I would love to see the electric bill - I can only imagine what it must be for the largest arcade in the world with over 850 playable arcade cabinets. Speaking of, how wonderful is it that this place exists? Far too many modern places are drink-focused enough that games have cup-holders, the games themselves have giant, modern LCD screens with the brightness and color turned way up, and all this for about $1.50-$2.00 a game that lasts a minute, 90 seconds at best, and does not require much skill (with alcohol, I suppose they want something winnable even while a little inebriated). This is to say nothing of the games where the goal is to win tickets to exchange for prizes - don't get me started on the shenanigans at play. Galloping Ghost has arcade games where a simple joystick and a couple buttons is all you need. There are some older shoot the screen games, and other retro games as well. Let's say that none have a modern, flat-screen, and all are old enough to use CRT (Tube) Screens. Given their age, the games are kept in very good shape! I also love that Galloping Ghost is about the love of the games, and not about the love of liquor with games being an excuse to drink. There are bottled sodas available for sale, but not cup-holders, alcohol, or food. Even gum is forbidden. This also has the effect of being a community icon! When I visited, there was a gathering of furries (not something I engage in, but power to you!) I haven't even gotten to the best part: $25 for all day, all-you-can-play access. Open from 11am to midnight (or 2am Friday & Saturday night). The ticket allows you access throughout the day, so you can come and go as you please. Better still, an extra $5 gets you access to all-you-can-play pinball a couple blocks down the street. Also a good selection of fun machines somewhere between retro and modern Stern. Final verdict: While Chicagoland has some arcades with free-play, and some even don't require an entrance fee, these, despite a modest selection revolve around booze. Galloping Ghost is a dying breed that exists to test your skills, maybe set a record if you're that good, and hang out. All this, for a very reasonable entrance fee. read more

Galloping Ghost Arcade - Arcades Near Me - Brookfield, Illinois

I love video games. Always have. When I found out that the largest arcade in America was near Chicago, I had to stop. Here is what I liked and didn't like about this place. Liked - Over 900+ games. I mean, just by sheer numbers, that is impressive as hell! Every game you can think of, and then some. So many games I had never heard of before. - Unlimited play with entry. - Its like an interactive video game museum, pretty much. Didn't Like - $25.00 to get in. Wish they had a "by the hour" type pricing. I was there for about 3 hours, and I probably just broke even, money wise, on the games I actually played. - Almost TOO MANY games if there is a such a thing. I spent half my time walking around looking at the different games instead of just sitting down playing them. - Hot inside. Little bit stuffy in there, and it wasn't even that crowded. Couldn't imagine if the place was packed during the Summer months. - Some broken/unplayable games. Most of them I tried worked, but there were a few where the controller was jacked, or certain buttons didn't respond/work well. Would I come back? Yeah, maybe. I'm glad I got to see it, and was impressed by the sheer number of games they have. I just didn't have as much "fun" as I thought I would for the $25.00 entry fee. read more

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You could spend the whole day here and not get bored, every arcade game you could possibly think of is in here, and they have snacks! Especially useful on a rainy day like when we went! I cannot wait to fly back out just to come here again, you owe it to yourself to check this place out. read more

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It's like visiting The Louvre. The most incredible collection of games ever assembled. The price of $25 for all you can play is very fair. They are strict on food and drink but reentry is available so you can grab something and come back. Can't wait to go back read more

Galloping Ghost Arcade - What is this game - Arcades Near Me - Brookfield, Illinois

This is the best arcade I have ever been to...it's amazing!! There's a $25 entrance fee and then you can play for free until closing (if you have to step out for a while, just make sure you have your receipt from when you paid the entrance fee and then you can get back in with no extra charge). There are games for all ages. No food or beverages of any kind are allowed. There are bathrooms available. You can buy souvenirs inside. I would definitely recommend this place for any and all gamers. read more

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Great arcade. The largest I have ever seen. The price of admission was well worth it. Saw arcade games I loved playing in my youth and saw games I had never seen before. There were rooms connected to rooms and more rooms! I played games straight the whole time and yes I paid for it later. Headache, hands cramping, dehydrated, red itchy dry eyes, blurred vision, and severely malnourished 8 hours later I struggled to the car and suffered all the way home and the next day at work. But I was well worth the experience. Lol read more

GGA has way over 1000 games. For that reason, a five star rating is warranted! BUT... Many (about 10 percent or more) aren't playable...there either completely out of order, and have been, in some cases, since last year. Many others (another 10 to 20 percent) suffer from having poorly functioning controls. Still, this place is amazing. It's amazing, but by no means perfect. Back down to 4 stars! read more

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We had an absolute blast coming here! And what a good deal- the staff was really nice- allowed us to leave to grab a bite to eat and come back. All the games were so fun- found some old favorites, and a couple of new games. We will definitely be back! I will say though- it's hot in there. Yes, it's July, of course it's hot. But no, like really hot. Wear some deodorant (please for the love of god, patrons) drink lots of fluids and dress accordingly. read more

Such an old-school and gem of a place. They have over 900 classic and modern arcade games. It's a flat-entry fee and that lets you play all the machines! Highly recommend for anyone looking to get their arcade fix in and enjoy some awesome games! read more

Came here per my Father's Day request, as despite living in Chicago and the Chicagoland area all my life - and even recommending this place to others! - I hadn't been. We came early that day which is a Sunday, and managed to find parking fairly close. Note there are very limited parking spots dedicated to here, and they're pretty hard to find. You pay for admission here and all the games are free to play. I was thankful they didn't charge for my young toddler - I think having him up on my shoulders helped. Inside you'll find basically every arcade game ever? Including rare finds and some that you will only find here. Notably absent are more modern games, and basically any rhythm game. This disappointed me as a music game fan, but with how tightly packed the place is you wouldn't really be able to hear anything anyway. And it is packed, as you'll be having to squeeze behind people as you walk down the rows and rows of arcades. Also not every game is working, which would be a miracle given how many machines are in there. Most are operational though, and if one you want to play is down you'll quickly find another game to jump on to. It's definitely a little sensory overload, and you should eat before coming or plan where you will eat after - you can't bring food in, they just sell snacks, and the area this is in is kind of desolate. But you really can't beat the amount of gaming per square footage GGA provides, and it will take multiple visits to really appreciate all they have. A must visit spot for anyone who considers themselves a gamer! read more

TONS OF OLD VIDEO GAMES. Perfect place for people who are kids of the 80's and 90's. I saw a few kids there with their parents and it was a school day. There is a second building a block down with tons of pinball machines for a small extra charge. (That is definitely for me but I didn't have the time.) About 95-98% of the games worked/set up for free play. It's on Ogden Ave so thankfully, they have a lot. Best part is you think you have seen all the games and you discover there is yet another room with more games. read more

Galloping Ghost Arcade - Arcades Near Me - Brookfield, Illinois

Crazy. For real, this is like a 1980s arcade that traveled through time to 2020s Brookfield. The quantity of games you can play here is staggering and includes well-known vintage stuff like Pong, PacMan and Qbert, plus some really odd little-known stuff, and some newer things from the 90s. They even have a few recent things you'd find at a Dave and Busters. You can follow the huge maze all around and probably get a bit lost. But you'll have a great time doing it. You pay a flat fee to enter and then play as many games as you want until you're done. It's a good system so you're not constantly lining up at token machines. read more

Galloping Ghost Arcade - Arcades Near Me - Brookfield, Illinois

No complaints about this place. Great newer game and lots of older games. Just an all out amazing time.

Lots of variety if games. Great atmosphere. It was amazing playing all the games from the past. Will definitely go again read more

Galloping Ghost Arcade - Arcades Near Me - Brookfield, Illinois

The best arcade place in the world. You only pay $25 for unlimited play. I was there for 8 hours of playing arcade games. read more

Galloping Ghost Arcade - Arcades Near Me - Brookfield, Illinois

Over a 1000 different arcade games. All the classics plus a bunch I've never heard of. Great staff! No smoking and no gum allowed thank goodness. It's crowded but my friend and I struggled to pull our husbands away after over 3 hours. read more

Galloping Ghost Arcade - This place goes on forever! - Arcades Near Me - Brookfield, Illinois

Update 3/27/24 It's $25 per person for the arcade only. I have not been to the pinball building yet. This is a fun place and it would be 5 stars. However, on my recent visit they need to fix some of the games before bringing in more games. Examples would be some of the games were turned off, screen was either too shaky or too dark, games were turned on but you couldn't play them (kept saying insert coins). Service could be friendlier. Parking is very limited but you can park on the side street in the back for free. (Residential) read more

Galloping Ghost Arcade - Arcades Near Me - Brookfield, Illinois

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You pay one price to play old school arcade games it was a lot of fun! They also have pinball machines in another building about a block down. It opens in the afternoon for a little extra charge. The whole family went & it's definitely something we would do again! read more

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Popped in 11pm as i was driving across the country. I needed to get my buddy a t shirt from here since he bought me one tears ago when his size was out of stock. I walked in to see a group of 8 or so bodies near the front desk and the curious employee squinted and cocked his head sideways as i strolled in an hour before closing. He could tell jyst how i looked that i wasnt his normal clientele. I told him i just wanted a t shirt and to use the bathroom and he obliged. He even offered me a donut for free as i left which was awesome since I barely ate that day as i drove from Badlands Natl Park un SD. I wanted to play an hour of arcades but couldnt justify wasting the time or energy when i was trying to drive as far as I could before i slept. Overall i look forward to the day i can return. Thanks for the donut! read more

Galloping Ghost Arcade - Street view. Was stoked they have their own parking lot. - Arcades Near Me - Brookfield, Illinois

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. If you love arcade games, you MUST make the pilgrimage to Galloping Ghost. For $25, you can play for free all day long (keep your receipt to re-enter). This is NOT a swanky barcade. It's room after room jam-packed with arcade cabinets from around the world. You'll see old familiar games and crazy imports you've never seen before. I spent hours and hours there, jamming on my favorites like Joust, NFL Blitz, X-Men, The Simpsons, and TMNT. You'll see weird stuff like Moonwalker or a game based on the movie Willow where all the dialogue is Japanese. There's a terrible shooter somehow tied to Aerosmith where you shoot stuff and CDs fly across the screen. There are driving games, fighting games, side-scrollers, sports games. It's basically heaven. I will note that the games are so crammed in the space, the aisles can be very tight to navigate. If you'll be playing for a while, you might want to grab a coveted stool to drag around and give your feet a rest. Yes, the machines occasionally have issues. Buttons or joysticks or displays may go on the fritz. That's to be expected with these aging treasures. If you love video games, this place is a MUST VISIT. I imagine the place gets packed on weekends, but I went on a Monday and there seemed to be fewer than 10 people in the building the whole day. What a national treasure! read more

SAD SAD SAD I should be this place's target demographic. I grew up a broke kid, trying to scrape together quarters to play a frantic game at the corner store. I remember the excitement of literally running to go play some of the classic and slightly-later arcade games. I am now an adult with a decent disposable income. I can and will spend money on dumb crap; like the full on saints-embroidered NOLA track suit that embarrassed my son to no end. Was worth it; would do again! However, that dumb decision felt like a far better use of my money, than coming here. I can remember so many of the games in their collections, and was instantly transported back to my childhood, which I'm told is a very powerful marketing tool. However, while this is a great concept, the place is very poorly run and maintained. *First off; it's not family friendly. They'll let police and firefighters in for free but charge full price for a 7 year old. Being pro-cop and anti-family makes me think I can probably guess the political leanings of the owners better than I can guess the amount of jelly beans in a giant jar. *You walk in through an isle of non-functional games; like a graveyard of broken dreams. Fitting, I suppose, and quite the foreshadowing of things to come. *Hours on the website are wrong so you'll have to go multiple times to find out the correct hours. This is a great feature for fans of treachery. *Their Apple Pay was broken. Staff tried to gaslight me into thinking it was my Apple Pay on the fritz. It was not. They demanded I use another credit card, and their Jedi mind trick was poorly executed. *Parking lot is tiny. There is almost no room for busy days, which thankfully this was not. This might be a plus if your goal is to whip your customers into a frenzy before a big tournament. They did have an arm wrestling game inside, maybe they could use it to determine who can get a parking spot? *Games are jammed into every corner. Thankfully, I was raised by hoarders. *Staff is rude and confrontational. (Semi-expected given it's a classic arcade). *Place is filthy. Like; shoes-stick-to-to-the-carpet filthy. When the frayed carpet is a noticeable feature in what should be a palace of wonderland... y'all better get right with our lord and savior; Donkey Kong. The worst part is that this place has a ton of potential to be so fantastic. ---- It feels much bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside. They have a slew of great games but over 1/2 of them are not working or shut off. Tried to play a bunch of games that had damaged screens, broken buttons or that had other issues. For example; Was super excited to play RC Pro Am until we realized only one out of 3 gas pedals worked. A 2 player Star Wars game only had one side marginally working. Most of the 3-4 player games had 1 or more controllers that didn't work at all. ...Couldn't play even more games because the button to add credits wasn't working. If you love classic video games, please don't leave so many in such poor condition. Take care of them! Feels fundamentally disrespectful to the classic arcade to leave things in such disarray. Any non-working games should be fixed or removed within a few weeks at bare minimum. It would free up a ton of space and not be such a disappointment for someone like me; who got excited a half dozen times only to then be let down by a non-functional game. Clean the place up! It's gross... And I grew up in a house that had pathways through piles of junk... so my standards are not crazy high. Make the entrance at least a tiny bit appealing. The place definitely needs some attention and TLC from the owners to get it shaped up. They should add family-friendly pricing. There is no reason for actual kids to have to spend the cost of 100 games. They are going to have a 1-2 hour attention span, in general. These games are SLOW compared to the video game crack that they have now. Price it accordingly for families. ---- Loved the high scores on most of the games, and it was great to see so many classics in one place.. Would maybe give it another try sometime, but for the price, it was GAME OVER. I'd rather just pay .25 a game than their current format, but I'd guess that given the sad state of their collection that their coin slots wouldn't work well either. read more

Review Visit: January 23rd, 2013 The largest arcade in the United States of America. Are you still with me? Good. The Galloping Ghost Arcade is the largest arcade in the United States of America at a staggering 650+ games. That is astounding. My friend, Jacob, offhandedly mentioned this place during a conversation one day. After looking into it, I knew I had to go. Lucky enough, a lot of my friends are gamers and I was able to convince a lot of them to go with me. While it was an early morning drive to get there at a decent time, it was worth every second. Entry cost was $10 at the time for admission. That got you unlimited gaming time for the day. You can hop from one machine to the next without worrying about having enough quarters or tokens. It is a great business model. Price has crept up to $20 for admission but for what you get, it is still a fantastic deal. During our visit, I think they had around 300-400 games. Over the last few years, they have expanded into the next building to increase their gaming floor. With almost 700 cabinets and games, you'll need all the floor space you can get. One thing I noticed is the temperature in Galloping Ghost. With all the machines, even in the winter, it was warm in there. They probably don't need to run any heat with all the machines in there. Keep that in mind if you visit during the summer. While it was comfortable in the winter, it might get a bit warm in the summer? That's just a guess. My friends and I spent the whole afternoon here and we barely scratched the surface of what they offer. Now that they have expanded, you may need a whole week to play everything. They seem to offer modern games and tournaments on top of just being a place to play arcade games. Galloping Ghost also had a small shop of drinks and odds and ends for sale. I picked up a Pokeball perler bead magnet before I left. It still hands on my fridge to this day. Hopefully they still sell small stuff like that as I would like to get more in the future. Speaking of, I have plans to return in 2019 with my dad. He grew up in an arcade so this will feel like home to him. I just hope he doesn't plan on moving in! I will snap some new photos when I go back since most of the ones from 2013 are of low quality. Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, Start. read more

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It was a good day for a birthday visit. You only get a year older once a year, so I thought it would be a great plan to go to Galloping Ghost, and experience some of the 775 arcade games they have running. The electric bill for the place must have the electric meter spinning like a top! I started looking for some old favorites - I played a lot of Xenophobe from Midway, which worked properly. I then wandered over and played Omega Race - they have one of the rare cockpits. The game played great - no resets like last time, and I made some good progress at getting better. I also played Kosmic Kruiser at the request of an arcade forum member - I did okay, but key tip: if you have never played a game, read the instructions - they are short, but you'll do better. I laid into Asteroids, Red Barron, and Battlezone, leaving some high scores for the day. I also broke into the Leader board of Dig Dug, which I never could do in the past (but I read the instructions....) Space Harrier was working, but the motion system wasn't. When I played Afterburner II, the motion system was canted 15 degrees to the right, and it was hard to play. I also played Space Gun (very interesting story line) and their Sinistar Cockpit. I played a bunch of other games. The game condition was improved since last time, more were working and were in better condition. With a collection of 775 games, it's inevitable that some of them will be down. We were there on a Wednesday night, and there were around 20 people total there, so Wednesday night is good for arcade game playing at Galloping Ghost. If you need credits, look for the small red square button on the coin door. Press that multiple times, and get all the credits you need - BAM! Still, I've looked at a bunch of arcades, and this is one of the best I have ever played in in the 2000's. Some things to consider: No outside food or drinks. $25 per person now for admission (inflation) Don't touch any power switches. So much fun you will not believe it. read more

Awesome collection of classic and newer video games. Free play. Hours fly by when you're there!

This was a great experience. So many cabinets. I've been in multiple arcade establishments and this place was by far the best one. Solely because of the amount of cabinets they have and how many were on and working and for the price I paid for...and how long I can be there(all day). Only 2 cabinets I played that the joystick wasn't responding properly(Die Hard Arcade and SFII Champions Edition Player 1). There were a few cabinets not working(not on) and that's expected. Not giving them a pass and I feel that all cabinets should be on but it's inevitable. The cabinets that I feel that have the iconic music and sounds.... those cabinets' volumes were too low(NBA JAM, MK1, OUTRUN, RASTAN). A few stools here and there. Multiple bathrooms in there. They sell beverages and snacks inside. Parking is limited if they're busy but I went early on a Sunday and it was plenty of parking. I would come back to Chicago IL just because of this place! read more

This place remains a tribute to 80s gaming. Since our last visit before COVID it has expanded to take up an entire block. I've never seen so many arcade cabinets in my life. I wish there was some organization as they seem to be more or less randomly distributed. You could spend hours here.i can't explain it but it even smells like the 80s. read more

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I had such a fun experience here. The staff are extremely nice and there are lots of games to choose from. Would go again, 5 stars. read more

Galloping Ghost Arcade - Slatterhouse - Arcades Near Me - Brookfield, Illinois

It is the home of all genres of vintage arcade games. The cost of admission is reasonable. Gamers will enjoy this location. read more

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The best arcade in the Chicagoland area. There is a fee to go in, but it's all the games are free! I've come across some of my childhood favorites in this arcade. Plus the staff are really cool. read more

I hadn't been here since before the pandemic, and it was definitely time for a visit! When last I reviewed, the Galloping Ghost had 600-some games. They now have close to 900 according to their website, and it's apparently the biggest arcade in the US! It's $25 per person to play all day in the arcade, $20 if you want to play at the pinball hall down the block (note that it does not open til later than the regular arcade), or $30 if you want to do both. They have definitely expanded further into the strip of shops since I was last here, and are preparing to spread eastward as well according to the fellow at the counter. This means that while it's still crowded, it's not quite as bad as it was before. Exciting to see old favorite games, and some new additions (including my all-time favorite fighting game: Pocket Fighter, aka Super Gem Fighter, in which you play cute little versions of Street Fighter and Dark Stalkers characters (they have the puzzle version with the same characters, Super Puzzle Fighter II, as well!) It's worth mentioning if you are photosensitive there are some very strobey games, particularly some of the early-mid '90s Capcom and Banpresto games, so be cautious. Overall though, there's a classic game here for everyone, so spend your afternoon trying them all! read more

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Nostalgia overload! Plenty of arcade machines. Some are Japan exclusive that I experienced for the first time. At first I was overwhelmed by the space shooters. Only to realize that this is only one section of many! It was a maze of classic titles, beat 'em ups, racing, metal slug clones, you name it. All set to free-play and in fairly good condition for the most part with few exceptions. It's not just an arcade place. It's an arcade museum! Must check out. read more

Today was my first time here and it was absolutely a fun time. There are hundreds of video games. Many games brought back memories including Galaga, Space Invaders, Mrs. Pac-Man, Galaxian, etc. A pretty cool event was happening while we here, there was a man trying to break the Worlds Record for playing Galaga, he had already been playing 10 hours when we arrived at 4pm. There are a few scattered stools for those of us who have difficulty standing for long periods of time. The staff was polite and helpful. I will definitely have to make a return visit. Highly recommended. Five stars.. read more

It's like interacting with a living museum. My hats off to the owner, who is maintaining all of those video games. There was a good mix of people families, teenagers, and the older crowd who grew up with space invaders and pac man. read more

My favorite place!! I usually take the last two weeks of the year off from work and it's become a tradition to spend the evening of my last day of work here. It's the besy way to decompress, start my vacation, and feed my inner child who would have died and gone to heaven upon stepping foot in this place. Funny enough, heaven to 12 year old me would have looked something like galloping ghost. read more

While I can easily suggest a couple minor changes, there is really nothing to compare Galloping Ghost to and it has no peers that i'm aware of. $15 entry fee and then all you can play classic games. I take my kids on days off and we can pretty easily kill 3 hours playing games. There is something for everyone. I personally play Joust, Tron, Dragon's Lair and Street Fighter. During off hours it isn't busy and you can just camp out at the game until your eyes start to bleed. Its a bit of a hike if you are coming from Chicago, but it is well worth it. What I would change: 1) How about a better variety of snacks? The choices are pretty underwhelming. 2) A nice water fountain would be great so we don't have to buy bottles of water. 3) A couch to sit on for parents that don't want to play games. 4) Update/refresh the bathroom. read more

Galloping Ghost Arcade - Tron. Choose wisely. - Arcades Near Me - Brookfield, Illinois

25 for all day play in a huge arcade 10/10 do recommend... idk what else to say. It's well worth the price, and you can leave and come back!

Absolutely wonderful arcade with so many arcade machines you'll have to visit again just to experience them all. Great way for younger folk like me to play games way before my time all in one convenient location. Some arcade games I've never seen anywhere else, let alone in working condition. You pay a flat fee that allows you to play unlimited games for the day, no quarters required. My only disappointment was that a good chunk of the popular games were partially broken and could not be played. Since these are old machines I understand getting parts is tough and expensive though. read more

Galloping Ghost Arcade - Store Front Sign - Arcades Near Me - Brookfield, Illinois

Very cool place. I've lived in the area for practically my whole life and have never been here. So many games! Any arcade game you could think of. They sell pop & water- no alcohol. read more

This is my second visit here, but was definitely the longest amount of time I have spent here. It is packed with classic arcade games and fun for the family. I brought my 9-year-old and he had a blast. The price is reasonable at $25 for all day with the ability to leave and come back. The aisles are tight due to the amount of games. It is like a casino in that it is dark inside and you can lose track of time pretty easily. My son was already asking to go back on the ride home. read more

Epic arcade! I have been going there for years, and every time it brings back more memories from my childhood! There are specific games that I remember asking my folks to take us back to a certain campground to, mostly because the campground had that specific game or 2 that I wanted to play. Now they're all here in one place, and I don't have to spend so much money just to play. The $25 entry fee is more than reasonable, and I used to come here once every couple of months when they had like those MK and signing events. There are also some refreshments while you're there, so make sure you bring some cash for that (as they also don't allow outside food and drink, which is very understandable). Since yesterday, I hadn't been here in maybe 1 1/2 - 2 years, but I still stayed for about 6 hours this time and had a blast again! I do hope they add more racing games, including more Initial D games, but they now have a whole section for them which is really cool! i will definitely be back within the next few months to play more! Make sure you bring a couple of friends like I did, as there are up to 4 player arcade cabinets! PS. I would agree with others though, that they may need to find a big, closed down store to move to soon, as the number of arcade cabinets has grown by a lot, even since last coming here. There's only like maybe 7 or 8 parking spots at the arcade too, and they fill up quick. read more

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