As I gushed two weeks ago, the U District finally has a dedicated video games store in Pink Gorilla. But the real kicker is the old-school arcade in the back.

[caption id="attachment_16338" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="Pink Gorilla's arcade selection"] [/caption]

Seattle has had its share of overhyped, local-biz trends lately—cupcakes, ice cream, mayoral candidates, etc.—but who knows if any of those'll last? I'd rather put my long-term money on 25-cent doses of fun, especially with arcade games that are far less intimidating to play than the modern-day Halos and Halo knock-offs. Lucky for Seattleites, we've got enough arcades to fill a list of recommendations. (Bars that merely host Big Buck Hunter machines are not included.)

Pink Gorilla: After only a week, the U District Pink Gorilla already has a large arcade. Good start. In line with the store's hardcore bent, some of these titles are a little odd (Wizard of Lor?), but it has a few classics, and the owners have announced plans for more arcade and pinball tables in the near future. Prepare for eye strain, though, unless your eyes adapt easily to pink-and-green motifs.

Full Tilt: Seattle's newest ice cream chain may be looking to compete with Molly Moon's  for homemade taste, but the scoops aren't the centerpiece here; it's the arcade (or maybe the beer). This chain's arcade/pinball mix targets the '80s nostalgic: Star Wars, Ms. Pac-Man, Pole Position, and Donkey Kong. The two locations (White Center and Columbia City) are cool-looking, unassuming dives that are somehow family-friendly.

GameWorks: Seattle's biggest option by far. GameWorks has most any old and new arcade game you can imagine—along with skee-ball and air-hockey, unlike most every place else—but this national arcade's downtown Seattle location swells with tourists, so it's stupidly expensive. Still, it's clean, well-maintained, and nerds will love the imported games from Japan (particularly the one where you beat a 2' diameter drum with a huge mallet), while frat boys will love the Hummer-branded racing game, I guess.

Shorty's: Seattle's best-known "bar-cade" reigns for a few reasons: Location, hot dogs, location, beer, location. But most importantly, the owners at Shorty's know their pinball. Their rotating selection of over a dozen tables features rare gems and new stunners alike; if you haven't been in a while, you'll see surprises. The front room has a nice spread of arcade games—yes, even Big goddamned Buck Hunter.

Georgetown Liquor Company: At one end of the bar sit three TVs, each running an old game console (Atari, Nintendo, and Super Nintendo). Bartenders serve over a dozen beers on tap and over 100 cartridges; the latter are free to play with no time limits.

The all-vegetarian menu is solid, too. Before driving down, make sure some butt-ugly rockabilly band isn't scheduled to play, you'll never get the high score with all that racket.

This is not a complete list, and that's by design. For example, the Waterfront Arcade is a dump. But if you like its carousel, or any other nearby arcades or game-friendly bars, clue me in.