Aftershock Classic Arcade — Local services in Madison

5-Star Review: Aftershock Classic Arcade Birthday Party

We recently hosted our son’s birthday party at Aftershock Classic Arcade, and it couldn’t have been a better experience. The upstairs “small” party room was the perfect home base for our group—just the right size for our boy and his 10 friends to gather, refuel, and regroup between games.

The bartenders deserve a special shout-out. They were incredibly helpful and patient, even with a gaggle of excited kids buzzing around. From helping with drinks and snacks to making sure everything ran smoothly, they were top-notch.

The kids were absolutely hooked—between the wall-to-wall classic games and the surprise hit of the night: watching a movie together in the private room. That little cinematic bonus made the whole party feel even more special.

The space theme adds a fun, nostalgic vibe that both kids and grown-ups love, and it really ties the whole experience together. We’ve visited Aftershock before, and this party just reaffirmed why we keep coming back. It’s a gem of a spot for families, parties, or just a fun afternoon out.

Highly recommend—whether you’re planning a party or just want to relive your arcade glory days,...

I had reached out to get some basic info for my sons birthday party and Chris was quick to respond. We had emailed a few times and I knew this was the place. The price was reasonable, and the party was to be in a room separated from others.

The day of the party was great. We were brought right up to the room where it was explained what options we have for food, tokens, and how the whole experience would work overall. If we were missing something the staff was there to help in any way they could and I didn't get the sense that they felt we were an inconvenience to them.

The games! There were so many that called out to me for sure. The kids loved all of the pinball machines, Mario cart, House of the Dead, and Air Hockey. Air was a huge hit with them, and was only 3 tokens for 2 players to play.

I was thoroughly happy with how the day went and the kids had a blast.

Thank you to the staff at Aftershock for making things easy on the parents to plan the party, and to make a pretty cool memory...

Best selection of original eighties and early nineties around. Machines are well maintained and in excellent condition. There are enough games that you still have plenty of options to pay even if it gets busy. Kids can play until seven thirty if accompanied by an adult.

I had my fiftieth birthday party here with about twenty friends and family. The owner and staff were great and very accommodating. The party room was already rented out when we called to book it, but they reserved a table for us in the game room which worked out great for our group. They let us bring in our own food (delicious sandwiches from Alamentari). The owner and staff were very friendly and are really serious about video games. It made me feel like a kid again playing all of my favorite games.

Highly recommend for anyone who appreciates classic games and try out some rare ones you haven't...