Woodbridge is getting a new spot to unplug. GameOn bar+arcade, a 90s-inspired bar and arcade with locations across Annapolis, Baltimore, Columbia, and Washington, D.C., is opening its first Virginia location at Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center, across from Dok Khao and the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.
The roughly 4,258-square-foot space is expected to open sometime in the fourth quarter of this year, according to co-owner Casey Linthicum, who runs GameOn with her husband, Eli.
Pinball machines line the wall at an existing GameOn location. Photo: Roy Cox / GameOn bar+arcade
“GameOn started with a simple idea: we wanted to create a place where people could put their phones down, grab a drink, play some games, and genuinely have fun together,” Casey told the Gazette.
The couple opened their first location in Annapolis in 2022, chasing a mix of nostalgia for the arcade games they grew up with and a belief that nightlife should be built around shared experience rather than just sitting at a bar. The concept caught on quickly — a Baltimore location followed just two months later, and within its first year, GameOn was ranked among the Top 21 Best Arcades in the United States.
From there, the brand expanded into Columbia and Washington, D.C. Virginia, Casey said, felt like the natural next step.
“We have locations in Maryland and DC, so Virginia seemed like the next natural step for us,” she said. “We fell in love with the community in Woodbridge and are excited to grow our brand there.”
Friends play a round of arcade basketball. Photo: Roy Cox / GameOn bar+arcade
GameOn blends classic and modern arcade games with a full bar and food menu, aiming for a vibrant, nostalgic atmosphere. The Woodbridge location will be family-friendly during the day, with minors welcome as long as they're accompanied by an adult. Starting at 9 p.m., the space shifts to a 21-and-up crowd.
Guests enjoy drinks and games at an existing GameOn location. Photo: Roy Cox / GameOn bar+arcade
Further details on the Woodbridge location's game lineup, food and drink offerings, and hours of operation are expected closer to opening. The Gazette will share an update as those details, along with a firm opening date, are confirmed.
GameOn joins a wave of new businesses arriving at Stonebridge this year as the shopping center continues to fill out.
Learn more about GameOn bar+arcade at gameonbararcade.com.