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Step inside Rift Arcade in downtown Biddeford and you’ll feel like you’re being welcomed back to the 1990s.

“When you walk in here, it’s like time-traveling,” said Casi Buckman, who owns the arcade at 311 Main St. with Marcia Faulise.

The two women are friends who bonded over a love of video games – especially old-school games.

“I still play the Nintendo 64 I got when I was 9,” said Faulise.

Rift Arcade opened last week and has 50 plus games – mostly 80s and 90s era videos games, plus pinball machines, air hockey and Skee-Ball.

There’s Pac-Man, Ms. PacMan and Junior Pac-Man as well as a Pac-Man pinball machine. Other popular video games include The Simpsons, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, Area 51 and 1942. 

Buckman recalled a customer coming in excited to see a Space Invaders game.

“They said, ‘I can’t believe you have this. I haven’t been able to play this since I was a kid,” said Buckman.

At the front of the arcade is Bishi Bashi, where multiple players compete in a series of mini games. Faulise was introduced to Bishi Bashi while living in Japan.

“It’s super-fast and super-fun,” she said, “There are only a handful of them in the United States.”

There’s also a mystery prize machine – a vintage vending machine with an assortment of prizes hidden from view. Put your change in the machine, and you’ll get a mystery prize.

Buckman and Faulise said that while there are a growing number of places in downtown Biddeford to eat or grab a drink, there aren’t a lot of things to do downtown. With Rift Arcade, they hope to bring a source of entertainment in the downtown that people of all ages can enjoy.

“It’s been nice seeing adults come in and find their favorite childhood arcade game while their kids put down their phones and have fun playing games that pre-date them,” said Buckman.

All games are 25 cents or 50 cents to play. The arcade opens at 3:30 p.m. four weekdays, and Faulise and Buckman envision it as a place where kids could go after school and have fun without spending a lot of money. Friday and Saturday night there are adult- only hours from 8-11 p.m.

Food is also served, with a 1990’s inspired menu which includes house-made replicas of Dunkaroos, Pizza Bagels and Uncrustables.

“All the food kids from the 90’s loved,” said Faulise.

“All lunchbox classics, but more upscale,” said Buckman.

Also on the menu are soda, juice boxes, and 1990’s inspired cocktails and mocktails, with names like Dial-Up Internet, Butterbeer, and the Orange VHS.

Food can be enjoyed in repurposed Subway booths, painted in a 1990s color scheme of purple, magenta and teal, with napkin holders decorated in Lisa Frank stickers.

Rift Arcade is open 3:30 – 9 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 3:30 – 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, and noon – 6 p.m. on Sunday. It is closed on Tuesday. Friday and Saturday 8-11 p.m. are 21+ only.

Saco Bay News Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.