The World’s Five Best Cities for Gamers
Once a niche hobby, gaming has truly become a global phenomenon, with the industry experiencing steady growth year on year for decades now. And that isn’t projected to stop any time soon.
From MMORPGs and grand strategy games to online chess apps and social casino slots, gaming has truly broken from the confines of its humble arcade origins and become an unstoppable force bringing people together from all corners of the world. But engaging through screen-based play doesn’t necessarily mean cutting oneself off from interacting with fellow gamers irl. Consider mingling with like-minded people and making new gamer friends on your next holiday by picking one of these exemplary gaming cities.
1. Tokyo, Japan
Home to the recently expanded Tokyo Game Show, the Japanese capital remains the most complete gaming destination in the world. Nowhere is this more conspicuous than in the famous Akihabara district, which offers multi-story arcades, retro-game shops, gashapon (capsule-toy) vending machine halls and enormous stores devoted to Nintendo, PlayStation and Japanese gaming merchandise. But why limit yourself to just one neighborhood? Arcades can be found all around Ikebukuro, Shinjuku and Odaiba, and retro game fans will delight in Takadanobaba’s Mikado Vintage Arcade!
2. Seoul, South Korea
Whereas Tokyo is the undisputed capital of arcade gaming, Seoul is almost certainly the equivalent for competitive PC gaming. The city’s numerous PC bangs are inexpensive, well-equipped gaming cafes where customers can eat, drink and game late into the night, ranging from humble neighborhood venues to elaborate shrines to major esports brands. Visit the S-Plex Center in the Sangam-dong district to tour the eSports Hall of Fame before spectating a professional esports competition at the Seoul eStadium.
3. London, England
London provides perhaps Europe’s most varied gaming scene. The English capital offers retro arcades and gaming bars, competitive-gaming venues, specialist shops, and board-game cafés, as well as hosting regular exhibitions on all things gaming. The city supports numerous niches dedicated to everything from fighting games and virtual reality to tabletop gaming and indie development. Don’t miss the annual London Games Festival, which hosts playable exhibitions, industry meet-ups, and public activities at venues all over the city.
4. Los Angeles, United States
The City of Angels is where video gaming meets film, animation, streaming, television, and pop culture at large. The urban sprawl is home to atmospheric arcade bars, eSports venues, game studios and specialist stores for all things gaming and geek culture. Its long-established entertainment industry makes it a natural location for game launches and promotional events. While the esteemed E3 convention is no more, the SoCal Gaming Expo in nearby Pasadena is a worthy replacement, and many gamers will appreciate the annual Anime Expo too.
5. Cologne, Germany
Germany might be more renowned for its (often esoteric) board gaming culture, due in no small part to the world’s most important board game fair taking place annually in Essen. However, for videogaming, Cologne earns its place on this list as the home of Gamescom. While the convention may not match Spiel Essen’s relative importance to that particular niche, it attracts almost twice as many visitors annually (although only marginally more exhibitors), making it the world’s largest gaming event. While it may pale in comparison to the year-round gaming culture of Tokyo and Seoul, for one long weekend every summer, Cologne is the place to be for the planet’s gamers, developers, and distributors alike.
