Barcade
Jersey City and Newark
Gaming ain’t just for kids. At Barcade, an ample supply of classic stand-up games from the 1980s and ’90s line the walls, while craft beers dominate the taps. The Newark and Jersey City locations have full kitchens offering sandwiches, burgers and sharable plates. Barcade games accept only Barcade tokens, equivalent to a quarter. Most games require just one token.—MM
Morristown Game Vault
22 South Street, Morristown
Housed in a former bank, the Vault is a bonanza of classic and modern video games. A $7 fee buys half an hour of play on games like Ms. Pac Man, Donkey Kong, TRON, Mario Kart and others. The space is also available for private parties.—MM
973-944-8500.
Silverball Museum
1000 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park
Located on the Asbury Park boardwalk, the Silverball Museum is a dream come true for pinball wizards. All games are set to free play with the purchase of a pass ($10 for half an hour; $25 for all day). The more than 600 games in rotation include restored vintage models. Need to refuel? Grab snacks at the adjoining Silverball Café—MM
732-774-4994.
Yestercades
Red Bank and Somerville
Yestercades is built on nostalgia but is fun for all ages. In addition to classic stand-up arcade machines of the 1970s and ’80s (like of Asteroids and Dig Dug), Yestercades offers home gaming consoles, from the Atari 2600 to the Nintendo Wii U. Relive your days sinking quarters into your local arcade or the countless hours spent in a friend’s basement trying to reach the next world in Super Mario Bros. 2. Passes are $8.75 an hour, with a one-hour minimum; day passes $25.—MM
RPM Raceway
99 Caven Point Road, Jersey City
Master the hairpin turns and speed through the straightaways in electric go-karts on RPM Raceway’s two winding tracks. You can “arrive and drive” or join a league. Families can also drive or just ride along in a full-motion, interactive 3-D racing simulator. Go-kart drivers must be at least six years old; simulator drivers must be at least 12. A single go-kart race costs $20. A simulator session costs $11.99 for drivers and $4.99 for passengers. Other activities include arcade games and a pool table.—CG
Sky Zone
Various locations
Photo courtesy of Sky Zone.
Defy gravity at one of the seven trampoline-park locations, each equipped with bouncing attractions for all ages. Dive into the foam pit, flip in the freestyle jump court, compete in ultimate dodgeball and rock the rim in the SkySlam basketball court. Children must be old enough to jump securely on their own; court monitors ensure safety. Jump prices (30-120 minutes) range from $10-$30. Some of the facilities offer glow-in-the-dark sessions, adult fitness classes and Nerf-gun competitions.—JK
Urban Air Adventure Park
Milltown, South Hackensack
Energy and agility are the only skills needed to romp at these trampoline amusement parks. Achieve serious lift in the slam-dunk zone, trampoline dodgeball arenas and freestyle jump areas. Beyond aerial action, crawl through tubes in the indoor playground, scale the rock-climbing wall, flip into the foam pit, balance on the battle beam and speed through the warrior obstacle course. Open-jump admission ranges from $13.99-$29.99 for up to 2 1/2 hours of park access.—JK
Milltown, 732-286-1994; South Hackensack, 201-212-6454.
Topgolf
1013 Highway 1, Edison
This massive facility, part of a national chain, turns the game of golf into competitive target practice. The venue has 102 hitting bays on three tiers. All skills can play. Grab a club (your own or supplied) and whack the ball toward dartboard-like targets arrayed at various distances up to 215 yards. Microchips in the balls measure your accuracy and provide your score. Food and drinks are served at the comfy bays or in one of several lounges. A deejay spins music Friday and Saturday nights. Go with a group; up to six players can split the cost of a bay, which runs $30-$50. —KS
732-374-4097.
iPlay America
110 Schanck Road, Freehold
Boardwalk meets strip mall—what could be more Jersey? iPlay America has transformed an old shopping center more than 15 miles from the nearest beach into a year-round taste of summer. This sprawling indoor amusement center is stuffed with rides, arcades, go-karts, bumper cars, laser tag—even a small roller coaster. Stroll along the faux-plank floor and imagine you’re in Wildwood or Seaside, even in the gloomiest depths of winter. —KC
732-577-8200.