Up-Down DSM brings a two-story retro barcade experience to the heart of Des Moines’ East Village, packing the 500 E Locust St address with classic arcade cabinets, pinball machines, and skeeball lanes under a neon-lit, nostalgia-soaked atmosphere. The venue leans fully into its barcade identity, pairing a deep roster of vintage and modern games with a craft beer bar and a pizza-by-the-slice kitchen, all running on a wallet-friendly quarter-per-token system.
Des Moines’ arcade scene has been quietly growing, and Up-Down DSM sits near the center of it. Within a short stretch of the same East Village neighborhood and surrounding downtown, visitors can compare the experience against several other venues listed in the arcade finder directory, including Monsterama Pubcade, Clawz Entertainment, Ricochet, and Gameday, with larger-format options like Dave & Buster’s Des Moines a short drive away for groups wanting a different kind of arcade.
For travelers mapping out a night of arcades across the city, Up-Down shows up on the broader retro arcade map alongside its same-city peers, making it a natural anchor stop on an East Village barcade crawl.
At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Address | 500 E Locust St, Des Moines, Iowa |
| Phone | +1 515-243-4322 |
| Hours | Mon–Fri 5PM–2AM; Sat–Sun 2PM–2AM |
| Rating | 4.6 out of 5 from 1,900 Google reviews |
| Best For | Retro barcade nights, classic arcade and pinball, craft beer and pizza by the slice |
What Players Say
Up-Down DSM earns strong marks for a massive selection of classic arcade games, pinball, and skeeball at quarter-per-token pricing, alongside a solid craft beer list and crowd-pleasing pizza by the slice. The atmosphere draws consistent raves, with most visitors finding it an easy place to lose track of a few hours. The most common caveat is inconsistent machine maintenance — a notable share of reviewers found multiple games broken or glitchy — and experiences with staff can vary, so an off-peak night tends to deliver the best overall visit.
The standout themes across 1,900 Google reviews reinforce those impressions. Game Selection & Variety pulls the most positive attention, with one visitor calling out the “extensive collection of 80’s and 90’s games” — Google review. Game Pricing & Token Value also trends positive, anchored by the remark that “$5 kept me busy for almost two hours!” — Google review. Atmosphere & Vibe earns consistent praise, with visitors describing “retro vibes for days and not enough good things can be said” — Google review, while Drinks & Bar Selection draws notes like “great selection of local and cold beers” — Google review. Food (Pizza) lands mostly positive, summed up by a reviewer claiming “THE BEST PIZZA. each choice is so amazing” — Google review.
The picture isn’t uniformly bright. Machine Condition & Maintenance comes in mixed — the lead caveat across the dataset — with one reviewer warning of “more and more games non-functioning or have extreme glitches in them due to lack of care and maintenance” — Google review. Service & Staff is similarly mixed, framed as “Staff is hit and miss based upon politeness and willingness to help” — Google review. Crowds & Space on Busy Nights and Ventilation & Cleanliness trend negative, with complaints that the room is “a bit cramped for my liking, not much space to move around on a busy night” — Google review, and that the floor is “sticky though, and not the best ventilation” — Google review. On the upside, Kid-Friendliness & Age Policy is firmly positive, with one reviewer cheering “Adults only, yes please” — Google review, signaling an adults-only house.
Games & Machines
Up-Down DSM builds its lineup around the staples of a classic American barcade. The floor emphasizes vintage and modern arcade cabinets, a strong pinball collection, and skeeball lanes, all fronted by the venue’s signature quarter-per-token pricing model. Visitors describe an “extensive collection of 80’s and 90’s games” — Google review, and the gallery is wide enough that most guests can settle in and rotate between favorites without running out of new options.
The trade-off is uptime. A recurring theme in the reviews is that not every machine is operational on any given night, with guests reporting “more and more games non-functioning or have extreme glitches in them due to lack of care and maintenance” — Google review. Visiting early in the week, when crowds are lighter, tends to put visitors in front of more working cabinets at once.
Visiting
Up-Down DSM is located at 500 E Locust St in Des Moines’ East Village, an easy walk from downtown and the heart of the city’s bar and restaurant scene. The venue operates on a seven-day schedule, opening at 5PM on weekdays and 2PM on weekends, with closing at 2AM every night — a consistent late-night option for post-dinner arcade sessions. Questions about hours or private events can be directed to the venue at +1 515-243-4322.
Up-Down runs as an adults-only barcade, with reviews celebrating the 21-and-over atmosphere. The kitchen turns out pizza by the slice, and the bar leans into a craft beer selection heavy on local pours, giving the venue a full food-and-drink program alongside the games. For visitors planning a broader night out, several other arcades sit within a short distance — including Monsterama Pubcade, Clawz Entertainment, Ricochet, and Gameday, with Dave & Buster’s Des Moines a familiar alternative further from East Village — all searchable through the arcade finder directory or the interactive retro arcade map. Venue owners looking to update the listing’s hours, photos, or event calendar can claim the page through the directory.