Game a different way while in town! Take that $20 bill you were going to put in the next slot machine and head to Player 1 Video Game Bar instead—it’s a short drive off the Strip. For just $9, you can enter a world of gaming where betting money is not on the agenda. “We are a bar arcade that caters to adults, 21+, plus no smoking, no gaming other than video gaming,” says Jeffrey Benoit, owner of Player 1 Video Game Bar.
Years ago, Benoit and friends were playing a heated game of Halo and drinking some beers in his living room. “And then the wives wanted us to find somewhere else to play,” he says, laughing. So, he and said friends opened their first bar arcade in Orlando in 2012, and in 2019 brought the concept to Las Vegas. “We also wanted to do a retro arcade-style video game bar in Las Vegas—I love Las Vegas,” Benoit says. He’s a longtime gamer and collector and brings that love to his bar.
“We span the whole history of gaming from the 1970s to 2025,” he says. Once you pay the cover and step inside the bar, you’ll enter a gamer’s paradise with tons of arcade games and consoles available to play as much as you want—for free. Gaming consoles are set up throughout the space at various high-top tables and include PlayStation 5, Xbox and Xbox 360, Nintendo 64 and Sega Dreamcast; there are even lounge-like areas with gaming chairs to play the consoles, too.
When it comes to classic arcade games, there are a maze of options including Marvel Super Heroes, Mortal Kombat, Tekken 2, Street Fighter, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Guitar Hero, Commando, Jungle King, Popeye, Donkey Kong, Tron, Robocop, Karate Champ, Q*bert, Centipede, Pengo and more. “There are also some Easter eggs throughout the bar, like highly rare games where there are only three to four left in the world,” Benoit says. “We have one of the first 70 Pac-Man machines ever made. Just take a look around and see what you can find.”
And what goes better with gaming than drinking?! “Beer and video games is just a natural mix,” Benoit says. “We focus a lot on craft beer and local breweries. We do a lot of seasonals. We have 50 taps and we’re always changing them with seasonals, one-offs, stuff you can’t find everywhere. Our cooler has about 200 different styles of beer.” Player 1 also offers a robust menu of meads, from Viking-style meads to more modern versions that are sweet and fruity, plus soju and sake options.
For those looking for a cocktail, Player 1 offers a menu of video game-inspired cocktails. The most-popular cocktail (and our personal fave!) is the Princess Peaches, made with orange spirits, grenadine and lime with peach ring candies. The Vice City is a mix of pineapple vodka, strawberry and coconut and is garnished with lines of powdered sugar. And the Potion of Mana is a cool sip made with orange spirits, blue Curaçao, lemon juice, sugar and soda water and comes with a potion bottle of glittery Mana for you to pour into your drink and change its color.
“Player 1 is a nice break from gambling,” Benoit says. “It’s a nice stop to see the history of gaming. We’re constantly updating and changing out the games we offer. We’re trying to keep the spirit of gaming alive.”
2797 S. Maryland Pkwy. 725.204.1399. player1vegas.com
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