If you are a fan of video games and happen to be in Malaga, Spain, you may be tempted to check out the OXO Malaga Video Game Museum, which had its grand opening in February of 2023. However, is it worth the 15 euro admission fee? Let’s take a closer look.
First, it’s important to note that there are only discounts for large groups, kids (age 5-13 for 12€) and families (2 kids, 2 adults for 46€). Additionally, while the museum claims that the average tour lasts 2 hours, even as videogame enthusiasts we only spent about 1 hour there. Upon entering the museum, you are taken to the ground floor where you buy your ticket and watch a 5-minute video introduction in a room projected onto 4 walls and the floor. Unfortunately, this introduction felt like a gimmick and a “time killer” to us. It didn’t really enhance the experience or give interesting information.
The Actual “Museum Part” of the Malaga Video Game Museum
The first floor (1/3) is where the museum shines. This is the only part of the museum that feels like a proper museum, with historic consoles from the 60s to the 90s. While some of them are broken, a most are playable. There are also a limited number of arcade cabinets, including classics like Asteroids, as well as Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. If you’re a fan of classic consoles and arcade games, this is the place to be. On the first floor, you will (or should try to) spend the majority of your time, since it gets considerably less interesting as you go up.
Videogame “Legends?” and the future of gaming?
The second floor (2/3) is dedicated to “Video game legends” but was basically an expo of 3 games – God of War, Call of Duty, and Animal Crossing. This was a huge letdown. While I have played video games for most of my life, I actually never played any of those series besides a couple of games of Call of Duty at a friend’s house. My friend and I went through this floor/part in 5-10 minutes.
The third floor is more about the future of video games, but it was another big letdown. Besides a 4-way pong table, it was just some basic gimmicks. A sphere shaped screen to play Pac Man, and an oversized Nintendo controller that doesn’t work to play classic Super Mario. There is a rollercoaster VR experience in a “moving sled,” but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen similar VR experiences since the 90s, and now it just takes up less space. The VR experience is one person at a time, and with little to keep you entertained while waiting, we didn’t even bother trying the VR because it really didn’t seem interesting or worth it. Additionally, the lack of variety in VR experiences was disappointing, as it did not showcase the modern potential of the technology.
Free germs or germ free?
Even though we’re “not in a pandemic anymore,” they should have had hand sanitizer more available since you are touching the same controllers that probably 100 people have touched before you, and you could feel the “grease” of people’s sweaty hands on most controllers. Some hand sanitization stations with signs or a strong suggestion from staff to wash or sanitize hands upon entering the museum – and between floors – would’ve been greatly appreciated.
Overall experience from the Malaga Video Game Museum
Overall, the museum misses the mark on several things. There was only one PC game properly represented (Doom), and there is nothing noticeable about the history of online gaming. This is a huge gap, as online and PC gaming are critical parts of video game history. The second floor could have been better utilized with games like Quake, Counter-Strike, and World of Warcraft to show the evolution of online gaming. These titles were missing from the museum’s history books and have no reason to be left out.
In addition to the lack of PC gaming history, the museum also missed the opportunity to showcase some of the most influential games of recent years. For example, there was no significant mention of Grand Theft Auto, one of the most popular and controversial game series of all time. There was also no significant mention of Minecraft (which is actually 12 years old already), which is one of the best-selling games of all time and has had a significant impact on the gaming industry. Not including these titles is a missed opportunity to educate visitors on the evolution of gaming and its impact on society.
There were some redeeming qualities.. The displays on the first floor, with the vintage gaming consoles, were well done and provided an interesting glimpse into the history of gaming. It was fascinating to see how much technology has advanced over the years, and to play some of the classic games that were popular in their day.
In my opinion, the museum is a missed opportunity to create something like a Barcade. It could have been a place where visitors could enjoy classic arcade games and some basic consoles while also having a “museum floor” or show for a lower price. This could have been a novelty place for tourists to visit, but it also could have given locals a reason to come back repeatedly.
Conclusion
I understand it’s difficult to satisfy every type of gamer and include every franchise that one hope’s for – but that’s the customer’s expectations that you have to deal with a concept like this. This experience only offers a very narrow and shallow view into the history of gaming from a limited perspective. I also felt that PlayStation was a bit over represented, with Nintendo coming in second. Xbox and PC games are barely mentioned. It’s difficult to recommend this museum to anyone, and the price of admission is a major factor. For a family of four, the cost is 46 euros, which is still 12 euro per person. It may be worth it to wait until the museum offers more discounts. For 5-10 euros, it may be worth the visit, but not for 15 euros. People looking for a similar experience but with more immersion and entertainment may want to try to visit a VR experience center instead, such as VRFun Malaga.