The 10 Best Geeky Places to Visit in New York City

VIDEOGAMESNEWYORK –  202 E 6TH St, NEW YORK, NY

Video Games NY should definitely be one of your first nerdy destinations to go to if you’re in the big apple. Not only does the store carry old-school consoles like the Atari Jaguar and Sega Genesis, but they sell tons of games for said consoles. You can head over there to get your geek on, sell your used games, get your consoles and discs repaired, buy some arcade sticks, and feast your eyes on some old-school Nintendo merchandise.

They even have an online store where you can find some neat stuff like amiibo imports from Japan and video game-themed posters.

NINTENDO NY – 10 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA, NEW YORK, NY

This is heaven. If I were to ever die, as a Nintendo fan, just make sure that I spend the rest of eternity at the Nintendo NY store. This 10,000 square foot store is massive and contains all kinds of Nintendo memorabilia, making it a dangerous trip if you plan on paying your rent next month. The two floors showcase upcoming Nintendo titles (some of which you can even demo), Pikachu snapbacks, adorable Kirby plushies, a Zelda-themed chess set, and much, much more. The location also hosts tournaments and launch parties that are full of door prizes and themed merchandise available for purchase. Nintendo NY is the destination station for everything Nintendo in New Donk, whoops I mean, New York City.

TOY TOKYO – 91 2ND AVE, NEW YORK, NY

Toy Tokyo specializes in, you guessed it, toys! From Smurfs and Gundams, to Dragon Ball and Toy Story, Toy Tokyo has it all. If you love to collect rare, exclusive, and limited figures, then Toy Tokyo is the place for you. You’ll find the weirdest, zaniest collectibles at this place in New York. The location has developed a reputation as one of the world’s best places for vintage toys over the past 15 years.

BARCADE – 148 W 24TH ST, NEW YORK, NY

Barcade combines two of the best things in life: craft beers and classic arcade cabinets. Go grab some friends, purchase some alcoholic beverages, and then go play some classic games like Contra, Crazy Taxi, Centipede, Galaga, The Legend of Zelda, Frogger, Super Mario Bros., and more. Barcade also has a diverse food menu that ranges from burgers and fries to chicken and waffles. There are two locations in New York City, so if you have the time, why not check out both? 

KINOKUNIYA NY – 1073 6TH AVE, NEW YORK, NY

Kinokuniya is a Japanese-based retailer that sells Manga, stationary, Japanese language books, DVD’s, CD’s, and toys. If you can’t get to Japan for the real experience, this place is probably the closest to an authentic Asian bookstore. If you head to the second floor of the store, you’ll find rows upon rows of Manga as well as Cafe Zaiya, which sells Japanese pastries, bento boxes and even Hello Kitty-shaped breads. Whether you speak English or Japanese, any fan of Japanese culture will feel right at home at Kinokuniya.

GOTHAM CITY GAMES – 503 84TH ST, BROOKLYN, NY

Located in Brooklyn, New York, Gotham City Games is one of the best places to fulfil your retro gaming needs. Gotham City has shelves full of 8 and 16-bit cartridges that will make any old-school gamer’s mouth drop to the floor. If you’re in a modern gaming slump, definitely check out Gotham City and pick up a Super Nintendo or a Sega Genesis and let your geek flag fly high into the sky.

MODERN PINBALL NYC – 362 3RD AVE, NEW YORK, NY

Modern Pinball NYC is on a mission to make pinball machines relevant again, and not just by placing them in bars and other adult venues. Modern Pinball creates a family friendly arcade where kids and adults can not only play the multiple pinball machines, but learn the history of these classic games while doing so. Going to Modern Pinball NYC will net you the opportunity to play some classics like Star Wars, Spider-Man, Star Trek, Revenge from Mars, and Wheel of Fortune. The location is available to host birthday parties, and doubles as an interactive museum.

NINJA NEW YORK –  25 HUDSON ST, NEW YORK, NY

Ninja New York only offers the finest of Japanese cuisine and also delivers an authentic experience based off of Ninja villages in Japan. The hidden restaurant is full of ninjas that are ready to attack and serve you pricey, yet delicious entrees. The interior of the restaurant is designed as a feudal village with rooms laid out as a maze, which is also full of traps and secrets to find. Just be careful when you go to the restroom, cause I’ve heard that Ninjas might lie in the shadows waiting to interrupt your pee break.

CHINATOWN FAIR – 8 MOTT ST, NEW YORK, NY

Chinatown Fair is best known for its famous dancing chicken that has been featured in movies and even music videos that were filmed in the arcade. The family fun center is open every day of the year and is host to all kinds of arcade games like Guitar Hero, Street Fighter, and even House of the Dead. There’s also tons of great Asian-inspired food around Chinatown, so why not play some DDR and then slurp up some ramen?

TWO-BIT’S RETRO ARCADE – 153 ESSEX ST, NEW YORK, NY

This lower east side barroom features classic arcade games that are just 25 cents to play. There are 22 rotating arcade cabinets, a great selection of sake and wines, and even some pinball tables. Movies are projected on the back wall for the guest’s enjoyment and bar food is available if playing Pac-Man makes you a little bit hungry. The old-school nostalgia that emanates from the walls of the retro arcade will make any gamer reminisce of the older days.