NickelWorld

Illinois Arcade Offers Nostalgic Games & Prizes for Just 5-Cents a Play

By Zachary Carella

Have you ever longed to play a classic redemption game, whether it’s a quick-coin, rolldown or ball-toss, but couldn’t find it in any traditional arcade? Well, look no further because NickelWorld in Rockford, Illinois, has got you covered! They still operate scores of nostalgic games with classic titles like Wacky Gator, Slam A Winner and Big Haul, as well as some more obscure games like Simple Simon, Clown Rolldown and their more recent acquisition, Steer Crazy ll.

I first played there in 2013 and in 2019, about the time I really started getting into the history of redemption games, I became a regular customer. Even though it takes an hour for me to drive there from the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, it’s still worth the trip. NickelWorld gives players a rare and wonderful opportunity to play older games and at only a nickel or two a play!

Before it was even called NickelWorld, the location started out as a traditional mall arcade decades ago (originally owned by United Artist Theaters). Current owner Kim Hachmeister moved the arcade to a standalone location some 28 years ago and switched it to nickel-a-play operation. “We saw what Namco was doing with their Nickel City in San Diego and decided that was something we definitely wanted to do,” she said.

“It’s affordable fun,” Hachmeister explained, noting that a family of four can sometimes play for an hour and a half on just $20. “It amuses me that a lot of people wouldn’t even bend over to pick up a nickel if they saw one, but in here they’re like gold.”

Most of the games at NickelWorld are quick-coin games. Wheel Deal, Big Haul and Claim Jumper are some of the most profitable. Oh, and let’s not forget Cut the Cheese! “Basically, everything is a skill game here,” Kim said. “You have to be able to time your nickel when you put it in and people really enjoy that.”

As for décor, NickelWorld goes all-in on the nostalgic ’90s arcade vibe, including a free-play wall of classics like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong. “People’s love of nostalgia is what keeps us going,” Hachmeister remarked.

As joyful as the location is, she says it’s not the easy business a lot of people think it is (and let’s not forget how much a box of nickels weighs…it’s 22 pounds, by the way). Tickets are expensive, too. “There are a lot of dynamics,” she said. “People’s expectations are super high when they walk in and only spend $10 on their family of four. It’s hard to convince people what a deal it really is. People just don’t understand that a nickel is five times less than a quarter and that they’re not going to get as many tickets for a nickel as they would if it was a quarter per play.”

Still, she wants to keep the nickel concept alive as long as possible, even though it could be hard to continue forever. “I might have to change it to ‘QuarterWorld’ someday, but I still won’t want to switch to a card system. I don’t think players feel it’s as fun as using coins. At least that’s what my regulars tell me. They love the physical coinage and the physical tickets they win, so I’m going to keep it the same as long as I can,” Hachmeister said.

As for the future, Kim remains excited. “We have new generations coming up that don’t know anything about Frogger or Moon Patrol. And they can discover them here because they’re not going to find them in a traditional arcade. That’s nostalgic fun!”

NickelWorld is one of the best and most nostalgically decorated arcades that I’ve ever played in. So, if you’re looking for an arcade that not only operates retro games, but also uses nickels and gives out tickets, I highly recommend you check out their unique gaming experience. Trust me, as you enjoy and immerse yourself in the games they have to offer, you’ll find yourself tripping down an ’90s arcade memory lane!

Visit the arcade online at www.nickelworld.com.

Zachary Carella is a 20-year-old redemption game fan with autism who lives in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg. Since he was young, arcade redemption games have sparked something special inside him, igniting a passion and quest for knowledge that has only grown with time. (He enjoys the games so much, he has a garage full of them at home.) Zachary has become a well-known figure among the industry’s redemption game makers, having visited many of them to see how their games are made. And using his gift with numbers and an almost-photographic memory, he checks in with RePlay’s Ingrid Milkes each month as she’s preparing the Players’ Choice chart to help proofread it.