Whether you’re a die hard gamer or just someone with an appreciation for games culture, visiting the National Video Games Museum (NVM) is a must in Sheffield. Even non-gamers are sure to find something that captivates them among the many games and displays. Situated in the former Co-op department store in the Castlegate corner of the city centre, the NVM showcases over a hundred playable games.

It's much more than an arcade too. The NVM traces the evolution of videogames over time, meaning that you learn about the past, present and future of gaming all while enjoying a good play yourself. It's got the classics – Sonic the Hedgehog, Super Mario and Tetris – alongside the more modern likes of Rockband 3, FIFA and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. There's even the chance to create your own games at drop-in workshops during the school holidays.

The family-friendly museum is divided into sections, starting with The Arcade. Coin-operated videogames are a huge part of gaming culture and here there are a wide range of arcade machines to enjoy – retro favourites like Ms. Pac-Man, Space Invaders and Donkey Kong, plus Dance Stage Fusion for those who enjoy a good dance battle.

Move on to The Lab, where you can experience games that are in development and learn about building a videogame. You can also play games that aren't available to play anywhere else, as The Lab is home to a four-player version of Pac-Man and Super Snowball Fight Party, a six-player game created by the museum’s own creative engineer.

As well as the regular displays, the NVM houses exhibitions that shine a spotlight on gaming culture and history, as well as the importance of preservation. Recent exhibitions include The Art of Play, which reveals the art, creativity and people behind much-loved games. The Uemura Collection, meanwhile, celebrates Nintendo legend Masayuki Uemura, the lead architect of the Famicom and Nintendo Entertainment (NES) systems.

With Sheffield's strong game heritage, you can also expect plenty of games from the city and South Yorkshire, like Boneloaf’s Gang Beasts (get to know the creators in our Meet the Locals interview), Sumo Digital’s Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing and Gremlin Graphics’ Zool. And there's six-player Super Snowball Fight Party, made by the museum’s own creative engineer.

And one of the best things about the museum is that the games are updated constantly – giving you even more reasons to visit again.

Book your tickets.

Read more about the National Videogame Museum in reviews by Brinsworth Academy students from our 2022 Young Critics programme.

Open weekly throughout the year, and every day during school holidays. Look out for drop-in workshops during holidays.

Available to hire for birthday parties and private events.

The NVM has step-free access and is all on one floor. Ear defenders available on request for visitors with audio sensitivities.

• Words by
• Shehla Ali