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

Nestled in the welcoming Discovery Center of Frisco, Texas, the National Videogame Museum (NVM) is a must-visit for gamers of all ages. The museum, located north of Dallas, wasn’t always destined for Texas; its founders initially envisioned its home in Silicon Valley. However, thanks to a serendipitous connection with a local game developer and enthusiastic support from Frisco’s city council and mayor, the museum opened its doors in April 2016. Fast forward to today, and it’s a mecca for gamers and collectors.

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

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

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

One of my favorite exhibits is the recreation of the Great Video Game Crash of 1983, a pivotal moment in gaming history. The display features a replica game store on the brink of collapse, complete with bins of unsold cartridges marked down to pennies on the dollar. This leads into the computer section featuring a lineup of early machines like the Commodore Vic-20, Amiga, and Apple II, all set up for gaming.

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

Another fascinating exhibit chronicles the often-bumpy development of virtual reality in gaming. From the innovative but commercially unsuccessful Atari MindLink—a headband that attempted to read muscle movements in the forehead—to iconic oddities like the Nintendo Virtual Boy and Power Glove, the display highlights both the hits and misses in VR’s journey to becoming mainstream.

At the museum’s end 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 can enjoy timeless titles like Robotron: 2084, Centipede, Tempest, Space Invaders, Ms. Pac-Man, and Mortal Kombat. Your admission comes with four tokens to get you started, and additional tokens are available for purchase. If you’re good enough to set an all-time high score, you’ll even earn free tokens!

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

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

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