzzles were fun, unique, clever, and fair. The atmosphere here is one of excitement. They have fun arcade games, snacks and a party area. If I lived locally I'd have a birthday party here in a heartbeat. We completed the games over a two day period and everyone i

This barcade was an epic highlight for my brother, wife and I. So happy we stumbled in to see what it was all about. We grabbed drinks from the bar and felt like kids again as we played unlimited games for an hour. I loved the chill space up front with huge couches where you can relax and enjoy views of Cannery Row. Didn't have time to enjoy an escape room, but they looked amazing too. We had such a blast during our visit and Christina?s hospitality, a total highlight of our family reunion weekend!

Very clean! Including the bathroom. I love the decor and lounge area. I was able to relax with my infant while my older children played in the arcade. Why is this the first arcade I've been too with a nice area for adults ?! Oh and they have beer.

It was me and my girlfriend's first time doing an escape room and it was a blast. Our gamemaster was Ashley and she was helpful without hindering the game. Will definitely be back when we're here! Also the arcade games were so fun!

Came here with the kids to get out of the rain and plan our next move. The owner, Christina, is super friendly. This was the perfect escape from the rain. Lots of fun games to play and very clean! I will definitely be back next time we are in town.

My kiddos have been here once or twice with Mom but have been begging me to go back. I took one of my dudes for his birthday and we had a great time! During a quick snack break, we were greeted by an incredibly kind staff member, who I assume is the owner or manager (they were all great), and she made my son?s birthday even more special. She made him and me feel incredibly welcome and appreciated. I can't thank her enough for the amazing service. My son bragged for hours to his friends and brothers about ho

The escape room was fun. Per their policy, you have to sign up ahead of time, but there are no refunds and you can't get credit no matter what. Two of our friends got sick the day of the escape room and weren't able to get credit or get their money back. Kind of a sucky policy. Other than that, cool place!

We just LOVE Oscars Playground. The owners run a great business. They are always adequately staffed and are always making sure the games are clean and the establishment as a whole is very clean. It's lively, fun and games)machines do get changed out for different ones, creating a sense of excitement when you are a returning customer. Every staff member is so kind and friendly as well. Lastly, we rented their party room for our daughter's Birthday and I loved that they allowed us privacy, yet if we needed an

Thanks to the owners for having a business in Monterey that is visibly safe for LGBTQ+ people! I will happily support their spot and they have great games!

This is a great place to have fun for the entire family! The arcade games, prize machines and lounge area were amazing and the escape room choices are awesome! We appreciated the great customer service from Tianna, Willa and Tracy!!

We absolutely love this place but after hosting our child?s birthday, we are even more obsessed with Oscar?s. The event space is awesome and facility?s setup is perfect for hosting an event. The friendly service was on point, the place is so clean and it is very safe for kids given only one entrance/ exit. We will be back to host another event and highly recommend this venue for events or a day of arcade games!

Small arcade atop a third floor space overlooking the center of Monterey's Cannery Row. There is an Escape Room attraction, an open area to sit, relax and play a few games and of course a smallish collection of the latest arcade games.

Had the best time at Oscar's while visiting Monterey! A definite must do! Fun games, friendly staff, and great prizes. So much fun for the whole family!

We went to a birthday party here today. One of my sons is overwhelmed by loud noise and large numbers of people. He did not want to go past the lobby and a tall employee discreetly offered to sneak us through the back kitchen to help my son enter the arcade more easily. It worked and I was so thankful for the compassion and thoughtfulness displayed by the employee. We had a great time. Thank you!

I have never written a review before but felt the need to do so tonight. We had our 7 year olds birthday party at Oscar?s playground and it was amazing. From booking to clean up, it was such an great experience. The owners and staff were all insanely kind and helpful, it was clear they care about being part of the community not just making money. They want to provide a clean, safe fun experience for a reasonable price. What more could you possibly ask for? I was very unprepared and didn't bring enough table

That was an amazing game room at Oscar?s And snack bar also too! Awesome!

Underrated gem in Cannery Row. Great games, great workers, great everything, and that is all I have to say. Great place for children.

A must do in Monterey. Great atmosphere and lots of fun for the kid in us all.

We visited this place last Saturday, the 18th around 6pm. After a busy day at the aquarium, my wife and I were looking for something to do as a family with our kids to end the day. From the moment we stepped in, we were greeted by a smiling face. The lady working the front recommended that we walk around and check out the establishment before making any purchases. The majority of games were only $1 to play, which is a pleasant change when compared to other places charging near $3 per swipe. The entire level

Came here for the pinball machines which were pretty good, but stayed for Minecraft dungeons, halo shooters, basketball, and just a sick lounge. Awesome place and pretty cheap for an arcade of this quality

Ashley helped us with our arcade experience and was amazing! She not only gave us hints when we needed them, but took the time to explain puzzles that were confusing after we finished. We had an amazing time! Thank you Ashley!

Had my soon to be 7yr olds birthday party here. The event space was perfect. It was a large space, totally affordable. The staff from owners to the teen gentlemen who helped us were amazing. Super flexible and they bent over backwards to help us. The arcade was great and kids had a wonderful time. So grateful that we happened upon this place. I would recommend this place and would come here again and again. Even without the party! I should add that the space felt super safe. I knew that the kids running ar

Thank you so much, Barrie and Christina, for giving my son such a memorable birthday party! The party room is spacious and spectacular with ocean views, the Escape Room and Arcade provided tons of fun for my son and his guests! The goodie bags are very thoughtful too. Also, thank you for being so responsive for my calls and emails before and after business hours.

This place is awesome, games are nice and pretty well maintained. My family had a great time after a good meal across the way. The owners take pride in their business the customer service is what you would imagine from a family run business.

Barrie and Christina always do an awesome job transforming any space into a memorable experience! We love their other escape room locations in Monterey (highly recommend working your way through their rooms!) And we were excited the check out Oscar's Playground. We played the Mystical Manor room, and it was super fun. The right amount of difficulty for both new and experienced escape room players. We can't wait to go back and play the other two rooms for this location. Thanks!

Amazing video games, so great for birthday parties, but my FAVORITE part is the escape rooms. So freaking fun. Highly recommend for any group of friends looking for an incredible experience. Go go go.

Oscar's is a very welcomed addition to Cannery Row! Awesome family friendly environment that takes escape rooms to the next level. On top of their very well put together escape rooms, they have an amazing selection of arcade games. Owners are generally on-site and very pleasant so I highly suggest checking them out!

I absolutely love this place! It's clean, the machines are all new and functioning well, and the games are SO FUN. The prices are also reasonable. I love that you can spend tickets on drinks/snacks at the snack bar! The people are SO friendly and so helpful too. This is a great place to spend an afternoon with kids, and if you're stuck waiting for a dinner reservation, there's no better place to kill 40 minutes!

Arcade was great for families. It was SO clean and the staff were super nice. Would definitely come back! The unlimited card was a great deal.

First of all the manager of the Escape Rooms is very rude and not about customer service. I was in middle of booking a room my daughter wanted for her birthday and it showed that it didn't complete booking, so I called the next morning and the room was booked at the time I needed even though my booking was still open to finish. He didn't seem to care to do anything about it. We picked a different room because it was only day and time we could do and no discount or apology was offered. They also don't offer

Fun place for games and birthday parties. Nice view of the bay and good selection of games in a compact area. Food, drinks and escape room also available

Great time, arcade games were fun card was worth it cool prizes ESCAPE ROOM. WAS AWESOME the employee, Scott and our game master was great ?? he also had the ???????? sense of humor ?? I think he was very great and honestly deserves a raise for his comedy and clues

Took my family yesterday. They had such a great time. We did the innocence room. It was great but even though there were 8 of us we FAILED! Such a fun challenge. The arcade games were great

Lots of fun great customer service fantastic experience

Lots of fun for the whole family. Staff was super friendly to my family and fun prizes for the kiddos to win. Games are super new and very affordable. Only problem is your kiddo won't want to leave because their are so many fun games! But it's a good problem. ?? Located on the third floor.

This arcade has Jurassic Park AND Halo. My 2 favorite games from the arcade back home. Look out, Oscar?s Playground. My name is about to stay on that scoreboard in the top spot. I know how to trap all the dinosaurs at the end of each level?. ??

Had fun with my kiddos. The ability to have all the tokens on a card was convenient and made things easy.

Great vibe. Easy going and down to Earth owner and staff!! I recommend two adults as well as their kiddos. Meaning the environment to save for the grown-ups to do their thing and the kids to do their own thing

I took my daughter and her friends here and she said there was a lady who was yelling at them and they did nothing, Other then that they had a pretty good time.

Very fun! don't be afraid to ask for clues. The staff don't bite (usually). By far, my favorite thing we did in Monterey

Nice arcade... has a full bar. We did the escape room which was fun. Staff very friendly.

There's a bar, Jurassic park shooting game, motorcycle racing, and pacman amongst some fair grounds classics. Awesome and fun place to go with buds beer and games. Glad they are open late

I loved the place the owner gave us free snacks and we where the first ten people to be here and there was Jenga and there was tick tack toe and connect four it was fun and the air conditioning was cool and we played slam and jam basketball pro mincraft dungeons it was fun for sure come and for the owner thank you for the free snacks Nice knowing you thanks for giving us free drinks free snacks for sure recommend this place you can get candy near we're that place and it was fun.

Awesome escape room. Enjoyed it quite a bit. The arcade games were fun as well. Overall, very enjoyable experience.

We had a good time but it didn't have very many games to choose from. But all in all it's a cool spot.

Creative and clever escape room. Beat it with less then 3 minutes to go!!!

Had a great experience here. Tons of fun arcade games. Everyone working there was very nice.

It was Nice and Clean. Staff was Great. All they need is to add more cocktails of choices

Fun, clean and not too expensive. Great for a family day!

Really hidden and super fun

Great for kids. They loved the escape rooms and arcade games.

Clean, fun area to hang out. Snacks and beverages available. Clean bathrooms.

Not what was expected, very small. Escape room is super expensive for the place ??

4 year old loves the whack a mole game and the carnival clown game

Fun place! Immaculately clean.

I hate tourist traps that are a huge rip off!!!! Anyone else? Well, I have a bit of good news for you?..We found Oscar?s playground to be quite the opposite. Sure it's touristy, I mean you're right by the Monterey Bay aquarium. However, let me just point out a few key features here for you parents with a tendency to avoid soul sucking tourist Stops for your kids while you're on vacation. First of all they have a bar with beer and seltzer and such?. also, this place is extremely well run and managed. constan

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 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.

Why are arcade prize games so exciting to play?

Arcade prize games are a thrilling highlight in 2025! Claw machines, skee-ball, and ticket-redemption games like basketball offer a rush of skill and chance, with rewards like plushies, toys, or electronics up for grabs. Modern machines feature vibrant lights, digital scoreboards, and responsive controls, amplifying the fun. The lively arcade atmosphere, with cheering crowds and buzzing energy, makes every win feel epic.