Sometimes, you need a break from saving the world, dealing with your interpersonal problems, or even just plain work. For those times, you can kick back and have a few drinks at your local bar.
These places of respite offer a variety of services depending on the game you’re playing, but in general, they offer a break from the main quest. In video games, bars tend to be places to grab a drink, pick up side quests, play minigames, or even just chill. If you need a drink, a friendly ear, and a nice atmosphere, here are some of the best video game bars.
7 Seventh Heaven (Final Fantasy 7 Remake)
Tifa’s little piece of heaven in the Sector 7 slums is so homely that it’s a shame that you don’t get to spend more time there. Though it’s a little run-down, it has the vibe of a place you can relax with buddies at after a long shift. Of course, no small part of this is due to the lovely bartender - get fresh with her at your own risk, she’s also tough enough to be a bouncer.
The jukebox allows you to play the soundtracks that you find in the world, and naturally comes with Tifa’s theme pre-installed. You can also play darts, which is a fun, if brief, diversion. Unseating the champion of the scoreboard will even net you a nice Materia.
6 Abyss Bar (Deep Rock Galactic)
If you’re going to risk life and limb on a hostile planet in the name of corporate greed, you might as well get drunk first. What better place to do so than the Abyss Bar, the best (and only) bar around Hoxxes IV, located at the scenic space station where you happen to live.
You can jam out to tunes on the jukebox, or try to sink some barrels into a flaming hoop. Of course, being a Space Dwarf, you can also engage in the age-old pastime of getting wasted. These magical space beers can get you drunk, have some neat effects around the space station, or even give you some buffs to take into the mines. Just try not to overindulge and end up in the medbay.
5 Purgatory Bar (Mass Effect 3)
Even in a galaxy at war, it’s still a good idea to stop fighting and relax for a bit. And despite its name, there are worse places to be than the Purgatory Bar. You can lose yourself in the pounding electronica and strobe lights on the dance floor, or get knock-out plastered.
The bar is also a good place to talk to some interesting characters, or eavesdrop on them, which at times leads to side quests. It’s also a good place to connect with your teammates and crew members, deepening your bonds of friendship– or possibly more– while you drink.
4 Crossroads Bar (Persona 5)
Being underage, you can’t actually drink here, but there are other things to do in Lala Escargot’s cozy little establishment. It’s the contact point for the intrepid (if slightly burnt out) reporter Ichiko Ohya, who is also your Devil Arcana Confidant.
Given enough Guts, Kindness, and Proficiency, you can also work under the neon red lights of the Crossroads Bar. Doing so will not only net you a decent chunk of change, but playing bartender for the various patrons will grant you further boosts to your social stats.
3 Stray Sheep (Catherine: Full Body)
In between working in the day and making a terrifying scramble up a collapsing tower at night in Catherine: Full Body, you get to blow off some steam at the Stray Sheep. You can chat with your buddies and some of the other patrons, as well as listen to tunes on the jukebox or play an oddly familiar arcade game.
Of course, you can also grab a few drinks, which not only come with some interesting factoids about the alcohol you’re imbibing, but give Vincent a nice boost of speed in the coming trial.
2 The Bar (Harvest Moon 64)
Called simply “The Bar,” this place is every bit as rustically charming as the rest of Flowerbud Village. You’d think that there’s little to do but drink and socialize, which makes sense given that it’s a bar.
You’d mostly be right about that assumption, but with some game mechanic shenanigans, you’ll realize that it’s also one of the best places to upgrade your tools. Swinging your tools enough times upgrades them, even if you’re not using them right. This takes stamina, but you can regain it with water, which is free at the bar.
1 Survive Bar (Yakuza: Like A Dragon)
This little slice of classy paradise located in the Bar District of Yokohama serves as one of the gang’s bases as they deal with the events of the main story. A hobby of the owner, rather than his main business, you can really feel the love he’s put into its classy wood-and-brick interior.
There’s plenty to do here. You can increase your bond through the Karaoke minigame, as well as cement your bonds through Bond events started in the bar. You can listen to the soundtracks you’ve acquired on your quest, which include some familiar tunes.
The bartender is also a deft hand at cooking and flower arranging, so you can bring him ingredients or flowers to make powerful battle items or bouquets that you can offer to other characters. Ironically enough, the one thing you can’t do at this bar is have a drink.