An arcade is a room full of games built to be played in short, loud, happy bursts. You'll find classic cabinets and pinball machines next to racing seats, rhythm games, air hockey, skee-ball and claw machines. Some arcades are a single room in a mall or on a boardwalk. Others are big family entertainment centers with laser tag, bumper cars and a snack bar under one roof, and some pair classic games with a bar and a kitchen and admit only adults, at least in the evening.

How you pay depends on the place. Most arcades use a reloadable game card, though some still sell tokens, and each game costs a set number of credits. Many games pay out tickets you can trade for prizes at the counter. Retro arcades often work differently: you pay a flat entry fee, every machine is set to free play, and you can wander and play as long as you like.

The Date Activity

An arcade takes the pressure off a first or second date. Your hands are busy, a little friendly trash talk breaks the ice, and you learn a lot about someone from how they handle losing at air hockey. Look for games you can play side by side, like racing games, light-gun shooters and basketball hoops, and team up on the co-op ones so you're not always rivals.

Decide on a budget before you start, or load one card and share it, because it's easy to keep tapping. Pool your tickets at the end and pick out something silly together at the prize counter; it makes a better souvenir than it has any right to. Arcades tend to sit near restaurants and theaters, so it's easy to turn the visit into a full evening: dinner first, then the games, then one of the movies.

On Your Own / With Friends

With friends, an arcade is easy to plan and hard to get wrong. Run a little tournament on one game, or split into teams and compare ticket totals at the end. Many entertainment centers sell party packages with a set amount of play, a reserved table and food, which makes birthdays simple. If there's a laser tag arena on site, book a round for the whole group.

Going alone is perfectly normal, too. Plenty of regulars come by themselves to chase a high score, learn the tricks of a pinball table or get their initials on the leaderboard.

Good to Know

Arcades get loud and crowded on weekend afternoons and during school holidays; weekday evenings are calmer. Watch for deals like half-price game nights or bonus credits when you load a larger amount onto a card. Check the age policy before you go: arcades with bars may turn adults-only after a certain hour, and family centers may require kids to have an adult with them. Tickets rarely add up to more than you spent, so play for the fun of it, not the prize. And wash your hands before you eat, because those buttons have seen things.