Whether you’re a hardcore gamer or just use games on your phone to pass the time at the doctor’s office, there’s lots of fun to be had and plenty to learn at the National Videogame Museum in Frisco, Texas.

What’s at the National Videogame Museum?

This unique museum bills itself as a place to learn about the videogame industry's history, see where it's heading next, and be a part of it all. Discover the stories behind the creation of some of the world’s most popular games and consoles, and the industry’s most influential companies and personalities. Step up to an interactive timeline of 50 of the gaming consoles released in the U.S. since 1972, and direct it to tell you more about any of them. When was it popular? How many games were made for it? What was it competing with? What were some of its best and worst features?

Not Your Grandma’s Museum (Unless She’s a Gamer)

This is not a stuffy gallery or museum where everything is locked away behind glass and no-one speaks above a whisper. Videogames are meant to be played and that is the underlying thought behind the exhibits at the museum. So to answer the burning question you really want to ask, YES, you will get to play video games here!

Go Retro

Relive the sights and sounds of the 80s at the Pixel Dreams arcade. Museum visitors get four arcade tokens upon admission, but you can buy more and spend a whole day working on mastering an array of classic games and working your way up the leaderboard. See and play some of the first home systems and games, from a giant version of Atari’s classic game, Pong, to some of Nintendo’s early versions of Breakout and Night Driver.

Days, Times & Prices

The National Videogame Museum is currently open 10 AM to 5 PM Wednesday through Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM Saturday, and noon to 5 PM Sunday. General admission is $12 for adults, $10 for children ages 4 to 10, and $10 for senior citizens, educators, and active duty military (with valid ID). Annual memberships with unlimited admission are also available. Guided tours are available every Sunday at 1 PM and 3 PM. Check the museum website for schedule changes, holiday hours, and special events and exhibits.

Let your inner gamer run free at the National Videogame museum, and find lots more to see and do around Frisco at the Olympus Boulevard blog.