Greetings, Gamemeca readers. It’s Ryunan here with your latest Arcade Tour. The blistering heat of summer has long since vanished, replaced by a sharp nip in the morning and evening air. It’s high time we settled in for the long winter ahead, but before we do, let’s embark on another pilgrimage.

Today, we’re visiting Guri, Gyeonggi Province. It’s practically nestled against the side of Seoul, and since the city isn't exactly sprawling, the action centers around the Doldari Intersection near Guri Station. I’d heard whispers of a long-standing arcade in the area, so naturally, I had to see it for myself. Let me introduce you to 'Jinju Game Land'.

Located just a brisk 7-8 minute walk from Guri Station, Jinju Game Land is tucked away in a building bustling with pubs and eateries. It’s an eclectic mix of entertainment—there’s a dance hall, a pool hall, and even an adult arcade called 'Hwangumseong' sharing the space, making it something of a 'final boss' of leisure buildings. Jinju Game Land sits right on the ground floor.

Despite the name, you won’t find this place in the city of Jinju. With a Hanshin Pocha right next door, the entrance feels like it’s destined to be rowdy once the evening crowd arrives. To cater to the passersby, they’ve clustered punch machines and fortune-telling devices near the entrance, complete with coin exchangers.

Step inside, and you’ll find a classic Whac-A-Mole machine tucked in a quiet corner. These are practically fossils in the modern arcade scene, so seeing one that looks exactly like the ones I played at my local stationery shop as a kid was a genuine treat.

The floor plan is an L-shape. Near the entrance, you’re greeted by a modest collection of crane games—not the main event as you might find in larger chains, but with nearly ten machines, it’s a solid enough lineup to hook casual players.

Let’s look at the deeper cuts. This isn't your sleek, corporate chain arcade; it’s a proper neighbourhood joint. It’s not pristine—you’ll see the scars of time and the occasional machine left powered off. The main corridor features Let's Go Jungle, a pair of basketball hoops, and a bank of Tekken 3 cabinets (six in total), though they were dark during my visit—likely just a matter of asking to have them flipped on.

Directly opposite, you’ll find Initial D Ver.8, The Bishi Bashi, Sega’s Manx TT, and The House of the Dead 4. Again, House of the Dead was off, but the staff seem more than happy to oblige if you’re itching for a round.

There’s a coin exchanger in the middle that handles 10,000 won notes. Keep in mind, this place deals exclusively in 500 won coins—no 100 won pieces here. If you’re breaking 50,000 won notes, you’ll need to head to the counter.

To the right of the exchanger, there’s a set of Gitadora (GuitarFreaks & DrumMania). They’re running the older 'Galaxy Wave' cabinets. While some arcades in Korea have upgraded to the newer 'Arena' models, the space constraints here make that shift unlikely. The legacy gear will have to do.

Opposite the Gitadora set are two Pump It Up cabinets and a Time Crisis 4. They’ve even provided fans and indoor slippers—a thoughtful touch. The real kicker? A game of the latest Pump It Up version costs just 500 won, which is at least 50% cheaper than most other spots. For budget-conscious rhythm gamers, this is a goldmine.