Where to Play Pinball in Des Moines: Barcades, Arcades, and Themed Venues with Machines
Like what you're reading?
Get pinball news, analysis, and deep dives delivered to your inbox.
Get pinball news, analysis, and deep dives delivered to your inbox.
Des Moines punches up its pinball scene with themed venues and regional variety. The downtown East Village hosts the Midwest barcade chain Up Down, while West Des Moines offers a medical-themed arcade bar. A horror-inspired pubcade, a college-town option in Ames, and a brewery-arcade in Johnston round out the metro's offerings.
Several venues transition from family-friendly daytime hours to 21+ evening atmospheres. The variety of themes and settings suits different moods: retro nostalgia at Up Down, quirky medical decor at Operating Room, or monster movie vibes at Monsterama.
Here's where to find pinball across the Des Moines area.
| Venue | Area | Machines | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up Down | East Village | 11 | Barcade |
| Operating Room | West Des Moines | 10 | Barcade |
| Time Out Ames | Ames | 10 | Bar |
| Monsterama Arcade | Southwest | A few | Barcade |
| Backpocket Pin and Pixel | Johnston | A few | Brewery |
Arcade bar · East Village
Up Down (Des Moines) brings the regional barcade chain to a below-ground East Village location. The 80s/90s-themed venue pairs 11 pinball machines with classic arcade cabinets, skee-ball, and console stations—all typically 25¢ per play. Craft beer, cocktails, and house-made pizza by the slice complement the gaming floor.
Horror-themed pubcade · Southwest
Monsterama Arcade delivers monster-inspired atmosphere alongside 9 pinball machines, pool, darts, and retro games. The pubcade offers a full bar and food menu with regular pinball tournaments. Family-friendly hours run until 8pm, then 21+. The lineup includes Creature from the Black Lagoon, Godzilla, and Dungeons & Dragons.
Medical-themed barcade · Mills Civic
Operating Room brings a unique medical theme to the barcade format with craft cocktail slushies, syringe shots, and 10 pinball machines. The West Des Moines venue maintains a modern premium-heavy lineup including John Wick, JAWS, King Kong, and Star Wars: Fall of the Empire alongside family-friendly events.
Bar and arcade · Downtown Ames
Time Out Ames serves the Iowa State University area with 10 pinball machines, retro arcade cabinets, pool, and weekend karaoke. The family-owned venue welcomes families until 7pm before transitioning to 21+. The rotating collection includes Jurassic Park, Godzilla, Iron Maiden, and The Addams Family.
Brewery taproom and arcade · Johnston
Backpocket Pin and Pixel pairs in-house craft beer with a retro arcade featuring pinball, duckpin bowling, and quarter-operated classics. The Johnston taproom maintains a family-friendly, relaxed atmosphere with puzzle leagues and private events. The rotating pinball lineup includes The Mandalorian, Led Zeppelin, and James Bond.
Des Moines delivers variety through its themed venues. Up Down suits those wanting cheap games and East Village atmosphere, while Operating Room and Monsterama provide unique themed experiences. Ames adds a solid option for those near Iowa State, and Backpocket rounds out the scene with craft beer and duckpin bowling.
Colin is the chief pixel pusher at Kineticist. He's a lifetime gamer who became enamored with pinball after taking in a family copy of the 1979 classic Joker Poker (the EM version). Since then he's bought, sold and repaired many machines, competed in all kinds of tournaments, and contributes to This Week in Pinball, the New England Pinball League, and Pin-Masters of New England. Previously, Colin spent over a decade working in marketing for agencies and tech startups. He also started and ran a music blog, happy hour website, and wrote a regular craft beer review column for Central Track in Dallas. Once aspired to be an artsy film director.
No comments yet. Sign in to be the first.