Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Dave & Buster’s Overview
Restaurant, Bar, Arcade Entertainment
Founded: 1982, Dallas, Texas (by David Corriveau and James Corley)
Parent Company: Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc.
Headquarters: Coppell, Texas Locations (as of February 2024, updated for 2025): 171 Dave & Buster’s locations across 43 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and Canada.
New 2025 openings include Spokane Valley, WA (August 2025, 13921 E. Mansfield Ave.), Reno, NV (July 28, 2025, Shayden Summit mall), and planned international expansions in Bangalore, India (January 2025, with Malpani Group) and the Philippines (October 2025, Opus Mall).
Check daveandbusters.com for specific locations and hours (e.g., Reno: Sun 10 AM–midnight, Mon–Tue 11 AM–midnight).
Arcade Games and Attractions (2025):
Dave & Buster’s arcades, branded as “Million Dollar Midway,” feature over 120 games, including classics, modern titles, and exclusive attractions. Games use a Power Card system (replacing tokens, reloadable via app, Google Pay, or Apple Wallet) to activate play and earn tickets for prizes like plushies. Key 2025 highlights:
Hot Wheels Victory Lap: An exclusive arcade racing game inspired by Hot Wheels, featuring stunts and speed. Available at select locations like Reno.
Mario Kart Arcade: A racing game with familiar characters and items, noted for being less intimidating than other racers, ideal for casual play. Available at many locations, e.g., Capital City Mall.
Human Crane: A new 2025 attraction where players are hoisted in a harness to grab prizes, available at select locations (not all, e.g., not in Birmingham, AL, or Memphis, TN).
Top Gun: Maverick: An exclusive cockpit-based mission game, available through Memorial Day 2025 and beyond.
UFC Challenge: A speed and skill-based fighting game with real UFC footage, exclusive through January 2027.
Godzilla VR: A virtual reality Kaiju battle experience.
NBA Superstars: 3v3 basketball with NBA icons and Tim Kitzrow commentary.
Funko Funcade: A retro game offering exclusive Funko collectibles as prizes.
Other Games: Classics like Connect 4, Connect 4 Hoops (basketball-based), Halo: Fireteam Raven, PAC-MAN, Galaga, billiards, air hockey, and VR experiences. Games vary by location; purple swipe games (VR, cranes, pushers) are excluded from some promotions.
Gameplay Details: Games range from ticket-redemption (capped at 1,500 tickets per session for some promotions) to immersive experiences like The Arena and Social Shuffleboard.
The “Spring of New Games” event (March–May 2025) introduced six new games and the Human Crane, with unlimited gameplay upgrades via the Eat & Play Combo ($19.99+, includes entrée and $10 Power Card, excludes Fridays/Saturdays after 5 PM).
Leaderboard Challenge tracks scores locally and nationally for bragging rights.
Half-price games on Wednesdays (excludes VR, Human Crane, photo booths).
Additional Features: Food and Drink: Full-service restaurant with burgers, wings, flatbreads, and seasonal menus (e.g., fried pickles, chili chicken skewers). Drinks include cocktails, beers, and $5 Happy Hour specials (4–7 PM Mon–Fri, 10 PM–midnight Sun–Thu).
Sports Viewing: Massive 40-foot WOW Wall screens, VIP Watch Rooms (up to 12 people), and HD TVs for NFL, UFC, NBA, and global events like the Olympics.
Events: Party bookings (72-hour advance notice), birthday specials, and corporate events with game suites.
Promotions: $15 free gameplay with $15 spend via Rewards app; 25% more gameplay with $25+ Power Card and $1,000 party spend (expires 5/6/25); military/first responder discounts (10–20%, varies by location).
Historical Context:
Founded in 1982, Dave & Buster’s combined dining and arcades, growing to 232 venues (171 Dave & Buster’s, rest Main Event) by 2025. Its Power Card system (introduced 1997) streamlined gameplay, and 2025 saw new games and reimagined locations with modern designs and social gaming like High-Tech Darts.
Did You Know? Hot Wheels Victory Lap debuted in 2025, exclusive to Dave & Buster’s.
Mario Kart Arcade uses simplified controls for accessibility.
The Human Crane lets players “become the claw” for prizes.
Reno’s opening offered free games for a day to the first 100 guests.
Power Cards can be added to Google Pay/Apple Wallet via the DING DING DING app.
Dave & Buster’s Overview
Restaurant, Bar, Arcade Entertainment
Founded: 1982, Dallas, Texas (by David Corriveau and James Corley)
Parent Company: Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc.
Headquarters: Coppell, Texas Locations (as of February 2024, updated for 2025): 171 Dave & Buster’s locations across 43 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and Canada.
New 2025 openings include Spokane Valley, WA (August 2025, 13921 E. Mansfield Ave.), Reno, NV (July 28, 2025, Shayden Summit mall), and planned international expansions in Bangalore, India (January 2025, with Malpani Group) and the Philippines (October 2025, Opus Mall).
Check daveandbusters.com for specific locations and hours (e.g., Reno: Sun 10 AM–midnight, Mon–Tue 11 AM–midnight).
Arcade Games and Attractions (2025):
Dave & Buster’s arcades, branded as “Million Dollar Midway,” feature over 120 games, including classics, modern titles, and exclusive attractions. Games use a Power Card system (replacing tokens, reloadable via app, Google Pay, or Apple Wallet) to activate play and earn tickets for prizes like plushies. Key 2025 highlights:
Hot Wheels Victory Lap: An exclusive arcade racing game inspired by Hot Wheels, featuring stunts and speed. Available at select locations like Reno.
Mario Kart Arcade: A racing game with familiar characters and items, noted for being less intimidating than other racers, ideal for casual play. Available at many locations, e.g., Capital City Mall.
Human Crane: A new 2025 attraction where players are hoisted in a harness to grab prizes, available at select locations (not all, e.g., not in Birmingham, AL, or Memphis, TN).
Top Gun: Maverick: An exclusive cockpit-based mission game, available through Memorial Day 2025 and beyond.
UFC Challenge: A speed and skill-based fighting game with real UFC footage, exclusive through January 2027.
Godzilla VR: A virtual reality Kaiju battle experience.
NBA Superstars: 3v3 basketball with NBA icons and Tim Kitzrow commentary.
Funko Funcade: A retro game offering exclusive Funko collectibles as prizes.
Other Games: Classics like Connect 4, Connect 4 Hoops (basketball-based), Halo: Fireteam Raven, PAC-MAN, Galaga, billiards, air hockey, and VR experiences. Games vary by location; purple swipe games (VR, cranes, pushers) are excluded from some promotions.
Gameplay Details: Games range from ticket-redemption (capped at 1,500 tickets per session for some promotions) to immersive experiences like The Arena and Social Shuffleboard.
The “Spring of New Games” event (March–May 2025) introduced six new games and the Human Crane, with unlimited gameplay upgrades via the Eat & Play Combo ($19.99+, includes entrée and $10 Power Card, excludes Fridays/Saturdays after 5 PM).
Leaderboard Challenge tracks scores locally and nationally for bragging rights.
Half-price games on Wednesdays (excludes VR, Human Crane, photo booths).
Additional Features: Food and Drink: Full-service restaurant with burgers, wings, flatbreads, and seasonal menus (e.g., fried pickles, chili chicken skewers). Drinks include cocktails, beers, and $5 Happy Hour specials (4–7 PM Mon–Fri, 10 PM–midnight Sun–Thu).
Sports Viewing: Massive 40-foot WOW Wall screens, VIP Watch Rooms (up to 12 people), and HD TVs for NFL, UFC, NBA, and global events like the Olympics.
Events: Party bookings (72-hour advance notice), birthday specials, and corporate events with game suites.
Promotions: $15 free gameplay with $15 spend via Rewards app; 25% more gameplay with $25+ Power Card and $1,000 party spend (expires 5/6/25); military/first responder discounts (10–20%, varies by location).
Historical Context:
Founded in 1982, Dave & Buster’s combined dining and arcades, growing to 232 venues (171 Dave & Buster’s, rest Main Event) by 2025. Its Power Card system (introduced 1997) streamlined gameplay, and 2025 saw new games and reimagined locations with modern designs and social gaming like High-Tech Darts.
Did You Know? Hot Wheels Victory Lap debuted in 2025, exclusive to Dave & Buster’s.
Mario Kart Arcade uses simplified controls for accessibility.
The Human Crane lets players “become the claw” for prizes.
Reno’s opening offered free games for a day to the first 100 guests.
Power Cards can be added to Google Pay/Apple Wallet via the DING DING DING app.
