When I was a kid, one of my favorite things to do was go to the arcade with a group of friends. With home video game consoles, many arcades have fallen by the wayside over the years and closed up shop, while the ones that are still around cost an arm and a leg just to play a few games. Enter Next Level Pinball in Hillsboro, Oregon. Next Level Pinball is a museum full of pinball machines and other arcade games, and it just bagged the 'Favorite Pinball Location' award for a third year in a row! You might be asking yourself, "How can a museum be the best spot to play pinball?" Did I forget to mention that after paying the museum entry fee, you can play 475+ pinball machines and arcade games for free?

Next Level Pinball Museum In Hillsboro, Oregon

You might not have ever heard about the TWIPY Awards. TWIPY is like the ultimate shoutout from the pinball community, thanks to 'This Week in Pinball,' a site where pinball fans hang out. TWIPY voters rank pinball locations on things like best theme, best sound, best mods, best animation and display, and several other categories.

With more than 475 pinball machines and other arcade games set to free play (along with some paid machines like claw), Next Level Pinball is one of the world's largest arcades. This place is the epitome of cool, and I wish it had been around when I was a kid looking for things to do in Hillsboro. It's no wonder that Next Level snagged first place in the 'Favorite Pinball Location' category of the TWIPY Awards.

Next Level Pinball History

Next Level opened it's doors in 2017 with just 100 games in a warehouse by the Hillsboro Airport. Soon it had expanded to hundreds more pinball machines and games, and there are more expansions still planned for the future.

One thing that makes Next Level so awesome, aside from the sheer number of games, is the vibe and how easy it is to walk around and play. You don't need coins or tokens to play; just grab a day pass for $22 and play all you want. It's a paradise for anyone who loves games.

This place is also like a treasure trove of pop culture. Think movie posters, giant superhero statues, and even the world's biggest collection of lunch boxes. Yeah, you heard that right. It's a pop culture museum that also lets you play an insane amount of games. You can't really ask for more than that.

The community loves this place, not just for the games but also for the nostalgia it brings. There's tons of cool stuff like Star Wars figures and vintage magazines, which adds to the museum's charm. And for those who are really into pinball, there are rare finds like Sega's 1998 Golden Cue and classics like Medieval Madness and Godzilla.

Next Level Pinball Museum Information

• Location: 1458 NE 25th Ave in Hillsboro, Oregon
• Hours:
  • Monday - Wednesday: Closed
  • Thursday & Friday: Noon - 11 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM - 11 PM
  • Sunday: 10 AM - 9 PM
  • Please note: holidays may have modified hours.
• Cost: $22 per person with in and out access for the entire day. Children ages 3-5 get $5 off of regular admission, and children 2 and under are free with a paid guardian.
• Get more information at the Next Level Pinball Museum website.