Remember the thrill of classic arcades and the sound of clinking quarters?
Relive the magic of the 80s with these incredible Maine arcades that are packed with vintage fun.
1. Orono Arcade LLC (Orono)
Tucked away in the college town of Orono, this arcade is like finding an Easter egg in your favorite video game.
The moment you step inside, you’re hit with a wave of neon lights and a sweet symphony of bleeps and bloops.
It’s as if the ghost of Pac-Man past decided to set up shop and invite all his pixelated pals.
The arcade boasts a mix of classic cabinets and modern machines, creating a multigenerational gaming utopia.
You might see a college student furiously button-mashing next to a dad showing his kid how to properly execute a hadouken in Street Fighter.
It’s like a United Nations summit, but with joysticks instead of suits.
Don’t miss their “House of the Dead” setup – it’s so immersive that you’ll be checking for zombies on your way back to the dorm.
Just remember, no matter how good you get at Galaga, it won’t count as extra credit for your classes.
Sorry, future rocket scientists!
2. Arcadia National Bar (Portland)
Imagine if your coolest friend’s basement got married to a craft beer bar, and their baby was raised by classic arcade games.
That’s Arcadia National Bar in a nutshell.
This Portland gem is where adults go to be kids, minus the awkward growth spurts and acne.
The bar’s aesthetic is a love letter to the 80s, with a dash of modern hipster flair.
It’s like someone took a DeLorean, filled it with arcade cabinets, and crashed it into a Portland microbrewery.
The result?
A beautiful chaos of nostalgia and hops.
Their selection of games is more diverse than a United Nations potluck.
From pinball wizardry to button-mashing madness, there’s something for every level of hand-eye coordination.
And let’s not forget the beer selection – it’s so craft, each pint comes with its own ironic mustache.
Pro tip: Try their “High Score Happy Hour.”
It’s like regular happy hour, but with more carpel tunnel syndrome.
Just remember, no matter how many games of Frogger you win, you still have to adult tomorrow.
Ribbit responsibly!
3. Palace Playland (Old Orchard Beach)
Hold onto your leg warmers, because Palace Playland is about to take you on a ride faster than you can say “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”
This beachside wonderland is where the sand meets the joystick, creating a perfect storm of sunburn and high scores.
Picture this: you’re playing skeeball with the ocean as your backdrop, the smell of salt water mixing with the aroma of fried dough.
It’s like Neptune himself decided to throw an arcade party and invited all of Maine.
The rides are so colorful, they make Rainbow Brite look monochrome.
Inside the arcade, it’s a cacophony of lights and sounds that would make Vegas blush.
You’ll find everything from the latest racing games to classics that are older than most of the staff.
It’s a place where you can win a stuffed animal bigger than your car and then struggle to fit it through the door of your beachside motel.
Word to the wise: don’t challenge the seagulls to a game of Whac-A-Mole.
They’ve been training all summer and they play for keeps.
Also, remember that no matter how good you get at the claw machine, it’s not a viable career option.
Trust me, I’ve tried.
4. Round Top Ice Cream (Damariscotta)
Now, I know what you’re thinking.
“Ice cream? I thought we were talking about arcades!”
Well, hold onto your waffle cones, because Round Top Ice Cream is serving up scoops of nostalgia with a side of pixelated fun.
This charming ice cream stand looks like it was plucked straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting, if Norman Rockwell had a thing for Donkey Kong.
The white clapboard building is as quintessentially Maine as a lobster wearing L.L. Bean boots.
Inside, it’s a sweet tooth’s paradise meets a gamer’s nirvana.
While they’re famous for their ice cream, the real hidden gem is their collection of vintage arcade games.
You can challenge your friends to a game of Pac-Man while debating the merits of sprinkles vs. hot fudge.
It’s like a time warp where your biggest dilemma is whether to spend your last quarter on another game of Galaga or upgrade to a waffle cone.
Just remember, no matter how much ice cream you eat, it won’t improve your high score.
But it’ll make losing taste a whole lot sweeter!
5. Joker’s Family Fun and Games (Portland)
If Chuck E. Cheese and an 80s movie had a love child, it would be Joker’s Family Fun and Games.
This Portland playland is where family-friendly meets retro cool, creating a vortex of fun that’s harder to escape than a conversation with your chatty aunt at Thanksgiving.
The moment you walk in, you’re hit with a sensory overload that would make even the most stoic Maine lobsterman crack a smile.
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The lights are brighter than a lighthouse on steroids, and the sounds… well, let’s just say it’s what I imagine the inside of a pinball machine sounds like during an earthquake.
They’ve got everything from the latest video games to classics that are older than most of the parents chaperoning birthday parties.
The air hockey tables are so intense that you half expect the puck to achieve liftoff and join the International Space Station.
But the real star of the show?
The indoor playground looks like it was designed by Willy Wonka after a weekend of binge-watching “American Ninja Warrior.”
It’s a labyrinth of slides, ball pits, and obstacles that will make you question why adult-sized playgrounds aren’t a thing.
Word of advice: If you challenge a 10-year-old to a game of Dance Dance Revolution, be prepared to lose.
And possibly pull a muscle.
These kids today are built differently, I tell ya.
6. Bangor Mall Cinemas (Bangor)
Now, I know what you’re thinking.
“A cinema? In an arcade list? What’s next, a library?”
But hold onto your popcorn, because Bangor Mall Cinemas is serving up a side of nostalgia with your blockbuster.
This place is like the mullet of entertainment venues – business in the front (movies), party in the back (arcade).
It’s where you go to watch the latest superhero save the world, and then pretend to be one yourself in the arcade afterwards.
The arcade area is a time capsule of gaming greatness.
It’s got all the classics, from racing games that make you feel like you’re in “Fast and Furious: Bangor Drift” to fighting games where you can finally settle the age-old debate of who would win in a fight: a ninja or a guy who can shoot fireballs from his hands.
But the real magic happens when you mix the cinema and arcade experiences.
Imagine this: you’ve just watched a sci-fi epic, your mind is blown, and then you step into the arcade to pilot a spaceship yourself.
It’s like the movie never ended, except now you’re the star and your co-pilot is a 12-year-old with reflexes faster than a caffeinated squirrel.
Pro tip: Always check behind the racing game seats for fallen quarters.
It’s like a treasure hunt, except instead of gold doubloons, you’re finding sticky coins and the occasional petrified Milk Dud.
7. Saco Valley Sports Center (Saco)
Tucked away in Saco, this sports center is like the Swiss Army knife of fun – it’s got everything you need for a good time, including a blast from the past in the form of an arcade.
From the outside, it looks like your standard sports complex.
But step inside, and you’re transported to a world where physical prowess meets pixel mastery.
It’s like someone took a gym, a bowling alley, and an arcade, put them in a blender, and hit “puree.”
The arcade section is a beautiful hodgepodge of old and new.
You’ve got your modern racing games right next to a Pac-Man machine that’s probably old enough to run for president.
It’s a place where you can work on your bowling strike and your Street Fighter combos in the same afternoon.
But the real magic happens when worlds collide.
Picture this: you’re in the middle of an intense air hockey match, and suddenly you hear the triumphant “Strike!” from the bowling alley, followed by the unmistakable “Hadouken!” from the Street Fighter cabinet.
It’s like being in the middle of the world’s most eclectic orchestra.
Word to the wise: If you challenge the staff to a game of skeeball, be prepared to lose.
These folks have had more practice than a concert pianist with OCD.
8. Spare Time Entertainment (Portland)
Last but not least, we’ve got Spare Time Entertainment in Portland.
This place is like the Transformers of fun venues – it’s more than meets the eye.
From the outside, it looks like your standard bowling alley.
But step inside, and bam!
You’re hit with more flashing lights than Times Square on New Year’s Eve.
It’s like someone took a disco ball, smashed it, and used the pieces to decorate an entertainment complex.
The arcade section is a beautiful chaos of bleeps, bloops, and “Insert Coin” prompts.
They’ve got everything from classic pinball machines to games so new that you half expect them to transform into robots and take over the world.
But the real joy comes from the mix of activities.
Where else can you bowl a perfect game (or, in my case, a perfectly mediocre game), then immediately challenge your friends to a dance-off on Dance Dance Revolution?
It’s like a decathlon for people who prefer joysticks to javelins.
Pro tip: If you’re planning on doing both bowling and arcade games, start with the arcade.
Trust me, those plastic bowling balls feel a lot heavier after you’ve been button-mashing for an hour.
So there you have it, folks!
Eight slices of arcade heaven right here in the Pine Tree State.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a date with Ms. Pac-Man.
She’s a bit high-maintenance (always hungry), but hey, aren’t we all?