There are places you walk into and immediately feel like a kid again — that electric buzz in the air, the cacophony of bells and buzzers, the unmistakable glow of a hundred screens lighting up the room. Cidercade Richardson is exactly that kind of place, and once you step through its doors off East Arapaho Road, you may find it genuinely difficult to leave.
Cidercade is a concept that sounds almost too good to be true: an all-you-can-play arcade packed with hundreds of classic and modern pinball machines and arcade games, combined with a craft cider and beer taproom. Yes, you read that correctly. This is not a Chuck E. Cheese situation. Cidercade is built for adults who never quite outgrew their love of arcade culture, and it wears that identity with tremendous confidence.
The Richardson location sits in a shopping center just off US-75, making it an easy stop whether you live in the area or are passing through from Plano, Garland, or Dallas proper. Walk in, pay a flat admission fee, and the entire floor of machines is yours to play without ever fishing for another quarter. That alone feels revolutionary in 2024.
The game selection is genuinely impressive. You will find meticulously maintained pinball machines spanning several decades — from vintage electromechanical tables to modern LCD-display behemoths based on properties like Jurassic Park, Guns N’ Roses, and Deadpool. Classic arcade cabinets line the walls: Galaga, Ms. Pac-Man, Street Fighter II, and plenty more. There are also redemption games if you want to stack up tickets and walk away with a small prize, though honestly the experience itself is the reward.
The cider and beer selection keeps pace with the fun. The taps rotate regularly, featuring a solid range of craft ciders — dry, sweet, hopped, and fruited varieties — alongside local and regional craft beers. The staff behind the bar know their product and are happy to point you toward something you will actually enjoy rather than just handing you whatever is nearest. Grab a pint, find your machine, and settle in.
Cidercade is equally great for a date night, a group outing with friends, or even a private event. The venue has hosted birthday parties and corporate gatherings, and the energy of the space scales naturally from an intimate weeknight visit to a lively weekend crowd.
Richardson has no shortage of solid dining and entertainment options, but Cidercade occupies a lane all its own. It is nostalgic without being kitschy, social without being loud in an unpleasant way, and refreshingly unpretentious. If you have not yet made the trip, consider this your enthusiastic invitation to go fix that immediately.
