Arcades on Long Island
Adam Peterson shows his son, Ethan, 5, of Sag Harbor, his skills at the arcarde in The Clubhouse in East Hampton . Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin
If you are on the hunt for arcade entertainment, Long Island has a wide variety of places to get your game on. Each one has its own spin. Here are some in Nassau and Suffolk to check out when you are ready to press play:
CLAWCADE
Roosevelt Field 630 Old Country Rd., Uniondale
The back half of ClawCADE features 60 additional arcade games. Credit: Ryan D’Amico
The 10,000-square-foot facility features 80 claw machines that come in five sizes with more than 120 styles of prizes. Keep whatever you win or trade up for something else at the prize counter where there are tiers. Each claw machine costs between 4 and 14 credits to play. There’s also a 10-foot by 10-foot claw machine called the Taj Mahal that gives out big prizes. Although the claw machines serve as the main attraction, they only make up half the facility. The other side showcases 60 machines that range from Skee-Ball to pinball to virtual reality arcade games. Some titles include multiplayer video games like Space Invaders Frenzy and Raccoon Rampage, Jaws and John Wick themed pinball machines as well as four virtual reality games Fast & Furious Arcade, Bigfoot Mayhem, Godzilla Kaiju Wars and Virtual Rabbids.
COST Machines are operated via game cards which guests can fill up to $200. Each card gets loaded with a chosen number of credits. There’s also bonus credits at various levels ($25 spend gets you 10 free credits, $200 spend gets 250 credits).
MORE INFO 516-550-9144, claw-cade.com
SAFARI ADVENTURE
1074 Pulaski St., Riverhead
Aviella Posten, of Riverhead plays by the sandbox at Safari Adventure in Riverhead. Credit: Randee Daddona
Parents can entertain their toddlers at this jungle-themed venue geared toward small children (no shoes or strollers on the carpet — socks are required). Along with a kiddie arcade, there’s a hands-on workshop plus a soft playground for littles, and three different inflatables for ages 1 to 10. There’s even a sensory calming room.
COST $16 (ages 1-2) or $25 (ages 3-10)
MORE INFO 631-727-4386, thesafariadventure.com
KYNYTYX FAMILY GAMING CENTER
990A Station Rd., Bellport
Play arcade games, crane games, racing games and more at Kynytyx Family Gaming Center. Credit: Kynytyx Family Gaming Center
The play center features laser tag with choice of several dozen game modes including "Color Conquest," soccer-like "Laser Ball" and zombie attack "Infected." The location also features arcade games like Jurassic Park, Mario Kart, Halo Fireteam Raven, Slam 'N Jam and five pinball games including Led Zeppelin, Godzilla, Elvira, Mandalorian and Dead Pool.
COST Laser tag: $10 for a single session, $18 for two sessions and $25 for three sessions; Arcade: $10 for 50 credits, $20 for 100 credits and $30 for 165 credits
MORE INFO 934-451-3333, kynytyx.com
THE CLUBHOUSE
174 Daniels Hole Rd., East Hampton
Henry Touhill, 13, plays Knock Hockey with James McLoughlin, 34, in the arcade at The Clubhouse in East Hampton on Sept. 7. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin
Features Sports fanatics can play NBA hoops and air hockey in the arcade. Guests can play more than 30 games including "Star Wars" pinball, Jurassic Park, VR games and crane games. The entertainment center also includes bowling with 10 lanes and an 18-hole outdoor miniature golf course. A restaurant serves a variety of American and comfort foods.
COST Arcade: Connect 4 Hoops $2.50 per play, Knicks and Nets $1.75, air hockey game $2 per play; Bowling: Wednesday and Thursday $30 per hour; Friday through Monday $60 per hour; $5 shoe rentals.
MORE INFO 631-537-2695, clubhousehamptons.com
Q-ZAR
151 Voice Rd., Carle Place
Play laser tag, video games, grab food and more at Q-Zar in Carle Place. Credit: Howard Simmons
Laser tag players can try "Deactivator Mode" — take away an opponent’s energy with a single tag — "Energizer Mode" — restore teammates’ energies with a single tag — and "Rapid Fire Mode" — fire faster than normal. Guests can take part in ax-throwing and laser tag. There’s an arcade that features "Godzilla Kaiju Wars VR" and "NBA Super Stars," as well as Skee-Ball and claw machines.
COST Ax-throwing, $41.95 for 55 minutes. Arcade play, $1 for four credits; play prices vary per game. Laser tag, $25.95
MORE INFO 516-877-7200, qzarny.com
PINBALL LONG ISLAND
48 W. Main St., Patchogue
Brandon Baker, left, and Samantha Dillon, both from Medford, test their gaming skills at Pinball Long Island in Patchogue. Credit: Rick Kopstein
The gaming hub features pop culture-themed pinball machines like "The Simpsons" and "The Big Lebowski," with options picked from different decades.
COST Admission is $20, $10 for kids 10 and younger, and once you pay you can play all day
MORE INFO pinballlongisland.com
EMPIRE ADVENTURE PARK
1500 Old Country Rd., Westbury
The new Empire Adventure Park in Westbury features AR and VR experiences. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Hyperdeck combines virtual reality, environmental effects and motion simulation. Each seven-minute attraction has four players who wear goggles and have their own gaming stations. The action is heightened by heated air coming from above and wind from all around. The park features 17 attractions including trampolines, an adventure maze, glide rail and laser tag.
COST $30.99 for one hour. Hyperdeck is an additional $12 per game.
MORE INFO 516-992-6778, empireadventurepark.com
XPLORE FAMILY FUN CENTER
54 Vanderbilt Motor Pkwy., Commack
Let the kids loose on the inflatable slide, obstacle course as well as in an over 35-game arcade room featuring titles like Typhoon, WWE’s Superstar Rumble and Air FX.
COST $16 (ages 1-2) and $25 (ages 3-12) includes laser tag. Laser tag: $12 for one session, $16 for two sessions, or $25 unlimited. Game cards can be purchased for multiple arcade plays.
MORE INFO 631-543-8300, xplorecm.com
ARCADE OF AMUSEMENTS
8 Bayville Ave., Bayville
Bayville Adventure Park in Bayville. Credit: Morgan Campbell
Enjoy a cone of homemade ice cream with flavors like banana split, chocolate fudge brownie and vanilla peanut butter at Beaches & Cream Soda Shoppe in Bayville while playing an assortment of coin-fed games like Hot Wheels King of the Road, DC’s Injustice Arcade, Aliens Extermination or Skee-Ball at the Arcade of Amusements inside Bayville Adventure Park. Besides the arcade, there is indoor rock climbing ($9.75 for 3 climbs) and the Mystery Fun House ($12.75). Open noon to midnight Sat. and noon to 10 p.m. Sun. through Nov. 9 and select weekdays.
COST Coin-fed arcade games vary; game cards also available to add points for game play
MORE INFO 516-624-7433, bayvillescreampark.com
THE GAMERS CLUB
334 Hempstead Ave., West Hempstead
Fiona Wright plays games at Gamers Club in West Hempstead. Credit: Howard Schnapp
Serious gamers are drawn to this console-based arcade lounge where you can stand or sit when playing on communal flat screens. The venue typically draws passionate players who are looking to compete.
COST Starts at $7.99 for one hour ($5 game change/headset fee).
MORE INFO 516-490-5183, the-gamers-club.square.site/
LASER BOUNCE FAMILY FUN CENTER
2710 Hempstead Tpke., Levittown
Laser Bounce in Levittown. Credit: Corey Sipkin
This venue caters to kids of all ages. For little ones, there’s the Bounce Arena with multiple inflatable bounce houses and obstacle courses and a ball-infused playground called Ballocity Arena. Meanwhile, older kids can climb through the Laser Frenzy maze in addition to engaging in the full-blown interactive arcade.
COST Play packages start at $25.95.
MORE INFO 516-342-1330, longisland.laserbounce.com
DAVE & BUSTER’S
1504 Old Country Rd., Westbury,
1856 Veterans Memorial Hwy, Islandia
The arcade at Dave and Buster's in Massapequa. Credit: Ian J. Stark
Play retro games like Pop-A-Shot, Pac-Man and Skee-Ball while enjoying dinner and drinks. Go old school with billiards and bowling or high tech with virtual reality games like Terminator Guardian of Fate or Vader Immortal: Lightsaber Dojo.
COST Game cards can be purchased for multiple arcade plays. Download the Dave & Buster’s app and get a Digital Power Card to activate any game in the midway.
MORE INFO Westbury: 516-542-8501; Islandia: 631-787-1406; daveandbusters.com
STANDARD REC
49 E. Main St., Patchogue
Nicole Mahoney and Gianna Spirio play shuffle board at Standard Rec in Patchogue. Credit: Howard Simmons
Turn the clock back at this new ’70s, ’80s and ’90s-themed bar/eatery in Patchogue. In between sips of craft cocktails and bites of appetizers like General Tso’s cauliflower and BBQ brisket nachos, play some Skee-Ball and NBA Jam.
COST Games range from 25 cents for Skee-Ball to $1 for virtual bowling.
MORE INFO 631-730-8100, stndrec.com
THE COOP
346 Main St., Farmingdale
The Coop in Farmingdale features a bar, arcade games and live music. Credit: Newsday/Marie Elena Martinez
Billing itself as a bar, lounge and Nashville kitchen, The Coop is a rebranded concept that expands the former Kick’n Chicken space into two new Nashville-themed spots under one roof — a casual, all-day restaurant with an expanded Southern food menu, and a nightly live music venue and lounge that opens daily at 4 p.m. Guests can play KISS and Aerosmith pinball or Pac-Man.
COST Coin-operated arcade games
MORE INFO 516-730-8906, thecoopli.com
URBAN AIR ADVENTURE PARK
3147 Middle Country Rd., Lake Grove
Sal Triolo, of Holbrook, at Urban Air Adventure Park in Lake Grove. Credit: Jeff Bachner
After getting active on the ropes course, Battle Beam ring, ProZone Performance Trampolines and the Slam Dunk Zone, enjoy a wide selection of arcade games. Fend off aliens, race to victory, capture an enemy or set an all-time personal record on your favorite game.
COST Game cards can be purchased for multiple arcade plays.
MORE INFO 631-861-4125, urbanair.com
ROUND1 BOWLING AND ARCADE
358 N. Broadway, Hicksville
The entertainment complex features six karaoke studios equipped with couches and monitors that show the lyrics to songs. Head to the Karaoke Counter to rent a studio. Grab food at the snack bar. The arcade also features 10 bowling lanes, eight pool tables and pinball machines. The main floor is a video arcade with games like claw prize games, Skee-Ball and basketball shooting challenges.
COST Video game cards start at $6 for 24 credits, bowling $25-$37.50, billiards $10.30-$18.90, karaoke $12-$24
MORE INFO 516-595-2080, round1usa.com
RPM RACEWAY
40 Daniel St., Farmingdale
Families can race each other at the indoor go-kart track at RPM Raceway in Farmingdale. Credit: RPM Raceway/RPM Raceway
Get in gear and choose from 150 arcade games situated all around the racetrack featuring new innovative titles mixed in with old classics plus a racing simulator and virtual reality experiences. Then drive along two quarter mile long tracks with hairpin turns. Throw in bowling and billiards for good measure to round out your day. Open year-round.
COST Game cards can be purchased for multiple arcade plays
MORE INFO 631-752-7223, rpmraceway.com
With Lynn Petry
David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.
