Round1 Bowling & Arcade – Auburn Hills is a sprawling entertainment complex tucked inside the Great Lakes Crossing mall in the Auburn Hills area of Troy, Michigan. The venue blends a large-format video arcade with a full bowling alley, billiards tables, karaoke rooms, a bar, and food service under one roof, making it one of the more comprehensive entertainment destinations in the region. It draws a steady mix of families, couples on date nights, anime enthusiasts chasing Japanese prize collaborations, and dedicated rhythm-game fans who travel specifically for the import lineup.
For visitors planning a wider night out in the area, the RetroArcade.com arcade finder and the interactive arcade map make it easy to compare Round1 with other nearby options, including Detroit Klaws, HIGH SCORE Ice Cream & Arcade, Escape Entertainment Center, and Mr.Zeros Arcade.
At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Address | Auburn Hills, MI |
| Phone | +1 248-464-6492 |
| Hours | 10 AM – 2 AM, seven days a week |
| Rating | 4.1 out of 5 from 1,700 Google reviews |
| Best For | Rhythm-game fans, families, group outings, date nights |
What Players Say
Round1 Auburn Hills has earned a reputation as one of Michigan’s most ambitious entertainment complexes, anchored by a rhythm-game selection that several reviewers describe as the largest in the state. Visitors consistently highlight the breadth of the floor — arcade games, pinball, bowling, billiards, karaoke rooms, a bar, and food — and praise the well-maintained, lively atmosphere. The most frequently voiced caveats center on pricing for families, weekend lines at the bar, and frustration with claw-machine payouts.
The venue’s rhythm-game lineup is its signature feature. One visitor called it an “amazing game place” combining “arcade games, pinball, bowling, food, billiards, private rooms and a bar” (Google review). A second regular was even more emphatic about the rhythm side, writing that the selection is “incredible… absolutely unbeatable short of traveling directly to Japan” (Google review). The general atmosphere also draws positive marks: “The place is clean and I saw multiple workers cleaning throughout the night” (Google review). Bowlers and billiards players add their own endorsement, with one guest reporting that “the bowling is so much fun” and that “the food is amazing and the atmosphere is very welcoming” (Google review).
The recurring complaints are worth weighing before a visit. Claw machines are the most-cited source of frustration. One reviewer summed up the feeling: “the claw machines are absolutely scams. I put $50 on my card and used up all of my points trying to win one stuffed animal” (Google review). Pricing overall is the second-most-discussed concern; a parent observed that it “is very pricey for a family to play here” (Google review). Food and drink service draws mixed reviews, including a complaint that “the line to get drinks took about 35 minutes and there was one lady making the drinks with absolutely zero urgency” (Google review). Visitors also flag entry rules: one group was turned away because a member was 14 without a 25-or-older chaperone (Google review). Several reviewers offer a workaround for the weekend crowds and pricing: “Best time to go is weekdays during the afternoon because it does get more expensive after 4:00 and on weekends” (Google review).
Games & Machines
As a video arcade, Round1 Auburn Hills features arcade games, pinball machines, rhythm-game cabinets, and prize-focused claw machines. The rhythm-game section is the venue’s signature draw and is described by reviewers as the most extensive rhythm-game lineup in Michigan, with titles that are difficult to find at most US arcades. Beyond the game floor, the complex offers bowling lanes, billiards tables, karaoke rooms, and rotating Japanese prize collaborations. Because Round1 refreshes its lineup regularly, specific titles and machine counts shift over time.
Visiting
Round1 sits inside the Great Lakes Crossing mall in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and is reachable by phone at +1 248-464-6492. Hours are unusually player-friendly: doors open at 10 AM and stay open until 2 AM, every day of the week. The on-site bar serves drinks alongside a kitchen that handles full meals, though reviewers consistently recommend budgeting extra time on weekends when drink lines in particular can stretch past half an hour.
For group outings, visitors should be aware of the venue’s age policy: minors are welcome, but guests under a certain age must be accompanied by an adult, and reviewers note the cutoff is enforced strictly at the door — turning up with a minor and no qualifying adult is a common reason for refusal. Weekday afternoons are widely cited as the calmest and most affordable window, with prices climbing after 4 PM and on weekends.
To see how Round1 fits into the broader Michigan retro scene, browse the arcade finder or plot it on the interactive arcade map alongside Detroit Klaws, HIGH SCORE Ice Cream & Arcade, Escape Entertainment Center, and Mr.Zeros Arcade. Arcade owners and operators who want to update the listing for Round1 Bowling & Arcade – Auburn Hills can use the claim-your-listing tool on RetroArcade.com.