Boneyard Exeter: A Gem of an Arcade

The Boneyard arcade in Exeter is a little gem only a short walk away from the city centre. On entering the arcade you can tell that it is well looked after and the owner clearly takes pride in providing fun and entertainment for all ages. There was a mixture of fun seekers in there, from serial regulars to young families. The owner was very friendly and welcoming and was happy to answer any questions I had.

To play any of the wide variety of games you will need to get a token card. You can top up any amount of money on the card at any time as well as checking your balance when you desire. The layout and presentation of the arcade is superb, with the machines being organised spaciously in a roundabout way, so it didn’t feel crowded like a tin of sardines unlike some arcades I have ventured into.

The range of games in the venue are very good in my opinion. There is something for everybody there, even those who aren’t normally into games (like my girlfriend). Boneyard has your classic light gun title's like ‘Time Crisis 2” and ‘House of the Dead’. ‘DDR’ is there for the dance gamers, plus ‘MaiMai’ the good old washing machine rhythm game. You pinball wizards are covered with 5 machines, my personal favourite was ‘Elvira’. And don't worry fighting game fans, they have ‘Gulity Gear XX Accent Core’, ‘Soul Calibur’ and ‘Street Fighter 3rd Strike’.

They also host regular tournaments at Boneyard!

The arcade is atmospherically illuminated. You can easily see where you’re going (compared to some arcades where I’ve struggled) and I didn’t feel like I was being buried underground. On the other hand, the arcade was not too bright either; as that can detract from the experience too. It was easy to identify each machine, with their individual bright neon and bold coloured lighting. This enticed, attracted and added to the vibe of the arcade, I felt like a magpie finding shiny things.

The sound level was also amazing. I could hear myself talk and other people even though many machines were being played. Most importantly I could clearly hear my songs while playing the music game MaiMai, or zombies die when I shot them in House of The Dead.

What I would say about the atmosphere is that it might be the best thing about Boneyard. I could tell that some gamers have been going regularly for a while and love visiting. Everyone waited patiently for their go and they weren’t being pushy; I’ve experienced that unwanted behaviour before at other arcades. To see families there with their children enjoying themselves clearly shows to me that it is a safe place, where everyone has a respect for each other and somewhere that different generations can go as well as solo hardcore players.

All in all, if you're hard-core gamer, casual or inbetweener you won't be disappointed in the slightest. If you're in Devon you should definitely have a look and give Boneyard a go. You will lose hours there with lots of laughs… I recommend it to everybody.

by Jordan Airey

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19 September 2023

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