Computerspielemuseum
Photo: Own work, Modell-Welten — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Discover over 300 exhibits tracing the history of digital gaming, from early consoles to modern VR, at Berlin’s Computerspielemuseum.
Planning your visit
Berlin's Computerspielemuseum was the first permanent museum of video games anywhere, opening in 1997, and it treats games as cultural artefacts rather than as toys or as a technology exhibit.
Over 300 exhibits trace the medium from Nimrod and Tennis for Two through the arcade era, home consoles, home computers, online and mobile gaming to virtual reality — with a substantial number playable, which is essential to the argument, since a game not played is only an object.
The German dimension is present: East German computing, the Poly-Play arcade machine that was the GDR's only coin-op, and the country's restrictive rules on violent content.
The PainStation, an art piece that inflicts heat, electric shock and lashing on losing players, is the museum's most notorious exhibit.
Bookable options are entry tickets. Current availability is listed below.
Before you book
Where is Computerspielemuseum?
Computerspielemuseum is in Berlin, Germany. The map on this page marks its exact location.
Do I need to book Computerspielemuseum in advance?
Tickets can be bought on the door at quiet times, but booking ahead fixes the date and avoids the queue at busy ones. Live availability is shown on this page.
