Ricochet is a barcade that puts video and pinball machines behind the bar in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Tucked into Suite 105 at 400 Locust Street, the venue blends the casual energy of a neighborhood bar with the playful nostalgia of an old-school game room, drawing a mixed crowd of office workers, weekend revelers, and dedicated pinball players who want their drink service alongside their cabinet action.
The barcade sits squarely in the Des Moines entertainment district, within easy reach of courts, arenas, and the riverfront venues that anchor the city’s downtown core. Its combination of late hours, full bar service, and a credit-on-board arcade lineup has made it one of the more talked-about spots for adult gaming in the metro. Des Moines has quietly developed a healthy barcade and pubcade scene over the past several years, and Ricochet has emerged as one of its anchor locations, drawing regulars who treat it as a hybrid of watering hole, gaming lounge, and weekend hangout.
At a Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 400 Locust St Ste 105, Des Moines, Iowa |
| Phone | +1 515-410-1323 |
| Hours | Mon–Fri 3 PM – 2 AM; Sat–Sun 11 AM – 2 AM |
| Rating | 4.6 out of 5 from 448 Google reviews |
| Best For | Adult arcade nights, after-work gaming, weekend pinball and cabinet sessions |
The Scene
Ricochet holds a 4.6 rating drawn from 448 reviews, placing it among the better-reviewed entertainment venues in the Des Moines area. A score built on nearly 450 individual write-ups points to a venue that has earned a steady local following, with most visitors leaving with a positive impression of the bar service, the game room atmosphere, and the overall downtown vibe. Visitors who appreciate a barcade that takes its cabinet and pinball selection seriously will find that the aggregate sentiment lines up with the kind of polished adult-arcade experience they are looking for.
Detailed review themes were not available in the source record for this listing, so the editorial snapshot rests on the aggregate rating and the venue’s identity as a downtown adult barcade. Anyone planning a visit should treat that score as a starting point and check the latest guest comments directly through the venue’s website or major map platforms before heading out for the evening.
Games & Machines
Specific cabinet and pinball lineups were not pulled from the venue’s homepage for this record, so the exact roster is left to the venue’s own communications. As a barcade, Ricochet fits the standard adult-arcade mold: a rotating mix of classic and modern video cabinets, a solid pinball selection, and a token or card-based play system that runs alongside the bar service. The exact composition tends to shift over time as machines are rotated in and out for maintenance, league play, and the occasional tournament or themed event.
Visiting
Ricochet is located at 400 Locust Street, Suite 105, in downtown Des Moines — close to the court district, the riverfront, and the rest of the city’s walkable entertainment core. The space is easy to reach on foot from nearby offices, hotels, and event venues, with street parking and ramps within a block or two for those driving in.
Hours run daily, with earlier weekend openings to catch daytime crowds. Monday through Friday, doors open at 3 PM and close at 2 AM. Saturday and Sunday open at 11 AM and close at 2 AM, giving gamers a chance to play through the afternoon before the evening crowd arrives. The bar stays open through closing, making Ricochet one of the longer-running late-night gaming options in the metro for anyone looking to play past midnight.
Because the venue operates as a bar, guests should expect a 21-and-over policy consistent with other Iowa barcades, particularly later in the evening. The kitchen and drink program center on bar-style service, and visitors with questions about specific offerings, machine availability, or group access should reach the venue directly using the phone number or website listed above.
Des Moines visitors interested in exploring more gaming spots can browse the broader arcade finder directory or open the interactive arcade map to compare locations across the city and state. Several other barcades and pubcades sit within the same downtown grid, including Monsterama Pubcade, Up-Down DSM, and Clawz Entertainment, giving gamers plenty of options for a multi-venue crawl. Venue owners who manage this listing can update hours, games, and event information through the claim-your-listing page.