7 Best Venues in Philadelphia to Host an Arcade Game-Themed Event

There’s something about arcade games that instantly gets people interacting. Whether guests are competing for a high score, challenging coworkers to a head-to-head game, or rediscovering a favorite from years ago, an arcade-themed event can turn an ordinary gathering into an experience people actually remember.

And you don’t need to book a traditional arcade to make it happen.

With the right Philadelphia event venue and arcade game rentals in Philadelphia from Snap Entertainment, you can create your own pop-up arcade for a corporate event, holiday party, birthday, fundraiser, school celebration, team-building event, or other special occasion.

The key is choosing a venue with enough flexibility for both your guests and your games. Open floor plans, accessible load-in areas, configurable event spaces, and room for guests to circulate can all make a difference.

Here are seven Philadelphia venues worth considering for your next arcade game-themed event.

1. BOK

For an arcade event with a distinctly Philadelphia feel, BOK in South Philadelphia is an excellent place to start.

The former vocational school has been transformed into a creative mixed-use building while retaining plenty of its original character. For private events, BOK offers multiple spaces, including its West Gym, Auditorium, and terraces. The West Gym is especially intriguing for an arcade-themed party: it offers 6,205 square feet of space and can accommodate up to 300 guests. BOK specifically describes it as suitable for celebrations, fundraisers, multi-vendor events, conferences, team building, and other customizable events.

That open gymnasium setting creates a natural opportunity to build an arcade floor. Instead of filling the entire room with traditional banquet seating, planners could establish different gaming zones around the space while preserving areas for food, drinks, networking, and entertainment.

How Snap Entertainment Can Fit In

Snap Entertainment can work with your event plan to deliver arcade games directly to the venue and create a game lineup suited to your guest count, event style, and available space.

For a corporate event, for example, games can become part of a larger team-building experience. For a birthday or social celebration, the arcade can serve as the main attraction. The open character of the West Gym also lends itself to arranging games so guests can easily move from one challenge to the next.

Best for: Corporate parties, team-building events, fundraisers, large social events, and Philly-themed celebrations.

2. Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia

If the goal is to make entertainment the center of the night, Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia deserves a spot near the top of the list.

Located in Fishtown, Brooklyn Bowl combines a concert venue, restaurant, bars, and 24 bowling lanes in a 38,000-plus-square-foot space. The venue can accommodate events of up to 1,000 guests and promotes the property for corporate events, product launches, holiday parties, conferences, kids’ events, private concerts, and other celebrations.

Bowling already gives guests something to do, but adding arcade games can transform the concept into a larger interactive entertainment experience.

Imagine guests rotating between bowling lanes and arcade challenges instead of spending most of the evening seated at tables. For company outings in particular, that creates multiple ways for people to participate, even if someone isn’t much of a bowler.

How Snap Entertainment Can Fit In

Snap can supplement the entertainment already available at Brooklyn Bowl with arcade game rentals in Philadelphia, creating additional activity stations for your guests.

Depending on the event layout and what the venue approves, arcade rentals could help create a dedicated gaming area away from the lanes or expand a broader competition concept. Event planners could even organize a multi-game tournament in which guests earn points across different activities.

Because outside rentals and equipment requirements vary by venue and event, coordinate your arcade plans with Brooklyn Bowl’s event team before finalizing your game package.

Best for: Corporate outings, holiday parties, product launches, large celebrations, and entertainment-focused events.

3. The Felt Factory

For planners who want a flexible private-event environment rather than a venue built around one particular attraction, The Felt Factory is another strong option.

Located in Philadelphia, The Felt Factory is an industrial-chic event venue that hosts birthdays, holiday events, luncheons, Sweet 16s, showers, and other celebrations. The venue offers several different spaces, giving planners options based on the size and format of their event.

The Capri accommodates corporate functions of 100 or fewer guests, while The Manor can accommodate corporate functions of up to 350. The Mill offers another flexible option, including capacity for up to 300 guests for a cocktail-style event.

For an arcade-themed party, having multiple room sizes is useful because the games should feel like part of the event, not like they’re squeezed into whatever floor space happens to remain.

How Snap Entertainment Can Fit In

Snap Entertainment can help you select games appropriate for the scale of your event and coordinate delivery based on the approved venue setup.

For a smaller event in The Capri, a curated selection of high-impact games can create a compact arcade experience without overwhelming the room. For a larger celebration in The Manor, planners may have more flexibility to create a broader arcade zone alongside dining, dancing, and other entertainment.

Best for: Birthdays, Sweet 16s, holiday parties, corporate functions, and private celebrations.

4. The Liberty View at Independence Visitor Center

Want an arcade party in one of Philadelphia’s most recognizable areas? Consider The Liberty View at Independence Visitor Center.

Located at 599 Market Street overlooking Independence Mall, The Liberty View offers an event setting in the heart of Philadelphia’s Historic District. The venue hosts corporate retreats, company meetings, holiday parties, social events, and other private gatherings.

Its event space is also configurable. The venue says its space can accommodate 180 guests at round tables, 200 in theater-style seating, or up to 500 standing, with staff working with clients on customized room configurations.

That last option is particularly interesting for an arcade-themed event. Reducing the number of traditional tables and building a more open reception layout can provide more opportunities for interactive entertainment.

How Snap Entertainment Can Fit In

Snap Entertainment can bring the arcade experience to the venue so that a historic Philadelphia location can become the setting for a modern, playful event.

A corporate holiday party here, for example, could pair food and drinks with arcade stations where coworkers compete throughout the evening. For an organization hosting out-of-town guests, the location also provides a distinctly Philadelphia backdrop while the games give attendees an easy way to mingle.

As with any venue, planners should confirm equipment access, electrical requirements, placement, and other rental details with the venue during the planning process.

Best for: Corporate events, holiday parties, networking events, organization celebrations, and events with out-of-town guests.

5. The Lucy

An arcade party doesn’t have to look casual.

For planners who want to combine elegant surroundings with unexpected interactive entertainment, The Lucy by Cescaphe-reception offers an interesting contrast.

Located on the Avenue of the Arts in Center City, The Lucy features an upscale design with chandeliers, marble accents, white brick, and chevron wood flooring. Its main room can accommodate up to 800 guests for a cocktail-style event, and the venue emphasizes its ability to be customized for different events.

That makes The Lucy a compelling option for a polished corporate celebration where arcade games are an entertainment feature rather than the entire visual theme.

Think less “kids’ arcade” and more “upscale game night”: stylish décor, cocktails, music, and strategically placed games that encourage guests to loosen up and interact.

How Snap Entertainment Can Fit In

Snap Entertainment can work with the event plan to create a curated arcade setup that complements rather than competes with the venue.

Games could be grouped into a designated entertainment area, incorporated into a cocktail-style reception, or used as part of a company competition. Snap can handle the rental side of the experience, including getting the selected games to the event, while the venue and event planner coordinate the overall room layout.

Best for: Corporate celebrations, upscale holiday parties, awards events, milestone celebrations, and cocktail-style events.

6. Punch Line Philly

Arcade games and comedy might not be the first combination that comes to mind, but that’s precisely why Punch Line Philly can be such an interesting choice.

Located in Fishtown, Punch Line Philly can be transformed from a comedy club into a private-event venue for corporate events, meetings, receptions, and social gatherings. Its event spaces include the Showroom, Callback Bar, and Patio, with private events accommodating approximately 50 to 400 guests.

This venue could work particularly well when arcade games are one component of a larger entertainment program.

For example, guests could spend the first portion of the evening playing games, eating, drinking, and socializing before moving into a comedy performance or presentation. That helps avoid the downtime that often happens before the main program begins.

How Snap Entertainment Can Fit In

Snap Entertainment can provide arcade rentals that turn the pre-show or reception portion of the event into an activity of its own.

Instead of guests simply standing around with a drink while waiting for entertainment to begin, arcade games give them a reason to interact immediately. For corporate events, planners could also create friendly competitions before the show and announce winners later in the evening.

Always coordinate game dimensions, load-in requirements, placement, power, and other logistics with the venue before booking rentals.

Best for: Corporate outings, networking events, client entertainment, employee celebrations, and events combining multiple forms of entertainment.

7. Rivers Casino Philadelphia Event Center

For larger events where flexibility is a priority, Rivers Casino Philadelphia offers substantial dedicated event space.

The casino’s Event Center includes more than 10,000 square feet of configurable banquet space and can be divided into different ballroom configurations. The entire ballroom can accommodate up to 700 guests for a reception, while smaller ballroom combinations are available for more intimate gatherings.

Rivers also specifically markets its event facilities for corporate parties, meetings, and conferences.

The configurable layout makes it especially appealing for a larger arcade-themed corporate event. Rather than placing everything in one room, planners could potentially build different experiences into different sections of the event footprint.

One area might feature food and cocktails, another could focus on arcade games, and another could provide seating or additional entertainment.

How Snap Entertainment Can Fit In

For larger events, Snap Entertainment can help create an arcade rental package that scales with the number of attendees and the space available.

Multiple games can encourage guests to spread out and play rather than congregating around a single attraction. For corporate events, games can also become part of structured challenges, team competitions, or tournament-style entertainment.

Because Rivers Casino has specific access rules, including requirements for guests under 21, event planners should discuss the guest list, game placement, and delivery logistics with the venue in advance.

Best for: Large corporate parties, conferences, holiday events, fundraisers, and company-wide celebrations.

What Should You Look for in a Philadelphia Venue for Arcade Game Rentals?

Not every event space is equally suited to arcade equipment. Before signing a venue contract, tell the venue that you’re considering third-party entertainment rentals and ask about the logistics.

Important questions include:

  • Is outside entertainment equipment permitted?
  • Where can arcade games be loaded into the building?
  • Are there elevators, loading docks, stairs, or doorway restrictions?
  • How much electrical power is available in the planned gaming area?
  • When can Snap Entertainment access the venue for setup and breakdown?
  • Are there restrictions on where games can be positioned?
  • How much open floor space will remain once tables, bars, catering, stages, and other event elements are installed?

Getting those answers early makes it much easier to choose the right games and create an efficient event layout.

How Many Arcade Games Do You Need for an Event?

There isn’t one ideal number of games for every event.

The right arcade rental package depends on your guest count, venue size, event length, floor plan, and how central gaming will be to the event.

If arcade games are just one activity during a cocktail reception, a smaller selection may be enough. If you’re building the entire event around an arcade theme, you’ll likely want more variety so guests can move between games without spending the evening waiting for a turn.

Snap Entertainment can help you think through the appropriate rental mix based on your event.

Make Your Philadelphia Event More Interactive With Snap Entertainment

Choosing a great venue is only half of the equation. The entertainment is what gives guests something to do once they arrive.

With arcade game rentals in Philadelphia from Snap Entertainment, businesses, event planners, families, schools, and organizations can transform a traditional event space into an interactive gaming experience.

Snap can deliver arcade games to Philadelphia-area event venues, coordinate rental logistics, and help you select entertainment suited to your audience and event format. Whether you’re planning an intimate birthday party, a company holiday celebration, a fundraiser, or a large corporate event, arcade games can give guests an easy way to compete, connect, and have fun.

Already have a Philadelphia venue in mind? Contact Snap Entertainment to start planning your arcade game rentals in Philadelphia and build an entertainment package that fits your event, your guests, and your space.

Frequently Asked Questions About Arcade Game Rentals in Philadelphia

Can arcade games be delivered to Philadelphia event venues?

Yes. Snap Entertainment can provide arcade game rentals for events at Philadelphia-area venues. Before booking, confirm that your venue allows outside entertainment rentals and discuss load-in, access, placement, and electrical requirements.

Are arcade games good for corporate events?

Absolutely. Arcade games work particularly well for corporate events because they provide an activity guests can participate in without a complicated learning curve. They can be used for casual entertainment, networking, team building, or structured competitions.

What types of events work with an arcade theme?

Arcade games can work for corporate parties, holiday parties, birthdays, school events, fundraisers, employee appreciation events, conferences, product launches, bar and bat mitzvahs, and other private celebrations.

Do I need to rent an arcade venue to have an arcade-themed party?

No. One of the advantages of renting arcade games is that you can bring the experience to a traditional event venue. A ballroom, industrial event space, corporate venue, or entertainment venue can become a temporary arcade with the right layout and rental package.

How far in advance should I reserve arcade game rentals in Philadelphia?

Booking early is recommended, particularly for large events, weekends, and popular event seasons. Reserving in advance also gives you more time to coordinate venue access, game placement, electrical needs, setup, and breakdown with both Snap Entertainment and your chosen venue.