Santikos Cibolo

Santikos Cibolo

Reviews Summary

Overall, reviews are mixed but lean positive. Many praise the theater's amenities (bowling, arcade, laser tag), comfortable seating, and variety of food options. Staff friendliness and cleanliness are frequently highlighted, though some note inconsistent service or maintenance issues. Complaints include high prices, unkempt facilities, stale food, and poor bowling lane upkeep. While some visitors prefer other locations, most appreciate the all-in-one entertainment experience, making it a popular family destination despite occasional drawbacks.

About This Listing

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.*

Features

Wheelchair Accessible

Contact Information

Address

18124 I-35

Cibolo, Texas 78108

Customer Reviews

Recently visited this Santikos location last $5 Tuesday and it was great. Of course the food and drink prices are expensive but can't beat a $5 movie ticket. Plus you can refill both your popcorn and drinks. Inside they have bowling, an arcade, a bar, VR, and other fun things to do other than just the movies. They also have very nice and comfortable recliner seats in all the theaters. The bathrooms were clean though the concessions where you get the popcorn and drinks was pretty dirty. Other than that it wa

Clean, modern and tons of fun. The food is way better than you would expect from a movie theater, and the games were a blast. We did have a few issues with the power recliner controls, but our experience was awesome overall.

Love this theater. We'd go more often if it wasn't so far. Love that you can do bowling, movies, arcade, and grab food all in one. Tons of parking, the food is good here. Arcade is a decent size, and everything works.

First time going here. Overall, it was fine. Fries were cold chicken sandwich was good. The pizza.. we were told 5 pepperonis was the max amount allowed per pizza? it was good but not worth it.

Love Santikos Cibolo! Especially on Movie Tuesdays when tickets, large drinks and large popcorn are $4.99 each. It's become our favorite family mid-week outing! Posting pictures of their menu for your convenience. You're welcome!

I like watching movies here because the seats are comfortable and it's a decent movie going experience but, the food? PASS. I mean seriously what is this? This is a step below the cinnamon toast I made as a kid. $9 was a robbery for real.

We had a wonderful time at a very family-friendly, albeit slightly overpriced, place! It's an excellent place to take grandkids when they get bored with their video games. Just be prepared to spend a little, but it was worth it to see the joy on their faces. And, of course, you can't put a price on beautiful memories?lots of games and bowling to top it all off. Superb!

Absolutely disgusting in the bathroom, covered in pee and soda. Most of the stalls have NO TP! The seats are covered in butter and popcorn and cracks everywhere. And to make it worse it's beyond hot inside the theater room it's self. Wish I experienced a better time but I guess that's what you get when you go in public run by rude teenagers.

8/2024 Santikos Theater in Cibolo offers a fantastic movie-going experience. The staff are incredibly polite and always ready to assist with any questions or needs. The theater features a fun arcade that adds an extra layer of entertainment for both kids and adults. The restrooms are very clean and well-maintained, which is always a plus. The selection of snacks and meals is impressive, catering to a variety of tastes and preferences. One of the highlights for me was the popcorn machine where you can go bac

A variety of entertainment. Bowling, pizza, beers, a movie theaters, and game rooms. You can get your movie tickets online & choose your seats. Clean areas. Available free parking. Fresh popcorn and soft drinks.

Love this place! We visit frequently. Just went for the free summer show for kids. They had almost all of the theaters showing the movie. Plenty of room for all.

This theatre is very nice, I love watching movies here. They have awesome food, games and a bowling alley. Everything you could want in a theatre is here, plus the money they make goes back into the community. You can't beat that!

It was so much fun took granddaughter for birthday watched Lilo and Stitch loved the movie

Why offer bowling if you don't care enough about it to oil the lanes routinely? If you decide not to oil the lanes then ok but why charge full price for bowling like it's something you are fully invested in. This is on top of the fact that it's so dark you can't even see the lane arrows. The audacity to charge more than actual bowling centers and miss this badly is insane. The staff is friendly and the cinematic experience is fine as well.

Came here on a Friday evening to watch a first run movie. While only there to see a movie, looked like a fun family place. There were bowling lanes, a game area, bar area, and food concessions even if not watching a movie. Concessions area was clean, plenty of staff working, and food was ready quickly. As far as the theater, seats were clean, good audio and video. Will come back again for a movie or some family fun.

Santikos Cibolo is our go to location for our birthday traditions. We love spending time in the arcade and then watching movies as a family.

Very nice new theater. Roomy rows make it easy to get up from your seat if you need to. Very comfortable reclining seats with a snack tray and cup holder. Also a very nice bowling alley, arcade, VR, bar, concessions, and oven fired pizza. We will definitely be regulars, so glad they opened this location.

As far as Santikos goes, I prefer the palladium. But this one is adequate for movie watching. The only downside is that the popcorn kinda sucks. I'll definitely be back for all my random movies, but for the big ones like Superman or any marvel or star wars ones, I'm going to the palladium. It's a Santikos win either way.

One of the best locations to enjoy the Santikos $5.00 movie Tuesday's. The location is clean, staff is friendly and it's just a chilled spot. We also love the fact that Santikos has a charitable Foundation, so we love supporting this business. Thank for keeping the $5.00 Tuesday's. See you next week. We got to see the 20th year anniversary of Stat Wars.

We chose this theater to see Top Gun Maverick and it did not disappoint, the movie or the theater. I could complain about theater pricing for concessions but we all know that it just is what it is, right? Tickets weren't bad really at $11.50 each for matinee. Do your research though. When I went to the website to purchase the tickets several purchasing options popped up; Fandango, Santikos, Atom and one or two more I cannot recall. I checked each one to see if prices varied and they certainly did. Santikos

Theater is great lot of stuff to do and very clean, really enjoyable experience watching the movie! Only thing in future maybe have 4DX seats for a more awesome experience, but other than that really nice place.

We reserved the Gamebox for 30 minutes and played angry birds it was fun and interactive. They have several games you can play that range from 30 min to an hour, but this being our first time we went with the 30 min. It was spring break, so the place was busy. We bought a game pass card for $15 that allowed you to play games for an hour, but you can only play certain games and were not worth it as the place was packed. We also tried bowling, but again, the wait was just under two hours, so we decided to pas

Kind of shady how you advertise $4.99 food deals on Tuesday?s, but then you get up to the concession stand and they tell you it ended at 6:30! Then pointed to ONE tiny sign that was only at one register? that does in fact show a 6:30 end time, BUT it's for happy hour M-Th soooo. Either your cashier lied to me and charged me double or you need to quit using crappy advertising

Such an awesome place!!! Hands down! The bowling place is great! Dim lights, black Light, cool background for scores. Arcade is great! Also movie theatre and laser tag. You can't go wrong! All amazing, fun things - all in one spot! The food is great as well!!! ??

Fun place for young crowds. Lots to do that I've long outgrown; laser tag, arcade games, bowling, movies etc. Includes an eatery and bar but kinda pricey. Nice facilities and kept clean. For us older crowd though I'd consider earplugs or noise canceling headphones.

We bowled here recently and had a pleasant experience. The only thing I didn't like was that it was only 4 parties bowling at the time and they put us right next to another party/lane that was bowling which was pretty distracting and awkward. They were at lane 2 and we were at 3.

For my 60th birthday, my daughter arranged for a private sing-a-long screening of Mama Mia. It was a blast!! We dressed up, got to sing and dance in the theater and eat cake! The staff was great, came in to check on us, but gave us our space. The only problem with that is that you can only book it 3 weeks in advance, which is not a lot of time for notifying people, and the limit is 25 guests for a total of 2 hours. On the up side, your guests don't have to buy a ticket, but they can buy their own goodies

It's okay I guess. We definitely enjoy EVO more. Prices are better at EVO.... Staff is nicer. Here the seats are great... very clean... but staff are so rude. I really just don't understand. I'd say because the two that helped us were young, but there are young ones at EVO too and they've been kind. So yeah I'm just not into it. We went once to see and compare.... we won't be back.

There's so much to do at this "cinema". From bowling to laser tag. An arcade with plenty for everyone. This was our first trip and we watched Sonic 2 in a comfortable theater with big reclining chairs. Everything appears clean and organized. We will definitely come back to enjoy some family time.

The theater was nice. I love the seats they were comfortable. And the food was amazing. I had the Philly cheese steak and frys. For dessert, the popcorn was wondering, and I enjoyed getting to pick the kind of drink I liked. I would greatly recommend it for anyone for a night out.

Had a great time with my son. Lost my phone which was found (AWESOME). cool blazer tag set up, Arcades a little dull but we found enough to keep us going. Definitely loved that VR wish we could play longer but over all it was pretty cool next time we will be doing the bowling and might catch a movie and see how those experiences are looking forward to returning

It's a nice and clean theatre. Never had a bad experience here. My family and I visit here frequently and will continue to do so. Only negative is that the Evo a few blocks away has better popcorn.

ABSOLUTELY IMPRESSED!!! VERY CLEAN, GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! The Gentleman at the bowling location was so helpful and very informative. I think his name is Michael. He told us what days they offer specials, all about the Lazer Tag, bowling and the virtual reality area. We watched a movie and OMGEEE!!! The seats were so comfortable, we Loved the little tray attached to the seat. As I sat in my seat I couldn't even touch the floor, then I reclined it and was in Heaven!!! I was AMAZED how far back t

Had a great time watching an average movie! Such an amazing, space age place, lots to see and do, for everyone! My eyes popped at how futuristic it all was! Loved it! Great reclining seats, trays for food, very civilized. People talked loudly all the way through our film, but that was not the fault of the place, rather the kind of people who attended on Memorial Day weekend. Shhhhh!!!!

Great food juicy burger just bun was real greasy. loved everything and how fast things were prepared I will for sure come back

I went here for the first time today with my three year old grandson to try bowling for him for the first time. The cost was outrageous- $18 for 30 minutes and $9 for shoe rental for the two of us. $29+ after tax. I had promised him so I paid and we had a good time. After the 30 minutes we returned the shoes and went to the video games to look. Less than FIVE minutes later we went back to the bowling counter to pay to bowl another 30 minutes. We were charged again for the shoe rental! Another $9!! When I e

This theater is always great. I was here for a birthday party and the staff was great! They have so many activities from video games, to virtual reality, to bowling, and a full bar for the adults. The imax theater was great and the reclining seats were almost too comfortable. I recommend this location to see a movie if this is your side of town

Really awesome place located right off of 35 North between Schertz and New Braunfels. They have party rooms they have theaters arcades they got a pizza place and a normal concession stand they have reclined seating. They also have laser tag virtual reality games bowling and for the alcoholic lovers, drinks. Really had a good time here felt good to be back at the theaters after this pandemic. They don't take cash but they have a machine that takes cash and converts it into a card form and that's how they t

This was my first time going to this theater. Just saw "Moana 2" with my daughters. Buying tickets was super easy. The snack bar had plenty of options, self-serve popcorn, and drinks. Comfortable chairs, and I really liked the table setup. Made it easy to organize drinks and snacks. Will definitely be back to check out the bowling alley and arcade. 2 thumbs up.

Came in tonight 6/7. Had a group family bowling. Group next to to us kept dropping the N word. Talk to management. Adrian addressed it, didn't stop it. I approached him tonight and he walked away and brushed me off.

Took my 6 year old granddaughter?. I think we both had the same amount of fun! Great clean place!

My #1 go-to spot to watch a movie and then have fun after at the arcade room. My son loves its.

The theater was so dirty! It feels nothing like it did when it was first opened. There was popcorn EVERYWHERE, from the moment you stepped in the front entrance all the way down the hallways to each theater entrance. The bathroom was disgusting! There was toilet paper ALL over the floor! And popcorn of course. There were probably 10-12 stalls available but only 2 were unlocked. I notified the general manager of the restroom situation. And this was not a busy time, there was one other lady in there b

Been here several times and it's always a blast! Clean theaters, nice and helpful staff, great bowling alleys and a fun arcade make this place fantastic for all types of excursions!

Thank you for showing The Chosen Last Supper Part 1. We attended the first showing, Thursday, March 27th at 6 pm. They started playing the wrong movie, and we had to wait for about 20 minutes before the correct movie was uploaded. Some patrons left but we toughed it out. The movie was worth it, and we were provided an apology and complimentary tickets as we exited the theater! Now, that is quality customer service. We will be back! Thank you Santikos Cibolo!

Modern, open concept, alot of seating everywhere, staff is friendly, good place to go and relax. There is a bar for adults. Movie theatre seats are leather, recline, and adjustable. The sound system is nice in 2D. There is self serve popcorn and drinks available. They do not take any cash so make sure you have your card on you. You can get a loadable gift card that you can buy with cash. In increments of of 5, 10, 20, 50. The gift card machine does not take dollar bills. The gift card can only be used for t

Great family fun entertainment theater with bowling, arcade, laser tag, and eatery. The food is great. We always order s pizza and it's always hot and they use delicious ingredients. It's a place for fun, family entertainment. Great time!

Food hasn't been the same lately. We use to enjoy coming here. Our last visit before now our burgers were red some still bloody red. Today we had one burger so badly filled with grease, when you squeezed it, it came out like water. DISGUSTING ??

Had a great time and loved the recliner seats some food price high i recommend doing kids menu because it also comes with a drink

$2 food delivery fee? You just lost a sale and a customer. Front row seats should go back all the way too see the screen without having to detect my neck all the way up to see the screen. Try making your designer architect sitting in the front row. 84 inches from the screen.

Good pizza ?? Lots of soda with limited flavors,Small Arcade with redemption ..Overall nice seats are good they recline a little small..Friendly staff

This theater has become free babysitting for kids! Parents drop off their kids, and they run wild with no supervision. You can't enjoy a movie because people are talking and on their phones during the movie! It's very sad?

We had a blast!! Laser tag was so much fun and could potentially be a workout if done often! We were sweating like crazy after our 12 minutes of fun! Movies, Bar, Restaurant, Movies, Bowling, Arcade, VR experience and Laser Tag! Bring your wallet and be sure your ready to drop some money here. Well worth it though! My only negative is it is confusing! Laser tag only knows about laser tag and that goes for every other section of the in this business. The Santikos rewards program is only for movies!

We are rewards members and had not been there in a while. We went to see A Complete Unknown. We ordered a pizza and I bought a water. I asked fir courtesy cups and got snow cone cups to.put ice and my water in. When I picked up my pizza, I asked for a little boat so I could share with my husband. I was told I could only get the same snow cone cup for food. I was taken aback with this response. This is precisely why we will continue to frequent the Regal Cinemas. They are much more accommodating with

Fear Not! It only looks like a ghost town because I'm here on a random Tuesday night. The new Santikos in Cibolo has become our new go to! State of the art facility we're talking here. They've got Lazer tag, arcade gaming, Bowling, Bar with live music (at times) VR game play, and of course movie theaters! They also have the AVX Theater rooms that have an additional surround sound system to amplify your movie watching experience! Go visit any of their locations on each side of town here in SA

Okay so the only reason why I'm leaving a review is because my husband and I were so excited for the new Minecraft movie and these viral popcorn buckets we heard so much about. Unfortunately this theater does NOT have them. I was super disappointed but overall this theater is my favorite. It's always cold (I love bringing a small blanket) clean, and they have friendly staff! Santikos, go the extra mile and try to fulfill a gamers dream by getting some Minecraft merch exclusives LOL much love <3

First time here and we all had a blast! We watched the new Batman movie while here as well. The arcade was so much fun. We didn't get to bowl but we plan on returning! Bathrooms were clean. Cinema area we purchased popcorn and drinks. Both were refills available. You serve yourself here.

My favorite theater location. Staff is friendly, drink station and popcorn area is clean and stocked. I do wish they cleaned the theater seats a bit better, when we recline the seats and popcorn is in the creases, we could do with out that.

I love this place! Great customer service! Tasty concession stand food, popcorn always fresh, & they make a delicious mango chamoy margarita?? I love being a reward member? lots of great perks!

Always fun and food is always good. Try the pizza. We just love to go for the unlimited popcorn and serve yourself ICEE's. Go now and enjoy yourself.

Awesome facility. I only experienced the concessions and the movie area. Seats were comfy, popcorn was yummy, and it was clean.

Had a good fun experience, so that mean's everything was running like a well oiled machine! Clean environment, tasty popcorn, crisp soda pop!

Great place to hang out and watch movies, bowl, play games, or grab a bite, beer and ,wine! Popcorn does NOT require a second mortgage of your house. The seats in the theater are modern and recline electronically. Very nice place! Dune was excellent on the big screen with Dolby Atmos!

My friend and I met up mid week. Such a generous birthday treat for dinner and movies. I was shocked at how much everything cost! This was my first time at the movies since the pandemic started. I had the Chicken tenders which came with fries, regular drink and we shared a large popcorn. My friend had a burger and regular drink. Lifemark was a great movie based on a true story. Adoption has touched both of our lives and such an amazing gift. Highly recommend!

Theater is always dirty with sticky worn out collapsed seats. The ticket attendant with dreds was too busy with his phone to be bothered.

Too pricey for what you get. $14 for a bucket of popcorn is insane. Only good thing was that tickets were cheaper than other theaters.

I have to say hands down this is our favorite theater.. there is a evo down the street but i really am not a big fan of the evo santikos cibolo is the way to go great food a little pricey we usally spend about 120$ for 3 people or about 100$ for 2 but great seats lots of games lots of activities and theaters them self are very well attended.

Favorite Santikos ever!! I go out my way to come to the Cibolo location. This location is always clean, with friendly staff. I enjoy my time here.

This is for the bowling experience: We bowled with family for my sister birthday. Overall I would go back due to the awesome and friendly staff. But here are the areas for improvement: - Their veggie burger is pretty underwhelming. Very basic and just wished they had better vegan and gluten free options. Their fries was basic. Not terrible but also not great. The space for each lane for bowling is pretty tight. I would say maybe max 4 people to a lane otherwise it gets real cramped fast. I wish all of th

I was surprised to find Santikos pretty empty for a Saturday night. The place is nice, the staff was friendly - and they have lots of great options for things to do. Check it out!

New State or The Art Theater. Screens and Seating are incredible. With lots more than just movies, Bowling , Lasertron, Virtual Reality, Arcade Games and so much more,an entertainment center for the entire family. Highly recommend. You will have a blast.

I only go to the movies when my child wants to see something. What makes the experience even more frustrating is dealing with teenage workers who seem completely unaware of the importance of customer service. The concession stand was staffed by teens who showed little interest in being polite, attentive, or helpful. It is disappointing, though not surprising, as many of them seem to lack basic training and understanding of what good service looks like. To make matters worse, the theater appeared to be sho

There is a ?curfew? for anyone 16 or under. They cannot be in arcade or main building without adult. There is a police officer on duty, asst. Manager stated it was due to ?fistfights?. It's a Monday night, very few patrons there, you have an officer on site. You have attractions for them to enjoy. DO BETTER

Very fun place. Very large. Very clean. Comfortable theater seats. Excellent parking. Great location off of the I-35 service road.

This place is poorly maintained. One or possibly two of the speakers not functioning in theater 4. Bowling Lanes are terrible because they are not waxed and ready to be used on a weekend. Popcorn tastes stale. Sodas were either flat or had a bad taste to them no matter what I chose. I asked staff to wax floors or move us to another lane and I was refused. Not coming back. This will be the last time that my money gets spent here.

New!!!!! The theater now has self service popcorn refills!!! This is a great theater. We love Santikos theaters in general, but this is a large, well decorated theater that is clean and full of helpful employees. The food is tasty and their rewards program is fantastic. In addition to movies, there are many other activities available. The seats in the theaters recline with plenty of space between rows. The projectors are new and high quality producing excellent picture and sound.

Finally made arrangements for a date night after many many months of being super busy and we ended up sitting in traffic for an hour and a half due to the construction on 35. We arrived to the theatre an hour after our movie started. We explained the situation to guest services and the woman behind the counter was super helpful and allowed us to pick a later show time so we didn't have to miss out on our date night. Thanks for the great service!

First time going. I went to see Bad Boys 2024 and had a fantastic time and experience. I highly recommend ?? ????????

Comfortable seating. They have a rewards program that you are able to redeem points for snacks.

I went to see Mufasa at this movie theater and ended up leaving my wallet in the seat. I came back the next day in the morning to get it. I went to the guest services desk and spoke with a young lady telling her if they found my wallet. She looked in the safe and said they didn't have it in there, so I told her the movie theater number and seat number I was at to see if it was there. She then told me that there was a movie playing at the time and that I would have to wait two hours for them to send someone

should take more pride in the building and theater seats, the seats are cracking and have holes. The cost for things are not cheap so there shouldn't be a reason for them to be so unkept

Went on a Tuesday and spent less money than I would going anywhere else . The seats were comfy and it was clean .

Staff is always friendly and helpful, movie theater is always clean, i really appreciate all the work they do for the community. ??

This place was fun. The soda all tasted pretty gross and they only take card. The prices are decent and even on the weekends there orange much of a wait. I wish the floor of the bowling lane was even. Still fun time.

One of my favorite theatres. Just expand the arcade and game area. Love the bar and different movie and play options.

Really nice movie theater with arcade, Lazer tag and bowling combo. The kids loved the arcade but it is small so they get through everything pretty quick.

Very clean and beautiful. The hologate VR was very entertaining and there were plenty of fun games in the arcade. I can't wait to try out the Lasertron (laser tag) and bowling! The theater seating is well spaced and comfortable. It was a very enjoyable experience.

There's an excellent bowling alley within this facility. There's also a bar, video games and a VR gaming station here.

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.”