Neon Retro Arcade

Mark Guenther and Mia Mazadiego met in college, back when Mark had a pinball machine in his dorm room that he invited Mia over to play. The couple continued collecting and restoring dozens of classic games over the years until 2015, when they decided to open Neon Retro Arcade: an homage to the arcade’s heyday in the heart of Old Pasadena.

This colorful venue, with a light-up interior befitting its name, might be a little slicker and less sticky than an arcade from back in the good old days, but the games are just how you remember them. The owners’ goal has been to introduce classic arcade games to a new generation that perhaps is more familiar with Minecraft than Street Fighter. The popular arcade has certainly accomplished that: in part because of their strategy of including some modern games to get kids in the zone before moving on to the real good retro stuff. 

No tokens or quarters are needed: a single ticket gives you access to free-play mode on every machine, including popular titles like Donkey Kong, Asteroids, Ms. Pac-Man, and The Simpsons, and a selection of pinball games including new releases like Jaws and The Mandalorian. New games are rotated in regularly from the owners’ collection, so each visit can give you a chance to play something different. 

One hour of play is $15, but it’s only $25 for the whole day, including in-and-out privileges. Though Neon does not offer party packages, if you’ve got a big group, you can reserve 2 hours of game time at a discounted rate, and then light the candles and enjoy a meal at one of the many excellent dining options nearby.