Arcade UFO

This place is great. Awesome Japanese video games. It is small but adds to the atmosphere of a serious gaming place.

Arcade Ufo holds a special place in my heart. As a fighting game enthusiast I come here for tournaments, ranbats, free play nights and just random occasions to play with friends.
It’s small, it’s crowded and it’s a little more run down than usual now sadly but overall they got games and they got service and snacks! It’s a great location to come and have some genuine fun at a Japanese themed arcade!

I LOVE THIS ARCADE. If only Houston had an arcade like this. Sure it’s small, but this one astro City cabinet has a game changer with so many games, from king of fighters, metal slug, fatal fury, etc. This way, I have lot of games to play in addition to what they have. They also have a hacked In the Groove 2 With God like pads, 2 sets of Street Fighter 3 3^rd strike, and best of all Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 3DX+. They also helped me out of a jam with it. I was planning on getting a card, however they were only in the right machine.(Which was out of order.) So the guy who was working at the time, put the cards from the right machine in the left.(Mind you, The left one had no cards in it.) So not only was I able to get a card, but I got one for that special someone. Absolutely stop by this place if you’re in the area.

Really cool arcade. Wish they had more fewer of the fighting games and more general games. I liked the old school machines with classic Genesis games and would like more of those.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, WWE Superstars were outstanding games to play.
They also use a card system now (not tokens) that requires a payment of $ 3. Probably saves them on machine maintenance, but costs me more, especially for someone that doesn’t live close enough to use it regularly.

Ok, so yes they have the fighting games I enjoy. However, if you are not a competition level player, you will get scowls and hisses at every machine. I was patiently waiting to play the sf4, when a comp level player actually lost one, after about 10 wins. He got completely salty and didn’t get up off the machine, although there were several of us waiting. I also experienced a great deal of elitist attitudes, when trying to be a good sport and telling my opponent «good game.» Some people won’t even acknowledge you. I believe this is why the fighting game community in Austin is lacking, as opposed to the other larger cities in TX. I have met one or two people here who were actually helpful, and had recommendations or helpful hints, but I got their numbers and attend or host casuals now, to avoid this smelly hole in the wall, that I can imagine barely makes their rent every month. These people need to realize that bringing people up, from scrub status, actually makes everyone better, and beyond that, I was playing Street Fighter before you were born. Show some respect.

A hidden gem. If you appreciate rhythm or fighting games, this place is a wet dream. Incredible selection and there’s almost always good competition. 6 stars if i could.

Hands down the best arcade in the state of Texas for all your music/​rhythm (Bemani) and fighting game cravings.
I wish I lived closer to Austin so I could go here more often.

This place is awesome! In a time when games are so readily available through other means, this arcade can still offer enormous sentimental value that is an experience within itself.
There rarely seems to be many people here, which is a shame but I guess helps makes it cozier. Arcade UFO is indeed very quaintly sized, but it still offers very reasonable prices for a variety of awesome imported Japanese games. This can present some unique challenges such as not being able to read the menus on-​screen, but the games themselves are fun and the card readers are an awesome, easy-​to-​use system.
It seems like a few machines are occasionally out of order. This doesn’t really present a huge problem since most games are on multiple machines, but it does become harder to play two-​player on certain games, assuming you bring a buddy.
Even so — highly recommend!

This is a pretty «underground» place. It’s a pretty tiny place next to a small grocery store with a little sign that’s almost easy to miss. When I walked in, I was greeted with the loud noises of the sole staff member playing some crazy rhythm game on an insane difficulty. I tried the game myself later, and it was hard as hell.
Next to the typically empty counter, is a *machine* that takes your money and puts it on a card that you hold up to the machines to pay with. There is a $ 2 fee for a play card unless you add on $ 20. A friend and I split a card to avoid the fee.
There are lots of games here you just aren’t going to find in America — these games aren’t translated either so you’ll just have to hope the game you’re playing is intuitive enough for you to figure it out on your own (some of them are). Sadly, many of these games may not be in working condition when you go. Several machines were down when I went. Of what was left, there were some rather addicting games to play, although I don’t know what they were called. There is a dance machine here that has a MASSIVE library of songs, so if you DDR, this is the place for you.
This place, being a small arcade, is as you might expect, pretty dirty. Doesn’t seem to bother anyone though. At any rate, while I played some good games here, I went home rather unhappy, in part due to the obscene volume these games output, and I had to stay here for longer than I would have liked since a friend wouldn’t stop playing. Overall, not bad, but I’m not itching to come back here anytime soon.

One of Austin’s hidden gems. The place is small, but it’s jam-​packed with import Japanese arcade cabinets and special units designed for playing all the latest fighting games, which are commonly rotated out in time for new releases.
If you’re more for traditional arcade games like pinball, this is not the place for you. Otherwise a great spot to take a friend or to connect with the local fighting game community.

If you’re into imported Japanese arcade games, this place is an absolute MUST. They cycle titles out regularly, so it’s worth going back to at least monthly.

If you appreciate rare import games appearing in the US, this is definitely the best arcade ever!
Even if you don’t, you’ll find something amazing here. This is one of my favorite places to go in Austin.
All games & store are kept in *pristine* condition, very clean, amazing customer service & wonderful crowd. Always up-​to-​date games on their game floor and prices are great & reasonable.
If you haven’t come here at least once, you are missing out! Always a good time.

Took my family to check this out. Thank you for being a local business, one of a kind, whole in the wall, cool Austin Texas kick ass fun kind of place. They have some interesting games that I’ve never seen before and some that brought back memories. They where helpful when I needed it.
Awesome.
Support your local business!

Inaugurating my first Austin Unilocal review with Arcade UFO, because, why not? I’m an out of practice nerd, school and everything, but this is a pretty awesome arcade for one reason:
Dance Dance Revolution. Heavy Mode. The DDR Machine locator brought me here; I try to go at least two times a month to this wondrous machine. songs galore. Ya’ got, A, AA, Abyss, Dead End, Paranoia 180, Drop Out, the best Naruto intro song (too many Bleach tracks, boo to the person who shared those tracks)…
I haven’t played DDR since my freshman year in undergrad and I’m trying to get back into it. Thankfully everyone else is busy playing Blazblue or some Street Fighter track… ALTHOUGH (this isn’t a structured review, kk) I get the feeling that a lot of people come for the DDR machine but give you absolutely no signal that they want to play… and I will not get off the machine until my legs are complete jello. I don’t even mind shadowers. So what the hell shy folk?
Anyway, the arcade proper has some nice features: a cheap vending machine, lots of seating near the machines, a nicely situated fan by the DDR machine, great acoustics. if you go around the early afternoon when they open, you get the machine allll to yourself (everyone else is playing BlazBlue or some iteration of SF). Later at night, you’ll have to wait. This is the only thing I’ve spent my money on in the arcade besides TMNT Turtles in Time.
Was going to go to that place that you play actual adventures/​RPGs/​MMORPGs at, but I don’t have any developing characters or groups to really waste money per hour on. Plus their DDR machine has been woefully obsolete for some time now. I prefer this DDR machine compared to the one at Pinballz; the one at Pinballz is in a freakishly tiny corner near an air hockey machine with germ-​infested children who don’t understand space boundaries…
So on my new list of tracks to master (I’m trying to get out of playing the usual), is an uploaded Tetris track by DJ Scribble (p. dope song, by far one of the funnest fast jump tracks like Drop Out, plus it’s long), Naruto Shippuden Opening One, and some Final Fantasy tracks on there.
Might bring a USB to upload some Macross tracks! And I really am rusty with Paranoia Evolution. One of my favorite tracks. So out of DDR leg shape.

Stopped by here last week on a Friday night, I love their little bit more spacious interior though I still think it’s small, just not as small as before.
A lot of the cabinets they have are very Japanese centric. I specifically love Pop’n and Technika, but what I am obsessed over is their SEGA UFO Crane machine. YOU ACTUALLY WIN STUFF and it’s not all fake. I caught myself a Moogle, Chocobo and Kirby plushie doll from the machine and SO CAN YOU! Granted, I did blow $ 40 but SO WORTH IT.
Tip: For the crane machine, if the toy you want is out of reach, AKA the claw can’t physically move there or an item you want is all the way located at the bottom, you’re always able to ask someone to MOVE it somewhere where you CAN grab it, THIS IS NOT CHEATING, as you are still going to pay to play, they are willing to accommodate. I asked an Arcade UFO employee to assist and he was more than happy to help me with this request. Awesome!

I am an avid UFO-​er and have spent many summer hours here playing and watching.
It’s in the campus area so expect the college-​vibe. Young couples stop by here as a cute little date spot, students stop by for a study break (myself included for both) and frequenters get in the zone.
Games cost less than the average at Pinballz. They don’t take quarters but have a machine that exchanges bills and cents into coins.
Sadly, I was disappointed after their remodel. There are less consoles/​game and it doesn’t actually look all that different. Hopefully they’re still in the process because I’d like to come back to the good ‘olé UFO!

I fucking love it here! Great selection of games… I mean. it’s kind of small and cramped… and it’s hot. I’m sure that it smells bad when it’s crowded in the summer… BUT…get sugared up and go. It
L be worth it! Plus, they have all of the best mixes on their DDR machine! I love you arcade UFO… will you marry me?

I love Arcade UFO, and while I believe its uniqueness as a Japanese-​style arcade does a great service to central Texas, if you’re looking for a family joint like Pinballz or games like Dave & Busters, you’re going to be disappointed.
It’s small, dark, and a little dank (though the recent remodel will help with a bit of that), and contains a good portion of obscure Japanese titles, but for fighting game fans it’s a little slice of heaven and with weekly tournaments there’s really not much else you could ask for.

One star for the awesome4-​player PacMan. This place has some really neat games, the shame is that it is a dark, disgusting pit of a house.
–4 stars for how disgusting Arcade UFO is. This is not a family arcade, it isn’t even really an arcade for most people. This is a place for hardcore fighting game gamers.
Arcade UFO needs a few things. First would be a good cleaning. And second would be hand sanitizer dispensers.
I don’t know how a place gets that dirty, but it is more like someone’s hobby than an actual business. Before leaving I wanted to wash my hands.
When I saw that bathroom… oh dear. A tiny closet, stinking of urine. Toilet seat up, covered in piss. Towels thrown on the floor, dust everywhere. It looked and smelled horrid. I guess if you’re a guy and are okay with things like that, then good for you. I’m so glad that all I needed to do was wash my hands.
Go if you are serious about your fighting games. If you just want to have some fun at an arcade and not feel gross afterwards, go someplace else.

Looking to blow a few hours in the great indoors with all kinds of wonderful noisemakers, some of which are straight out of Japan? This is your place.
I’m a button masher at best but still enjoy an afternoon at this place. They’ve got a little bit of everything, from driving games to DDR to fighting games to stuff that isn’t even in English. Go forth, my pretties, and nerd out to your heart’s content. Now if they could just program unpredictable Austin drivers into the Wangan Midnight game so it’d be extra hilarious… ha! Having two seats for this game right next to each other is a great peril to your stack of coins, BTW.
This is perhaps the best maintained arcade I’ve ever seen – I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything actually «out of order» here. If one does go out, it sure must not be for long.