Have you ever wondered if visiting the Gameorama Interactive Game Museum in Lucerne is worth it? As someone who lives near Lucerne and is an avid museum-goer, I immediately added Gameorama Lucerne to my must-visit list the moment I stumbled upon it in a magazine. I recently had the chance to experience it firsthand, and I’m excited to share my insights with you.
For gaming enthusiasts, the Gameorama Museum in Lucerne, Switzerland is worth visiting. Moreover, it serves as a fantastic option for a rainy day activity while exploring Lucerne. The museum proudly showcases a remarkable array of games, encompassing everything from video and gaming consoles to arcade games, virtual reality adventures, and an extensive collection of board games.
Curious about Gameorama Museum Lucerne? Let’s find out.
Overview: Gameorama Museum Lucerne
Lucerne’s Gameorama Interactive Game Museum (Gameorama Spielmuseum in German) is a small but engaging museum featuring games of all kinds. According to Gameorama’s website, the museum opened its doors on June 27, 2020.1
Visitors to Gameorama are encouraged to play classic games and get a sense of how gaming has developed over the years.
A board game nook welcomes you. Once inside the main museum, you can find consoles, arcade games, computer games, virtual reality games, and informative displays that provide insight into gaming’s history.
In the board game section, you are free to stay for as long as you like, but in the main video game area, visits are limited to two hours. In addition, you will have to reserve a time slot beforehand.
Gameorama Museum in Lucerne offers a fun and educational experience for gamers of all ages. The museum is a great place to discover more about the history and evolution of video games, whether you’re a seasoned gamer or just starting.
What to Expect: Gameorama Museum Lucerne
Although the museum is rather compact, it is neatly arranged into the following sections:
- Board Games Café: Located at the entrance, you are free to stay here for as long as you like and play any of the available board games.
- Gameorama Shop: Near the cashier, it is located to the left of the entrance. Several games are available for purchase in this small shop.
- Pub Games: Games such as darts or table football.
- Swiss Games: A variety of Swiss games.
- Timeline: Display information regarding the timeline of famous games such as Minecraft, Pokémon Go, Fortnite, Carcassonne, and more. It also includes the timeline for popular gaming consoles such as Nintendo Wii, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, etc.
- Arcade Games: Games such as Street Fighter or car-driving.
- Flipper Games: Pinball games in various designs such as Avatar, Revenge from Mars, and more.
- Computer Games: Early computers such as the Commodore 64. The computer games available are Donkey Kong, Arkanoid, and Erazer.
- Console Games: Classic gaming consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System, as well as newer consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Console Games available are Pokémon, Super Mario, Mario Kart, and more.
- VIP Room: A separate room for groups who want to reserve the room for themselves.
- Temporary Exhibit: Although this section is labeled as a temporary exhibit, the Virtual Reality goggles are located in this section.
It is easy to navigate the museum due to its clear layout and thematic categories as described above. Moreover, it isn’t so big.
On the games themselves, there are no instructions. If you need assistance, you will always be able to get it from the employees.
Honest Review of Gameorama Museum Lucerne
I grew up playing Super Mario games on old-school Nintendo, so visiting Gameorama was an excellent reminder of my childhood. But was it worth visiting? Here are my experiences.
Ticketing and Entrance Process
In line with the recommendation to buy tickets in advance, we already had our tickets in hand before entering the building. As I stood in line, I noticed everyone else had a ticket. With the maximum number of attendees at 40, I guess no one wanted to risk not getting a ticket. It didn’t take us long to get inside.
Those who have been here before were already allowed inside. First-timers were given a few ground rules by the staff.
The museum does not provide guided tours, which I don’t think is necessary since it is quite compact.
Staff Interaction
As most games were pretty straightforward, we rarely needed any help from the employees. Virtual Reality, however, did require some guidance since I had no idea how to use it.
I can confirm that the Gameorama Museum Lucerne staff is friendly, approachable, and knowledgeable. They were always ready and happy to assist visitors and engage in conversations about the games.
Information and Resources
There are only a few timeline boards about the various games and some small information boxes scattered throughout the museum. Even though you may ask the employees for help, there are no short guides attached to any console or game, or at least I did not see any.
Many museums have short introductory films, such as Omega Museum, Chaplin’s World, Epic Queen Studio, and Museum of Appenzell Traditions. I didn’t find any in this museum.
For those waiting in line outside the museum, an introductory film could make the wait more engaging. Inside the museum, with its highly interactive exhibits, such a film might go unnoticed.
Overall Experience and Satisfaction
We all had a great time at Gameorama. Even though we could have played for more than two hours, I think the time limit is just right. It allows you to try multiple games or focus on your favorites.
Gameorama Museum wasn’t too crowded, and everyone was friendly and considerate, taking turns and giving others a chance to play. However, your experience could vary depending on the people you’re with. Most visitors were mainly pre-teens and teens.
It is expected that you understand the games. Most are easy, but a few are a bit tricky. Simple and exciting games were popular, while the complex ones were less so. Not everyone played video games; some enjoyed board games and darts.
Practical Information: Gameorama Museum Lucerne
- Best Times to Visit: The ideal time to visit is on a sunny day when the locals aren’t on vacation. The museum tends to be busier on rainy days and during school holidays, especially as it attracts many school children.
- Opening Times: The museum operates from Wednesdays to Sundays. For additional details, please visit their website.
- Public Holidays: The museum is closed on the following days: January 1, Swiss National Day (August 1), December 25, December 26, and December 31.
- Fees: Tickets cost CHF 18.- per adult and CHF 12.- for children (6 to 16 years old). Children under 6 years old can enter for free.
- Tickets: Visitors should purchase tickets online or at the museum’s ticket counter (if available). The museum accepts various payment methods, including cash, credit card, and debit card.
- Restrooms: There are clean and well-maintained restrooms at the back portion of the museum.
- Lockers: There were lockers at the back portion of the museum.
- Café: There is a board game café while enjoying delicious drinks and is open during museum hours.
- Shop: The shop offers a selection of board games and gaming-related products.
How to Get to Gameorama Museum Lucerne
Gameorama Museum Lucerne is located in the heart of Lucerne, Switzerland near the Spreuer Bridge (Spreuerbrücke). The museum is easily accessible by public transportation or by car. It’s within convenient walking distance from the train station as well.
Address and Contact Information
Public Transportation Options
| Bus | Luzern, Hirzenhof (1-minute walk) Luzern, Zähringerstrasse (3-minute walk) |
| Train | Luzern (11-minute walk) |
Parking Facilities
Although Gameorama Museum Lucerne does not have a parking facility, you can park at one of the nearby parking lots or garages. The closest parking facilities are the following:
| Kesselturm Parking Garage | Burgerstrasse 20, 6003 Luzern (2-minute walk) |
| Altstadt Parking Garage | Baselstrasse 4, 6003 Luzern (4-minute walk) |
| Bahnhof Parking Garage | Bahnhofpl. 1, 6003 Luzern (11-minute walk) |
Final Thoughts: Gameorama Museum Lucerne
If you’re fascinated by video games, you’ll love the Gameorama Museum in Lucerne. Visitors of all ages will enjoy its extensive collection of vintage and contemporary games.
What truly sets Gameorama apart is its meticulous curation and dedication to interactivity. Both these two things provide an in-depth look at the game industry’s evolution over several decades.
Featuring everything from classic arcade games to cutting-edge virtual reality, the museum provides insight into the industry’s pioneers and innovations. We had so much fun playing various games from car-driving, to virtual reality, to Super Mario. And we weren’t even able to try them all.
In summary, Gameorama Museum is a fantastic destination for gaming enthusiasts, offering an unforgettable and fun experience. Having thoroughly enjoyed my visit, I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone.
Resource
1 Geschichte. Gameorama. Accessed on 17 October 2023. https://www.gameorama.ch/de/ueber-uns/geschichte.
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Darla Uhl is the owner of TouringSwitzerland.com. Her home is in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Having lived almost 20 years in Switzerland, she's traveled extensively all over the country.
Darla's favorite regions to visit in Switzerland include Engadin, Lake Geneva, Bernese Oberland, Ticino, and Valais. She loves spending time with her family, hiking, visiting museums, and reading books.