The Best Arcade for Kids 3 to 8 in Merrillville, IN
73 different games and rides at this store. Play Points or unlimited time, Tickets on every win and a prize counter at the end.
What Makes Chuck E. Cheese Merrillville a Great Arcade for Young Kids?
Every game on a Chuck E. Cheese floor is picked for kids, with ages 3 to 8 at the center. This store has 73 different games and rides on 97 machines, so there is something for every age in the family.
Little ones get kiddie rides and easy games of their own. Older kids get skill, sports and video games where they can chase a high score. The whole family can play together, then trade Tickets for prizes at the end.
Chuck E. Cheese is the only major family entertainment center brand built from the ground up for kids ages 2 to 12, and it has been making kids the star of the show for nearly 50 years.
By the Numbers
Different games and rides
Machines on the floor
Play Point for most games
The ages every game is picked for
Every Game and Ride at Chuck E. Cheese Merrillville
The full list for this store, from the kiddie rides to the big-ticket games. Lineups change as new games arrive, so a game or two may have moved since this list was updated.
- 73 games and rides
- 97 machines on the floor
- 4 kiddie rides
Made for kids under 5
- Arka Boat
Climb aboard this rocking ark, take the wheel, and press each button to bring a menagerie of animal friends to life one at a time. - Bug Cruncher
Pull the chameleon's tail to fire its tongue and snatch bugs scurrying across the screen – every catch earns tickets in this colorful, kid-sized cabinet. - City Tour Bus
Climb aboard a classic double-decker bus, ring the bell, and take a rocking little tour past the sights of London on an onboard screen. - Dino Pop
Toss balls into a friendly dinosaur's swinging mouth as it moves up, down, and side to side, racking up score before time runs out. - Duo Drive
Pick your ride – a motorcycle or a car – and race side by side down the road, collecting coins and boosting to the finish line. - Horse Carousel
Climb aboard one of three hand-finished carousel horses and enjoy a gentle, old-fashioned spin around the column, just like a classic fairground ride.
Hard to find anywhere else
- Spooky Creek
At only 10 Chuck E. Cheese locations. - Soccer Duel
At only 14 Chuck E. Cheese locations.
See all 73 games and rides at this store
| Game or ride | Type | Made for under-5s |
|---|---|---|
| Aliens Extermination | Video game | |
| Alley Classic | Roll-and-score lane | |
| Arka Boat | Kiddie ride | Yes |
| Avengers Pusher | Skill game | |
| Baby Air Hockey | Little-kid game | |
| Basketball Pro | Skill game | |
| Batman | Video game | |
| Big Bass Lil Pro | Big-ticket game | |
| Big Win | Big-ticket game | |
| Bike Rally | Little-kid game | |
| Black Hole | Big-ticket game | |
| Bug Cruncher | Little-kid game | Yes |
| Buzy Bee | Little-kid game | |
| Carnival Cups | Skill game | |
| Choppy Wood | Skill game | |
| City Tour Bus | Kiddie ride | Yes |
| Crab Rush | Skill game | |
| Dicey Jump | Skill game | |
| Dino Pop | Little-kid game | Yes |
| Dizzy Chicken | Big-ticket game | |
| Dog Pounder | Skill game | |
| Drop It Drop It | Big-ticket game | |
| Duo Drive | Little-kid game | Yes |
| FGTeeV Out of Time | Big-ticket game | |
| Flying Tickets | Skill game | |
| Full Tilt | Skill game | |
| Funny Hamster | Little-kid game | |
| Gum Drop | Skill game | |
| H2Overdrive | Video game | |
| Halo: Fireteam Raven | Video game | |
| Hammer 2 | Little-kid game | |
| Hop N Stack | Skill game | |
| Horse Carousel | Kiddie ride | Yes |
| Jett Rider | Video game | |
| Jumpin Fantasy | Skill game | |
| Lumberjack | Big-ticket game | |
| Monster Drop | Skill game | |
| NBA Hoops | Skill game | |
| NBA Jr. | Little-kid game | |
| NERF Arcade | Video game | |
| Nitro Trucks | Video game | |
| PAW Patrol | Little-kid game | |
| Pink Panther | Skill game | |
| Pirates Hook | Skill game | |
| Pixar Cars | Video game | |
| Pop It for Gold | Big-ticket game | |
| Pop the Lock | Skill game | |
| Quik Drop | Skill game | |
| Real Heroes Fire Rescue | Skill game | |
| Ring Toss Jr. | Skill game | |
| Rock N Ride | Kiddie ride | Yes |
| Sea Wolf | Skill game | |
| Shell Game | Skill game | |
| Sky Rider | Skill game | |
| Slam-A-Winner | Big-ticket game | |
| Soccer Duel | Little-kid game | Yes |
| Sonic Blast Ball | Big-ticket game | |
| Space Raider | Skill game | |
| Space Warp | Skill game | |
| Spinner Frenzy | Skill game | |
| SpongeBob Super Striker | Little-kid game | Yes |
| SpongeBob Ticket Coaster | Big-ticket game | |
| Spooky Creek | Video game | |
| Stack It | Skill game | |
| Super Big Rig | Skill game | |
| Super Monkey Ball | Skill game | |
| Tight Rope | Skill game | |
| Tons of Tickets | Crane game | |
| Treasure Quest | Big-ticket game | |
| Trolls | Skill game | |
| Two Minute Drill | Skill game | |
| Water Blast | Skill game | |
| X Games Snowboarder | Video game |
Game list updated October 2026. Games move between stores from time to time, so if your child has a favorite, give the store a quick call before you visit.
Three Ways to Play
Games Made for Little Ones
Toddlers and preschoolers are not an afterthought here. Every store has games and kid-sized rides made for the youngest players: easy to start, quick to win and sized for small hands. At this store, look for Arka Boat, Bug Cruncher, City Tour Bus and Dino Pop. There are 4 kiddie rides on the floor.
There is no minimum age to visit, and grown-ups stay with their little ones while they play.
Games the Whole Family Plays Together
Some games are built so parents and grandparents are not watching from the sidelines. Side-by-side racing, sports and ticket games put the whole family in the game, and a close second place still wins Tickets.
Many stores also have a light-up dance floor that gets everyone moving with Chuck E. It is the moment the family stops being spectators and becomes the show.
Where Kids Play for Themselves
Every kid needs the moment they play a game on their own, earn their own Tickets and pick their own prize. Roll-and-score lanes, basketball hoops, skill games and big-ticket games are where a 6-year-old proves something to themselves.
Some games here are hard to find anywhere else. Look for Spooky Creek and Soccer Duel, which only a few Chuck E. Cheese stores have.
How Does Chuck E. Cheese Compare to Other Arcades for Young Kids?
Dave & Buster’s is a bar-first venue built for adults and teens. Main Event is a great fit for kids 8 and up who want bowling and laser tag. Chuck E. Cheese is built for families with kids ages 3 to 8, and every U.S. location checks families in and out with the Kid Check® matching hand stamp.
| Chuck E. Cheese | Dave & Buster’s | Main Event | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built for | Kids 2 to 12, with ages 3 to 8 at the center | Adults and teens | Kids 8 and up, teens and adults |
| Alcohol | Beer and wine at many stores, two-drink maximum per adult | Full bar | Full bar |
| Founded | 1977 | 1982 | 1998 |
The Prize Counter: Where Tickets Become Trophies
Every Ticket your child wins goes straight onto their Play Pass® card. There are no paper tickets to count or lose in the parking lot, and the Tickets stay on the card for the next visit, so a kid who comes back every Saturday is saving up for something real.
At the prize counter, kids trade Tickets for toys, candy, plush and bigger prizes. Picking the prize is the moment the whole visit turns into something they remember.
With a birthday party package, the birthday star gets 30 seconds in the Ticket Blaster, grabbing as many flying ticket vouchers as they can. It has been a Chuck E. Cheese tradition for decades.
Three Ways to Load Up and Play
More Than Games at Chuck E. Cheese Merrillville
Every Chuck E. Cheese has the arcade, the prize counter and Chuck E. himself. Many stores add an Adventure Zone for climbing, sliding and jumping, sold separately from games. This store has an Adventure Zone.
Planning Your Visit
The store is at 2961 E. 80th Ave, Merrillville, IN 46410. The nearest intersection is E 80th Avenue & Broadway. It is part of Merrillville Plaza. Neighbors include K&G Fashion Superstore.
Store hours
- Mon - Thurs 11 AM - 9 PM
- Fri 11 AM - 10 PM
- Sat 10 AM - 10 PM
- Sun 11 AM - 9 PM
Questions before you come? Call the store at (219) 945-0759.
Load Play Points or All You Can Play time at the register or a kiosk when you arrive, and bring back the same Play Pass card next time.
Arcade Questions, Answered
- This store has 73 different games and rides on 97 machines. Most Chuck E. Cheese stores have about 60 to 110 machines on the floor, and the lineup changes as new games arrive.
- Every store mixes toddler games and kiddie rides with skill games, sports games, video games, roll-and-score lanes and big-ticket games for older kids. Most games cost 1 Play Point, and many of them award Tickets for prizes.
- There is no minimum age. Every store has games and kid-sized rides made for the youngest players, with simple controls and quick wins. Parents and guardians stay with their little ones while they play.
- Play Points are what you spend to start a game; most games cost 1. Tickets are what kids win while they play. Both live on the Play Pass card, and kids trade their Tickets for prizes at the prize counter.
- All You Can Play is unlimited games for a set time, from 30 to 120 minutes, and suits kids who want to play nonstop. Play Points suit younger kids and relaxed visits with food and breaks, because no timer is running and the points you buy never expire.
- A Play Pass card is $2. Keep it and bring it back: reloading it on your next visit is free. If you lose it, the store can look up your balance by phone number, and a replacement card is $2.
- No. The Adventure Zone and Trampoline Zone are always a separate purchase from arcade games. Fun Pass members save on Adventure Zone admission: 20% on Bronze, 30% on Silver and 50% on Gold.
- Many Chuck E. Cheese stores serve beer and wine for adults, with a two-drink maximum per adult. It varies by store, so call ahead if it matters for your visit.
- Yes, at participating stores. Sensory Sensitive Sundays are held on the first Sunday of the month, usually in the morning before regular opening, with dimmed lights and quieter music and games. Call your store to confirm it takes part and to get the next date.
- Chuck E. Cheese is built for kids ages 3 to 8, with toddler games and kiddie rides at every store and the Kid Check matching hand stamp at every U.S. location. Dave & Buster's is a bar-first venue built for adults and teens, and Main Event is a better fit for kids 8 and up.
Keep Exploring
Come Play. Every Kid Is the Star.
Load a Play Pass, pick your games and head for the prize counter.