Great Escape is a video arcade operating under the Bowlero brand in the Des Moines, Iowa metropolitan area. The venue draws on the nationwide Bowlero network of entertainment centers, which typically blend bowling with a gaming floor, making it a recognizable stop for casual gamers, families, and birthday parties alike. With more than a thousand Google reviews logged to its listing, the venue has built a steady local following.
Located just northeast of downtown Des Moines in the Pleasant Hill area, Great Escape sits within a short drive of several other gaming destinations in the capital city. Des Moines has developed a varied gaming scene, and visitors weighing their options can compare Great Escape against the broader regional lineup using the arcade finder or browse the wider metro on the interactive arcade map.
The rest of this page lays out the practical details on file for the venue, including the current weekly hours, phone number, public rating, and links to nearby arcades for anyone planning an outing.
At a Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | Pleasant Hill, IA |
| Phone | +1 515-263-1700 |
| Hours | Monday–Thursday 2 PM–11 PM; Friday 2 PM–12 AM; Saturday 11 AM–12 AM; Sunday 11 AM–11 PM |
| Rating | 4.3 out of 5 from 1,000 Google reviews |
| Best For | Casual arcade gaming, group outings, family entertainment, birthday parties |
The Scene
The venue’s Google rating of 4.3 out of 5 across roughly 1,000 reviews places it comfortably in the well-liked range for a regional arcade. With that volume of feedback behind the score, the number reflects a broad base of visitors rather than a small sample, giving a reasonably reliable read on what regulars think of the place.
Des Moines has quietly grown into one of the more arcade-friendly cities in the Midwest, and Great Escape is part of that mix. Other gaming spots worth checking out in the same area include Monsterama Pubcade, a bar-and-arcade hybrid, and Up-Down DSM, known for its lineup of classic cabinets and pinball machines. For visitors drawn specifically to crane and redemption machines, Clawz Entertainment is a focused option, while Ricochet offers another distinct take on local gaming. Together those venues give the metro a notably varied floor plan to choose from.
Games & Machines
Detailed machine inventory data is not on file for this listing, so an exact lineup cannot be listed here. As a video arcade operating under the Bowlero brand, the venue falls into the standard family-entertainment mold, where visitors can typically expect a mix of redemption games, racing simulators, shooting galleries, and modern video cabinets arranged on a casual gaming floor. For an exact rundown of what is currently on the floor, visitors should call ahead or check the official location page linked through the venue’s website.
Visiting
Great Escape is located in Pleasant Hill, just across the northeastern edge of the Des Moines metro. Its weekly hours follow a clear weekday-versus-weekend split: weekday afternoons from 2 PM to 11 PM, with Friday nights stretching to midnight, Saturday opening earlier at 11 AM and running to midnight, and Sunday hours running 11 AM to 11 PM. Visitors driving in can plug the Pleasant Hill, IA address into a standard mapping app for turn-by-turn directions.
The venue is reachable by phone at +1 515-263-1700 for current pricing, age policies, and birthday party or group bookings. Additional details, including any active specials, league information, or holiday-hour changes, are available on the official Bowlero location page linked through the venue’s website.
If you operate Great Escape and want to keep this listing fresh with updated hours, photos, or machine lists, you can claim the listing and start editing right away. Visitors comparing venues across the metro can also use the arcade finder or open the arcade map to see how Great Escape lines up with nearby spots like Monsterama Pubcade, Up-Down DSM, Clawz Entertainment, and Ricochet.