Our top picks of the best games to play at Timezone Surfers Paradise

We all have our favourite arcade games to play at Timezone – and the list changes, often. We’ve done a quick poll of our Timezone Surfers Paradise team’s current favourites and why we love them: dive in below!

1. Crossy Road

To be honest, we’re in two minds about this arcade game. On the one hand, it’s just so addictive! The cute graphics, jangly music, simple storyline (help that chicken cross the road!), fast-paced play and challenging elements (Eagles! Trucks! Slippery logs!) all make Crossy Road great fun to play. But on the other hand: if you’re just not that good at keeping the chicken alive, it’s going to haunt your dreams. (We know this to be true.) You won’t be able to stop playing because you HAVE TO GET THAT CHICKEN TO ITS DESTINATION! Sorry. Our love/hate relationship with this terrible chicken and its endless quest makes Crossy Road a firm favourite.

2. Dance Dance Revolution

Had a rough day? Make like T Swizzle and shake it off on Dance Dance Revolution! There’s no better cure for the blues than to dance it away. There’s a reason why dance-based arcade games such as Dance Dance Revolution are so popular: it’s a celebration of creative movement and dexterity, forces you to focus on the moment, involves the support (or competition!) of friends and family, and is just loads of fun. It’s also a nifty way of getting some cardio done, without having to go anywhere near a treadmill... Winning!

3. Mini Bowling

Okay, so for the proper Big Lebowski experience (it’s a cult movie – google it), regular tenpin bowling is hard to beat. But mini bowling is a different kind of fun: it’s less intimidating and easier to topple some pins, making it more fun for newbies and younger tenpin bowlers. We’d recommend it as a way better first-date option than full-on tenpin bowling, too: there’s less chance for embarrassing yourself or getting too competitive with your crush while still packing a big punch of fun.

4. Claw Machine

Ah, the notorious Claw Machine, scourge of new lovers everywhere! So, you want that plushie? You really, really need that plushie? Good luck trying to convince the Claw Machine that you’re worthy. If you want it, you’re gonna have to keep working at it! Claw Machines truly are the invention of a diabolical mind. And yet, we keep on trying, despite the odds. Because once you’re cuddling that lovely fluffy plushie in your arms, all the effort of capturing it is worth it! (If you want to beat the system, you could just saunter over to the Timezone prize shop and purchase a plushie – but where’s the fun in that?)

5. Laser Tag

While not a traditional arcade game per se, many Timezone locations have laser tag arenas – this includes Timezone Surfers Paradise, which boasts such an epic arena that we just had to include it in our list of favourites. Get ready for adrenaline-boosting, neon-lit action in a Futuristic Wakanda-themed arena, set against an exciting backdrop of neon lights and pulsating music. Great for team building and family bonding, we say. (Who are we kidding: it’s just loads of fun tagging your mates with lasers and wiping them off the scoreboard...)

6. Pac Man

A true-blue original, Pac Man is a gift of an arcade game that keeps on giving. We’ve been invested in the adventures of Inky, Blinky, Pinky and Clyde since we were knee-high to a llama, and we’re not planning to stop guzzling dots and random pieces of fruit anytime soon. Pac Man reminds us of the early days of games arcades, the fun and the thrill and the stacks of coins and the intense struggle between man and machine... It’s why we love arcade games, and don’t plan on quitting them anytime soon!

Special mentions

Wondering what our guests love to play at Timezone Surfers Paradise? Here are some of their top entertainment picks:

• “Glow in the Dark Mini Golf and all the skill tester games!”
• “Dodgem Cars are always a win!”
• “I love the many basketball games – and axe throwing, too!”
• “Timezone keeps up to date with new and modern games while keeping the classics available for those of us who enjoy the nostalgia!”
• “I love the great looking café, nice lighting and ambiance!”
• “We loved participating in Laser Tag, Bumper Cars, Basketball and Air Hockey!
• “There are various games for all ages, from shooting, pinball, basketball, virtual reality, Laser Tag, Bumper Cars and more.”

Do you have any favourite games? Share them with us on our socials!