Chuck E. Cheese launches adult arcade locations

The Chuck E. Cheese family entertainment chain is rebranding as a new arcade for adults.

Titled “Chuck’s Arcade,” the new iteration features nostalgic games and current favorites, alongside its animatronic characters, with the hope of attracting more teens and adults.

Games will include retro favorites like Ms. Pac-Man, Mortal Kombat and Centipede, as well as newer games like Jurassic Park and Halo, Chuck E. Cheese said, according to Today. Exact games will vary by location, the company said.

“The arcade was created for adults and lifelong fans who grew up surrounded by the electric glow of arcade screens, the symphony of digital soundtracks and the thrill of chasing high scores with friends long into the night,” the announcement reads. “Chuck’s Arcade is a modern-day love letter to the games and people who made Chuck E. Cheese great.”

No two Chuck’s Arcade locations will be the same, the company said. For example, the location in Kansas City features a full menu and original artwork on the walls. Some locations will also sell clothing, toys and novelty candy.

Each venue will be “overseen” by one of the classic animatronic characters, Today reported, and a video on the company’s website shows a statue of a character encased in glass in the middle of the arcade.

Chuck’s Arcade locations already open in malls nationwide include:

• St. Petersburg, Fla.
• Trumbull, Conn,
• Oklahoma City and Tulsa
• Victor, N.Y.
• Buford, Ga.
• El Paso, Texas
• Nashua and Salem N.H.
• Kansas City

The idea behind Chuck’s Arcade is similar to Dave & Buster’s, Today reported. More locations will be opening “on the horizon,” according to the announcement, with the next in line in Brea, Calif.

“Chuck E. Cheese has spent decades mastering the arcade experience — it’s in our DNA,” said David McKillips, CEO of Chuck E. Cheese, in the release. “Chuck’s Arcade™ is a natural evolution — an opportunity to extend our arcade legacy into new formats that engage both lifelong fans and a new generation.”

In Western Pennsylvania, locals might remember the former Chuck E. Cheese location in Monroeville. There are still three locations in the region.

Pennsylvania is not listed on the Chuck’s Arcade website as of yet.

Chuck’s Arcade was created following the company’s bankruptcy in 2020, a corporate restructuring and a $350 million investment that led to electronic ticketing, more adult menu items and new play areas as part of a rebrand, according to Today.