DAVE & BUSTER’S SURVEY FINDS AMERICANS CAN’T AFFORD FUN
Dave & Buster’s released its first State of Fun report on May 12, 2026, and it found that 57% of surveyed adults said cost and budget kept them from making fun plans. The company commissioned the study, and on the same day it launched 10 new games and announced the return of its Summer Season Pass.
Talker Research ran the survey online between April 21 and May 1, 2026. It polled 5,000 U.S. adults with internet access, with 100 respondents from each state, according to GCN.
Nearly half of them, 48%, said their lives were currently lacking fun, the New York Post reported. The report summed it up this way: “Together, the findings point to a clear gap: people want more fun in their lives but need experiences that are exciting, easy, and affordable.”
A company that sells arcade games and entrées found that people want arcade games and entrées they can afford. Still, the numbers were specific. Some 55% said low-cost options would make them more motivated to “prioritize fun,” and 41% wished there were more exciting things for adults to do.
Too broke, too busy, too tired
Money topped the list of roadblocks. The Post tied it to higher gas and restaurant prices, citing extra fuel costs since the U.S. and Israel launched their war on Iran in late February. It said drivers faced gasoline approaching $5 per gallon, and that restaurant menu prices had risen more than 30% since 2020 because of labor costs and supply inflation.
Time was the other problem. NBC Right Now reported that about a third of respondents blamed their personal schedule and nearly a third their work schedule. Others pointed to friends and family having no time, burnout and not knowing what to do.
GCN reported that 52% said having fun was harder than it was a decade earlier. Among them, 51% cited reduced affordability, 45% a smaller social circle and 42% more responsibilities.
Plenty of people said they had planned something fun, then scaled it back or canceled when something came up. Respondents who wanted more fun estimated they needed 17 additional hours a week. A smaller group could not remember the last time they had a full free day to enjoy themselves.
Nobody was arguing about whether fun was worth it. In the report, 71% said it helps reduce stress, 57% said it increases motivation and 56% said it makes them feel closer to loved ones. A full 89% believed having fun with others leads to healthier, stronger relationships.
The company’s answer
Dave & Buster’s vice president of marketing, Melissa Powers, said in the company’s announcement: “In a culture dominated by screens and solo scrolling, our State of Fun report underscores a growing desire for real-world, shared experiences.”
She added: “That’s why we’re introducing 10 all-new games and the Summer Season Pass to make it easier than ever for people to show up, play, and create meaningful moments together.”
The new lineup included Hot Wheels Ultimate Speedway, ICEE Slush Rush, John Wick: Continental Pursuit, Odin’s Hammer, Perfect Pump, World Soccer, Kick N Win and Human Crane, plus a few surprise games.
The pass came back May 19, 2026, The Toy Book reported. It came in multiple pricing tiers and included unlimited gameplay for the summer, food-and-beverage discounts and other perks. The company said it started at as little as $1 a day.
Nation’s Restaurant News noted that the chain had introduced summer passes the year before as part of a strategy to drive traffic, with earlier prices of $69.99 to $149.99.
According to Dave & Buster’s pass information, the 2026 Summer Season Pass was valid through September 8, 2026. Unlimited play applied to blue and green swipe games, while purple swipe games, including VR, crane, pusher, dance and merchandising games, were excluded.
