Remember the days of rushing home from school and plonking yourself in front of the telly to lose yourself in the pixelated world of video games? Well, you’ll soon be having flashbacks at Just Five More Minutes, a retro gaming event which will take you on a journey back through the decades with over 66,000 games and every major console ever released. Coming to the Big Smoke on July 23, the event will unfold in the original home of Dragon’s Den by London Bridge. Beat the crowds and book your tickets now.
Just the sound of a console starting up can conjure flashbacks to your golden age of gameplay: the whooshing crescendo of the Xbox 360, the sparkling ping of the Gameboy Advance or the old-school vocal chorus of ‘Segaaa’. This gaming extravaganza is sure to inspire a flood of fond memories, with all the arcade classics, sandbox titles, survival adventures and virtual reality experiences your giddy game-loving self can dream of.
Over the course of the event you’ll be sure to get your fill of retro game nostalgia. One minute you could be showing off your skills battling it out on the big stage, the next you could be tossing mushrooms at rival racers on Mario Kart. There’s dedicated zones for each console – think Atari, Xbox, Playstation, Sega – and even an opportunity to slip on a VR headset to play Beat Saber (where you’ll feel like a groovy jedi while onlookers think you’re wildly fending off a wasp…apparently).
Not only can you revisit your old favourites but you’ll get the chance to play those games you always wanted to get your hands on. You can even make new gaming memories with your kids, introducing them to classic characters such as Mario, Pikachu, Sonic and Yoshi – who have stepped out of the screen especially for meet and greets – at the family fun sessions.
Alternatively, if you would prefer a child-free chance to unleash your competitive side then you can join the extended evening sessions (over 18’s only): two hours of gameplay complete with bottomless prosecco, unlimited beer and cinema-style snacks. Plus, there’s VIP tickets for fast track admission and guaranteed access to watch the action kick off at the on-stage battles. When the time comes for you to leave, you’ll no doubt be channelling your inner child; begging for Just Five More Minutes.