Games bring out the funniest and most unfiltered versions of the people in our lives. They can compel the most sincere high fives when a team makes clues work in a game of Codenames, and they can compel a family intervention when someone takes the Harry Potter version of Scene It? a little too seriously.
The games we play can show the entire human condition, and if you’re willing to roll the dice on what that can mean, here are a few suggestions for where to play them in the Lehigh Valley.
Mystery Box Games lets visitors play board games, card games, pinball machines and puzzles at 1458 Northampton St. in Easton.
The cafe also hosts events to play such games as Magic: The Gathering and a menu including hot dogs, chicken tenders, esquite, milkshakes, smoothies and Mexican hot chocolate.
Twisted Tees offers 18 holes of indoor miniature golf across 10,000 square feet, golf simulators, an arcade and games like darts, pool, chess, cornhole and Jenga at Wind Creek Bethlehem, where the family-friendly Cyber Quest arcade also operates.
Food options at Twisted Tees include nachos, wings, fried mozzarella, cheesesteak egg rolls, flatbreads and sandwiches.
Planet Retro Video Games & Retroware Arcade hosts an arcade at 109 W. Broad St. in Quakertown.
The store offers console repairs and trades video games, consoles and Pokémon cards.
Board to Death Games offers games and events such as for Dungeons and Dragons and Blood on the Clocktower at 328 Main St. in Emmaus.
Back to the Arcade operates at South Mall in Salisbury Township and the Palmer Park Mall in Palmer Township.
The Parlour Tabletop and Tome offers a library of games at 241 W. Broad St. in Quakertown.
The menu includes breakfast sandwiches, paninis, quesadillas, wraps, soups, rice treats and brownies.
Steel City Bowl & Brews offers 24 bowling lanes at 1770 Stefko Blvd. in Bethlehem.
Monster Mini Golf lets players enjoy glow-in-the-dark miniature golf as well as bowling and an arcade at the Dorneyville Shopping Center at 3227 Hamilton Blvd. in South Whitehall Township.
The Game Gallery offers arcade machines at 60 Centre Square in Easton.
B Social hosts an arcade, axe throwing and bowling lanes at 3717 Route 378 in Lower Saucon Township.
The menu includes pizza, pasta, wings, mozzarella sticks, burgers, wraps, tater tots and onion rings.
Lehigh Valley Grand Prix lets visitors compete in indoor go-kart racing and throw axes at 649 S. 10th St. in Allentown.
It also offers pizza, burgers, wings, pretzel bites and chicken tenders.
The bookstore Sorcery and Scripts lets customers try games and participate in game nights at 74 W. Board St., Suite 110, in Bethlehem.