Step Inside the National Videogame Museum: A Nostalgic Walkthrough of Gaming History

Nestled in the welcomingDiscovery Center of Frisco, Texas, the National Videogame Museum (NVM) is amust-visit for gamers of all ages. The museum, located north of Dallas, wasn’talways destined for Texas; its founders initially envisioned its home inSilicon Valley. However, thanks to a serendipitous connection with a local gamedeveloper and enthusiastic support from Frisco’s city council and mayor, themuseum opened its doors in April 2016. Fast forward to today, and it’s a meccafor gamers and collectors.

If you’ve everburned hours on a Commodore 64, honed your reflexes on an Atari 2600, or donneda VR headset to battle digital foes, the NVM offers something to rekindle yourlove for gaming. It’s a hybrid experience—a blend of a traditional museum and ahands-on arcade—offering a fun and immersive journey through the fascinatinghistory of video games.

My latest YouTube video takes you on a full walkthrough of this incredible museum, capturingevery nostalgic moment. From the world’s largest playable Pong console to thedarkened magic of the Pixel Dreams arcade, this tour will have you relivingyour childhood and marveling at gaming's evolution. You can check it out myvirtual tour of the museum by clicking HERE.

The NVM boasts ajaw-dropping collection of rare artifacts. Highlights include the Sega Neptune,a prototype console combining the Sega Genesis and 32X that never made it tomarket, and Ralph Baer’s 1967 Brown Box, the prototype for the world’s firsthome gaming system. The museum also displays valuable rarities like theNintendo World Championships cartridge, Magical Chase for the TurboGrafx-16,MUSHA for the Sega Genesis, Blockbuster exclusives, and prototypes of games youmay never have realized existed.

One of my favoriteexhibits is the recreation of the Great Video Game Crash of 1983, a pivotalmoment in gaming history. The display features a replica game store on thebrink of collapse, complete with bins of unsold cartridges marked down topennies on the dollar. This leads into the computer section featuring a lineupof early machines like the Commodore Vic-20, Amiga, and Apple II, all set upfor gaming.

The NVM’sattention to detail is remarkable. Two mock-ups transport visitors to gaming’sgolden eras. One is a 1981 living room where you can play an Intellivision on awood-paneled TV while seated on an authentically garish couch. The other is alate 1980s bedroom complete with a Max Headroom poster, Pac-Man bedsheets, anda working Nintendo Entertainment System hooked up to a tiny TV/VCR combo. It’sthe perfect nostalgia trip for gamers who grew up during this era.

Anotherfascinating exhibit chronicles the often-bumpy development of virtual realityin gaming. From the innovative but commercially unsuccessful Atari MindLink—aheadband that attempted to read muscle movements in the forehead—to iconicoddities like the Nintendo Virtual Boy and Power Glove, the display highlightsboth the hits and misses in VR’s journey to becoming mainstream.

At the museum’send lies the Pixel Dreams arcade, a dimly lit homage to the 1980s gaming scene.With classic rock and pop music pumping through the speakers, visitors canenjoy timeless titles like Robotron: 2084, Centipede, Tempest, Space Invaders, Ms.Pac-Man, and Mortal Kombat. Your admission comes with four tokens to get youstarted, and additional tokens are available for purchase. If you’re goodenough to set an all-time high score, you’ll even earn free tokens!

Whether you’re alifelong gamer or simply curious about gaming’s cultural impact, the National Videogame Museum offers an unforgettable experience. It’s a space where historycomes alive, memories are rekindled, and new stories are made.

In my new YouTubevideo, I guide you through every corner of the museum, from iconic relics tothe interactive exhibits that let you dive hands-first into gaming’s past. Ifyou’ve ever wanted a close-up look at one of the most comprehensive publicdisplays in gaming history, this video is your front-row ticket.

Don’t miss thischance to relive the magic—check out the video and take a virtual tour of theNational Videogame Museum today!