FAQs | Riverside Game Lab

purple brick wall background, cartoon style and dark, with big neon question marks dancing in front of it

dancing neon question marks in red & white

When are you open?

Monday: Closed Tuesday - Thursday: 5PM - 12AM Friday: 5PM - 1AM Saturday: 3PM - 1AM Sunday: 3PM - 12AM We are closed for the following special events and Holidays: Superbowl Sunday July 4th Thanksgiving Day Christmas Eve Christmas Day New Year's Eve We are open for the following special events and Holidays: New Year's Day Juneteenth
Can I bring my kids?

Absolutely! The Riverside Game Lab is open to all ages. After 10PM on Friday and Saturday, only guests over the age of 21 will be permitted entry.
Do I need a reservation?

Reservations are not required to come into Riverside Game Lab. We no longer offer reservations, however if you wish to do a buyout for the entire space please email us at info@riversidegamelab.com.
Can anyone play Virtual Reality?

As long as the headset fits your head, you can play VR! Typically, children under 5 will not be able to have the headset fit on their heads. In these cases, we ask that they wait until they are old enough to keep the headset on without any assistance.
Where do I park?

The most convenient parking is in Parking Structure #7, located behind the Riverside Game Lab on Fairmount Blvd.
Is there a cover charge? Hourly fee to play games?

There is no cover charge or entry fees at the Riverside Game Lab. All of our arcade and pinball games take Riverside Game Lab game cards.
How much are game credits? How do I get them?

Game Credits are $.05 each, or $1 for 20. Game Credits are available from the kiosks on the floor by the front door or the bar.
Do you use tokens, quarters, or game cards?

Our games use Game Cards. Game Cards are available for purchase at any of our available kiosks up front or near the bar in the back.
Can I drink in the game areas?

Feel free to take your drink from the bar with you while you enjoy your experience at The Riverside Game Lab. We only ask that you DO NOT attempt to drink while wearing a VR headset and DO NOT place your drinks on the games themselves. We provide drink holders around the arcade area for your convenience. Otherwise, please enjoy your drink responsibly!
How often will you get new games?

We value making available as wide a range of games as possible. New releases, old classics, and obscure novelties will make their way onto the floor regularly.
Can I reserve a private room or area away from the rest of the public?

You can make a reservation by emailing us at info@riversidegamelab.com. Parties of 20 or fewer will not require a reservation of any kind nor will be granted one. If your party is 20 or fewer, please feel free to come in during normal business hours. We can accommodate parties and private events all the way up to 450 people, but parties over 100 will generally require a full buy out.
What kind of games can I play?

We feature a variety of games, from classics like Galaga and Pac Man to classic gun shooters like Area 51 and House of the Dead. We also house 20 pinball machines ranging from late 70s Williams and Ballys machines as well as modern day Stern Machines like Stranger Things. We also have a variety of 90s beat 'em up classics like The Simpsons and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! See our games list for a full listing of what we have available.
What kind of Virtual Reality do you have?

Currently we have available for play: 2 VAR BOX Multiplayer Shooter Cabinets VRsenal Vader Immortal Cabinet VRsenal Beat Saber Cabinet We update our VR list every year and generally purchase a new VR title annually. Check our Social Media pages or our games list page for our most up to date information.
What are my food options here?

Riverside Game Lab is home to a full kitchen! You can order at the bar in the back of the building. Also, Riverside Game Lab is located only feet away from the Riverside Food Lab, which offers a dozen different choices for full meals. Please do not bring your food or drinks from Riverside Food Lab into Riverside Game Lab.
Can I bring food from the Riverside Food Lab into the Game Lab?

No. We do NOT allow food or alcohol from outside of the Riverside Game Lab, including anything from the Food Lab. Please plan accordingly and eat at the Riverside Food Lab before your visit to the Riverside Game Lab.
A game didn't start when I used my card - what’s up with that?

Unfortunately, some of these arcade games are almost 40 years old! That makes them a bit cranky sometimes, but we love them anyway. If you have a machine fail to start or otherwise not play properly, please alert the nearest Game Lab staff member and they will be able to assist you. Promptly alerting Game Lab staff will allow you to recover any lost credits and prevent this from happening to anyone else!
Are we hiring?

Game Lab is always looking for great people! Please go to our 'Now Hiring' page to check all available positions. If none are available, you may email us your resume at info@riversidegamelab.com and we will reach out if a position opens at a later time.
Do you sell or work on arcades?

We do not sell our arcade cabinets. However, if you need help restoring or fixing an arcade cabinet you own, feel free to email us at info@riversidegamelab.com and we can put you in contact with a technician.
Can I have a private event here?

Yes you can! If you have a larger group of over 50 people, you can buyout the Riverside Game Lab for a time and we can accommodate you and your party for however long you would like. We can accommodate buy out parties of up to 450 people at a time. Please email us at info@riversidegamelab.com if you would like to host a private event with us! Groups smaller than 50 people do not require reservations and we do not have any special accommodations.