Neon Dreams Arcade — Local services in Pinellas Park

this arcade is, no joke, the BEST arcade i’ve ever been to. i’ve always enjoyed rhythm games, but could never find a place that hosted the more competitive side of the community until Neon Dreams. dallas, cody, and kaz run the place, and they’re absolutely killing it!! they keep machines in pristine condition, run monthly events for both the rhythm game and fighting game communities, and listen/interact with their customers more than any business owners i’ve ever known. other arcade chains i’ve visited around the area that have japanese rhythm games often don’t take care of their cabs, and charge way too much for entry considering the disrepair they allow on their floor. Neon Dreams is super budget friendly, understanding that many of their customers are there to grind and improve regularly, and focus heavily on the experience of playing games in a great environment. once in a blue moon a machine will break due to our lovely storms or a small part not working, but 9 times out of 10 it’s fixed within a week. on top of that, the cabs are cleaned and adjusted regularly, so everything feels virtually brand new. during a recent tropical storm, one of the monitors for the initial d machines blew out, and i kid you not it was back up and running the next day. if you’re lucky enough to live in the area, i HIGHLY suggest checking this place out- you’ll find yourself coming back over and over again, and being warmly welcomed into the community that has been encouraged to thrive here. whether you’re an experienced player or someone completely new, they’ll be happy to have you, and veteran players will most likely excitedly show you the ropes and help you out if you need it!! thank you for running such an amazing arcade y’all, you’ll have the communities support with whatever you decide to do in...

My new “home” arcade.

I visited here back around Mid-December, I got to talk to one of the owners and I can tell you, they absolutely have a love and car for the arcade and console gaming community. With a beautiful mix of old-school and modern fighting games with an excellent choice of arcade rhythm game machines (some of which you WON’T find anywhere in the Tampa/St. Pete area), this location is literally a dream come true for those wanting to play your heart out for hours on end.

With a price of $15 per entry, re-entry with wristband, discounts for first-responders, active duty military and veterans, college students, and even cosplayers, the pricing is far than exceptional for what you get back. Food and snacks located inside are also decently priced, just about the same as if you hopped across to the gas station close by to the location.

Tournament days and events are incredible, when I say they care for the community they REALLY care. I entered one of the rhythm gaming tournaments that they hosted, one of the owners went out of their way to create an Excel Randomizer for the songs we had to play against our opponents, something that has yet to be created for the general community of players for this game! Just pure love for the game and community ❤️

While the venue may be small, there is definitely hope that the location will soon expand or move locations if and when the time comes, and I am positive that the owners would put in their hard work to make this location even better if they get to expand and open more locations.

If you love fighting, rhythm, racing, and even console gaming, this is THE place to go for a night off of work, a weekend trip, or for getting to hang out with like-minded gamers. Highly...

I've been looking for an arcade to go to since I come down from north FL to visit my partner several times a month, and we both like fighting games and rhythm games. I found Neon Dreams after a bit of digging and this place is an absolute gem. If you're looking for a more Japanese-style arcade or just a place to play rhythm games or fighting games, this is where you should go.

15$ all-day play is incredible, and the game quality is so high that there's not a single cab or setup in that building that I didn't want to get my hands on. They have a ton of cool stuff; highlight for me and partner was the 3rd Strike candy cab. I've never seen one in person, so it was awesome getting to play on one! Also, from their website, they seem to run tournaments and other events which is sick.

The owners seem super nice too. I'm queer and get a little sus about some arcades I've been to (some arcades I've been to have been unwelcoming of queer regulars, going to a new arcade is always a little nerve-wracking), but the owner we spoke to and the people that seemed to be a part of the arcade's community immediately made me feel at home and were all very nice. If you're queer and looking for a community to frequent this definitely seems like a great place to go in the area.

This arcade is clearly full of passion for the games they and the people who play them, I cannot recommend it enough. I'm definitely dragging my partner back here. Also, the Pop'n Music mural is adorable. Looking forward to coming back on...