Get your game face on this summer at the Museum of Science and Industry’s first ever gaming event, featuring some of the most popular video games of the past 30 years. Running from Saturday 25 July to Sunday 9 August, PLAY it! Manchester – in partnership with leading gaming specialists Replay Events – is a hands-on celebration and immersive gaming experience for fun-loving visitors young and old alike.

From Pong and Pacman to Minecraft and Halo there is a game to suit beginners and experts, dads and daughters, multiplayers, retro fans and everybody else in between. Over 120 games and consoles are available to play during each 90 minute pre-bookable gaming session, which run at set times throughout this family friendly 16 day event.

Split into 6 different zones, featuring the most loved and popular games linked by theme, content and brand – from Mincecraft, Atari and Lego to Wii, Megadrive and Nintendo, PLAY it! Manchester offers a unique opportunity to experience the very best in contemporary and retro gaming culture within the museum’s historic Great Western Warehouse, part of the oldest surviving passenger railways station in the world.

PLAY it! Manchester also plays tribute to Ocean Software, one of the most recognisable names in gaming. Established in Manchester in the 1980s, this globally renowned software development company are responsible for some of the world’s most iconic games produced for the Sinclair Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amiga & ST, SNES and Mega Drive. A selection of these family favourites will be available to play throughout the event.

Visitors are also invited to experience life in the 1980s computer room, and take part in fun challenges, from freestyle BASIC programming to working classic arcade games and using the original educational computer – the BBC Micro. Never before has a career in STEM, science technology, engineering and maths, promised so much fun.

Whether you’re a family dropping in for a 90 minute session, a seasoned gamer making the most of PLAY it! Manchester’s full-day pass, or a night owl visiting the twice weekly adult-only evening sessions, there are plenty of opportunities to test your skills, show off to your kids or play something new for the first time. So come along and PLAY it!

PLAY it! Manchester runs from Saturday 25 July to Sunday 9 August at the Museum of Science and Industry as part of the museum’s summer programme.

PLAY it! Manchester is recommended for ages 6 +

Tickets are available to book now via www.mosi.org.uk/playit.

Subject to availability tickets may also be available to buy at the museum on the day.

---

Listings:

25 July – 9 August
Daily sessions, 10.15am–11.45am, 12pm–1.30pm, 1.45pm–3.15pm, 3.30pm–5pm

30 & 31 July, 6 & 7 August
Special adult-only evening session, 7pm–9pm

Tickets and prices

Full day pass £10
Entry to all timed sessions on a specific day, for one adult or child. Excludes evening sessions.

Family session £12
Entry to a specific timed session during a specific day, for up to 4 people.
Up to 2 adults with children aged 16 or under.

Individual session £4
Entry to a specific timed session during a specific day, for one adult or child.
Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Individual evening session £5
Entry to a specific evening session, for adults aged 18 or over.

Refreshments are also available to purchase on site during each session.