Laura Molloy discusses Dublin’s gaming hot spots for new students to explore, and the different gaming activities Dublin has to offer.
As a new academic year approaches, many students are entering Dublin for the first time. Many will be eager to explore the city, try out hobbies, and of course make friends.
Gaming is a hobby that many students have, but finding social spaces for it can be somewhat challenging. A lot of gamers now circulate in digital spaces, creating little opportunity for in-person meetups and socialisation.
Dublin is a city with several opportunities for gamers to both gather and to explore the art of gaming in its many forms. Here is the ultimate gamer’s guide to Dublin.
Board and Brewed
Located in Dún Laoghaire, Board and Brewed is a boardgame cafe. The cafe serves breakfast, light bites, hot drinks, sandwiches, smoothies, and (most importantly) pizza to enjoy over some gaming with friends. Groups can book a table for food and choose their entertainment at the cafe's extensive library. Everything from traditional board games to party games are available so there will definitely be something to suit everyone in your group.
Due to popularity, advanced booking is recommended. Entry per person costs €5 per hour, but is capped at €15 making it a more affordable experience for students. The cafe also has its own games shop where a variety of games can be purchased. In other words, if you grow to really enjoy the cafe experience, you can even bring the fun home with you!
Bray Bowl
Okay so this one isn’t technically in Dublin, but with the continuous closure of arcades and bowling alleys such as Token Bar and the Leisureplex Centre in Stilorgan, it has become one of the most convenient options for UCD students.
At Bray Bowl, you can enjoy a range of activities including bowling, Laser Tag, arcade games, pool, snooker, and virtual reality. Their activities are more student friendly compared to other activities in Dublin with the minimum price for bowling (one game) costing €9. The minimum price for laser tag is €7.50, and for pool and snooker you’ll spend €12-14 depending on your preferences.
The alley is located right next to Bray Seafront, giving students plenty of options for food and nightlife after their activities. Although, Bray Bowl also offers BYOB nights every Friday and Saturday from 9pm-12pm. If you prefer to game slightly tipsy, then this might be the choice for you.
Underworld Gaming
Underworld Gaming is a games store that is located at Belgard Square in Tallaght. They open from 12-10pm on weekdays and 10am-6pm on weekends. The store sells all types of games including board games, tabletop games, war games, and trading card games. They also sell a selection of hobby supplies.
Underworld Gaming is much more than a games store. It is a venue designed for the growing gaming community in Dublin. Regular gaming events are held covering different themes such as Magic the Gathering, Yu-gi-oh, Warhammer, Dungeons and Dragons, and other trading card games. With such a variety of events, you are guaranteed to meet other gamers with similar interests. Events usually reach full capacity so make sure to arrive early or to book in advance if possible. If you’re looking for your new gaming bff this might be the best fit for you!
Lane7 Dundrum
At the beginning of the year, Lane7 opened its doors in Dundrum. While it offers similar activities to Bray Bowl, it is less of a traditional arcade and instead is considered to be a boutique bowling alley and arcade bar.
Here you can enjoy Beer Pong, Back Shuffle, Shuffleboard, Darts, Arcades, Pool, Boutique Bowling, and much more! Bowling starts at €10.50 and the website claims other games and activities are budget-friendly but no exact pricing is given.
If you’re looking to blend some nightlife and gaming into one, Lane7 could be a great option to add to your Freshers week list. That said the premise is only open until 11:30pm Monday-Thursday so an afters might be needed.
Game Soc UCD
Look no further than your own campus, Game Soc is one of UCD’s many thriving societies. UCD Games Society hosts weekly events covering all areas of gaming. Weekly events include card games, board games, video games, war games, coffee mornings and many more collaborations as well as their annual convention Pelicon, which is held in the second semester.
If you’re looking to meet new people and make some friends in the gaming community, this is definitely the place to be. Simply sign up during Freshers Week or DM the society on Instagram at @ucdgamesociety. Who knows you might even find some friends to try out the other places above with.
And last but not least, an honourable mention goes out to UCD’s Clubhouse which runs games nights, bingo evenings, and is often the host of events run by UCD Darts!
No matter what area of gaming you’re into, there’s definitely something for you in Dublin to try. Even if you’re not a frequent gamer, each of these options make a great choice of activity to try with your friends.