Will the New Chuck’s Arcade Make Retro-Style Arcades Cool Again?

After Chuck E Cheese’s got rid of the beloved animatronics at most of their locations, they needed to do something to appease the nostalgic adults who felt like part of their childhood was demolished. The answer might lie in Chuck’s Arcade, a new pizza-less spin-off franchise that is designed to appeal to older patrons. Chuck’s Arcade focuses solely on arcade games, giving patrons an experience reminiscent of the days when you came to an arcade just to play games.

What is Chuck’s Arcade?

Chuck’s Arcade is a new spin-off branch of Chuck E. Cheese’s that focuses on arcade games instead of the full pizza-and-games kiddie experience. According to the official Chuck E. Cheese’s site, “the arcade was created for adults and lifelong fans who grew up surrounded by the electric glow of arcade screens, the symphony of digital soundtracks and the thrill of chasing high scores with friends long into the night.” The arcades will include a blend of retro classics such as Ms. Pac-Man with modern games such as Jurassic Park. An animatronic will also “supervise” each location, though it won’t be singing.

Could This Lead to an Arcade Revival?

Arcades aren’t extinct, but most of them focus on ticket redemption games rather than actual video games. While some Chuck’s Arcade locations will have prize counters, the experience will center around actual games. If Chuck’s Arcade is a success, perhaps this could show the world that yes, people do still love arcades in their old-fashioned form. Even with home consoles offering jaw-dropping experiences, there’s something special about physically going to an arcade and playing games on those colorful machines all lined up in a row.

Conclusion

I am rooting for Chuck’s Arcade to do well, and I hope one opens at my mall soon. As someone with fond memories of spending quarters at arcades during the nineties, I would love it if arcades made a return in their pure, game-centered form. I love arcades so much that I’m currently doing a series of arcade-centered games for my Weekly Indie Spotlight column. It would be amazing if Chuck’s Arcade brought back the magic of arcades for a new generation.