Perth: Video Game Console Museum

The most appealing thing about Perth’s Nostalgia Box is that it is not a museum where you only look through glass. You can study more than 100 consoles from the 1970s through the 2000s, then sit down and play many of the games that shaped home entertainment.

I like the hands-on format and the broad sweep of gaming history, from early machines to the consoles many people grew up with. I also like the price: $12 buys at least an hour of play, which is strong value for a family outing. The main point to watch is scheduling, since private functions can mean a late opening or early closing.

Key points at a glance

• More than 100 consoles: Follow the changes in home gaming from the 1970s to the 2000s.
• Real play time included: Try classic games rather than simply reading about them.
• Familiar names and odd discoveries: Expect Pong, Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, Mario, Sonic, Alex Kidd, and Crash Bandicoot.
• Good for mixed ages: Children, parents, and grandparents can share the same activity.
• Helpful staff: Staff can help locate and load the games you want to try.
• Check opening times: Private events sometimes change the public schedule.

Why The Nostalgia Box is more than a display of old machines

Many video game museums ask you to admire old hardware from a distance. The Nostalgia Box takes a more useful approach. It lets you see the machines, understand their place in gaming history, and then test them with your own hands.

That matters because old consoles make more sense when you play them. A modern game can hide its machinery behind fast graphics and complex controls. Earlier systems often show their limits clearly. Simple movement, basic sound, and a small number of buttons forced designers to solve problems in clever ways.

The museum covers the period from the 1970s through the 2000s. That gives you a chance to track several major changes: the arrival of home consoles, the rise of arcade-style games, the growth of character-led platform games, and the shift toward more capable systems.

The experience has also been featured in the 2019 Guinness World Record Gamer’s Edition and by Lonely Planet. Those credentials may interest dedicated gaming fans, but you do not need specialist knowledge to enjoy the visit. If you know only Mario, Sonic, or Pong, you will still have plenty to try.

From Pong to the 2000s: seeing how gaming changed

The collection’s greatest strength is its timeline. More than 100 consoles give you a physical sense of how quickly the medium changed across a few decades.

The early machines represent a time when home gaming was still finding its shape. Pong is the obvious example. Its rules are easy to grasp, but that simplicity also makes it a useful starting point. You can see how little was needed to create a competitive game, then compare that with later systems that offered bigger worlds and more detailed characters.

Space Invaders and Donkey Kong show another important step. These games are built around repeated attempts, quick reactions, and the desire to beat a previous score. That makes them easy to pick up during a short visit. You do not need to learn a long story or spend half an hour studying controls before you can play.

The later consoles bring more recognizable heroes and longer game formats. Super Mario Bros, Sonic the Hedgehog, Alex Kidd, and Crash Bandicoot each represent a different stage in the development of platform games. Playing them side by side helps you notice changes in speed, level design, character movement, and the way games reward persistence.

You may also encounter machines you remember only vaguely, or systems you never saw growing up. That is part of the appeal. The collection is not limited to the biggest winners. It presents gaming as a series of experiments, rivalries, and technical leaps.

The hands-on hour: how to use your time

Your ticket guarantees a minimum of one hour, and the activity is built around that play period. You can spend your visit moving between the displays and the playable stations, rather than following a fixed guided route.

I suggest beginning with a quick look around before choosing a game. The collection is broad, and it is easy to settle immediately in front of the first familiar console. A few minutes of orientation can help you decide if you want to focus on childhood favourites, try systems you have never used, or split the time between both.

Once you are ready, ask the staff for help finding and loading a particular game. This is especially useful if you remember the title but not the console, or if you want to try several games without losing time searching. Staff have been described as friendly and willing to help children and adults find what they want to play.

You can challenge a friend or family member in Space Invaders, take turns with Pong, or work through a platform game such as Super Mario Bros or Sonic the Hedgehog. The exact amount you play depends on how busy the museum is and how long you spend at each machine, so it is sensible to treat the hour as a guaranteed minimum rather than a promise of unlimited access to one particular console.

The ticket remains valid for any time the museum is open to the public. That gives you some flexibility, but it does not remove the need to check the schedule. Private functions can change public hours, and the museum advises calling 08 9227 7377 or emailing [email protected] before booking if you want to avoid an altered opening time.

Why the staff matter to the experience

A collection this large can be slightly overwhelming. You may recognize a game but not know which machine plays it, or you may want to revisit a title that is not immediately in front of you.

The staff can help locate and load games, which makes the visit smoother. That support is particularly useful for families. A child can explain the kind of game they want, while an adult may be trying to remember a title from decades ago. The staff can bridge that gap without turning the visit into a formal lecture.

The help also improves the value of a one-hour ticket. You are not spending the first part of your visit guessing which console to use or working out how to reach the game menu. If you have a short list of favourites, bring it with you mentally and ask early.

English is the stated language for the host or greeter. The practical focus is on getting you playing, with the displays providing context about how each generation of console helped shape the next.

A good family activity across three generations

The museum works especially well for families because the games do not require everyone to share the same age or gaming experience.

Grandparents may remember Pong or early arcade games. Parents may have grown up with Super Mario Bros, Sonic, Alex Kidd, or Crash Bandicoot. Children can discover why older games remain fun even without modern graphics and elaborate controls.

That shared experience is more valuable than simply handing a child a history lesson. You can show them a game you played at their age, then let them challenge you. The museum’s own description encourages visitors to introduce younger generations to old-school gaming, and that is one of the clearest reasons to go.

The activity can also suit someone who does not want to play constantly. One family member can sit quietly and watch while others take turns. A parent or grandparent who is less interested in gaming can still enjoy the displays and the family interaction.

Children under 10 must be accompanied by a paying adult. This is worth planning for, since the admission cost applies to the adult as well as the child. The museum is wheelchair accessible, adding another practical reason it can work for a mixed-age family group.

How much value do you get for $12?

At $12 per person, the admission is modest for a hands-on attraction in Perth. The value comes from the combination of display material and play time. You are not paying only for a short look around a collection, and you are not paying only for access to a single machine.

A one-hour minimum gives you enough time to try several games, especially if you avoid spending the whole visit on one difficult title. The best value comes when your group shares the play. A parent and child can take turns, compare high scores, and move between different eras without needing separate activities.

The price is also easy to justify as a rainy-day or hot-afternoon option, although the supplied information does not specify weather facilities or nearby attractions. I would judge it on the museum visit itself rather than assume it fills a whole day. The stated duration is one hour, so it works best as a focused stop rather than the only activity in your Perth plans.

If you are bringing a group, remember that children under 10 need a paying adult with them. That requirement is straightforward, but it affects the final cost when several young children attend.

The main limitation: public hours can change

The biggest practical drawback is not the collection or the price. It is the possibility of altered opening hours.

The museum sometimes opens late or closes early for private functions and events. Your booking guarantees at least an hour, but only during the public opening schedule. A voucher is not a guarantee that you can arrive at any time without checking.

Call the museum or send an email before booking if your Perth plans are tight. This is especially important if you are fitting the museum between a train, a meal, or another timed attraction. If your schedule is flexible, the ticket’s validity during public hours gives you more room to choose a convenient time.

I would also avoid arriving with the expectation of playing one specific machine for the entire visit. The museum contains many consoles, and availability can depend on how the space is being used. Go with a few games in mind and allow yourself to try something unexpected.

Who will enjoy this most?

The Nostalgia Box is a strong choice for:

• Adults who want to revisit games from childhood.
• Parents introducing children to earlier consoles.
• Grandparents looking for an activity they can share with younger family members.
• Casual gamers who want a short, inexpensive Perth attraction.
• Dedicated gaming fans interested in the development of console hardware and software.
• Groups with mixed interests, since some people can play while others browse or sit quietly.

It may be less suitable if you want a large attraction that occupies most of a day, or if you dislike taking turns. The museum promises a minimum of one hour, not a full-day entertainment complex. Your enjoyment will also depend on whether the playable games match your interests.

Still, the range of titles gives the experience broad appeal. You can choose reflex-based games, platform games, competitive games, or machines you remember only by sight. That variety keeps the visit from depending on one famous console.

My practical plan for a first visit

I would allow at least an hour and arrive with three simple goals.

First, spend a few minutes looking over the collection. Notice the progression from the 1970s to the 2000s instead of rushing straight to the most familiar game.

Second, choose one old favourite and one game from outside your usual experience. The favourite gives you the memory-lane moment. The unfamiliar choice helps you understand what changed across the decades.

Third, leave enough time for one final shared challenge. Pong, Space Invaders, or another score-based game works well because everyone can understand the goal quickly. It also gives the visit a clear finish.

If you are with children, let them choose at least one game. If you are visiting with a parent or grandparent, ask which console they remember first. The museum becomes more interesting when you treat the collection as a prompt for conversation, not just a row of machines.

Should you book Perth’s Video Game Console Museum?

Book it if you like classic games, want a family activity that crosses generations, or need an affordable one-hour stop in Perth. The combination of more than 100 consoles, playable favourites, helpful staff, and a $12 entry price gives you a lot for a modest outlay.

I would be most keen to recommend it to families with children, adults revisiting their youth, and anyone curious about how modern gaming began. Check the public opening time before you go, especially if your plans are fixed.

If you expect a full-day attraction or want only the newest games, choose something else. If you are happy to take turns and enjoy a compact museum where the exhibits are meant to be played, The Nostalgia Box is an easy pick.

FAQ

How much does entry to the Perth Video Game Console Museum cost?

Entry costs $12 per person.

How long does the visit last?

Your booking guarantees a minimum of one hour. The ticket is valid for any time the museum is open to the public.

Which games can I play?

Games listed include Pong, Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros, Sonic the Hedgehog, Alex Kidd, and Crash Bandicoot. Many other classic games are available across the collection.

How many consoles are on display?

The museum contains more than 100 consoles dating from the 1970s through the 2000s.

Can young children visit alone?

Children under 10 must be accompanied by a paying adult.

Can I cancel my booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, subject to the booking terms.