National Videogame Museum

"The nondescript exterior of the Frisco Discovery Center is akin to, say, your local Best Buy. Inside, however, the National Videogame Museum—with its niche collection of more than 100,000 games, consoles, and rare artifacts—makes for sensory and nostalgia overload. Learn about the culture of video games while standing in an ’80s-themed living room, or stop by the mom and pop shop that contextualizes the video game crash of 1983. Finally, don’t miss the retro arcade, where you can use your complimentary tokens to attempt the high score on Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and other classics." - Tommie Ethington, Diana Oates

"What’s this place all about? The nondescript exterior of the Frisco Discovery Center is akin to, say, your local Best Buy. Inside, however, the National Videogame Museum—with its niche collection of more than 100,000 games, consoles, and rare artifacts—makes for sensory and nostalgia overload. Whether you came up in the era of Pong or Playstation, are a hardcore collector or have never even touched a controller, there’s something for you to gush over. What kinds of exhibits will we find? The highly interactive exhibits are divided up into 16 different stages and detail the history and evolution of video games, covering everything from pixel art to secret features known as “Easter eggs” to online gaming. The more text-heavy sections are balanced by life-sized scenes that evoke the set of Stranger Things. Learn about the culture of video games while standing in an ’80s-themed living room or stop by the mom and pop shop that contextualizes the video game crash of 1983. Don’t miss the retro arcade, where you can use your complimentary tokens to attempt the high score on Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and other classics. A new special exhibit is introduced every six to eight months and focuses on a specific game, moment in history, or spin-off (a previous installation featured memorabilia from the live-action Super Mario Bros. film). The colorful murals that cover many of the walls were painted by Texas artists and can also be considered an exhibit in their own right. What did you make of the crowd? It’s certainly family-friendly—the pitter-patter of kids running across the concrete floors is the museum’s unofficial soundtrack—but adults have just as much trouble containing their excitement when rediscovering childhood gems. Any guided tours worth trying? Two tours, covered in the price of admission, take place on Sundays. Volunteer guides or, if you’re lucky, the museum’s director, offer background on the museum’s origins and specific items in the collection. It’s great for gaming nerds, but if you like to go at your own pace or want more time for hands-on activities, stick to the self-guided route What's in the gift shop? The small gift shop sells the usual museum merch—mugs, keychains, stickers—as well as some handheld games. While not for sale, it’s worth checking out the wall of vintage tees featuring old game characters and logos. Can we get something to eat? Food and drink are not allowed inside the museum and there’s nothing on-site, but in keeping with the theme, we recommend nearby Nerdvana. There, you’ll find comfort “bytes,” craft beer, and, in case you’re tired of screens, more than 50 board games. Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged? If you want to take a high-level approach, it’s easy to flit between exhibits and still understand what you’re looking at. Journey through the ages, beginning with stage one, which features the industry’s earliest iterations like an original Pong machine (you can’t touch that one, but take a few steps to your right and you can battle it out on the world’s largest playable pong machine). Spend some time in the arcade, complete with neon aliens and ’80s jams. Then, see just how far technology has come at the immersive virtual reality setup that whisks museum-goers away to a lush jungle or a highspeed rollercoaster." - Tommie Ethington