Greetings, fellow Gamemeca readers. It’s Ryunan back with another Arcade Tour, and goodness, has it been a while. The weather is turning sweltering, signaling the arrival of summer—and they say this year’s heat will be particularly brutal. Do keep that in mind when planning your next pilgrimage to the arcade.

For this outing, I’m heading back to Sinchon in Seoul. I’ve covered this area twice before, and some of you may remember the 'Sinchon Jjang Arcade' from my earlier columns. Well, that venue has shuttered, and in its place stands a new challenger: 'Wadada Arcade'.

It occupies the same prime real estate as its predecessor. While internal renovations have completely overhauled the layout and aesthetic, the sense of familiarity remains—it feels like a place I’ve frequented many times before.

Right by the entrance, a massive neon sign and a mirror greet you. The typography and illustrations are styled in 8-bit dot art, giving it that wonderfully nostalgic arcade vibe.

The internal structure has shifted significantly since the Jjang Arcade days. Back then, it occupied the first floor and the basement, but Wadada ignores the basement and instead sprawls across four levels, from the first to the fourth floor. You’ll find a floor guide to the right of the entrance, and conveniently, the second through fourth floors have their own stairwell access, meaning you don’t have to weave through the ground floor to reach them.

The first floor is a sanctuary for gacha and crane games. The only exception to this claw-machine hegemony are the punch machines standing sentinel near the entrance.

Behind those, you’ll find rows of crane machines packed with smaller prizes. The ceiling is adorned with neon signs of classic gaming icons—Pac-Man is the first to catch the eye—which really helps set the mood.

Gacha machines have carved out their own territory on the first floor. Most of these goods are imported from Japan; unlike crane games, they offer a 100% guarantee of getting a figurine or plush if you’re willing to spend the required amount. There’s even a photo booth tucked away inside the gacha area.

The deepest corner of the first floor houses the larger prize machines. While most modern claw games feature front-facing controls, I spotted a few machines where you look down from the top to aim—a rare, nostalgic sight that takes me back to how things used to be.

Coin and bill exchangers are available, with the latter capable of handling 50,000 KRW notes. Only 500 KRW coins are dispensed here. An ATM is also on-site for immediate cash access, and the restrooms are conveniently located within the first-floor crane area.

Let’s head up the stairs to the second floor. Despite the clear signage, you really can’t get lost here. Curiously, there’s a stained-glass window midway up—a lingering remnant from the building’s former life as 'Mindeulle Yeongto'.

An elevator serves all floors, with a handy guide next to the buttons. Note that the third and fourth floors are dedicated to karaoke.

The second floor is for general arcade games. Unlike the Jjang Arcade era, the focus here is clearly on casual gamers rather than hardcore enthusiasts. You’ll find air hockey, space bowling, and a pair of dart machines against the wall.

Further in, there’s 'Dokkaebi Hunter' and a gun-shooting game called 'Master Sniper'. I’ve scoured many arcades, but this was a first for me. Research suggests it’s developed by Dinibao, a manufacturer based in Guangdong, China.

Behind that, there are two sets of Nintendo’s 'Cruis’n Blast'—four machines in total. It’s a racing series that has been a staple in local arcades since I was a kid; it’s genuinely impressive (and heartwarming) to see it still going strong. It’s even available on Nintendo Switch now.

As for stick-based games, the classics like The King of Fighters and Bubble Bobble are all present, housed in sleek, modern cabinets. There’s also a 'Spot the Difference 5' machine; while version 6 is technically the latest, it hasn't made its way here just yet.

You can also find the 'Bbangbbang-i’s Daily Life' spot-the-difference game, which was reverse-imported from Japan. It’s a newer title, so the play fee is a bit steeper at 2,000 KRW, but you get a guaranteed original photo card for your trouble.

There’s a bike racing game called 'Super Bikes 2'. It looks strikingly similar to the 'Speed Racer 3' from Taiwan’s IGS that you see everywhere, but this one is actually developed by Raw Thrills.

Along with two Tekken 7: Fated Retribution cabinets, Konami’s 'The Bishi Bashi' is here. Released in 2009, it’s pushing toward two decades of existence, yet it remains as vibrant and active as ever—a true arcade survivor.

Two rhythm games are on offer. First is Namco’s 'Taiko no Tatsujin', which remains a beloved staple. Even in arcades lacking BEMANI or SEGA titles, you can almost always count on finding a Taiko machine due to its high accessibility.

The other is the latest 'Pump It Up', the '2024 PHOENIX'. It’s tucked away in a corner with its own dedicated fan, making for a relatively pleasant play experience. Rumour has it that the successor, 'PHOENIX 2', is dropping this May, so expect an update soon.

In the corner, you’ll find four basketball machines. These are a unique breed—instead of a solid backboard, the wall behind the hoop is an actual monitor. It leaves me wondering about the durability against flying balls, but I suppose they’ve accounted for that.

Moving up to the third floor, we find the coin karaoke section. The entrance features a vending machine, bill exchanger, and a self-service kiosk where you can check room availability and pay via cash or card.

Empty rooms are left open for ventilation, so just grab one that’s free. Inside, you’ll find wireless mics, a coin slot, and even a tambourine. The transition from physical remotes to touchscreens for song selection is a stark reminder of how much things have changed.

We’ve taken a look at 'Wadada Arcade', the new tenant of a legendary Sinchon location. It may lack the hardcore enthusiast vibe of the past, but the mere existence of such a spacious place to game is a win in my book. I hope it stands tall alongside 'Sinchon G-Plex' as one of the twin pillars of Sinchon gaming for a long time to come. Adieu for now.

Located on the 4th floor of the Grand Plaza at Sinchon Station, this buffet operated by the E-Land group offers shabu-shabu, side dishes, and desserts for 19,900 KRW on weekday lunches and 25,900 KRW on evenings and weekends. Unlike other buffets that restrict the meat, this place lets you go wild with unlimited self-serve beef, making it a stellar value.

Do you remember the famous YouTuber 'Mbro'? He’s pivoted to the restaurant business, and his brand, 'Mbro Donkatsu', has its flagship store right here in Sinchon. While there are many branches across the country, this is the original. It serves classic Gyeongyang-style cutlets, but the signature dish is the 'Ttaengcho Donkatsu', topped with minced Cheongyang chili peppers for a delightful, spicy kick.

Signature Menu: Mbro Donkatsu 9,900 KRW / Ttaengcho Donkatsu 11,400 KRW