The interactive gaming experience, Power Up, is returning to London’s Science Museum as a permanent exhibition. As a successful limited-time display in the past, it lets visitors try out the top video games and consoles from the last 50 years.
From the iconic Atari 2600 to the PlayStation 5, Power Up immerses visitors in the history of gaming. The exhibit features hundreds of video games and more than 160 gaming consoles, allowing visitors to play Mario Kart, Fortnite, Super Smash Bros and many other iconic titles.
Power Up includes 14 themes and sections, including fan favourite Disney, Lego and Zelda games, among many others. The exhibit includes a PC section where gamers can play titles like Monkey Island 2. Visitors can compete against each other in the multiplayer zone which includes Madden NFL 2003 and a multiplayer Halo tournament.
A Spotlight on BAFTA-Winning Games
In addition, Power Up will include the BAFTA Young Game Designers award-winners games from the past five years. BAFTA is an annual award ceremony open to young people in the UK. Each year, the BAFTA award showcase area will be updated.
“We are incredibly excited to bring back Power Up, one of our most popular experiences, and to give it a permanent home at the Science Museum. Video games transcend age and skill level, so we have something on offer for everyone, from intergenerational classics to the latest releases by up-and-coming developers,” says the Science Museum Group’s Head of Commercial Experiences Mark Cutmore. “Power Up is an opportunity to explore the history of gaming first-hand: its permanent return at the Science Museum will showcase the UK’s thriving games industry and help inspire future games makers.”
The Power Up exhibit at the Science Museum opens July 27th, 2023, with tickets costing £10. Annual Passes will also be available for £15. To celebrate the launch, Gaming Lates, a special adults-only addition to the exhibit, returns to the museum. The after-hours exhibition will feature activities concerning the science of gaming, workshops and a silent disco. Additionally, sensory-friendly sessions of both the adult-only and daytime versions of Power Up will be available in the autumn.
Jack Brassell is a freelance journalist and aspiring novelist. Jack is a self-proclaimed nerd with a lifelong passion for storytelling. As an author, Jack writes mostly horror and young adult fantasy. Also an avid gamer, she works as the lead news editor at Hardcore Droid. When she isn't writing or playing games, she can often be found binge-watching Parks & Rec or The Office, proudly considering herself to be a cross between Leslie Knope and Pam Beasley.
