In 2015, when Richardson resident Corey Hyden opened Free Play in Richardson with his wife Kelsie Hyden and brother-in-law Richard Tregilgas, he thought his primary customers would be reflective of himself. However, in the ensuing decade, he has been pleasantly surprised by the far-reaching demographic his arcade business attracts.

“I was 29 [years old] and a lawyer, so I assumed we're gonna target young professionals,” Hyden said. “I very quickly found out this is a place for everyone. Our primary core demo is families and the going-out-at-night crowd.”

The setup

An entry fee of $12.89 allows customers to play over 95 arcade games and pinball machines, which are set to free play. Guests under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Adult-only times are in effect after 9 p.m.

The features


The most popular games at Free Play Richardson are Ms. Pac-Man, Skee-Ball and Killer Queen, Hyden said.

“Ms. Pac-Man is number one,” Hyden said. “It's perhaps the best game of all time ... everyone imagines it in this type of arcade.”

Skee-Ball wasn’t on the original game roster, but due to customer demand, it was added.

“Skee-Ball on unlimited play had never been done before because there's moving parts ... a lot of damage and wear,” Hyden said. “We did a ton of investigative work and parts sourcing before we brought it here.”


Killer Queen, a 10-player arcade game, is popular because of its social component.

What makes them special?

Hyden said Free Play attracts people from across the nation. Some tourists have a five-stop itinerary including four Free Play locations in Richardson, Denton, Dallas and Abilene and Tokyo Station in Arlington—a Japanese-focused arcade featuring claw games and obscure arcade games.

From museum-quality monitors and consoles to original laser discs, Free Play strives to offer one-of-a-kind experiences.


“Dragon’s Lair was famously the very first game that cost 50 cents instead of 25 cents, and it runs on an authentic laser disc,” Hyden said. “We're now the only location in the country running the original laser disc.”

What else?

Free Play has a food and beverage program. Food options include appetizers, sandwiches, flatbread pizzas and more. The beverage menu features a variety of beers and themed cocktails, including Mario Mario, The Fresh Prince, Ms. Pac and more.

The ambiance


From the music to the games, Free Play aims to provide a “time-travel experience”, Hyden said.

“We have spent 10 years building the greatest 80s playlist that exists in the world,” Hyden said. “We are not technologically advanced. We're running the cutting edge of 1988 ... and that's really hard to do. It's really special that we have it here in DFW.”