Level Up: A nostalgic journey through time and revival or arcade culture

Level Up is a nostalgic journey through time, tracing the rise, fall, and revival of arcade culture.

In 1985, over 10,000 arcades buzzed with neon lights and 8-bit soundtracks across the U.S., serving as hubs for youth and pop culture. By the early 2000s, most had vanished — but in 2025, a new wave of over 1,500 “barcades” and retro gaming lounges is breathing life back into the joystick era.