Jersey shore boardwalks are known for their fried foods, amusement parks, t-shirt shops, and of course, the arcades. Some of the best Jersey shore arcades, however, might not be on the beach. Here are some of the coolest Jersey shore arcades to play in, especially when the weather is too hot or too cold for swimming.
Mariner’s Arcade
This Wildwood arcade is conveniently located on the city’s world famous boardwalk. Check out the largest and easiest progressive jackpots in southern NJ. This is the place to play if you want to win big money before you do some boardwalk shopping.
Lucky Leo’s
This Seaside Heights arcade notably survived a lot of the destruction Hurricane Sandy brought to the Jersey shore in 2012 (aside from having to clear out a LOT of sand). Family owned since 1953, the arcade has been open for more than 60 years, at first illegally, since arcade games fell into the same category as gambling until 1975! This boardwalk staple provides consistent comfort to vacation regulars and locals alike.
Ed’s Funcade
With 3 locations in the Wildwood area (including one by the Wildwood boardwalk that held the World Championship Skee-Ball Tournament in 2014), these arcades have a whopping total of 37 skee-ball lanes! This game truly is fun for all ages, since anyone can win and grab a sweet prize. Ed’s also holds drawings throughout the summer for awesome goodies like bicycles, tickets for sports games and musical performances, Visa gift cards, or even the opportunity to enter the Money Machine, where you stand in a booth as money flies around you in attempt to stuff as much of it as you can into a bag before time runs out (Disclaimer: The money is then translated to Moolah points, which you can use on arcade prizes).
Blackbeard’s Cave
This Bayville arcade has two rooms and both retro and modern games for the whole family. Just as exciting are the other attractions in and around the building, like bumper cars, archery, laser tag, driving ranges, archery, rock climbing, tennis courts, and even a bungee free-fall!
Sahara Sam’s Oasis
This West Berlin arcade is attached to a mostly indoor waterpark, providing beach-like fun year-round! The outdoor portion, called The Beach Club, a food court, and party rooms are newer additions to the facility, so be sure to check those out! This family-owned arcade is known for its fantastic service, cleanliness, and safety, so it’s perfect for a family trip!
Funplex Arcade
With 2 locations in East Hanover and Mt. Laurel, the Funplex is a convenient pit stop on your way to any Jersey shore destination. The sites have both classic games like air hockey and more than 100 newer video games. There’s also bumper cars, a 30 foot free fall, laser tag, a Foam Frenzy that rises 3 stories, go carts, a 4D theatre, MagiQuest, an outdoor pool for the summer, and a toddler area for the little ones, making this place truly fun for the whole family.
TILT Studio
This Vorhees arcade was voted “Best of Family” for three years in a row, so it’s definitely worth stopping by, especially to beat the heat (Hello, air conditioning!). There are more than 100 games like Lazer Frenzy, Ms. Pacman, The Swarm in 3D, DDR, air hockey, and skeeball. Be sure to check out the backlit mini golf course, bowling, and roller coaster simulator! Kids can also get down and dirty with gem mining and a dinosaur adventure.
iPlay America
With free entry to more than 200 games, this Freehold arcade might be the best value out there. Unique attractions include laser tag on 2 floors, go karts, bowling, a 4D theater, bumper cars, an indoor high-ropes course (the biggest in the state, we might add), and a spinning roller coaster! iTickets, which are used to redeem prizes, never expire, so it’s never too late to come back! The center also has an indoor boardwalk with a bar, grill, coffee, sweets, frozen yogurt, and other vendors. Visit on Friday nights for a live DJ, lightshow, unlimited rides, go karts, and laser tag, and a $10 Game Card for just 25 bucks. What a steal! It’s no wonder this place was awarded New Jersey Monthly’s best kid’s destination in 2014, a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, and Best Indoor Theme Park and Best Candy Store (Broadway Sweets) in Monmouth County according to the Asbury Park Press.
Video Game Party Center
May the force be with all who play for prizes at this new Randolph arcade, which has a Star Wars theme. Attached to a tennis court, this center features Star Wars memorabilia and realistic light sabers. There are 15 big screen HD TVs complete with surround sound and X Rocker gaming chairs. You can play more than 200 games on the latest systems. Host a party here, and the little birthday padawan will receive a Star Wars gift!
We absolutely love these gems, but you’ll have fun playing at any Jersey shore arcade. Did we miss your favorite? Tell us in the comments below!