Ignite Gaming Lounge

I held a portion of my brother’s bachelor party here, and I was very happy with how it went. The reservation process went smoothly, the pricing was reasonable, AND they let us BYOB — Mimosa’s and craft beer to start the day off! My crew of ~fifteen late 20 year old’s (even a few 30+) really enjoyed this place, and we had it all to ourselves from 10am — Noon as part of the package. The lounge is extremely clean, very modern, and had a great atmosphere.
We immediately hit up the 2 dedicated rock band rooms, then played some old school Halo LAN like we did growing up. There’s something about being able to shout obscenities across the room at your friend that online gaming can’t replicate, and it was great to revisit that nostalgic feeling.
Our host, Cortney, was very accommodating and was consistently helping us get in and out of whatever game we wanted to play, give that gal a raise! They had pizza’s ready for us at noon as part of the package, and they were surprisingly tasty! We had so much fun we paid an additional few bucks per person for another hour of fun after our party package was up.
IGL’s follow up after the event was great, and I’m highly considering them for yet another private event, and for the next time my friends need our old school LAN gaming itch scratched. 5 stars all around!

The second home to many, but the living room for all.
When you go to Ignite, you’re not paying to play video games at a modern arcade. I’m sure every person who goes to Ignite has a PS4, Xbox, or computer at home, so the games alone aren’t what bring people back, it’s the environment.
When you walk into Ignite, you feel like you’re walking into a club. Everyone is socializing, whether it’s at the café, on couches, or on the various gaming systems around the futuristic environment, not one person is sitting down waiting for something to happen.
Sam, one of the co-​owners, is there all the time talking to everyone and making them feel at home. So huge thumbs up for that!
The café also serves up some good snacks, but you are allowed to bring your own food.
Overall, this place is an easy choice for someone who is looking to have a game night in an awesome environment.

Excellent place, excellent service. Love gaming here!

Every time I return to this place I get excited to be here, it reminds me of all the FUN times spent with FRIENDS. Today I dropped in for a bite to eat, I ordered a Chili Cheese Dog with a side of Loaded Fries with Buffalo Sauce/​RanchDressing/​BlueCheese. Let me say that it was exactly what I expected, GREAT. The portion sizes are ON POINT and the prices are more than REASONABLE, this place never disappoints.

I’m a huge fan of ignite, and I have spent many hours here and referred a bunch of people, but then I started working 50+ hours a week and got Rocket League for my ps4, so I hadn’t been back in a bit. A few things have changed, and while some changes were inevitable, it’s tarnished the experience and the place isn’t what it once was.
1^st. Price increase– (with all of the upgrades to everything, it makes sense that this would happen and it’s inevitable.)
2. Removal of the snack bar– (the one that had the candy, strawberry pandas, rice Krispy treats etc.) This is a huge bummer because those finger foods were great to have while playing. When my friends and I asked why it was removed, we were told it was because they weren’t selling (which was total bs, and I bet its because they want to push their hot food options so people spend more.)
3. Assigned seating– you used to be able to jump on whatever computer you wanted and now you have to wait and go through an associate for them to unlock one. (We were told it was because they had issues on the weekends with groups coming in, which I understand, but it makes it pretty lame when you have to wait in line instead of getting straight to the action. Id recommend to keep the computers unlocked during the week, and do assigned seats on the busy weekend, but hey, that’s just my opinion.)
Overall this place was 5 stars, but lost a lot of what made it awesome, and I hope they can find their way back to a happy medium. Until then, 3 stars.

Was really excited to play. Got here waited put myself on a waiting list for a ps4 and staff didnt know i was standing behind them listening. saw a group just walk in And over heard them saying «i know these guys just say they have been on the list and seat them next». I was livid and confronted them and they still carried on the lie even tho i personally heard them. Very disappointed so please just game else where since this is how they do business.

Just celebrated my son’s birthday at IGL this weekend and I can say it was the easiest experience ever and my son and his friends had a great time. The planning leading up to the day was easy, the staff is very responsive and helpful.
The day of, everything was seamless… Greeted upon entry and taken care of throughout… We will definitely be coming back!
I’m not a gamer so I can’t speak to the gaming experience, just as a mom planning an awesome bday party for her son. Thank you IGL staff!!!

Ignite was home to events put together for my online gaming community back in 2010 and 2011. They have since moved to a much larger location and we held an event there in November 2015, we rented out the entire facility on a Saturday. We are primarily console gamers so everyone brought their own console but hooking into their network and monitors was simple. The few people that ran into problems were troubleshooted very quickly and everyone was online and ready to go for our own version of tournaments.
Compared to the old facility, where we were filling it up with 35 – 40 people, this new space had plenty of room for our group of 45. We setup BYOB and snacks in the side room, and their array of coffee/​drinks/​snacks was always open as well. As the tournaments progressed and more people were eliminated, there were an array of other options to keep someone busy… want to play some PC games, head to a station. Watch some college football, they changed the channel to the game you wanted. Fighting game station with a couch, no problem. And for those who want to rock out with their inner rock star, they have 2 rooms completely setup for Rock Band with all the instruments.
We had groups of people playing online via LAN and via Xbox Live the entire day and had no latency issues. Anytime someone had an issue with something, it was quickly resolved. Ignite has spoiled us with what to expect when organizing a gathering for our community. We have booked 3 events there and no doubt will be looking to them when we are organizing the next one.
Side note: Ignite is normally open on a Saturday so they posted online that their space would not be available during the day because of a private event. If someone hadn’t seen the note and did end up stopping by Ignite, they even provided them with a card for a free hour of gaming the next time they came in. Good people!

I rented out the rockband «studio» room for a friend’s bday and everyone had a blast. We originally booked a 2 hr session but extended it for another 2 hours!
My only complaint was there were a few songs that wouldnt upload/​play so that was disappointing. There’s also no separate room tempature for the rockband rooms. It was Feb so they had the heat on, but we were all sweating like crazy in there and had to step outside to cool down. Maybe they can get fans in there?
But other then that. The whole staff was soooooo accommodating! They tried the best they could to cool down our room, A for effort. They helped us with bringing in as many chairs as we wanted for everyone to have a seat in the room. They also cleaned up all our mess with food and drinks. A++ in service for sure.
I would have just given 4 stars due to the room being overly too hot for people who are rocking out! LOL But they get a 5 due to oustanding service from their staff.

Absolute gamer’s paradise. I never thought a place like this existed, until I was introduced to their original location on Belmont. Granted that location was smaller, but the concept was too surreal to believe. When I was first told about this place, I assumed it would be like the typical arcade that required coins in boxed machines to play retro classics such as pac-​mac, street fighter, etc. I was blown away when actually stepping foot into the location and seeing not a single arcade game, but rather LED TV sets, each with their own headset, keyboards/​controllers. This is the true definition of a 21^st century gaming lounge.
Since they’ve moved to the new location on Elston, it’s a much larger venue and they’ve upped the antee on the products they carry. Each console/​PC gaming station comes with it’s own DX Racer seats (which are some of the most comfortable seats EVER) and it’s own Steel Series optical devices (keyboards, mouse, headsets, etc.). The format to join is very simple in the sense that you just create a username and profile on one of their computers and simply load time on your account in hourly increments. The vast array of console games and PC games is insane. This is the place to be if you want to try out that new video game that just came out, but don’t want to shell out full price if you don’t like it. I have also seen many gaming tournament events at this location that contribute to the wonderful social atmosphere. They even have a mini-​café that servers appetizers, desserts, and the occasional snackage any gamer requires. Ignite Gaming lounge is also the place where I was introduced to one of my favorite sodas, «Bawls.» (Yes, it’s seriously called that and it is DELICIOUS)
If you ever have a guest stop by from outside Chicago, definitely take them here to show them a true technological masterpiece.

They’ve upgraded their computers to the point where they can handle any game on high settings. They’ve increased their library of games to accommodate customer demands. Their kitchen now offers high quality french fries. If you have a bunch of friends that like to get together and game but have no room for a lan party this is the place to be. Friendly, family environment with a stellar staff to help and advise you on anything you need. It is the BEST Chicago Gaming lounge that exists. They’ve been around for a decade and with their amazing customer service they’ll continue to grow for another 10. Give this place a shot, the entertainment value is amazing and safe for kids of all ages.

This review pertains to everything except the pickle served as a garnish with the food. This place is amazing. I love it so much ive become a regular. I eat here, i drink caffiene here, i spend all my money here. Channel your inner nerd or your exterior one and just do it, as much as fucking possible. Place is amazing everyone is so nice and friendly.
Now the pickle. The pickle is a lie. On the outside you might see a delectible juicy green blissful marinated cucumber. But in reality its has more radiation then a level 99 fallout 4 character. If zues banged windranger and had a child that child would have less cancer then this pickle. Insert LoL AIDS joke here because LoL is the epitome of AIDS and still has a lower viral load then the pickle. Ive run out of nerdy jokes to make fun of the pickle but I couldnt run out of taste buds fast enough to make the pickle palatable.
Love you all.

Awesome customer service. Everything I requested was in place when I arrived. I planned a private event for my boyfriend’s birthday and everyone that attended was in awe of their experience. Much thanks to this establishment for having such a great setup. Sam and Courtney were both spectacular representatives for the business. Give them a raise!!!

Honestly the customer service here is way above the normal expectation of any human being. For a Tuesday night it does get pretty busy but after 9 PM the kiddies start heading home and the adults are left to play.
I come here often for the Rock band room they have and a lot of the equipment they have is fully functioning and is regularly cleaned and inspected before another group goes in to play. This applies to practically every controller, chair, console they have. The food area is also pretty neat they manage to incorporate video game names into their food menu. There is this gentleman who helps us out a lot when we are there for the Rock band room and if i could rate his customer service skills alone he’d receive a solid 5 stars!
The only bad thing is that the Wii u consoles don’t have a lot of games but thats ok! if youre a PC gamer or just want to hang with a few friends and play against one another or perhaps want to be in a band i highly recommend coming here.

Ignite Gaming Lounge (Ignite) embodies what every locally-​run, customer-​centered gaming lounge should be. Nationwide.
I’ve been gaming/​socializing at Ignite for over 3 years. Staff is top notch, computers are quality, and the pricing structure is affordable for every socioeconomic level.
What might surprise you is Ignite’s food selection rivals local options in terms of both price and «yumminess». #DaClub panini, hold the red onions and dijon, add Chipotle aioloi. Heaven.
Highly recommend whether you are by your self, with a group of friends, or anywhere in between.

Ignite has to offer the best customer service I have yet to experience. Seriously. My boyfriend wanted to spend his birthday here and he filled out a form on their website and Sam was in contact with him immediately.
Ignite offers two types of party reservations:
–Their party package, which includes 2 hours of gaming, a party host, no account creation, 2.5 party room rental, 3 hour gift card for the birthday boy, pizza, and unlimited soda. For 4 – 7 guests, $ 190. 8 – 11 guests, $ 270. 12 – 15 guests, $ 360. 16 – 20 guests, $ 450.
–Gaming only reservation, which reserves gaming stations and a gaming assistant for $ 7/​hour/​gamer. Their party room can be rented for $ 25/​hour.
We opted for the gaming only reservation, coupled with the party room rental because we weren’t sure how many people were actually going to show up. What puts Ignite at the forefront of customer service is that they allowed us to tour their facilities before committing and allowed us to come 30 minutes prior to our reservation to set up the party room.
We bought a whole bunch of Caesar’s Pizza, veggie platters, fruit platters, chips and drinks. And we were also allowed to BYOB and bring that around with us anywhere – talk about a great time! Our hostess just checked our IDs and gave us 21+ wristbands.
The party room came with a Wii, Sam reserved a Rock Band room for us, a whole pod of computers for Xbox or PC games, and a pod area for Playstation games. We paid for 3 hours of everything, but when we wanted to extend our time, everyone just needed to pay $ 5/​hour and they were gracious enough to let us keep the party room open at no extra charge. Our hostess also checked up on us and always provided us with ice and soda when needed. Just WOW. I was blown with my experience here. Coming from a non-​gamer point of view, I absolutely loved this place. I ended up coming back a week or so after and still thoroughly enjoyed myself. I love that their café (which I’ve heard great things about) menu is inside a game disc box.
An added plus is that their facility is extremely clean and the chairs are just sooooo comfortable. Like sleep in it comfortable. Whether you like to game or not, Ignite is something you need to experience at least once. I love it here!

The ignite gaming lounge is amazing! I feel at home every single time! Tip of The Hat was one of the best charity streams I have ever seen, I was able to donate, and see some of the casts! Ignite gaming is clean, fun, comfortable, and very very friendly staff. I would recommend to people of ALL ages.

My kid really likes this place but I’ve noticed he doesn’t ask to come back much since they stopped carrying Surge. It’s super cheap to play games and sometimes they have events. I really think they should have a TV in the back with old school Nintendo consoles so I can play Mario while my kid shoots hookers or whatever all the new games are about. (I’m serious, give me old school games and I’d be way more inclined to make the hour long drive to hang out more often. Old people like to play games too, some of us just don’t like the new games)

Really cool spot, I was surprised by how busy it was. Monday evenings they have fighting game night where it’s 10 dollars all you can play. This past Saturday, they had a dota 2 viewing which i thought was cool. My problem with this particular evening was that the crowd and music was too loud. I was playing lol where I was communicating with friends via a headset ignite gaming supplies. Since the background noise was loud, I had to press keys in order to speak, which hurt the communication between my teammates and I. I’d recommend just going on a slower night.
Everything there seems new and they clean everything well. They only have one extra Xbox controller if you want to do fighting game night, so bring your own. There are other controllers, but it looks as though they’re unattachable from the setups.
Overall, really solid place with reasonable rates.

This place is so cool. They have almost all game systems and games, not to mention the excellent pc service and games. The icing on the top of this cake is the little café they have there which cranks out amazing drinks. Come here for a good time playin video games!