The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment (The MADE) is a playable video game museum in Oakland, where you can play games on original hardware and view gaming-history artifacts. It’s a straightforward Oakland stop to plan around the museum’s opening schedule.
- Location: Oakland, California
- Typical opening pattern: Wednesday through Sunday; closed Monday and Tuesday
- Admission: General admission is $20; members enter free
What is The MADE?
The MADE is a nonprofit museum centered on playable video games and the history of gaming. Its collection lets visitors play thousands of games on original hardware, alongside artifacts that document gaming culture.
Beyond the collection, the museum offers classes, community events and volunteering opportunities focused on gaming culture and creation. Its learning activities cover animation, hardware, audio, graphics and story, with tools including Scratch, Arduino, Three.js, SculptGL and Shadertoy.
What can you play and do at The MADE?
The main draw is the chance to play games on original systems rather than only view them. The collection spans early video game history through games from roughly a decade before the provider listing was published.
Classes and community activities add a creative dimension, with topics ranging from animation and sound to hardware and storytelling. If you’re interested in the wider museum scene around town, this guide to Oakland museums near Emeryville covers other options.
What are The MADE’s hours and admission?
The MADE is open Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. It is closed Monday and Tuesday. General admission is $20, while members enter free.
A daily ticket is valid for one day and includes in-and-out privileges during that day’s open hours. Children aged 4 and under enter free with a guardian who has paid admission. Membership benefits vary by tier; benefits include member-only event invitations, a 10% gift-shop discount and a 25% event-rental discount.
How do you get from Emeryville to The MADE?
The MADE is about 39 minutes on foot or 9 minutes by car from Nights Inn Motel. For a transit-oriented overview of the trip, read about getting to Oakland from Emeryville.
The museum’s address is 921 Washington Street, Oakland, CA 94607. If you’re driving or planning your day around the visit, check the official site before you go for current opening and admission details.
What should families and members know before visiting?
Children under 13 must be attended by a guardian at all times. New members should bring their receipt and government-issued ID for verification on their first visit.
The MADE gives its phone number as +1 (510) 350-8857 and its email as info@themade.org. Contact the museum directly if you need to confirm a policy or membership detail before setting out.
FAQs
Is The MADE a pinball museum?
The MADE describes itself as a playable video game museum. Its collection includes games on original hardware and gaming-history artifacts.
Can children visit The MADE?
Yes. Children aged 4 and under are admitted free with a guardian who has paid admission, and children under 13 must remain attended by a guardian.
Does The MADE offer activities beyond playing games?
Yes. The museum offers classes, community events and volunteering opportunities focused on gaming culture and creation.