We know what you want. What you really, really want. And it’s coming to Chadstone. Funlab, the team behind Holey Moley, Hijinx Hotel, Archie Brothers and Strike Bowling, is unveiling its newest concept, Playback96. It is a 90s-inspired social games venue landing in The Social Quarter at Chadstone Shopping Centre, set to open to the public on Thursday 27 August.
Playback96 is what happens when someone who actually lived through the ’90s builds a venue instead of a playlist. Walk through the doors and you’re transported to the Friday night video store of your childhood, or the one you’ve only ever seen on TikTok. VHS tapes line the shelves, cult movie posters compete for your attention, and every corner rewards those who know their pop culture. It’s all the best bits of the decade brought back to life: video store energy, arcade instincts, strong drinks and a soundtrack curated by someone who was actually paying attention. But this isn’t a trip down memory lane. It’s built for today. The games are physical. The competition is real. The company is good. And no, there are no late fees. Hidden throughout are nostalgic Easter eggs and playful surprises designed to spark conversations, fuel friendly rivalry and remind you why some experiences are better shared in real life.
Guests check in at the ‘Walkman’ Radio Wall to collect their game card before roaming free across 9 physical challenge games for a full hour of unlimited play. Highlights include Total Recall, a 90s pop culture memory game guaranteed to test how much space-junk trivia is rattling around in your brain; Stop Hammer Time, a reaction test for the fastest hands in the room; a wall of retro brick phones where guests race to match the patterns; Pong Time, beer pong reimagined (sans beer) as a full-blown arcade cabinet; Line Master, an oversized Etch A Sketch-style draw-and-guess; and Ready Player Run, where guests dodge swinging pendulums to make it from one end of a candy-clad tunnel to the other.
“There’s always room in Melbourne for a new way to have a good time with friends, and that’s exactly what Playback96 delivers,” says Blaise Witnish, CEO, Funlab. “Playback96 brings back the best bits of the 90s. The games, the music and the great company that made the decade unforgettable in the first place. It’s the new go-to for date nights, catch-ups, birthdays, work socials and those spontaneous “what are we doing tonight?” moments.”
The nostalgia doesn’t stop at the games. The soundtrack skips the predictable greatest hits in favour of carefully curated ’90s deep cuts and cult classics from artists like Massive Attack, Outkast, Moby, Portishead and Blur. At the bar, the decade gets an equally playful remix, with signature launch cocktail Screen Burn, Funlab’s twist on a Sex on the Beach, served with a free playable Pixel Pet, while Troll Doll straw toppers make surprise appearances on selected cocktails. It’s all designed to capture the fun, irreverence and unmistakable spirit of the ’90s, one drink and one track at a time.
Enjoy the nostalgic moments scattered throughout, from a stand-up N64 console and glowing Furbys to dial-up modem phones and life-size 90s movie cutouts, alongside Shazza’s, a retro hairdresser-themed corner where guests can test how many songs they can name through the dryers. Every corner is filled with interactive moments and memories from your childhood. Guests will be looked after throughout by the “Motherfunners”; staff kitted out with walkmans, bringing the vibes and living to show everyone a great time.
Playback96 can host up to 48 people on the games floor each hour, with party packages available for kids, teens and adults, and hybrid entertainment options to jump between Playback96 and its Chadstone neighbours, Holey Moley, Hijinx Hotel and Archie Brothers, all under one roof. It will be the first choice for corporate events, parties and teambuilding, with packages to suit every budget.
Located on Level 1 of Chadstone Shopping Centre (The Social Quarter), next to Holey Moley Golf Club, Playback96 will be open Monday to Thursday and Sunday from 9:30am to 10pm, and Friday and Saturday from 9:30am to 11pm. Please note, minors are not permitted after 8pm. Head on down to Chadstone, with ample parking and direct Uber drop-off available.
