Remember feeding quarters into a pinball machine and watching the score climb? Across Indiana, a handful of arcades still keep that experience alive, with flippers, bumpers, and Skee-Ball lanes waiting for the next player.
Some are small-town pinball halls, while others pair vintage games with pizza or pub food. Here are five spots where you can relive the good old days or show the kids how it was done.
1. Pinball on Perry, Attica, IN
Few places in Indiana pack this many Limited Edition pinball machines under one roof. For serious flipper fans, that alone makes the trip to Attica pay off.
Pinball on Perry sits at 112 S Perry St in this small Wabash River town. The lineup mixes classic tables with the newest titles, plus some rare games from top manufacturers.
The machines are kept in excellent working order, which matters when you are chasing a high score. Nobody wants a sticky flipper ruining a good run.
Pinball is the star, but a few other games round things out, including Skee-Ball. The atmosphere is friendly and family-focused, and kids are welcome.
One practical tip: bring cash. The bill changer takes bills up to $20 and turns them into quarters.
Plan around the schedule, since it is closed Monday through Wednesday. Hours run Thursday 4 to 8 PM, Friday 4 to 9 PM, Saturday 2 to 9 PM, and Sunday 2 to 7 PM.
2. High Score: Player Two Classic Arcade, Evansville, IN
Got a kid who has never seen an N64? Evansville has you covered.
High Score: Player Two goes beyond the cabinets with a room full of older consoles, including Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, and Super Nintendo setups.
The main floor is stacked with arcade cabinets, pinball machines, shooting games, and racing games. Add Skee-Ball, air hockey, and Dance Dance Revolution, and the lineup covers a lot of ground.
There is also a Switch room for modern players. The all-day play format lets families settle in instead of watching coins disappear.
Some obscure titles mix in with the classics, and the games are kept in great shape. A party room makes it a popular choice for birthdays.
You will find it at 2814 Mt Vernon Ave. It opens Wednesday 3 to 9 PM, Thursday through Saturday noon to 9 PM, and Sunday 11 AM to 7 PM. Saturdays and Sunday afternoons get busy, so Wednesday evenings and Fridays tend to be calmer.
3. Recbar 812, New Albany, IN
Two floors of games and a full kitchen make Recbar 812 the most dinner-friendly stop on this list. It sits at 336 Pearl St in downtown New Albany, just across the river from Louisville.
Pinball takes up a big share of the space, with plenty of retro tables. You will also find video games, dance games, Skee-Ball, basketball hoops, claw machines, and air hockey.
Many games run on tokens, so stock up before you start. A separate dining area keeps the meal and the play from bumping into each other.
The menu leans toward comfort food, with pulled pork, a My Old Kentucky BLT, and fried bread and butter pickles that happen to be vegan. A kids’ menu and high chairs help families.
Hours are generous, running seven days a week, with late nights on Friday and Saturday. Reservations are not accepted, and street parking can be tight, so give yourself a few extra minutes.
4. Full Tilt Arcade & Pinball, La Porte, IN
Pachinko is not something you stumble on every day in northern Indiana. Full Tilt in La Porte keeps it in the mix alongside pinball, Skee-Ball, basketball hoops, and claw machines.
The arcade is roomy, with plenty of affordable games and a prize counter. A modern card reader system replaces the pocket full of quarters.
It has a laid-back small-town feel. That makes it an easy pick for a cheap date night or a rainy afternoon with the kids.
The owners keep prices fair, and the place is open daily. Weekday hours run 3 to 9 PM, with later Friday nights and noon openings on weekends.
Head to 701 N Fail Rd, where a free on-site lot makes parking simple. Weekday afternoons are the quietest times to grab a Skee-Ball lane.
5. The Abandoned Station, Indianapolis, IN
Head downstairs and the years start rolling back. The Abandoned Station in the Fall Creek Place neighborhood hides a compact arcade below its main floor, and it looks a lot like the hometown arcades many of us grew up with.
Pinball and Skee-Ball are the main draws, and kids tend to make a beeline for the Skee-Ball lanes. Shuffleboard and a big stack of board games give groups more ways to play.
Upstairs, the kitchen turns out house-made craft pizzas. It is home to Narrow Gauge Brewing Company too, so expect a grown-up crowd later in the evening.
The space is on the cozy side, which makes it good for a smaller hangout. Find it at 2457 N Delaware St, with free street parking nearby.
It opens daily, with late hours until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Evenings from Thursday through Saturday are busiest, so an afternoon visit works best for families.
Enjoyed this story?
Add Fast Food Club as a preferred source to see more of our reporting on Google.