A warehouse full of flashing lights and beeping sounds where hundreds of pinball machines stand ready for your quarters. I walked in and my eyes needed a minute to adjust to the glorious chaos of color and noise surrounding me.
Oregon has a throwback museum that feels like a dream come true for anyone who loves arcade games and vintage cabinets. The machines range from the 1950s to the 1990s and every single one is playable and waiting for a challenger.
I pulled the plunger on an old Star Trek pinball machine and suddenly I was twelve years old again without a care. Oregon really preserved a slice of gaming history where you can spend hours and still not play every machine in the building.
The owners clearly love this stuff and they keep everything in beautiful working order for visitors to enjoy properly. I watched a dad teach his daughter how to nudge a machine without tilting and the lesson was pure wholesome magic.
The high scores board has names that have stood for years and you might just add your own with a lucky game. You leave with sore thumbs and a huge smile and a new appreciation for the art of the silver ball.
Hundreds of Classic Arcade Games Ready to Play
Pinball is the headline act, but the arcade games here deserve their own spotlight. Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Centipede, and Donkey Kong all have a home at Next Level.
Walking past each cabinet feels like flipping through a greatest-hits album from the golden age of gaming.
There are also racing simulators, fighting games, beat-em-ups, and multiplayer shooters scattered throughout. The variety is genuinely staggering.
I spotted a Halo Fireteam Raven shooter that drew a small crowd, and a Mario Kart cabinet that never seemed to sit empty for long.
One game near the front, a big screen where you play as a helmeted chicken trying to stay airborne while dodging pipes, had people laughing out loud. Small moments like that are what make this place feel alive.
The mix of old and new means every visitor, regardless of age, finds something that clicks with them personally.
Pop Culture Memorabilia That Covers Every Wall
The games are only half the story here. Every wall, shelf, and corner of Next Level is packed with pop culture memorabilia that spans generations.
Vintage lunchboxes are lined up in glass cases. Action figures, albums, 8-tracks, and signed posters fill custom-built cabinets that stretch from floor to ceiling.
During the period when the museum was closed due to COVID, the team built specialized display units throughout the entire building. The result is a collector’s paradise that feels more like a living exhibit than a storage room.
Pokemon cards sit near Beanie Babies. Movie props share space with gaming relics.
You could honestly spend hours just walking the perimeter and reading labels. Some pieces are signed.
Others are rare enough that you have to look twice to believe they are real. The curation feels personal, like someone poured decades of passionate collecting into every square foot of this building, because they probably did.
An All-Day Wristband Model That Changes Everything
The pricing model at Next Level is one of the smartest things about the whole experience. You pay one flat entry fee, get a wristband, and every game in the building is yours to play for the rest of the day.
No quarters, no tokens, no awkward math at a change machine.
The wristband also lets you leave and come back. So if hunger hits, you can step outside, grab something from one of the food carts in the parking lot, and return without paying again.
That kind of flexibility makes the whole visit feel relaxed rather than rushed.
For families especially, the model is a game changer. Kids can replay their favorite machine ten times without anyone stressing about spending.
Groups of adults can split up, explore at their own pace, and meet back up later. It removes the pressure that often comes with arcade visits and just lets you have fun freely.
Spotless Cleanliness That Sets It Apart
It is rare to walk through a space this large and not find a single dusty shelf or sticky button. Next Level takes cleanliness seriously, and it shows.
Machines are wiped down regularly, floors stay clear, and bathrooms are kept in genuinely good condition throughout the day.
Multiple visitors have mentioned seeing staff actively moving through the space, cleaning machines and checking on their condition. It is not a behind-the-scenes operation.
You see it happening in real time, which builds a lot of trust. Knowing that someone is paying attention makes the whole experience feel more welcoming.
For a venue housing hundreds of machines and thousands of visitors, maintaining this standard is impressive. It signals that the people running this place treat it like something precious, not just a business.
That care is felt the moment you walk in, and it lingers long after you leave. Cleanliness here is not an afterthought.
It is part of the identity.
A Collection of Pinball Machines Like No Other
Nothing prepares you for the first time you see the pinball floor at Next Level. Row after row of machines lines the space, each one glowing and calling your name.
There are over 600 machines here, which is a number that honestly does not feel real until you are standing in the middle of it all.
Each machine has a small placard tucked inside. These cards share details like when the machine was made and fun behind-the-scenes facts about its production.
It turns every game into a mini history lesson. You end up learning things without even trying.
Machines span decades, covering styles from classic mechanical flippers to modern digital tables. Some are rare models you would never find anywhere else.
The staff keeps everything in working order, which is no small feat given the volume. Seeing an employee actively tuning a machine mid-visit made it clear that this collection is genuinely cared for, not just displayed.
Party Rooms and Group-Friendly Spaces
Next Level is not just a solo adventure. The space is built with groups in mind, and it handles them well.
Private party rooms are available for events, making it a unique and genuinely fun option for birthdays, school outings, or team gatherings.
Seating is scattered throughout the building, so groups can take breaks without losing their spot in the action. There are tables and lounge areas tucked between game sections, giving people a place to recharge before jumping back in.
It never feels like you have to earn a rest.
The multiplayer games are another highlight for groups. Four-person cabinets draw people together naturally.
Strangers end up playing side by side. Kids join adults mid-game and get taught the controls on the fly.
Those spontaneous moments of connection are what turn a good outing into a memorable one. Next Level has clearly thought about how people move through the space together, and it works beautifully.
A Staff That Genuinely Loves What They Do
The people working at Next Level are one of the quiet highlights of the experience. They are approachable, knowledgeable, and clearly enthusiastic about the place they work in.
Asking a staff member about a specific machine or piece of memorabilia gets you a real answer, not a shrug.
Employees are visible throughout the space, not just at the front desk. They circulate, fix machines, answer questions, and keep things running smoothly.
Seeing someone actively repairing a game mid-visit is a common occurrence here, and it signals a level of dedication that most venues do not match.
Someone visited four days in a row and noted that staff were consistently professional and friendly each time. That kind of consistency is not accidental.
It reflects a workplace culture that values the guest experience at every level. When the people running a place clearly believe in it, that energy transfers to everyone walking through the door.
Food Trucks and Snacks to Keep the Fun Going
Hunger is not a reason to end your visit early at Next Level. A handful of food trucks set up in the parking lot outside, giving visitors easy access to a meal without leaving the property entirely.
The outdoor setup makes for a nice breather between rounds of gaming.
Inside the shop area near the entrance, snacks and drinks are also available for quick grabs. It is nothing elaborate, but it covers the basics when you need a quick energy boost.
Visitors are also welcome to bring outside food in, which is a thoughtful and guest-friendly policy.
The combination of indoor snacks and outdoor food trucks means you can plan a full day here without needing to drive somewhere for lunch. Families especially appreciate this setup.
You do not have to coordinate a restaurant trip in the middle of the fun. Just step outside, eat, and walk back in with your wristband.
Simple and smart.
Nostalgia That Hits Differently for Every Generation
There is something quietly powerful about watching a grandfather show his grandkid how to play Galaga on the same cabinet he remembers from childhood. Next Level creates those moments constantly.
The collection spans so many decades that nearly every visitor finds something personally meaningful.
For people who grew up in the 80s and 90s, the nostalgia is immediate and almost overwhelming. Games you had forgotten about suddenly reappear, and muscle memory kicks in before your brain even catches up.
It is a strange and wonderful feeling to rediscover something you loved that much.
Younger visitors get something different but equally valuable. They experience gaming history firsthand, not through a video or a museum placard, but by actually playing.
Watching a ten-year-old figure out how a joystick works on a 1982 cabinet is genuinely charming. The generational overlap here is one of the most human things about the whole place.
Games become a shared language, and Next Level is fluent in all of them.
A Must-Visit Destination Worth the Drive
People drive hours to get here, and not a single one seems to regret it. Visitors have made the trip from Seattle, Arizona, and beyond, some planning entire vacations around a stop at Next Level.
That kind of pull says something real about what this place offers.
The location in Hillsboro is easy to reach, with plenty of parking right on-site. The surrounding area has solid restaurant options nearby for those who want a full day out.
The museum itself has won awards, including recognition as Best Arcade in a national Newsweek poll, which only adds to its growing reputation.
A rewards program is available for regular visitors, making repeat trips even more worthwhile. Whether it is your first time or your fourth, the experience stays fresh because machines rotate and new items appear in the collection regularly.
Next Level Pinball Shop and Museum is not just a fun afternoon. It is a destination that earns its place on any Oregon travel list.
Address: Next Level Pinball Shop and Museum, 1458 NE 25th Ave, Hillsboro, OR 97124
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