Article: Which of these two arcades is the "world largest"—and does it matter? | Meridiano

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Article: Which of these two arcades is the "world largest"—and does it matter?

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3 / 10

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Two arcades in the United States both claim the title of the world's largest. Funspot, located in Laconia, New Hampshire, is a sprawling, multi-building entertainment complex that originated in 1952. Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield, Illinois, holds over 1,000 arcade cabinets, giving it the largest collection.

While the title of "biggest" is contested between them, the article argues both are among the greatest arcade destinations. It details Funspot's history and its variety of classic amusements beyond video games.

The main topics covered are the two arcades (Funspot and Galloping Ghost), their claims to being the world's largest, and a description of Funspot's history and offerings.

Original URL

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2026/03/which-of-these-two-arcades-is-the-world-largest-and-does-it-matter/

Source Feed

Ars Technica

Published Date

2026-03-06 12:00

Fetched Date

2026-03-06 09:30

Processed Date

2026-03-06 09:32

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Present

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Not Clustered

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In New Hampshire, just off the western shore of the vacation destination Lake Winnipesaukee, there’s a town called Laconia. With a population somewhere south of 17,000, it’s barely a blip on a map—except on Bike Week, when around 300,000 motorcyclists swarm the place. On the other, quieter weeks of the year, Laconia is best known as the unlikely home of Funspot, the world’s largest arcade.
Meanwhile, in Brookfield, Illinois, about 45 minutes west of Chicago and the shores of Lake Michigan, you’ll find Galloping Ghost Arcade, a sprawling suburban palace with a nondescript exterior hiding a mind-blowing collection. With over 1,000 arcade cabinets (plus a further 46 pinball machines), Galloping Ghost is the world’s largest arcade.
Yes, there are two arcades in the US labeled as the world’s largest, and while that may seem a bit paradoxical, a visit to both proves that while only one can be the biggest, both are the greatest.
Funspot
We’ll start with the eldest of the two. Funspot’s origin story dates back to 1952, when Robert M. Lawton founded it as an indoor mini-golf and penny-arcade pavilion. Over the years, its location has changed and expanded, a fact evident in its architecture: a series of loosely connected buildings spread across a gentle slope.
It can be a bit hard to know which of those buildings to enter, but so long as you steer clear of the Funspot Bingo Hall, you’ll eventually arrive in video game paradise.
Funspot is spread across multiple floors of a discordant series of structures, housing everything from a throwback mini-golf course to a small go-kart track for the little ones. There’s even a 20-lane bowling alley. It’s all inside and protected from the harsh northeastern weather, making Funspot a four-season source of entertainment.