Friends that game together stay together: Score points with, or against, your pals at SpareMe in Iowa City. (Photo: SpareMe)
If you’re looking for some friendly competition during your next night out, gather your squad and head to a barcade. Here are three that are worth checking out.
SpareMe, Iowa City: Game night just got upgraded. This sleek and modern bowling alley and barcade boasts 13 classic arcade games, 12 bowling lanes, and several Skee-Ball, pinball and dart stations. Dine in style with a menu of sliders, salads, wings, handmade pizzas and even breakfast from 7-11 a.m. seven days a week. Sip on craft cocktails and beers on tap while you smoke your friends in Skee-Ball.
Analog Arcade Bar, Davenport: This divey spot is located in an old bank building in downtown’s Bucktown neighborhood. As the name suggests, the bar features rows of neon-lit classic games like pinball, air hockey, Skee-Ball, Guitar Hero, Pac-Man and more. The drink menu offers plenty of cocktails and draft beer, and the venue is 21-plus, so you don’t have to worry about getting schooled in Guitar Hero by a kid half your age.
The Warp Zone, Sioux City: Family-owned and perfectly pixelated, this funky arcade caters to gamers of all kinds. Beyond the old-school Pac-Man and N64 Super Mario Bros., they also host Nintendo Switch game tournaments and sober nights with unlimited play on all consoles and machines.
