Some American institutions feel quintessentially American, and Chuck E. Cheese is certainly one of those.
A cocktail of arcade games, amusement rides, musical shows, pizza, and an anthropomorphic rat headlining the show is something that could only be dreamt up in the Land of the Free, and its enduring appeal since 1977 is testament to a chain understanding its audience.
While it’s historically been a place to take the kids, amp them up on soda and cheese, and set them loose on a captive audience of arcade players and music lovers, the rat’s got a brand new venture up his sleeve aimed at grown-ups.
Chuck’s Arcade is a new gaming outlet ‘created for adults and lifelong fans’ per the announcement made on 30 June 2025.
“Chuck’s Arcade is a modern-day love letter to the games and people who made Chuck E. Cheese great,” it added.
The adult spin-off has already opened 10 locations in malls around the US, specifically in Florida, Connecticut, Oklahoma, New York, Georgia, Texas, Missouri, and New Hampshire. Chuck E. Cheese said it has ‘more locations on the horizon’ too.
Chuck’s Arcade features an array of new and classic games with a traditional arcade setup. Winning players receive tickets that can be traded for toys and tokens, and there’s a wide range of Chuck’s Arcade merchandise and retro apparel to purchase too.
If you’re concerned that your favourite Chuck E. Cheese characters might not make an appearance at a spin-off for grown-ups, rest assured that dream paralysis demons Chuck, Jasper T. Jowls, Helen Henny, Pasqually and Mr Munch will feature at each arcade. Sadly, the animatronic anthropomorphs won’t perform any musical numbers, but perhaps that’s a blessing in disguise.
This slimmed-down approach to Munch’s Make Believe Band is in step with plans announced in 2024. Chuck E. Cheese had announced that only two of its 400 US locations would retain the animatronic musicians, but the brand responded to fan backlash by saying that it had pared back those plans and would retain them at locations around the country.
At present, the new arcades are largely food-free, with only the Kansas City outlet offering a dining service at present.
There, visitors to Chuck’s Arcade and Pizzeria can avail themselves of pizza and chicken wings, per a spokesperson’s confirmation to People.
Beer and wine will also be available to those aged over 21.
“Chuck E. Cheese has spent decades mastering the arcade experience — it’s in our DNA,” said David McKillips, CEO of Chuck E. Cheese, in a press release.
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“Thanks to the expertise of our talented technicians and the successful transformation of almost 500 fun centers worldwide, we’ve built the operational and creative foundation to take our brand beyond our traditional four walls.”
McKillips continued: “Chuck’s Arcade is a natural evolution — an opportunity to extend our arcade legacy into new formats that engage both lifelong fans and a new generation through a curated mix of retro classics and cutting-edge experiences.”
Featured Image Credit: Roberto Machado Noa / Contributor/Getty ImagesTopics: News, US Food, Restaurants and bars
Rachael Davis