Review: Game On at the National Museum of Scotland

At Game On at the National Museum of Scotland, you’ll find a treasure trove of over 100 playable games. And if you’re a gaming enthusiast like me, it’s not just about the games but also about the memories they evoke-at least. I tallied up at least 100 nostalgic, happy memories.

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Girdy checked out #GsmrOn at the National Museum of Scotland and loved every dark room, beepy music and blinking light of it.

♬ original sound – Edinburgh Reviews

Game On runs until November 3rd and is packed with game consoles, arcade machines, and history. It was at NMS in 2002, but the exhibition, like computer games, evolved during that time.

It was likely Edinburgh Reviews’ sister site Geek Native that got us the invite for an early look at Game On, and we’ll do a sister review there shortly, but let’s start with Edinburgh Reviews. Why? Well, if you’re planning for the weekend, the summer holidays, or happen to be in the centre of town, this review will help you decide whether to visit the Museum. Geek Native readers will come from hundreds of miles for Game On.

What to expect at Game On

Enter via any of the usual ways for the Museum, head to the main hall, up the stairs and to the exhibition space. For parents with kids, that’s a relatively safe run, without dinosaurs or too many distractions en route, except the Game On gift shop. That’s one excellent gift shop, by the way, and looks perfect for birthdays.

Game On is behind doors of its own as it requires tickets, whereas the rest of the Museum is a pay-what-you-want.

I suspect there will be queues, and when you get through the door, there’s nothing immediately to grab your attention. In fact, it looks a little sparse, with just some ancient arcade cabinets and computers that look older than ancient Cylons. Fear not, that does not last. Just edge a little further inside, and you’ll find yourself in a three-part hall lined with screens and dozens of controllers to tempt you.

The whole point of Game On is that you can play the games. By and large, these are computer games that belong in a Museum, but there are modern games there, too. I was delighted to see Untitled Goose Game.

Entertainment and Education

I think Game On is a safe bet for families, perfect for kids old enough to be trusted with the console controllers and young enough to be dazzled by the quirkiness.

Then, skip some years; when the little ones are old enough to be interested in gaming history, I think Game On comes to life again.

As for any adult gamer, geeks like me, Game On is rich in both entertainment and education. I knew most, if not all of this, but it was still incredible to see the blinking cursor of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy game waiting to kill me or a reminder of just how old the wireframe graphics of the spacecraft on Elite are.

Whereas I got great joy from reading the little text prompts and reminders beside the games, you don’t need to. I bet young teens today will be (whether they show it or not) briefly fascinated by just how far computer games have come on.

Things to Do Near Game On and NMS

Helpfully, the National Museum of Scotland is near Edinburgh Waverley so you can catch the train to the city just for Game On.

Foodwise, you’re spoilt for choice with delights like Mimi’s and Tasty Buns nearby, or the St James Quarter for healthier options.

Another quirky idea, especially if you’ve kids to settle down, is to go from Game On to the walking distance of The Edinburgh Dungeon and give them a day to remember.

Overall

I’m a gaming geek. There was never any doubt in my mind that I’d love Game On, and it was just a matter of how much I’d like it.

I loved it — but, importantly, I did not have crowds to battle through. I suspect I’d be frustrated if there were long queues in front of games that I felt the gods of nostalgia demanded I had to play. Mind you, that also meant I didn’t get an arcade buzz from the Game On room, and that would have been nice too.

Game On is free to National Museum Scotland members. The price varies for everyone, with children under five free and kids up to 15 costing £8 on weekends. It’s most expensive for adults (under 65) on the weekend. It’s always cheaper to book in advance.

The show runs from the 29th of June to the 3rd of November.

Game On is a glorious look at geeky history, from Pac-Man to some recent(ish) viral games. Parents will be delighted the exhibit is here this summer.