Where to Buy Retro Videos Games around Orlando
I remember when the first original Nintendo came home, and the unthinkable happened: our parents had bought us a gift. A summer of playing video games with my four siblings commenced, full of cheating on the Power Pad playing World Class Track Meet, lots of Mario, and of course, DuckHunt. Video games had entered our lives, and besides swimming in our pool, this was our activity of choice.
In later years, I graduated to Sonic the Hedgehog and Metroid, and then to a handful of computer games (I’m still obsessed with Carmen San Diego). Now and then, perhaps a good board game falls into the mix, like Dixit or Code Names, if it doesn’t take an hour to learn the intricate rules.
Nowadays, I’m happy with a weekend on my couch playing an Indie game like Celeste or playing Metroid Dread for the third time.
The point is, if you love games, you’ve probably always loved them, and if you are millennial-aged, you are most likely trying to track down the favorite games and consoles of your youth.
Fortunately, Orlando has a nice selection of shops where retro games and consoles are in abundance. The unfortunate flip side to that is these games and consoles are not cheap. It can be a pricey hobby to get into while trying to relive the heyday of your youth, tracking down your favorite titles and systems, but at least Orlando shops are here for your hunting needs.
Gamers Go Retro
Where in Orlando: Waterford Lakes Area
This is one of my favorite retro shops in the city. The atmosphere is exactly what you hope for when entering a retro game shop—a good selection of titles spanning all the consoles, imports, and some fun merchandise mixed in. The owners and staff are always friendly and helpful, and even if you don’t find anything to purchase on every trip, it’s always fun to peruse or play a couple of the games inside.
Address: 504 N Alafaya Trail #111, Orlando, FL 32828
Cyberton Video Games
Locations: Altamonte. Sanford, Winter Park
If you find yourself buying console games online, you might want to check Cyberton. We had been looking to purchase Smash Bros., but were shopping around for the best deal. The cheapest price we found was right here at Cybertron. A classic in the Orlando area (“the OG” per local gamers). They carry both retro & newer titles, host a solid selection, and are well-regarded for trade-ins and repairs. There is power in multiple locations here, you can shop all three and check their selection, and if you do a trade for store credit, you have all three shops to get items from.
Address: 380 S State Rd 434 #1017, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
Address: 6732 Aloma Ave, Winter Park, FL 32792
Address: 1748 Rinehart Rd, Sanford, FL 32771
Royal Empire Gaming
This spot used to be small, but has expanded into the space next door, and it feels like a whole new shop. They have a large inventory, including consoles and accessories. Prices may lean a little high for some items, but they have a friendly staff and its well organized.
Address: 929 S US Hwy 17 92, Longwood, FL 32750
Dark Side Video Games
This shop snuck up on me, I hadn’t heard it opened until someone mentioned it on social media. Located in the Conway area, this shop features a large retro section with a decent variety. The owner was very helpful during our visit, and we overheard him handling trade-ins nicely with someone. Unrelated, there is a very friendly shop dog inside.
Address: 4465 Hoffner Ave, Orlando, FL 32812
Video Game Trader
What area: Deltona
Located close to the I-4 exit for Saxon Blvd, you will find this small retro shop. Don’t let the fact that they don’t have much of an online presence keep you from going. They very much exist and are open. We go whenever we are in that area, and while some areas can be a little cluttered, as it seems the owner does a lot of repairs and tinkering, you can score some great items here, like a Famicon. They also offer a wide range of consoles and accessories.
Address: 2091 Saxon Blvd. Suite 104, Deltona, FL
Hyrule Kingdom
Where in Orlando: East Orlando - Alafaya and E. Colonial
This shop is situated next to a convenience store with limited parking, making it easily overlooked. It features some Zelda-themed décor and a wide range of games compatible with various systems. While the selection is generally good, my experience with the service has not been great, despite us having visited several times and even made purchases.
Address: 11804 E Colonial Dr # 101, Orlando, FL 32826
Other Shops
Hudson Video Games - we used to go regularly, but never found much.
Davey’s Toys - Technically a toy shop, but he does usually have a small selection of games and even consoles from time to time.
Echo Base Collectibles - Also more of a toy shop, but there are usually a small number of games here; we actually got an entire NES console complete with a R.O.B. here. It will be hit and miss, but still a cool shop to visit.
West Orange Games and Comics - not a bad little shop, but I did buy a game here and it didn’t work when I got home.
Places to Play Games
Player 1 Orlando
Not much prompts me to trek down I-4 into tourist madness, but Player One is one of the exceptions. It's tucked away at the end of Palm Parkway, just a light down from the Crossroads traffic, but you forget Disney property is right across the street as you enter.
What to know: Six dollars (for Florida residents) gets you unlimited play, although they strongly suggest you keep your bar tab open and active during your stay. IDs will be checked at the door, so this is a 21+ hang after 8 pm. The beer list is plentiful with selections mainly sold by the bottle. Every time I've been, the music has been straight out of the 90s, which is a bonus. It's a great place to bring a group of friends, and they also rent out the space for private events.
Where are the video games: Banks of old school arcade games line the walls, along with older consoles like Game Cubes and Sega Genesis, which are in comfy booths where you can sit back, beer in hand, and relive the glory days of Sonic the Hedgehog, along with hundreds of other titles, thanks to handy ROM cartridges. At the bar, newer consoles are set up with Wiis and PlayStations so you can play newer games, and there is an area in the corner for more active games like Rock Band and Dance Dance Revolution Universe.
What’s nearby to eat: Lots of chains or Disney Springs eateries, but I recommend Susuru, a great Japanese gastropub next door.
Address: 8562 Palm Pkwy, Orlando, FL
GameTime
I had mixed emotions heading into GameTime in Ocoee, as it’s located in the former Borders space outside West Oaks Mall. That Borders was my after-school study hangout, and I’m still salty about its demise. Alas, we must move on, and I suppose there are worse things that could have taken over its space. GameTime appears to be Florida-based, with six locations all within the Sunshine State. If you’ve been inside a Borders, you know it’s a large space packed full of games and a restaurant. I played here for over an hour while a summer storm brewed outside and had a great time.
What to know: It’s pay-to-play. There are kiosks upon entry, where you can purchase a card with credits. Some cards are basic, meaning they have a time limit, and you can’t collect prize tickets, while other allows you to share the card with friends and collect tickets.
What can I play: There’s a mix here which makes it great for all age ranges. Designated a “mega arcade,” they have 120 games, including retro classics, mini bowling, shooting games, ride simulators, and a variety of redemption machines. Playing Space Invaders on a huge screen is pretty cool.
Address: 9441 W Colonial Dr, Ocoee, FL
Arcade Monsters
Arcade Monsters now has multiple locations, but the one in Oviedo is the original. They boast being the largest arcade in Central Florida, and they might be with over 100 retro arcade games, pinball, air hockey, bubble hockey, foosball, a VR area, and retro and new consoles.
What to know: It’s pay-to-play, but a one-time fee gets you unlimited all-day fun. The standard cost is $23 (RIP to when it was $15).
Address: 15 Alafaya Woods Blvd Suite 111, Oviedo, FL
Address: 1130 Townpark Ave #1122, Lake Mary, FL 32746
Address: 6362 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819
Gods & Monsters
Gods & Monsters used to have a huge space in the Artegon Market, but when that closed down, they moved to a different location off International Drive. While the new shop isn’t quite as big and at its core it’s definitely a comic/collectibles shop, there is still some great fun to be had if you know where you look.
Where do I hang?: One of the cooler aspects of the space is the hidden lounge in the back. Vault 5421 is a dark and spooky lounge for 18+ up (some events 21+ up), where you can play games and grab a drink. The bar hours are only on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, starting at 5pm, but the space can be rented out privately on other days. If you ever frequented the old Gods & Monsters location, you’ll know they did a great job bringing that same feel to a much cozier space.
Address: 5421 International Drive Orlando, FL
All of these establishments were visited personally and any games or game time was paid for personally. No establishment asked me to come or include them in my round-up. All images are property of LemonHearted Creative and are not to be used without permission.