Headless Horseman Arcade — Local services in Wheeling Township

COME AND HAVE A BALL!

I set out to do an arcade day and was googling options I hadn't experienced before. This came up and I love the single-entry price free play model so I decided to check it out.

The space is HUGE and is well appointed. I appreciated the balance of the usual cabs along with some you don't see frequently and a few I've never encountered before.

For the $20 admission you'd have to really not be an arcade fan, or leave quickly to not get your money's worth. I stayed for 4+ hours and didn't even play everything.

I dig the vibe -a lot-. It's clearly a labor of love and I appreciate that the machines are given breathing room to exist and get a good audio experience without feeling cramped or overly noisy. It's an arcade and the games are the stars.

I came alone but saw families as well so it's well catered to any crowd looking to take in some classic entertainment.

I had a really excellent afternoon and definitely intend to return. As other's have mentioned the owner is SUPER cool and friendly. I dig arcade and retro games history and he talked shop with me for a while without making me feel anything but welcome! Seeing the shell cabs along the walls got me intrigued and it was cool to see the past and the future all being worked on slowly and passionately. Being able to just chat and have him walk me through his collection was very memorable and enjoyable.

By visiting you'll have a great time, support local business, and actively help in the preservation of notoriously difficult-to-preserve pieces of history. Seriously, when you are playing a game it may have been in somewhat regular operation for 30-50 years. How...

We drive this way up Wolf Rd. regularly, and recently had to do a double-take - "Is that a new arcade next to Chinese Munch In"?

Indeed, it is.

We stopped in this weekend to take a look. The cost is $20 for all day free play, with come and go privileges. For a brand new arcade, there is already an impressive assortment of retro games to play. Many more cabinets were noted in the figurative workshop, so that will add to the collection, and I am sure even more games are on the way.

A lot of the usual suspects are here (Mario Bros.; Galaga), with some others I have never heard of before, like New Zealand Story. There is a combination arcade cabinet with Taito's Bust-A-Move, but also a hilarious dodge ball game I have never seen before. Arctic Thunder is a lot of fun, because you get to sit on the makeshift snowmobile seat while the ice cold "wind" blasts you in the face. Finally, stop in here and give Gyruss a try. The chiptune-techno remix of Bach's "Toccata and Fugue" provides a banger soundtrack while you play, and, right now, I have the high score on that machine, which I have no right to, since I set it my very first time ever playing!

The arcade owner is very attentive, and sure to help with any questions you have about the machines or what games to try. He also pointed out a large party room. You can host a birthday here, or maybe just like a Magic: the Gathering get-together. He said there is no room booking fee for the next month or so, so something to consider. Either way, make sure to stop in, spread the word, and support this...

One of the best retro arcades I've ever been too.

All the machines are in near perfect condition, there's plenty of space for big or multiple groups, pay once/unlimited play system, plenty from nearly all genres of games, a LOT of games I haven't ran into before or haven't seen in well over a decade. I could keep going on and on and on about all the wonderful things this place offers.

I've personally been to so many arcades in Illinois and other nearby states in the last decade and I can say, without a doubt, hands down, this is one of the best I've had the opportunity to play at. All this while also having an amazing owner who shows he's deeply passionate about arcades games

Would HIGHLY recommend for any families looking for a casual fun evening or any...