Is the OXO Video Game Museum in Madrid worth it?
The OXO Museo del Videojuego sits in central Madrid, a short walk from Plaza Mayor and the Puerta del Sol. It is Europe's first museum dedicated to video games, tracing the medium from 1950s prototypes through decades of consoles to arcade cabinets you can still play. This guide covers what the $19 ticket gets you, how a visit unfolds, and whether it earns a place on a Madrid museums itinerary built mostly around the Prado and the Reina Sofía.
About This Experience
Central Madrid, near Plaza Mayor and the Puerta del Sol
Metro Sol or Opera, in the historic centre a short walk from Plaza Mayor
Daily, roughly 10:00 to 21:00; check current times when booking
$19 online, around 16 euros at the door
Europe's first museum dedicated to video games, tracing the medium from 1950s prototypes to arcade cabinets you can still play
Playable arcade cabinets, a timeline of consoles and home computers, and a nod to the 1952 OXO the museum is named for
Check Live Availability & Prices
Slots and the exact rate can shift by day, so check the widget below for the current $19 price and what's open today.
Which OXO Video Game Museum Ticket to Pick
One ticket, and one of the better surprises in the centre. The $19 admission covers the whole museum, the console timeline and the playable arcade cabinets, which are switched on and meant to be used.
It suits families with teenagers, anyone after a break from the old masters, and gamers who want to see where the medium began, since this is Europe's first museum of its kind and its best-rated newcomer.
What it does not pretend to be is a deep art or history museum; it is a fun, hands-on hour rather than a solemn one. For a lighter turn among the best museums in Madrid, the homepage sets it beside the city's other quirky picks.
Book the OXO Video Game Museum
One ticket covers the whole museum, from the console timeline to the arcade cabinets switched on for play.
from $19 OXO Video Game Museum Admission
- Playable arcade machines
- Europe's first of its kind
- Near Plaza Mayor
What You'll See
The appeal here is that everything is switched on. Cabinets tracing the arcade era sit next to a timeline of consoles and home computers running from the 1970s onward, and reconstructions of the earliest playable games include a nod to the 1952 OXO the museum takes its name from.
Beyond the machines there is rare hardware and memorabilia spread across the history of gaming, enough to hold a dedicated player for a while without turning into a lecture. The location helps too, a few minutes from Plaza Mayor, so it slots into a day built around the old town rather than requiring a special trip.
How a Visit Flows
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On arrival
Buy or scan your ticket
The $19 ticket gets you straight in near Plaza Mayor; there is rarely a queue.
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First 15 minutes
Start with the timeline
Walk the console and home-computer timeline from the 1970s onward before the cabinets pull you away.
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Next 20 minutes
Play the cabinets
The arcade machines are switched on and meant to be used, from early cabinets to later classics.
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Around 40 minutes in
Find the 1952 nod
Look for the reconstruction referencing OXO, the 1952 game the museum is named for.
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Last stretch
Browse the rare hardware
Finish with the cases of rare hardware and memorabilia most visitors rush past.
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On the way out
Step back into Plaza Mayor
The museum sits close enough to the square that the rest of the afternoon can go straight back to sightseeing.
Know Before You Go
Not suitable for
- Visitors who want a deep art or history museum rather than hands-on play
- Anyone with only an hour left before the Prado or Reina Sofía closes
- Travelers who prefer quiet, contemplative galleries over a busy arcade room
What to bring
- Comfortable shoes, since most of the cabinets are played standing up
- A little patience for the older machines' controls
- Cash or card in case you buy at the door instead of online
- A phone for photos of the retro consoles and cabinets
Not allowed
- Food or drink inside the exhibition rooms
- Rough handling of the playable cabinets
- Skipping ahead of a booked time slot without checking at the desk
Insider Tips
A few things make the visit smoother.
- Go on a weekday morning if you want the cabinets to yourself
- Budget under an hour, this is a quick stop rather than a half-day museum
- Pair it with Plaza Mayor and a coffee, since it sits right in the historic centre
- Bring teenagers who have had enough of old paintings, this is the reset they need
- Look for the 1952 OXO reconstruction near the start of the timeline
- Check the current opening hours before you go, since the daily schedule can shift
Where You're Headed
OXO Video Game Museum Tickets FAQ
How much does the OXO Video Game Museum cost
Online admission runs $19, and the door price is around 16 euros.
What are the OXO Video Game Museum's opening hours
It opens daily, roughly from 10:00 to 21:00, though it is worth checking the current times when you book.
Does the OXO Video Game Museum close on any particular day
No, it runs daily, unlike several of Madrid's larger state museums that close one day a week.
How do you get to the OXO Video Game Museum
Take the metro to Sol or Opera; both stations are a short walk from the museum near Plaza Mayor.
What will you actually see inside
Playable arcade cabinets, a timeline of consoles and home computers from the 1970s onward, and reconstructions of early games including a nod to the 1952 OXO the museum is named for.
Should you book the OXO Video Game Museum ticket ahead of time
Booking online secures the $19 rate and a fixed slot, worth doing since the museum sits inside a busy stretch of the historic centre.
Is the OXO Video Game Museum good for teenagers
Yes, it is one of the more reliable hits with teenagers who have had enough of old masters, since the cabinets are switched on and meant to be played.
What Visitors Say
My teenage son played every cabinet twice, this was the highlight of our Madrid trip for him.
Small museum, but the timeline of consoles is genuinely well put together, and the arcade machines actually work.
A nice break from the Prado, we spent under an hour and left smiling.