Fun place to visit. Busy, loud & probably crowded on the weekend. Many, many games and things to do. A real mix of decor with lots of different rooms. Real variety. Event the restrooms are interesting. Food and beverages available. Staff was efficient, pleasant and helpful. Easy to find.

GK is awesome. Drinks taste great but glasses could be bigger and the atmosphere is retro rave with a chill vibe. Definitely fun and entertaining. Prices on some games are a bit high would be nice if you guys offered a gamer card instead of using quarters & maybe a small free game zone would definitely recommend it to anyone who hasnt gone. Fun place to go with some friends.

Visited here with my brother who lives locally, completely reliving my childhood! Great setup, great atmosphere. Love the look of the regular events which take place, though didn’t get the opportunity to attend any. Friendly, helpful staff too. Would recommend.

A great place to hang out with drinks playing at the various video game consoles, super cool old school vices with games such as Mario and Pinball. The walking dead game is awesome. You can take your drink around to the games as well, they are not expensive as well, the food options are limited with some light bites but it is not famous for its food in any case. This place is unique for sure and fits in with the Portland image completely. Definitely recommended.

Amazing pinball arcade. You can spend little money and enjoy all day here. There’s alcohol and soda amazing place to be.I enjoyed the Simpsons pinball, time crisis II, TRON pinball and the South Park pinball machine a lot. They are my favourite games ever.The staff were very friendly, and the upstairs area surprised me.I thought that there’s only the ground level arcade games but there are more stuff upstairs.The leader board looks stunning and makes it feel A lot like the TRON legacy movie.I highly recommend to come have a visit or play with their games.

This was my first time coming here. Had heard good things before, but WOW. The number of pinball machines alone that are featured here is incredible! Plus many other games to play, and the space is huge! It gets crowded, but it should be because this venue is such a blast it deserves the popularity. With a wide variety of arcade games to offer, as well as a good menu of drinks, this is a place I would come back to over and over again.Thank you to the venue owners for putting together such a fun experience, this spot is a must-do.

Awesome bar if youre a fan of all things arcade and retro! Pin ball machines in every design imaginable, large selection of driving games and good old classics like PacMan and Donkey Kong etc. Bathrooms are very fun too- although a touch too dark for me! Cheap beer, good selection of beers and spirits, didnt try the food but looked like a reasonably priced selection. Would come back!

Good place for games and food and drinks. Visit on last Wednesday $7 all games and pin ball.

Love this place. I hope COVID doesn’t put it out of business

This place itself is a really cool concept. If you want nostalgia and good drinks, definitely the place for it. However, my visit last night on 02/29/2020 was less than pleasant. My friends and I decided to go out last night, my treat, for a good time. I told them I would buy them a round of drinks. The manager (I think she was the manager) told me I could not buy drinks for my friends, only for me. That they all would have to buy their own drinks. She then told me if I bought a drink and handed it to someone else we would ALL be asked to leave. Mind you, this place as a whole is 21+ so we were all of the legal age to drink. Never before at ANY bar have I ever been told I could not buy drinks for other people of legal age. At that point we just left, and I cant say I will be returning because of this experience.

Absolutely phenominal place! Its keeping the spirit of the 80s and 90s alive in Portland. My friend and I had never been but we went on a 5 dollar free play day and I have to say we had a lot of fun! Theres a wide selection of games both old and modern, and a lot of pinball machines as well. Definitely recommend if youre a nerd and looking to spend a couple hours surrounded by pieces of nostalgia!

Im from WA state and came here on a trip with friends from work. It was way more than I expected at first and we had a great time! Lots of nostalgia with great games I havent seen in years. This is a two story layout packed with arcade, pinball, and tasty beer on tap. All the guests were mellow and having a great time. Wasnt expensive either

Great place for people who are visiting or for young folks. It’s not huge so it gets crowded quickly. Don’t forget to bring your ID or else you will not get in. Not for minors. They have an open bar and food. Well priced!

One of the best Arcades I’ve been to in a long time. Great selection of games and even some you don’t seen that often. Food and drink is on point

Ive loved Ground Kontrol for a long time but this was my first time back since they expanded their place. We had so much fun playing all the arcade games and pinball with only $10, we could have even staying longer. Bring cash in order to get quarters fast, but if you forget there is an atm at the door. They ID after 5 PM but then you can enjoy the bar while you game. Dont forget to check out the Pacman floor in the bathroom before you leave. To me this is on my list of Portland staples.

Fun! I dont drink, so I cant say anything about their bar menu, but the aesthetic was cool!Their light up tables felt like Tron, and control room setting definitely hyped us up.Looks like a great start, or end, to a might of games and partying. So many cool games, some quite old ones I havent ever seen before too!

This place is amazing! They have a huge selection of games. I thought it was a modest selection but I just kept walking into more rooms full of games and pinball machines. Really great star wars games too. Both old and new. The bar is filled with game-themed drinks too which I loved. I will definitely be coming back.

We went for the all you can play for $10 special and the boys LOVED it! I drank a few beers and had King Hippo (delicious).

Great place to hang out with tons of games and pinball machines and all for a couple of quarters. We came on a Friday night and there was a $3 cover charge which we were happy to pay. It was a pretty chill vibe with a live DJ playing music all night. There are a couple of lockers you can store your bulky jackets (it was snowy night) while you are there, free of charge. They have 2 bars and decent selection for craft beers and cocktails, food choices were basic but tasty and good portions.

Had a blast here at what is the best barcade in Portland. Games were well priced, a lot of pinball popped free games around us. Happy Hour made drinks a good price. If only the front side is open, leave and return when both sides are available. The back is where a lot of great games live. Would return on a future trip to the city.

The expansion of the arcade is most impressive! Great quality machines. Awesome athmosphere and truly a Tron-like experience! Always a must visit for locals and tourists alike!

Bring your quarters because you will spend them! Lot’s of different options for things to play and a nice selection of drinks to enjoy while you are playing. The machines were in good shape, though some of them had issues the staff was good about dealing with them.If you want to step back in time 30 years and enjoy some nostalgia, go here.Btw, the entrance is on the street side, not the parking lot side.

I grew up trying to get into arcades with what little money I had. Pinball wizardry was the call of my uncles. The electric flashes and controls belonged to my generation. Going to Ground Kontrol speaks to the kid I was, letting me relive my love of the machines with the added knowledge that the owners are more than retail space renters farming quarters. The machines are kept in good working order with events that honor some of the earlier machines that dominated my youth.

Pretty awesome atmosphere in great building. Food was okay, but came out quickly. Drinks were awesome but limited. Filled up rather quickly, but didnt stay after 5 to see if it thinned out with the departure of minors.

Wow, what a place! Root beer is only a dollar, tons of classic old-school pinball and other games. I mean just touring the place like a museum is well worth it!! For those over 21, they sell local beers. The driving games are fun, the seats and faux cockpit is pretty legit. Highly recommended!

I am so happy this place exists. Arcade dreams come true! Unbelievable selection of games, good pricing, good food. Very clean and super cool decor and mood. Highly recommend!

By happy coincidence, I ended up here on a Thursday evening. 7$ entry fee and it was all-you-can-play/free play. Bar was open with very friendly bartenders. Reasonably priced drinks. Didnt get any food, but it all sounded good. People of all ages, tons of games and really cool looking! Definitely will be back next time Im in Portland!

Great selection of games. Deadpool is the best bang for your buck if you are going to play a pinball game. This place has a wild Killer Queen scene.

This place is famous in Portland for a good reason. So much fun to drink craft beer and cocktails and play some vintage games. I highly recommend going on one of their free-play days so you dont have to deal with cashing in quarters and feeding them into machines. Can be a bit loud with a DJ playing upstairs and games blaring so if you want to have a conversation its not ideal. Definitely worth checking out though.

Good selection of games, but too many were broken or ate a bunch of coins before working. They might need to hire more repairmen instead of bartenders. Only saw one repairman while I was there. These are 25- 40 year old machines. They need to be constantly maintained.

Loads of pinball machines and an impressive array of vintage original arcade cabinets. Yes, you can play an original Galaga for 25 cents.

Love this place! So many games to choose from and multiple rooms and levels. Bartender was great, lots of drink options. We went on a Wednesday night and it wasn’t busy at all, but if you want to get in on some Killer Queen action just ask the group that practices, they will let you join them! Highly recommend this place for any arcade lover.

Fun and exciting place. Great selection of pinball machines and classic arcade games.

A fun place with lots of games. Also I really enjoyed the banana drink, I cant remember the actual name of it

So cool! This place has so many great arcade games. Lots of the classics you like and modern ones that are great fun. If you need to go and experience a classic arcade (a maybe take a shot to celebrate your win) then this is the place!

The coolest arcade Ive ever seen!

Great arcade and pinball! Classic pinball tables from the 90s cost $0.50 and newer tables are $0.75 a game. The music rocks and you can still hear the call outs! If youre a fan of arcade and pinball then you must visit Ground Control!The Shadow knows

Went on a Saturday morning while stumbling around for food and drinks. The space inside is huge and has quite a bit of games. The back has a 21+ section with some beer. Really spacious but started to fill up around 1pm which added more energy and fun to the mix!

Awesome spot to hangout out and play arcade games. Whether its your first time or if your just a gamer looking to drop some quarters. Great game selection. I recommend this spot if your an arcade gamer or if u just have some time to kill and need a place to unwind, have a drink and to chill out. Arcade spots are hard to find nowadays so take advantage. I know I did! Im from SoCal and there arent many active arcades anymore so enjoy this old school past time.

This place was a treat. Tons of varieties of games, new and old alike. We spent a good couple hours just grinding through quarters. The most pleasant of surprises was how much it was an arcade first, and a bar second. Most the experiences I have with barcades tend to have them switch over to more of a dance party after a certain point in the evening, leaving the games as an afterthought. Not the case here. It was games first the whole night. Radical.

My boyfriend and I went here last weekend for my birthday and it was a blast! I’ve never been to an arcade so large. A couple games didn’t work, but when we let the employees know they were right on it. We only withdrew $50 and spent four hours here (including many beers, a sundae, and games). We’ll definitely be back as soon as we can.

Really huge place with so many awesome classic games!!! They even had many many vegan options on the menu and they were cheap and good, especially the blt! The bartender said the chef doesnt like how the vegan cheese melts and they took the grilled cheese off the menu, I beg to differ vegan grilled cheese melts super perfect, might need to use violife, follow your heart or whole foods 365 they all work super well. We changed up for $20 worth of quarters and spent 2hrs there couldnt even empty them all, very well worth it!!

Spent the afternoon in Ground Kontrol and it was awesome. A ton of very nostalgic arcade games. Had the Simpsons, turtles in time, pinball machines everywhere, NBA jam, and many many more. Beyond having a huge selection of games, most of the games are only a quarter. Also loved that they had a bar, it was nice to have a couple beers with my buddies while we got down on some old school games.

This place was amazing when I was there. My sis told me about this place, and had to come to it when I went to Portland. I went back in June, and I was amused on what the place looked like. Cover charge was $3 for going in and out was fair. Classic games were just what I wanted to play. Pinball games everywhere on both floors. There was the Super Off Road game I really liked. The one with 3 wheels on it. I got to play for free several times cause I was so good like I was when I was a kid. The beer selection was also nice. Id go back again in no time!

This place has some classic arcade games. They have good food and drinks. A great place for you to satisfy your retro gaming needs or just reminisce.

This place was a breath of fresh air for an adult hangout spot. Kids are still allowed but they have a bar area and drink holders everywhere. Highly suggest checking it out.

Excellent selection of classic arcade games and pinball machines, all set within a modern, remodeled space. Add in a great beer selection & cocktail bar, and it provides the formula for a one-of-a-kind adult playground.

Walk down the memory lane! This place was so much fun. Great place to take a 17 year old for a fun afternoon.

Went to ground control last weekend for my birthday, couldnt get everybody that I was there with into the building because the bouncer said that 1 of my friends looked intoxicated, which he was not… 15 minutes later I saw the same guy Who wouldnt let my friend in walking around a drink in each hand and I said to myself… is this really how we make America great again? Maybe a little less on the power trips and a little more on embracing the people who actually want to come to your place to enjoy themselves and have a good time

I heard about this place when searching for cool things to do in downtown Portland. Upon arriving, my partner and I werent allowed in because we are from Canada and only had Canadian drivers licenses + credit cards. I was super disappointed as I was really wanting to come here, so we went back to our hotel to get our passports and came back! With our passports, there were no issues at all. The place was soo cool and had so many different games. I like that there are multiple rooms and levels so it never feels overly crowded or stuffy. I didnt order any drinks but it was really convenient to have a bar here, everything you need is literally right there. We had a great time and will definitely come back! If you are visiting from another country, just make sure to have your passport with you as it is a state policy, not just Ground Kontrol! :)

Tons of old games, very well maintained. The pinball is the real star. Over 25 games spread throughout the sprawling, recently expanded space. There is a very cute tiny room with only metal band themed pinball.

Ground Kontrol is awesome. Friendly, helpful staff. I really appreciate being able to play the old games and pinball games with my son. We will be visiting Ground Kontrol many more times. Thank you to Ground Kontrol.

Nerdvana. I’ve never seen such cool bar with so many classic games. The pinball collection is impressive. Great place to hang out with friends or even just spent some one on one time with your favorite classic game.

Great place with a big selection of arcade, video games and pinball machines. Everything is 0.25-0.50 to play with a few pinball machines being 0.75 as the most expensive. They even have DDR upstairs! All in all a great place to unwind, have a few cheaply priced drinks and just play some games!

All your childhood favorites in one place. Any game lover must go here. Enjoy with your family. There is no ticket system. Most games are 25/50/75 cents. Do not bring along your drinks and food, unfortunately it is not allowed, and the storage space is limited. They also serve alcohol and some food. A must visit for all who enjoy games.

Awesome place to hang out, play some arcade games and have a beer

Well maintained. Not expensive to play. Great atmosphere! Awesome selection of games! New and old.

Great nostalgic atmosphere coupled with good adult fun. The staff are courteous and friendly. So many old arcade memories in one place.

Ive been to videogame bars from Arizona to Washington and this is definitely one of the coolest ones. The poured alot of care and detail into the intricate lighting fixtures and dark design which that adds a wonderful unique flair to the place.They have more arcades then most other arcade bars, old and new, and they drinks are very affordable, especially as oppose to most bars in Seattle.The pinball selection is vast as well, they have tons of popular machines and a few unique ones, and I appreciate that they have a room with four machines that are all rock and roll themed machines.

An arcade with a BAR. The small little weird things in Portland. Classic old retro arcade games like Donkey Kong, Pacman, time crisis, etc. And even new games like killer queen which is great for group. Only people above the age of 21 can get drinks.

Being your quarters! Good drinks, fair pricing, fantastic atmosphere. This multilevel establishment is a great, chill place to stop in at night after some daytime events. Great place to unwind.

Loved this place. Went around 1pm on a Monday and we were pretty much the only ones there. Huge selection of old and new arcade games as well as pinball games, pretty much all ranging from 25-75 cents. We made $10 last a couple hours pretty easily. Oh yeah, and they now serve beer all day so party on!

Definitely recommend to spend an evening here when visiting Portland:)Prices at the bar are cheapAtmosphere is coolOne minus they arent any wardrobe and it is really hot in the building

This is a decent place to play around. There is not a private lot. They have a paid parking lot across the street and plenty of metered street parking.Most games only cost a quarter. They have plenty of games. Old school scroll games, shooters, driving games, and a plethora of pinball. Every game has been worth the price of playing.I came here for a NYE party and this was the best place of the night. For $20, I got unlimited free play. They limited the number of people who could get in so there was virtually no wait for any of the games. We also got a champagne toast at the end of the night. Great times.The drinks are quite tasty. Some of the best drinks in the city.I came here for the games and the games did not disappoint. Drinks and atmosphere was great as well.

Lots of fun. best selection of pinball games Ive found.

This place is so much fun. An adult arcade. Its cash cover and cash to play, so come with cash or be prepared to pay the ATM fee. Though we went on a crowded night, they have the system down. There are plenty of games open no matter how crowded. The beer selection is good and the cocktails are pretty tasty.

Cool nerds rejoice in this hipster gaming hide out. Good variety of beers that are relatively cheap. Thursdays its $7 for endless gaming.

Amazing collection of new and classic arcades. So many you couldnt possibly play them all in a day. Bar in the back with a revolving selection of beers on tap as well as other choices.

Great old school arcade games and pinball. Good selection of beers and a full bar.

This place has really grown inside. It’s been a fun place to take kids and great to have a late night date night. As a bar and place to hang and have drinks. Pretty cool. Their kitchen and it food prices are high and the food is just under bar food quality and small portions. The nachos were the best deal but still wasn’t great. For three of us it was $32 and the pizza is a micro mini pizza. Hot dog was alright but spendy. They all came in trays with a wrapper so cutting and eating was cumbersome with a fork.The place is high tech and pretty badass visually. But dropping the review two stars because of the food and value. Personally go somewhere else to eat and then hang out here. The people working are very nice, friendly and cool. They are lucky to have that team.If this review helped, give it a like.

This was one of the best barcades weve ever been to! Great staff, amazing selection of games, and great atmosphere. We came midday while killing time before a flight home, and we were disappointed not to be able to stay later.

Awesome place to enjoy old school arcade games! They have a great selection of classic games and pinball machines along with having a full bar!

Loved this place Def my fave vibes in town

Great place. No admission, just use quarters. Minors OK til 4:30pm. Great games old and new. Very well maintained. This is not a dingy tired arcade, it is clean, fun, and professionally managed. Well done.

This place is amazinggg if you get nolstalgic about the old arcade days. Historic when it comes to arcade bars, this place is a must-see if you havent been. Prepare to spend at least an hour in here because there is a rediculous selection of pinball machines and various classic arcade cabinets. Youll even find a decent amount of modern games too.

A great place, and one of the few REAL arcades out there. Plenty selection of classic arcade games, and pinball machines, as well as a couple newer pinball machines. Offers food and drink, as well as alcohol.Offers several cash to change machines for quarters. And most games are still 25 cents like the good days. If you fancy retro arcades, definitely make sure to check this place out at least once!

Perhaps it was because I visited during a weekday night, but the place was pretty dead. Nice selection of arcade games though.

My boyfriend and I love coming here for date night! Every time we come back, we get sucked into a game we haven’t played before. The last time we were here, one of the pinball machines ate our quarters and the staff were super nice and gave us a refund.

Had a great time. Nachos were good, drinks were priced as you might expect and the place is full of arcade games. Nothing bad to say.

A must visit if you like arcade games and lively crowds!

Awesome retro gaming, cocktails while you play, everything is how you would imagine.

Really awesome bar arcade area they have so much and so many games in the bathroom is even seemed like Pac-Man which is actually a nice little touch. They don’t charge for the entry fee which is nice and they check ID and you can play a bunch of games on either the first floor or the second floor I personally didn’t play any games yet. I was able to come here and just check out the place after going to Powells city of books. They offer food that is at a reasonable price it’s usually mostly fast food. Not too crowded but a really hip place to be!

First time in since they expanded. I am definitely loving all the space and all the games. Much recommended!

Fantastic for vintage arcade games. The atmospheres cool, and friendly staff. Didnt eat, but had the King Boo cocktail is amazing.

A really nice barcade. Much better than the one in Philadelphia. Lots of variety of new and old arcade games and pinball machines.

When are you re opening dudes? I miss you!

This place is really great it’s a very local stable in downtown area. They have a bunch of different games and alcohol more can you want I went with a bunch of my friends and it was really fun. We got pretty drunk but the bartenders are really good at cutting people off. It’s very close to barhopping so that’s always fun to do too

Whole lotta fun on a weekend! Sweet old school games keep me and my teen entertained for hours. Hot snacks are good and they have a good selection on tap.

Best Barcade ever! Multiole levels and rooms full of vintage arcade games. Lots of pinball machines. Food and beer. What more could you ask for? If you could ask for more, youre greedy and will never be satisfied in life. Come here, pay the cover, have an amazing time!

Unbelievable nostalgia! It was awesome, and all of the games are their original price! Oh, and as a side of awesomeness, they have a bar that serves adult beverages!!

Ground Kontrol is a great place to let your inner kid out. It has an ATM several stations for changing quarters and a bar. It is a lot of fun. They have a wide variety of games to play too.

Good fun and games arent too expensive. $3 cover seems reasonable. Drinks were good and decent priced w/ friendly staff.

Fantastic 80s style arcade with some amazing updates since I was there last ... like the War Games WOPR-style bar with the huge wall display from the movie. Too awesome for words.

An adult arcade? Yes, please. All your favorites from your childhood no matter your age. It gets busy on the weekend so show up early, bonus if you bring your own quarters. Drinks are relatively priced. Kinda divey but digitally lit- like 9:30 Club meets Tron. A great time!

Three stars for staff. Crowds and broken games are the nature of the beast. How staff handles it makes the difference. Some will address the issue immediately, even refund your quarters. But others shrug, wont even tag a game out, and knowingly let customers pour quarters in broken machines.

I appreciate the older games they have available. I havent played PaperBoy in YEARS!The food was also good.

Epic arcade full of the best retro and newer games. Great vibes, amazing food. The drinks are worth the price and after 5pm it turns into a 21+ arcade. Always a fun experience.

Good during the day. Awful experience at night. Daytime visit was great all the machines worked great and no cover. Came on a Saturday night and had to pay a $3 dollar cover. I wanted to play two machines, both of which were out of order. Two other machines I tried ate my money. They did refund the $1 that was eaten. Not worth the frustration.

Went on a free play weekend and had a blast. It was busy but everyone cycled through nicely. Great range of all types of games including at least a dozen or more old school pinball.

GREAT! Great mix of beginner and advanced arcade games. Really friendly and eat to interact with staff. Also, theres an atmosphere of an actual 1980s mall arcade where people who dont know each other can share a game without weirdness. Also good got groups.