Big Games Night Out

Jump back into the lost era of games culture at this vintage video arcade.

Designed in collaboration with Melbourne’s champion of nostalgia, Callum Preston (Video Land), and interactive artist Louie Roots,  ELECTRIC ARCADIA captures the spirit of 80s adventure films sprinkled with futuristic 90s techno – all wrapped up in the warm embrace of a classic mall arcade.

Relive unforgettable moments inside a free, playable, highly shareable visual feast where upright classics sit alongside exciting indies in an immersive Amusement Plaza experience.

Come early to enjoy a special BGNO program for the young and the young at heart. A place where children and adults can dress up and party together, featuring free-to-play family-friendly games activations, facepainting, the Cosplay Parade, Just Dance, Australia’s Favourite Bubbleman Dr Hubble and Joey Lightbulbs’ Family Rave.

Explore Melbourne Meeples’ fantastic selection of new and classic board games featuring titles from local designers and publishers. Dive into a thrilling new dimension of fun with the life-size version of newly released Melbourne game Octocube. And check out the Local Board Game Market to find your new favourite game, showcasing titles exclusively from Australian creators, designers and publishers.

The Main Stage will be a focal point for free entertainment, with the popular Cosplay Parade, live music and a nail-biting Lip Sync Battle.

The Cosplay Parade is the ultimate showcase of fandom creativity, with the best in bespoke couture and makeup on the Main Stage. Open to all cosplayers to participate, regardless of skill level, whether you make or buy your costumes – all are welcome to sign up!

Explore the Square to encounter multiple free-to-play Games Zones – from 80s to indie, arcades to esports, and tabletop to roleplay. Big Games Night Out will feature more than 100 free-to-play games for gamers of all walks of life.

The main stage will host the Cosplay Runway, Just Dance-Offs, DJs, live performances, big screen games experiences and more while the whole precinct will be alive with games, LARPers, roving performers and interactive fun for all.

Indiginerd is opening a portal that will transport you directly to the 80s for a night of epic Dungeons & Dragons adventure. Gamers will embark on a thrilling one-shot campaign inside an immersive Stranger Things-inspired world. After the one-shot, the set will open as a photo opp, so dress to your 80s best, channel your best Stranger Things Character and prepare to enter this retro realm. While the campaign will be only open to D&D players, all are welcome to come and check it out.

ACMI, in collaboration with Melbourne Fringe, present Cypher Quest: Interactive Dance Battle, an electrifying 2vs2 freestyle dance battle where the audience decides who takes the crown. Inspired by iconic video games featured in ACMI’s new playable exhibition Game Worlds – including The Sims, World of Warcraft, Neopets, and Hollow Knight: Silksong – dancers will channel your favourite game worlds through movement, energy and style.

Visit the ACMI booth in The Atrium to explore everything ACMI has to offer gamers year-round. Discover their unique programs and exhibitions, get hands-on with playable video games, shop exclusive merch, and enter for your chance to win exciting prizes – including late-night access to their playable exhibition Game Worlds.

Experience ACMI after dark at Big Games Night Out with exclusive late-night access to Game Worlds – ACMI’s major new playable exhibition celebrating videogames from the 1970s to today. Game Worlds is a ticketed event.