Computerspielemuseum

Karl-Marx-Allee: A magnificent building with pixel history

The building on Karl-Marx-Allee still bears the socialist gingerbread style of the post-war years on the outside, but inside, visitors can expect a different world: classics from Atari, Nintendo, Sega and Co. Since 2011, the Computer Games Museum has been located in the former Café Warschau, thus starting a second, very unique career. The Weberwiese subway station on the U5 is just a few minutes’ walk away.

The Computer Games Museum: Seven Decades of Gaming History

The Computer Games Museum opened the world’s first permanent exhibition on digital interactive entertainment culture in 1997. This makes Berlin not only the political capital but also the birthplace of a unique museum format. The exhibition leads through the history of computer games: Over 300 exhibits, including rare originals and playable classics, show the development of the medium and its influence on culture, work, and leisure.

From the Wall of Hardware to the PainStation

More than 70 gaming devices in the “Wall of Hardware” document rapid technological development, while an arcade in the style of the 1980s reminds us that computer games began their triumph in public spaces. Classics can be played in recreated living rooms from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. The interactive “Wall of Games” explores why exactly 50 games made history. Those who are brave can also face the famous PainStation: it is the artwork with a bite that asks what a victory is worth if the feedback is physical.

Special Exhibition: A Fantastic Failure

Since December 15, 2025, the special exhibition “A Fantastic Failure” has been running, exploring courage, innovation, and failed dreams. The focus is on Nokia’s N-Gage, the handheld device with which the company tried to transform mobile phones into game consoles in the early 2000s and failed spectacularly. Thus, the Computer Games Museum proves that failure is also part of cultural history.

Prices and Opening Hours

Admission costs 11 Euros for adults, children under 6 years old enter for free. The museum is open daily from 10:00 to 20:00. Public guided tours take place on Sundays at 12:30 in German and on Saturdays at 12:30 in English.