Nestled inside the Maine Mall in South Portland, Round1 Bowling & Arcade – South Portland brings a sprawling, well-stocked entertainment complex to the Portland, Maine market. The name telegraphs the basics — arcade games, bowling lanes, and more under one roof — but the venue’s reputation goes well beyond the entry-level, with reviewers consistently highlighting the sheer scale of the game floor. The slot fits naturally into the broader arcade finder and arcade map directory tools used to track retro and modern venues across the region.
For anyone tracking the Maine arcade landscape, Round1 South Portland sits among a small but competitive set of local options, including Spare Time Portland, Arcadia – Portland, ME, Rift Arcade, Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park, and the simply-named Arcade. Round1’s distinguishing factor is sheer square footage and machine count rather than a curated-retro identity.
At a Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | South Portland, ME (inside the Maine Mall) |
| Phone | +1 207-466-1200 |
| Hours | Daily, 10 AM – 2 AM |
| Rating | 4.1 out of 5 from 1,800 Google reviews |
| Best For | Families, date nights, and groups |
What Players Say
Round1 Bowling & Arcade in South Portland is described by visitors as a large, well-stocked entertainment venue inside the Maine Mall, offering an impressive array of arcade games including rare Japanese imports, bowling, pool, and a full bar and kitchen — making it a solid pick for families, date nights, and groups. Reviewers do, however, raise consistent concerns about value: claw machines are frequently described as overly difficult or rigged, ticket redemption requires significant spending for modest prizes, and food and drinks are considered overpriced relative to quality. Staff responsiveness and customer service are a recurring pain point, though many visitors still report a genuinely fun time if they go in with realistic budget expectations of $50–$200+ depending on group size.
The single strongest theme across the 1,800 Google reviews is Game Selection & Variety, with 22 positive mentions. As one reviewer puts it, “So many different games to play here” — Google review. Atmosphere & Venue Size draws 16 positive mentions, with comments such as “Whole atmosphere was very welcoming. Every inch of the Arcade and Bowling area was super clean.” — Google review. Bowling, Pool & Additional Activities (10 positive mentions, including “They have yummy food and even had kids bowling helpers and bumpers” — Google review) and Late-Night Hours & Bar (6 positive mentions, including “Open until 2 a.m.” — Google review) round out the upbeat themes.
The recurring caveat is Claw Machine Fairness & Payout, with 18 negative mentions and a representative line: “claw machines are rigged more than a casino” — Google review. Pricing & Value for Money draws 20 negative mentions — one visitor noted “got 1100 tickets and got some candy for $55” — Google review — and Food & Drink Quality and Service accounts for 12 negative comments, including “that was the saddest cheese pizza I have ever had in my life” — Google review. Staff & Customer Service and Machine Condition & Out-of-Order Games are mixed, while Kid-Friendliness & Family Experience earns gentle praise with caveats (“Good for kids 5 and up” — Google review).
Games & Machines
A detailed machine and game inventory isn’t published in the venue’s directory record, so a full catalog can’t be confirmed on this page. As a high-volume video arcade located inside the Maine Mall, Round1 South Portland is best understood as a multi-game-floor format paired with bowling lanes, pool tables, and a full bar and kitchen — operators rely on the venue’s scale and rotating title selection rather than a fixed retro-only lineup, which is the typical model for mall-anchored entertainment complexes of this size.
Visiting
Round1 Bowling & Arcade – South Portland is located inside the Maine Mall in South Portland, ME. Doors open at 10 AM every day of the week and stay open until 2 AM, including weekends, making it one of the more accessible late-night entertainment options in the Portland market. The venue hosts bowling, pool, and a full bar and kitchen on-site, so a single group outing can stretch from an afternoon session into late hours without leaving the building.
For practical planning, keep a realistic budget in mind — visitor reports cluster in the $50–$200+ range per group depending on the combination of bowling, arcade cards, and food and drinks on the itinerary — and treat arcade credits as discretionary spending rather than a guaranteed return, given the consistent feedback on claw machines and ticket redemption. Parents bringing younger children will find the venue workable for kids roughly 5 and up based on visitor reports. For the latest pricing, lane reservations, or group bookings, contact the venue directly at +1 207-466-1200 or visit round1usa.com.
Compared with the other Portland-area venues on the directory — Spare Time Portland, Arcadia – Portland, ME, Rift Arcade, Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park, and Arcade — Round1 leans into volume and venue scale. Browse the full arcade finder or jump into the interactive arcade map to plan a regional arcade crawl. Venue operators who spot an inaccuracy can claim the listing to update details directly.