Retro City: Retro Gaming Hotspots in Swindon You Need to Check Out

Back in the day, gaming was nothing like it is now. Online gaming didn't exist and most games were played with cards or on a board. It was a way to bring people together and could provide many hours of great entertainment.

Whether it's a board game or a primitive video game from decades gone by, these forms of retro games are still hugely popular today, as the BBC explains. Games like Super Mario, Monopoly and bingo still have people coming back for more, and Swindon is taking full advantage. If you’re looking for some of the best retro gaming spots to visit in Swindon, all you have to do is keep on reading.

Retro Games HQ

Let’s start with the place that will fulfil all your retro video gaming needs. You’ll find Retro Games HQ over on Faringdon Road. Once you head inside you’ll be greeted by a Mecca of video games. It has everything you could possibly imagine when it comes to retro video games, consoles like the Dreamcast, the SNES, Gamecube and many more.

Remember the classic games of Street Fighter or Sonic Adventures you used to play decades ago? They’re all here, ready for you to pick up and rediscover once again. Whether you want to pick up a console to relive the old days or try out the games you never got to as a kid, this is the place to get it all.

Sure, modern video consoles and games are incredible, and put next to these games they look and feel far superior. But these games offer something that newer games don’t: nostalgia. Retro video games are like a time portal that takes you back to a simpler time, so if you want to feel that all over again, this is the best place in Swindon to find it.

Rock n’ Roll Bingo

Bingo is a huge industry in the UK. In fact, 22% of all online gambling in the UK consists of bingo! Bingo halls were a popular staple of British entertainment since the '60s, but the creation of the internet has taken over slightly and that's where the majority of bingo is now played.

Most younger people have probably had their first experience with bingo by playing it online. This is likely because of the fact that most bingo halls in the UK are slowly being shut down, as well as the many conveniences that online and mobile bingo has. Offers like the Wink Bingo rewards programme as well as other popular features like free spins, bonuses and online chat rooms draw players in. But there are still a lot of reasons to enjoy classic bingo as well. Land-based bingo allows players to congregate with a lot of other local people face to face and offers a sense of community while you play. You get to make new friends and enjoy some food and drinks as you play too, plus when you win, you get to collect your prize instantly.

If you’re looking for retro style bingo to play, don’t worry, Swindon has still you covered. One kind of bingo that is super popular in Swindon right now is "Rock n’ Roll Bingo", and you'll find it played in pubs and bars all over the town. This kind of bingo uses song titles and artists instead of numbers and you need to mark them off your card when you hear them being played. It's a super way to spend an evening and makes for a hilarious night out with friends.

This mix of trivia and bingo goes down a treat with a cool pint and there are so many different places for you to go and play along. Head along to The Baker’s Arms in Upper Stratton, The Sun Inn in Coate, or Tawny Owl at Taw Hill, just to name a few pubs that play. It’s a great way to get into the spirit of retro bingo all over again.

Get Your Crib On

Card games have been around for centuries and it’s fair to say that they’re the most retro of all games. There’s a card game for everyone and you can always find one that you’re at least a little bit good at! One card game in particular that is still going strong in Swindon is cribbage, which is in fact facing a bit of a revival across the nation.

Cribbage is a game that originated back in the 17th century and still has loyal players to this day. It’s a two-player card game that uses a board to count scores which is equipped with holes and pegs. In this fast-paced game, the first player who manages to score 121 points is the winner.

Though you may associate a game of cribbage with your grandparents, you’d be surprised at how popular and competitive it actually is. Swindon has a competitive cribbage community and each year they take part in a number of competitions both at home and away. If you want to venture into this kind of retro gaming, the Haydon Wick Club is the place to go to improve your game and even get competitive with it!

Board Games and Beers

Board games and beer are such a beautiful combination. There's nothing quite like opening up a board game in the middle of the bar and getting competitive with some friends. Board games have been around for centuries and they always provide hours of great entertainment no matter how old or young you are. Sure, video games may have taken over a bit and more people turn to them than board games, but board games still aren’t going anywhere.

The best thing about board games is that there’s one for everyone to enjoy, from Medieval fantasy to comedy and storytelling, the possibilities are truly endless. Luckily, Swindon sure has a passion for board games, and it seems that now, any pub you step into in Swindon has a plethora of board games waiting for you to crack open and start playing. Places like the Spotted Cow, Cold Harbour, Tawny Owl, The Wheatsheaf and many more pubs are packed with lots of different kinds of board games for you to enjoy with a nice cold pint and some good friends.

Retro Gaming Revival: Hype or Here to Stay?

This revival of the retro gaming scene has been huge in the past couple of years, with more and more younger people putting down their video game consoles and swapping them for board games, tabletop games or old retro games instead. This craze is largely driven by millennials who want a taste of their childhood nostalgia, and it’s been a huge success. Companies such as Nintendo and Playstation have brought back ‘mini’ versions of their first consoles and there are still more board games being released than ever before.

Whether this is all just a temporary fad or not, we can’t be certain. But one thing is for sure, the town of Swindon and the people here certainly are enjoying it all right now. If you're around town and want to get involved with the retro madness, these are the best places for you to go.