On my recent trip to Oklahoma City, my wife Patty, our two kids John and Jenette, and I headed to Dave & Buster’s OKC last weekend. We’re always looking for fun new places to take the kids to get them off their screens for a bit and get some good old-fashioned in-person family interaction. Dave & Buster’s OKC came highly recommended by some friends as an entertaining spot with games galore, so we were excited to check it out.
We rolled up to the sprawling complex located right off the Northwest Expressway. The massive blue and orange signage with Dave & Buster’s logo was like a beacon welcoming families in search of food and fun. As soon as we stepped inside, we were met with flashy games as far as the eye could see, from classic arcade cabinets to modern VR setups, redemption games, sports simulators, and more. The cacophony of beeps, boops, bells, and buzzers was like music to this former 90s kid gamer’s ears.
We wandered around the huge Midway area, getting our bearings and letting the kids ogle all the options. John made a beeline to the competitive multiplayer games like Pop-A-Shot and various racing titles, while Jenette was drawn to games involving tickets and prizes like Skee-Ball. After exploring for a good 20 minutes and building up an appetite, we headed to the front desk to buy some refillable Play Pass cards so we could load up with credits and get our game on. The cards were a bit steep at a $3 service fee each, plus needing to pre-load them with chip credits, but I figured the convenience of having reloadable cards versus fumbling with quarters was worth the extra cost. Time to eat!
The Restaurant Experience
After fueling our Play Pass cards, the family and I made our way to the restaurant section, conveniently located right beside the game floor, so you’re never too far from the action. We were promptly seated by our server, Danielle, who was bubbly and attentive throughout our entire dining experience.
The chef-crafted menu had a wide variety of classic American pub grub, from juicy burgers and wings to flatbreads and salads. There were also a decent amount of apps and shareable bites like nachos, quesadillas, chicken tenders, and more finger-friendly options, in case you want snacks while gaming. They even had a special Kids section with simpler, smaller meal options for pickier young eaters.
John went with a towering All-American cheeseburger with fries, Jenette chose some crispy chicken tenders and fries (she avoids veggies whenever possible), Patty ordered BBQ chicken flatbread, and I selected a hearty pulled pork sandwich with Cajun fries and coleslaw. Everything looked and smelled delicious when it hit the table!
We dug into our plates with gusto. My pulled pork sammy fell off the bone tender meat with that perfect balance of smokey and sweet BBQ flavor, topped with creamy, tangy slaw and crisp, well-seasoned fries on the side. John’s burger was super juicy and melty, just the way growing teenage boys like it. Jenette seemed pleased with her crispy chicken, judging by the way she devoured it before anyone else finished. Patty’s BBQ chicken flatbread got a thumbs up as well, with its gooey cheese, charred veggies, and peppery sauce.
Danielle checked on us frequently to see if we needed any refills on drinks or extra condiments. She helped make our dining experience relaxed and enjoyable. Once our plates were cleared and we sat back completely stuffed, the kids were already begging to go hit the arcade. So off we went to unleash them on the Midway and finally try out some games ourselves!
Gaming Mayhem
Our bellies full, the family headed out to explore all the offerings in Dave & Buster’s OKC massive arcade area, which they fittingly call the Midway since it truly feels just like you’re strolling down the middle of a classic county fair right alongside all the games.
John and I made a beeline towards Let’s Bounce, a cool 2 player bungee jumping game featuring trampolines and lots of climbing. The goal is to jump higher than your opponent, do flips, and generally try not to faceplant. Easier said than done! After I thoroughly schooled John, we moved on to the Jurassic Park VR Expedition.
Now this one was seriously incredible, putting you smack dab in the middle of Isla Nublar with all the iconic dinosaurs from the films leaping, stomping, and roaring all around you. We had headsets, backpacks, and pulse rifles, blasting away at attacking velociraptors and the vicious T-Rex herself on a breathtaking life-size scale. It genuinely felt like we were on a crazy dinosaur safari adventure! Nostalgic movie magic to the max.
Jenette and Patty went straight for the ticket redemption games like Down the Clown, a carnival-style game that has you tossing balls to knock down rows of targets. There was also a dizzying round Raptor Captor, where you scramble to catch little brightly colored dinosaur figurines as they pour out of a central tower. Skee-ball, of course, was another favorite for racking up tickets to trade in for prizes later on.
After showing off her skills on the redemption games, Jen dragged her mom over to Dance Dance Revolution Disney Grooves to get their groove on for a few rounds. Watching my non-rhythmic wife attempt to match Jen’s high-energy dance moves in front of a crowd was well worth the price of admission alone! Though sore-footed after failures in the dancing game, their fortunes reversed on Fast & Furious Super Bikes, an exhilarating motorcycle racing experience based on the hit movie franchise. Patty is a speed demon at heart and destroyed poor Jenny, much to my thrill-seeking daughter’s dismay!
Trying to regain some dignity after the racing upset, Jenette sought revenge at Mini Golf, another motion simulator game that puts you right on fantastical mini golf courses, hitting balls through volcanos and into dinosaur mouths. I joined the girls for a round, and Jen’s luck held up, narrowly edging her mom out to take the crown.
Having bonded over friendly competition, we met back up with John, who had moved from VR dinosaurs to driving games like Mario Kart Arcade GP and cruising motorcycle title Speed of Light. Watching my son yell at a TV screen across from other players while furiously turning a plastic wheel truly warmed my 90s kid gamer heart. After driving himself to exhaustion, John joined up once more with Jen and me for a few rounds of the competitive linking game Tippin’ Bloks before our energy ran low, along with the credits on our Play Pass cards.
Closing Thoughts
After over 3 hours of pure arcade chaos fueled by all those flashing lights, ringing bells, and booming sounds, we old folks were pretty pooped. My kids, however, still seemed to have plenty of gas left in the tank and energy to spare! But alas, closing time was fast approaching for the Midway, so we sadly had to cash out our remaining credits and tickets to tally up the day’s redemption haul.
Jenette had accrued a whopping 32,450 tickets from all her Skee-Ball, clown popping, and raptor catching! She loaded up at the prize counter with bouncy balls, pens, notepads shaped like food, and a variety of plastic knick-knacks and doodads that would litter her bedroom floor within a week. John focused more on games than tickets and settled on some sticky neon alien hands and a finger trap puzzle that would annoy me the entire ride home.
Before leaving, we hit the D&B retail shop for a few logo souvenirs. The kids grabbed colorful branded cups along with their names etched on dog tags with game controller designs. I picked up an awesome reversible sequin pillow that sparkled orange and blue for each side of my favorite NBA team. Patty went classy with a stemless wine glass and leather coasters emblazoned with the establishment’s iconic ampersand insignia. Laden down with our haul of random swag, we made the long walk through the rapidly quieting Midway towards the exit, tired kids in tow.
As we stepped out into the crisp, cold night air of the parking lot and piled into our minivan, there was a collective sense of family bonding through the enjoyment of good food and ultra-competitive fun. Sure, D&B isn’t cheap between the meal, pricey play cards, gaming itself, and silly trinket prizes, but the lasting memories of amusement we shared were priceless. Dave & Buster’s OKC delivered quality dining and near-Vegas-level gaming thrills for young and old alike! So, if you find yourself seeking family-friendly fun in OKC with a killer arcade experience that appeals to all generations, look no further than this winning entertainment destination.