I visited this arcade bar with my kids hoping for a fun afternoon. Despite hearing about past incidents with protesters, I wanted to give this place a chance, hoping it had redeemed itself into a positive local spot. Unfortunately, the experience was completely ruined by the service. The owner, Les, was incredibly rude and unprofessional. When I politely asked why several of the machines weren't working, he responded with a short temper and a condescending tone that is unacceptable for any business owner. While my kids were able to play on the few functioning games, it is clear the establishment is being run down. You have to invest in your equipment; there is no point in staying open if you aren't honest about the fact that a majority of your games are out of order. As someone who runs a corporate firm, I know that respect and transparency are the foundations of customer service. If Les dislikes his business or his guests this much, he should sell it to someone who will actually appreciate the establishment and its customers. It seems obvious that this place will continue to struggle if the owner doesn't start actually caring for his business. read more

Review based on visit from end of November 2025. I've loved this arcade for over a decade, but my most recent visit was a mixed bag. Understandingly, a lot of games (and the upstairs pinball area) were unavailable due to remodeling. What was harder to overlook was the service at the bar. It felt like we were an inconvenience to the person working. On the bright side, the DJ was awesome and really made our night! I'm looking forward to seeing the final remodel, but I hope the service experience improves by the next time I swing by. read more

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Once a classic staple, Dorky's has become a stain on Tacoma. By many accounts, this is due to the beliefs and behavior of the owner, which has warped the arcade into a shadow of its former self. A few years ago you'd walk in and feel the thrill of potential - flashing lights and rows upon rows of a wide variety of games to play. At night, loud music would pump over a maze of cabinets awash in neon and black light. Stepping in now, it looks like the arcade was an afterthought. So what happened? My understanding is that after the owner's racism (and horrifyingly callous behavior after an employee got shot on the job) came to light, the cabinet manufacturers withdrew their games from Dorky's, leaving the space empty and sad. The owner had to pull out his old cabinets from storage and close down the second level by the bar. It used to have state-of-the-art games like the Star Wars Battlepod, but now I think there was only one title I recognized, the rest being generic filler games - very much D-tier stuff. About 40% of the cabinets were nonfunctional, including an entire corner dedicated to broken games like a graveyard ("a resurrection corner!" the owner corrected me). The food has always been arcade food - nauseatingly greasy pizza and frozen snacks popped in a microwave, and more often than not my experience with the staff has been curt and unpleasant. The owner, for his part, appears to be on a journey of self-improvement, so we'll see if he's able to rebuild the goodwill he burned over the last few years. Historically, he'd deal with conflict by denying and deflecting responsibility in long, childish facebook rants. I hope that he has truly changed, or that someone else steps in to guide this Tacoma staple back into better days. read more

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We came in and were told there were only 38 games available and that everything was on free play. We paid, intending to have a fun time, but after looking around, we realized the selection wasn't what we were expecting. We politely went back to the counter, explained that we had changed our minds after seeing the arcade, and asked if it would be possible to get a refund. Instead of a simple conversation, we were met with an argumentative and dismissive attitude from the owners. We were told things like, "Sorry we're not good enough for you guys," and were repeatedly told that it was our fault because they had already mentioned there were only 38 games. We apologized, explained that we had simply changed our minds, and wished them a good day, but the negative attitude continued. As we were leaving, they kept arguing and asking what the issue was. At that point, I was just trying to get my little brother out of the situation. I finally told them that the problem wasn't the arcade itself--it was the way we were being treated. It's completely understandable if a business has a no-refund policy, and we would have respected that. What was disappointing was being belittled and made to feel like we had done something wrong simply for politely asking. Customer service matters just as much as the experience itself, and unfortunately, that's what left the lasting impression. read more

Friendly staff, chill neighborhood barcade vibe. They tell you up front 10 entry fee but free play. what they don't tell you: half the games dont freakin work at all lol. Like tbh I should have asked to look around first. Feel like I kinda got pranked lol read more

Less than half of the machines worked when I last went. Owner didn't let us know at the door when we paid to get in. Huge let down!

Disgusting, dirty, machines out if order, bathrooms were horrifying and honestly we came in and walked the location and left without spending a dime. Would NOT recommend! Ewah. read more

This place sucks so bad. Mirroring what a lot of other reviews have already said, we were charged $20 (for 2 people) to enter for hardly any of the games to work. Wish I would have looked at the reviews but I typically never need to do that for an arcade bar....... stayed as long as I could stand it to feel like I got at least some portion of my moneys worth and got out of there. Stay away from this place LOL. read more

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Tldr: almost every arcade machine was broken I and my two friends paid a flat rate for an all-you-can-play experience, but 90% or more of the arcade machine were inoperable. The place felt dirty and unfriendly and there were bad bathroom fumes near where beer was served. Perhaps the most fun was had when we sat at a table and played a game of chess. Purdy's in Sumner has literally 100% working machines. Dorky's, what went wrong??? read more

Shell of its former self. None of the games worked. It's sad because we used to love coming here.

Fun for old school arcade! Enjoyed a couple of beverages and then settled into some 2 player Ms. Pac Man. read more

Dorky's Bar Arcade - Ms. PAC Man - Arcades Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

This barcade is not someplace I will frequent again. Half of the machines don't work or are not turned on, the bar is just cans, the food area is closed down, and it isn't inviting. There is a sign that the place is under renovation, but I didn't see evidence of change. I really hope the owner(s) get it together because the space looks like it could be promising, but until then, I will find a new barcade. read more

This place was a lot of fun. Kids are allowed as well, which makes it a family friendly spot. We came here and enjoyed some cheap, good fair type food by ordering a corn dog and tots. There are several arcade games to choose from and a wide variety of beers too. I'd come back here and recommend checking it out. read more

Dorky's Bar Arcade - Arcades Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

"More Broken Dreams Than Broken Joysticks" So I stroll into Dorky's on Saturday, 8/9/2025, dreams in my heart, quarters in my pocket... and bam -- the place is remodeling. Which, apparently, is code for "we're charging full price for half the games and twice the disappointment." Half the machines were dead. The other half? Robbing me faster than my ex during divorce court. I spent an hour there with my date, which was just long enough for us both to realize we could have more fun losing money at the casino. And we did. Spoiler alert: blackjack-broken Pac-Man. Best part of the night? The bartender -- seriously, this man deserves a medal for surviving in that environment. Worst part? The place started smelling like Snoop Dogg's tour bus about 30 minutes in. Pro tips: Call ahead -- ask if the remodel is done. If you want a specific game, ask if it exists, works, and doesn't require a small loan to play. If you do go, bring nose plugs and low expectations. In short -- Dorky's, you hurt me more than Ryan Reynolds in Green Lantern. read more

This is located downtown Tacoma so you can expect street/metered parking. They are closed on Mondays and open the rest of the week, closed at 2am on Fri-Sat. It looks like there's a space for private parties but may have to ask about that. This place is good for family fun activities. But after 9 pm it's 21 years old and up only. This Arcade is so much fun! It totally reminded me of when I was younger. So nostalgic. They have old school pin ball machines and video games like PAC-man, Donkey Kong and they have air hockey and so much more. They serve pizza but unfortunately i didn't get to try it because we ate dinner before coming here. But I heard it was good. They have tons of choices for drinks. The ambiance is lit. I mean like bright lights, neon colors, and it's very loud. But I think that's to be expected. Also they have a DJ in the arcade which I've never seen in an Arcade. Service was great! People were friendly. read more

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I've been here many times but it had been over a year since my last visit. They did a flat fee of $10 for free play. When I walked in, there were almost no games even turned on. The few that were, had things wrong with them. Flat basketballs, bad joysticks, etc. I wouldn't have left a review of this but they were basically calling out to passers by to get them in the door knowing they had hardly any games that were playable. I hope things turn around but it's not worth going to until then. read more

We were really excited to go here and play some games and paid a 20$ cover. We soon discovered that around approximately 60-70% of the games were not working, We asked the manager for a refund. He said no and called me a di**.... and yelled at my wife. Yikes... read more

If you're going to charges cover at least let people know half the machines are off, even temporarily

This place definitely isnt what it used to be. Most machines are off or not functioning correctly. Its just dirty in general. No food. The only people hanging out seemed very homeless. The owner was yelling the whole time. Dude seems like a man child. Its just sad. read more

Went into Dorky's last night and paid a cover fee just to find out that there were only a handful of machines that actually worked. The owner was taking payments at the door and should have let customers know that over half the machines were removed or broken. We only stayed there for about fifteen minutes since there were hardly any playable games. read more

This place is a hollow shell of what it used to be. It currently looks like a graveyard of broken arcade machines (over half of them don't work). Only one pinball machine was working, another was turned on but was eating quarters and not giving you any games. The owner on various social media sites claims to be remodeling; I've seen no such changes in the last year. This appears to be a business on its last legs and does not deserve your time or attention anymore. read more

Don't know what happened to this place. ATM was broken. Coin machine was broken. Put a quarter in a pinball machine without realizing it cost $1. Multiple machines ate my quarters and didn't let me play. Most people in our group had quarters eaten at least 1/3 of the machines. So disappointing. Should also mention the maintenance man is the DJ. Would love to support them but what kind of coin operated arcade has one coin machine. That's extremely old and broken. read more

I've been coming to this former Tacoma gem for over a decade. Truly used to be one of my favorite places in town. It used to have dozens of well maintained pinball tables and video games new and old, as well as a thriving nightlife scene. I wish I hadn't gone back and just kept those memories. Over the last year, the entire upstairs has closed, and the downstairs is half blocked off and full of broken down machines. I was shocked and only spend about 10 minutes inside, at 9 pm on a Saturday night. Must have only been about 10 people there. There were only 5 pinball tables powered on, and the one I tried was in great disrepair. Literally all the good games are gone, and it's full of dusty filler titles. It's truly such a sad way to see this place. The owner says he's remodeling, but there's no way this place is coming back from whatever happened. read more

Great music good customer service and cool games, the wings are garbage they are microwaved wings tossed in sauce with a side of fries for $16 after tax. I don't recommend the food here especially not for that price The wings weren't deep fried or crispy at all they were soggy and not even close to restaurant food. Come for the games and great music but leave if your hungry read more

Dorky's Bar Arcade - Soggy microwaved wings - Arcades Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

Always wanted to visit but never had the time. Finally, after 11 years we stopped in to kill some time before dinner. Can't speak for the bar or food (yet) but we had a lot of fun playing various retro games and pinball. A lot of the games were only 25¢ to play, while pinball ranged from 50¢ to 75¢ per credit. Street parking was easy to snag but there is a pay lot next door as well. read more

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I had not been to dorkys since some time in the mid 2000's. It is still just as fantastic as ever. I love their pinball selection. The Ghostbusters pinball is a machine I have only seen one other place, and they had a few others on the rare side of nostalgia. I didn't try their food, because back in the day it was not great and kinda expensive,BUT it smelled great and prices were more reasonable then I remember. I will for sure be going back for the games alone, and maybe get a bite of food just to see if it was as good as it smelled. read more

Dorky's Bar Arcade - Lots of good games, seems like they keep them in good shape too! - Arcades Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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Decent selection of retro arcade games and staff was friendly. They did however have a lot that were broken or missing parts for full game play. Over all the experience was worth the money and the place has great potential! read more

This place is awesome for all ages! Truly! I have bright my toddler nephews and they had a blast but my parents also had a blast as well! They have hot food and a great beer/seltzer selection. It's a little on the high price but worth it! They have a couple machines to change cash into quarters and they gladly will turn your coins back into cash when you are done for the night. The games range from 25 cents to $1 each. Mario kart is $1 each game but very fun! I often find quarters on the ground inside and right outside the doors so that can be a fun hunting game as well! They even have a picture booth and a candy claw machine! It's definitely a great way to kill a couple hours! read more

I grew up playing Tetris, Pacman and dabble in the occasional race car game. I like to think I'm pretty good at arcade games but my husband seems to have a talent and the hand eye coordination of a pro when he's playing. We came in on a Sunday while waiting for some happy hours in the area to start and we both had a lot of fun in here! The second we got our quarters we split up and headed right to our childhood favorites. Games range from 25 cents to a dollar and you'll easily spend a while in here once you start playing. read more

Always a fun time at Dorky's! This is a super affordable date spot that has opportunity for team or solo play. Tons of pinball machines, plenty of old classic games, and several really cool new games! There is an entire corner dedicated to Star Wars if that's your thing. Guitar Hero, Medieval Madness Pinball, and House of the Dead are my go-to favorites. You'll be glad you tried it! Cash/debit card needed for coins. Cash back can be used at the register if you purchase food/beverage! read more

Dorky's Bar Arcade - Arcades Near Me - Tacoma, Washington

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Went here for a first date and it was fun. They have endless kinds of games that are reasonably priced. All games are fed by quarters which there is a cash to quarter machine. There's also a decent selection of beer and the staff we met were super friendly! read more

This is a great place to come and brings your friends! Dorky's has a ton of old arcade games. It can get kind of load inside so if it's to much they do sell earplugs. read more

Just go to Flip Off. Super small selection of games, at least half of the games not even working. Really don't see how this place is still open. read more

Dorky's is a strange place. At first it was full, then semi full, then empty and now semi full again. But this place is great, even with the downsides. It's got soul. It's not far away, the owner is nice and I even donated him an old CRT TV since they aren't being made anymore. He even gave us free drinks! I'm hoping and crossing my fingers that this place will return to it's original state. After all, managing a busy, loud and bright arcade for 15 years while not losing your sanity is pretty tough. The selection of games is a bit lacking and slightly strange (Crowns Golf? Really?) at least I can respect that that game is pretty rare. Just be glad that he has games, people. Ms. Pac-Man is back up and running and that's pretty nice. Hoping for Crystal Castles someday. Atari made it in '83. Plays with a trackball and it gives some amazing controls. Overall, great vibe and good times. I'll be back. read more

The workers here were very nice and loved seeing a worker wiping down the machines. Was excited to play Ms Pac-Man we didn't try the food but the pizza smelled good. read more

Really great and nostalgic atmosphere. Reminded me of a lot of the places I frequented during my childhood. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

It might have been ok years ago, but I made the mistake taking my grandsons today for some fun. It was dirty, about 25% of the machines didn't work, the upstairs that supposedly has more games was closed off. The main room downstairs was small and dirty. I dropped my purse & picked it up. It was sticky and I had to wash it.The men's room was filthy - one toilet plugged and one with a shower curtain instead of a door. It smelled all the way out into the main part of the arcade. Never going back - kids didn't even like it. read more

Awesome arcade whether you're taking the kids out, having a night out with the homies or going out on a date! Dorky's is located across the street from The Forum & Keys on Main (both amazing spots) in Tacoma. It has pinball machines for days, air hockey, claw machines and them classic games. Did I mention they have pizza? And a bar?! It's lit! Beer + games = good times! They check IDs after 9pm so adults only at this point. It gets packed on weekends but not too packed. Drinks are cheap too! Definitely recommend this spot if you're looking for something to do this weekend. read more

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If you're in the Tacoma area and looking for lots of fun, check out Dorkey's!!!! This place is a blast!!! There was 7 family members of all ages and yes even I loved the pin ball games and Space Invaders!!! Lots of pin ball machines and older games, all require a quarter to a dollar depending on the game. And did o say that are just tons of fun! Candy Crane that cost 50 cents and I am no pro and scored candy everytime. Old fashioned gum-ball machines that had cool Disney keychains.......we may have bought a few . All in all between us playing arcade games, playing the candy crane and key chain machine I think we spent $50 for 7 people and about an hour of fun. Oh by the way I normally don't play electronic games but something about the old pinball machines. The staff is amazing, very helpful and kind! We'll be back! @Dorkey Arcade Tacoma, WA read more

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Great arcade like 90s style with like 2010 games too great place to have fun there's a little Pokémon machine that give you Pokémon cards not good ones but like kids like it still anyway, good place to bring your kid and have fun read more