Dave & Buster's: Fun's Not Just for the Kids Anymore

By Jonathan Berohn

If you have kids, you’re probably all too familiar with Chuck E. Cheese by now. If there’s anything worse than their pizza, it’s the insultingly pathetic selection of actual arcade games. Sure, the kids love it, but don’t they realize the adults—or at least this adult—don’t just want to hold the token cup and keep track of the prize tickets? I guarantee I’d be a lot less reluctant to go if they had games that amused me, too.

Filling a Void

Fortunately that’s the premise behind Dave and Buster’s. I have no proof of this, of course, but I would bet that Dave and Buster (or whoever’s really behind Dave and Buster’s) started out by simply walking around a Chuck E. Cheese with a clipboard:

"Hmm…what’s missing here? Good games…check. Pool…check. Good food…check. Good beer…check." Now you’re certainly not going to confuse Dave and Buster’s with a gourmet restaurant, but it compares favorably with standard places like Chile’s, Friday’s, and Bennigan’s. You and I both know you’re not going for the food, though. So lets’ get on with it, shall we?

Games for Everyone

The only reason anyone goes to a place like Dave and Buster’s is for the games. And D&B's doesn’t disappoint. If for some reason you do miss the attractions at Chuck E. Cheese, Dave and Buster’s has Skee ball, basketball, and the goofy token games that let you win tickets for prizes. But what sets the place apart is the hardcore video games. If you’re like me and miss the old arcade days, finding a whole building full of the latest games is like being turned loose in arcade where the other people aren’t going to think they’ve let you out of the old folks’ home.

Games Galore

They have some of the old classics like Centipede and Pac man if you are feeling nostalgic. They have shoot-em-ups if you have the urge to go postal in harmless video sort of way. They have sports games of all varieties. You can find those anywhere, though. What you can’t find anywhere is a whole row of interconnected racecars, jet skis, or motorcycles that let you race other players.

Dave and Buster’s also boasts several of the most recent virtual reality games that you don’t find at your typical mall arcade. And finally, they have the best arcade game I’ve ever played—virtual sports. Pick your sport—baseball, football, soccer, or hockey... then pick up your ball, or stick and try to strike out, score, or pass on the computer players. You do this by hitting, kicking or throwing the ball or puck against a screen. The computer calculates the rest. Yes, you feel a little silly the first time you blast a slap shot against your favorite NHL goalie, but you get over it fast—trust me.