Beyond the thriving business and corporate sector in the city and the growing tourist sector, there is a quiet revival happening behind it all. Games and symbols that we now call ‘retro’ are reappearing in music spaces, galleries and bars. Retro games and signs can be seen in venues all across Dublin, bringing back the arcade to one of Europe’s most dynamic capitals. It’s not just a throwback to the past for nostalgia’s sake, but a way to harness creativity and social experience for adults in this digital world.
The New Playgrounds of the City
All around the city, new venues that are tapping into the renewed arcade scene. From classic machines and tabletop games, they give gamers what they want with a pang of nostalgia to boot. Lane7 recently opened in Chatham St and Dundrum and offers a range of arcade games, bowling and darts while SuperSocial in Leopardstown Racecourse provides visitors the chance to play hi-tech mini golf, shuffleboard, darts and more. These games have been touched by the digital revolution and add to the growing trend in entertainment of retro games being repurposed for the digital age. For example, Plinko, first appearing in 1983, has been remade as Plinko gambling, allowing gamers the chance to play with three coloured buttons as deflected discs fall from the top of the board – a modern take on retro gaming. In both neon-lit venues and online arenas, the reappearance of retro gaming displays nostalgia and innovation can coexist in perfect balance.
Design, Memory, and the Art of Nostalgia
The beauty of these venues isn’t necessarily just the games themselves, but in the layout and design. For local creatives, like graphic designers or illustrators, these places can offer up inspiration. Lane7, for example, is designed with game machines as centrepieces, LED lighting and an overall artsy fit-out. The venue at SuperSocial is similar but with a focus on combining retro with the future, like stepping into an arcade from the future. Places like these revive memories for visitors and feed into the overall vibe of the city.
Culture, Connection, and Rebellion
The most powerful thing about these venues is their ability to reclaim a lost part of culture and help people reconnect. They are not about competition, trying to outsell other venues, and more about connection. Whether this means laughing at a high score, arguing over the interpretation of rules or being happy at just the sight of a game you had forgotten existed. They offer a place to have fun regardless of the day of the week, allowing friends to unwind after work or even allowing couples looking for something different to do and rekindle memories from decades gone by. Life can be busy in Dublin, with technology powering the economy in the capital, but these newer types of venues allow things to slow down even momentarily with their timeless charm.
Dublin’s arcade revival is more than just a nostalgia project. New venues like Lane7 add a new energy to the city and bring with them connection and sensory delight, much appreciated by those both living in and visiting the city.
