The Gamers Guide to Liverpool: 8 gaming venues you need to visit

Gaming. It used to be something that you did in your bedroom or at a mates house – not anymore and not in Liverpool.

Anyone who loves gaming knows that it has totally shifted and become a social occasion, even a night out in some cases, and Liverpool is the perfect place for it.

Virtual reality, video and board gaming have become massively popular in Liverpool in recent years and now there seems to be something for everyone. Retro game arcades – Check. Board game cafes – Check. VR Arcades – Check.

If you need a gaming fix, check out these venues in Liverpool that will cater for all your needs.

NQ64

If you’re looking for somewhere in the city centre that has HEAPS of arcade games, a seriously cool bar and is placed in an underground retro haven, then look no further. NQ64 opened last September inside the old Aloha site and since then it’s been serving great cocktails and a load of nostalgia. From 80’s arcade machines, to 90s games consoles, NQ64 have you sorted. Buy tokens at the bar and get gaming!

Check out their website here.

Arcains

This new gaming arcade has arrived at the Baltic Triangle in the Cains Brewery Villlage and is one of the largest in Europe! ArCains really is a beast when it comes to their arcade game offering. They offer 3 floors of gaming, 2 bars, pool tables, shuffleboarding, food and more. The cool thing about here is that you pay an entrance fee and then all arcade gaming is free and unlimited. Take my money!

See their website here.

Super Megabite

This place is a retro arcade with a twist. Super Mega Bite, which has taken over the Slims Porkchop Express site on Seel Street, is a gourmet chicken takeaway. However, hidden away in the back, they have a retro arcade that fits 60 people and has 20 machines. Expect games like Tetris, Donkey Kong, PAC Man, Simpsons and more. Chicken and games? Count us in!

Find out more about Super Mega Bite here.

VR-HERE

Have you ever tried Virtual Reality Gaming?! This is what VR-HERE is all about. They offer a totally immersive VR Gaming experience, including motion-tracked rooms, a VR Bike Race and a VR Car Racer. When it comes to gaming, you won’t get more realistic than this, and it’s right here in Liverpool.

Visit their website here.

Horizon E-Sport Club

Horizon E-Sport Club is totally unique in that it offers state of the art technology for gaming but its setting has more of a traditional, luxurious feel. It really is something that needs to be seen to fully understand. Offering “high-end luxury gaming”, this venue is great for casual gamers as well as seasoned pros and is right in the middle of town.

Check out their website here.

Dough Bar

Dough Bar offers badass pizzas, a huge range of drinks and of course, loads of gaming! Situated just by Lime Street, this venue is a massive hit with the students of Liverpool, partly because of the amazing prices they offer on food and drink. You can have a go at arcade games like Sega Rally, loads of board games and games consoles too.

See what they’re all about here.

VideOdyssey

Described by themselves as a “tsunami of extreme nostalgia”, VideOdyssey claim to be the UK’s only VHS rental shop. The venue is decorated with 8 foot high video walls and features a hidden cinema and arcade. So you can gaze at the old relic that is a VHS (extra points for those who know what that stands for), while playing some of your favourite retro games.

Find out more on their website here.

Sugar and Dice Board Game Café

Board game lovers, this one’s for you! Based in the city centre, Sugar and Dice Board Game Café offers a shed load of board games for you to play and a great cafe serving freshly baked treats and hot drinks. Expect to find games you’ve never heard of and of course all the classics, in vibrant and colourful surroundings. Need some help choosing the right game? Ask the staff, who know all about the games you can play. Have fun!

Find out more on their website here.

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