Walsall arcade the Retro Realm is proving to be particularly popular amongst the critics, with the gaming journal Time Extension featuring the West Midlands venue in a special profile after readers wrote in to praise its collection of cabinets and games.

Founded by Craig Marlow just last year, Retro Realm has proved a major boost to footfall at Waterside Place, attracting both attention and praise from some of the most prominent names in UK gaming journalism.

“With almost 100 classic machines including Gyruss, Time Crisis, House of the Dead and TMNT, as well as food and drink, it’s easy to see why the Project Gamer Corp YouTube channel called The Retro Realm ‘the UK’s best arcade’ when it visited last year and interviewed the man behind it,” reported Time Extension.

“When you consider that Bury’s Arcade Club has already set the bar insanely high, that’s praise indeed.”

The arcade was brought to Time Extension’s attention by reader Paul Jones, who said: “I went there a few weeks ago, as I go to a lot of arcades all over the country, as I love the ‘80s ‘90s era.”

“I can honestly say, in my opinion, the best one I have been to; not the biggest, but the best. I personally would love to see this place get the credit it deserves.”