Travel Back In Time When You Visit Free Play Bar & Arcade, An Arcade Bar In Rhode Island
By Christy Articola|Published February 04, 2022
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Christy Articola
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Christy Articola has lived in Colorado since 2013 and considers herself a Centennial State enthusiast and expert through and through. She's based in Denver metro, but over the past decade, she has traveled to every corner, river, village, park, town, and city in the state and continues to explore it deeper and further whenever she can. Christy simply can't get enough of Colorado, and loves sharing all her adventures with you through Only In Your State! She graduated with a degree in journalism from Fordham University and is thrilled to be working as a full time travel writer for this and other sites - she finally found her perfect niche - and is so grateful for that.
Many people do. Some of the best video games out there were first played in arcades several decades ago. Fortunately, people had the forethought to save and preserve some of these games so that they can still be enjoyed by video game enthusiasts today.
One place where you can play dozens of old video games is at Free Play Bar & Arcade in Providence, Rhode Island. This 21+ bar is a fun hangout spot that is packed wall-to-wall with games that visitors can play for free – all you must do is pay a reasonable admission fee to enter.
Read on to learn more about this very special place. Get ready to fall in love.
Free Play Bar & Arcade is located in downtown Providence, Rhode Island, across from Johnson & Wales University. You'll find this gaming-based bar inside The Colosseum, a multi-level building that's primarily a nightclub space.
Free Play Bar & Arcade opened here in 2017. It It's big and spacious. It has to be - to fit all the games! Free Play has over one hundred classic videos games that visitors can play.
All your favorites are here. You can play classics like Centipede, Donkey Kong, Frogger, Pacman, Paperboy, Super Mario Brothers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and many more.
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Best of all, patrons can enjoy unlimited free play on all of these games for as long as they'd like after they pay the bar's admission fee. It's just $5 on weekdays and $10 on Fridays and Saturdays.
The themes and characters featured in the pinball machines and arcade games will carry you back in time to when you were a kid. You'll feel like a youngster all over again when you play these games, many of which you haven't played or even thought of in years.
You'll likely get thirsty after playing so many games. The beer selection at Free Play is fantastic. You'll find eight craft beers on tap, including several from Rhode Island and greater New England. Free Play also offers over fifty beers, seltzers, and ciders in cans and bottles from around the United States and the world.
If you have a competitive streak, you might enjoy playing some Skee-ball against your companions. Free Play Bar & Arcade currently has four lanes of Skee-ball. That's plenty for a small tournament of friends.
In the event of a tie, race your friends in a classic, competitive driving game like Daytona USA to break it. This game can seat up to four players. If you'd rather race motorcycles, try Fast & Furious Super Bikes. You can race powerboats in H2Overdrive as well, if you want.
Free Play Bar & Arcade also has other games you can play against your friends. There's a six player X-Men game, and there are four player Simpsons and Pacman games, too.
On a regular basis, Free Play Bar & Arcade has parties with DJs. Most of the time, the music is from the same time periods as the games. There's nothing quite like a retro arcade dance party!
Free Play isn't the only bar and arcade in New England or even in Rhode Island, but currently the biggest with the most games. There's even a second location in Worcester, Massachusetts.
As you can see, this bar and arcade is a super special place. It's the kind of place you never forget. Next time you're in Providence, be sure to stop in. If you weren't already planning a trip to Providence, this may be a good reason to start planning one!
Residents and visitors alike love Free Play Bar & Arcade. How could anyone not? You’ll step back in time when you walk through the doors here and you won’t want to leave for hours – and you don’t have to. Play some games, have some drinks, and spend time with your friends. Free Play Bar & Arcade can’t wait to welcome you!
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