Why Batam Is a Must-Visit for Arcade Enthusiasts
Photo Source : @UiHua Cheah
If the thought of a fully-spec’d out mall arcade or old-fashioned fun fair gets your heart racing, Batam might just be your unexpected travel destination!
Sure, Batam is known for beaches and seafood, but beneath the tropical surface is a vibrant arcade and fun fair scene that’ll excite the inner kid in all of us.
To start off with, you don’t have to go out of your way to find one because…
There’s an arcade at every major mall in Batam
Photo source: Kutipan
Arcades are everywhere in Batam. Walk into any major mall, and you’re almost guaranteed to find one!
You’ll be immediately greeted with the prize redemption counter stocked with candy, toys, and trinkets that you can redeem with tickets.
These arcades are HUGE and have a mix of:
- Skill games for prize tickets
- Claw machines
- New arcade games
- Classic arcade must-haves like Initial D and Mario Kart
There’s a high chance you’ll find something new, or revisit an old favourite!
Here are some must-visit arcades:
- Timezone Mega Mall Batam
- Funworld Nagoya Hill Mall
- Funworld Grand Mall Batam
- Hokkibear One Batam Mall
Batam arcades are very affordable!
Photo Source : @UiHua Cheah
Due to the exchange rate, arcades in Batam are extremely budget-friendly. Prices range from RM0.20 - RM0.40 per token, and games typically cost between 1-10 tokens. This means you can be spending half of what you’d usually spend in Malaysia!
Not just that, many of these arcades offer promo packages that give you up to double the credits for the price!
You also don’t have to worry about walking around with a pocketful of tokens. These arcades use contact payment cards which also serve as membership if you’re planning on return visits.
One main difference though, is that there are no refundable deposits on the cards themselves. These are usually charged as a one-off payment and you can bring them home with you.
Some Batam arcades are full entertainment centres
Photo source: Timezone Games
Some arcades like Timezone and Hokki Bear are fully-fledged entertainment centres like Intencity and Wywy Wonderspace from back in the day… remember those?
Here, you won’t only find arcade games, but also:
- Rides like bumper cars and merry-go-rounds
- Bowling
- Snooker/Pool
- Children’s ball pits
- Photo booths
- VR consoles, games, and rides
These centres guarantee a fun time for everyone, whether kids or kids-at-heart.
Batam fun fairs bring back affordable nostalgia
Photo Source : @UiHua Cheah
Fun fairs are increasingly rare in Malaysia nowadays, and many lack that old-school charm that we remember. And that’s not mentioning the prices!
Fun fairs in Batam are still easily found, and they’re really affordable. Games can cost as little as 2,000 Rupiah (RM0.50), and the prizes range from standard fun fair soft toys to regular household items like buckets and laundry detergent. It’s definitely going to be a memorable experience either way!
Photo Source : @UiHua Cheah
If you’re brave enough, you should definitely visit the haunted house! It not only uses practical effects like people knocking on walls and mirrors; but also actors dressed as creatures and ghosts from Indonesian folklore.
Since fun fairs move around quite a bit, you’ll have to ask locals or your e-hailing driver if they’ve seen one nearby.
Arcades are more than just a token visit in Batam!
Photo source: Timezone Games
With so many games and activities centred in just one space, you could spend your entire holiday in Batam arcade-hopping. But don’t forget to save some time for outdoor activities!
Some must-visit places such as Mega Wisteria Ocarina let you reconnect with nature and still enjoy theme park rides like a ferris wheel overlooking the sea and spinning wheel.
In fact, you can also warm-up before you arrive in Batam! While waiting to board the ferry to Batam at Berjaya Waterfront, you can play over 20 console favourites at the game station. If you have a little more time to spare, The Zone houses a Go-kart track so you can sharpen those racing skills in real life!