There are few things more dangerous than telling a bunch of people who grew up in the 90s that the decade is making a comeback. Suddenly, everyone is talking about Tamagotchis, video stores, dial-up internet and the games they were absolutely convinced they were unbeatable at. Now, Funlab has taken that nostalgia and turned it into a fully immersive playground with Playback96, its brand-new 90s-inspired social games venue at Chadstone Shopping Centre.
Opening to the public on Thursday 27 August, Playback96 is the latest addition to The Social Quarter, joining Funlab favourites including Holey Moley, Hijinx Hotel and Archie Brothers. But after getting an early look inside, we can safely say this is more than a venue that has thrown a few VHS tapes on the wall and called it retro.
From the moment you step through the doors, Playback96 feels like you've wandered into a particularly cool video store from the 90s, if that video store happened to lead into an enormous playground of games, cocktails and carefully curated nostalgia.
And honestly? The attention to detail is kind of ridiculous.
Welcome to the 90s
The concept behind Playback96 is pretty simple: the 90s are back. But Funlab has clearly understood that nostalgia isn't just about recreating things people remember. It's about creating the feeling of discovering them in the first place.
The venue has been around six months in the making, and we got the chance to briefly chat with Josh, one of the brains behind the project, who encouraged visitors to keep their eyes peeled once they're inside. There are little references and Easter eggs tucked into just about every corner, meaning you'll probably spot something new every time you visit.
Our advice? Pick up the red phone and dial 420. You're welcome.
From glowing Furbys and an N64 console to dial-up modem phones, VHS tapes, retro movie posters and life-sized 90s movie cutouts, Playback96 is packed with the kind of details that will have you stopping mid-game because you've just spotted something you remember from childhood.
There's even Shazza's, a retro hairdresser-inspired corner where you can test your music knowledge through hair dryers. Because apparently the 90s really did have an answer for everything.
And that's what makes the space work so well. It doesn't feel like nostalgia has simply been pasted onto a modern venue. The entire experience has been designed around it.
Nine games, one hour and plenty of opportunities to humble your friends
Once you've made your way through the video store, it's time to actually play.
Guests check in at the ‘Walkman’ Radio Wall, collect their game card and then get a full hour of unlimited play across nine physical challenges.
There's Total Recall, a 90s pop culture memory game that will quickly reveal who in your friendship group was actually paying attention. Stop Hammer Time puts your reaction speed to the test, while a wall of retro brick phones challenges players to match patterns as quickly as possible.
Then there's Pong Time, which transforms beer pong into an arcade-style experience without, thankfully, requiring you to launch ping pong balls across a sticky table. Line Master takes the humble Etch A Sketch and turns it into a giant draw-and-guess challenge, while Ready Player Run has players dodging swinging pendulums as they attempt to make it through a candy-covered tunnel.
The games are simple enough to pick up quickly, but competitive enough that we can already see friendships being tested.
And that's where Playback96 really shines. It's not trying to be an overly complicated gaming experience. It's about getting a group of people together, having a laugh and seeing who is secretly the most competitive person in the room.
The soundtrack might be one of our favourite parts
Naturally, a venue built around the 90s needed a killer soundtrack. But rather than relying exclusively on the decade's biggest hits, Playback96 has gone a little deeper.
Expect cult classics and 90s deep cuts from artists including Massive Attack, Outkast, Moby, Portishead and Blur, creating an atmosphere that feels far more considered than your standard throwback playlist.
It's one of those details that sounds small until you're actually inside the space. The music, styling, games and little references all work together to make Playback96 feel like one cohesive world.
Even the bar gets the nostalgia treatment. The launch cocktail, Screen Burn, is Funlab's playful take on a Sex on the Beach and comes with a free playable Pixel Pet, while selected cocktails can arrive with Troll Doll straw toppers.
Yes, really.
Two generations get their own version of the 90s
Perhaps the most interesting thing about Playback96 is that its nostalgia isn't exclusively aimed at people who actually lived through the decade.
There's a strange cultural phenomenon happening right now where the 90s are being rediscovered by people who remember them fondly and a younger generation who never experienced them the first time around. Playback96 seems to understand both sides of that equation.
For those who grew up in the 90s, it's a nostalgia hit. For everyone else, it's a chance to experience a slightly romanticised version of a decade that has somehow become cooler with age.
And thankfully, you don't need to know your Furbys from your Tamagotchis to have a good time.
Is Playback96 worth visiting?
After getting an early look, we'd say absolutely.
What surprised us most was how effortlessly cool the space feels. It is trendy without falling into that overly polished, cliché version of ‘retro’ that can sometimes make nostalgia feel forced. Instead, there is a genuine sense that someone has gone through the decade and picked out all the weird, fun and slightly chaotic details that made it memorable.
Funlab says the venue was designed for everything from date nights and birthdays to work socials, family outings and those spontaneous “what are we doing tonight?” plans. After seeing it for ourselves, we can definitely see the appeal across the board.
During the day, it would make for a fun family outing, while later in the evening, the games, cocktails and competitive energy feel much more suited to a group of friends looking for something different.
With capacity for up to 48 people on the games floor each hour, Playback96 will also offer party packages for kids, teens and adults, as well as hybrid entertainment options allowing visitors to combine the experience with Funlab's other Chadstone venues.
So whether you're desperately nostalgic for your childhood video store or you're a Gen Z kid wondering what the hell a dial-up modem actually sounded like, Playback96 has something for you.
Just don't blame us when the person who claimed they were ‘not competitive’ starts taking Total Recall extremely seriously.
Playback96 opens to the public Thursday 27 August at The Social Quarter, Level 1 of Chadstone Shopping Centre, next to Holey Moley Golf Club. It will be open Monday to Thursday and Sunday from 9:30am-10pm, and Friday and Saturday from 9:30am–-1pm. Minors are not permitted after 8pm.
Colin's tip: Give yourself time to explore before and after the games. There are a lot of little details hidden throughout Playback96, and part of the fun is spotting them. And seriously, don't forget to pick up that red phone.
