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What to Do in Chicago if You’re a Total Geek
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items I've visited Chicago a few times, and its a great city for geeky travel. Whether you’re deep into retro gaming, tabletop RPGs, or just want to catch a midnight screening of Akira, this city seriously delivers. I put together a list of the best geek-a...
Map
Sections
4
Museums & Immersive Experiences
Gaming, Comics & Collectibles
Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Pop Culture Fun
Shops & Souvenir Stops
Museums & Immersive Experiences
Level up your brainpower and lose yourself in science, tech, and mind-bending exhibits.
If space gives you goosebumps, Adler is a must. Between its historic telescopes, interactive astronomy exhibits, and killer views of the skyline, it’s a science nerd’s paradise. Great for fans of astrophysics, star lore, and cosmic trivia.
Adler Planetarium
Massive and packed with wow moments—this place has everything from vintage arcade games to a full WWII submarine. It’s perfect for tinkerers, robot-lovers, and anyone who ever wanted to walk through a simulated tornado.
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Think of it as a digital art playground built for Instagram and existential thought. There’s plenty for tech nerds and lovers of surreal, science-inspired design. Great for fans of optical illusions, AI, and interactive displays.
WNDR Museum
Architecture buffs will eat this up—especially if you’re into city design, sci-fi skylines, or how people shape the spaces we live in. Bonus: their river cruise is nerd heaven for history-meets-engineering fans.
Chicago Architecture Center
Gaming, Comics & Collectibles
Step into a world of cardboard dragons, rare figures, and comic shelves taller than you.
Grab a latte and dive into your favorite tabletop game for a few hours. These cafes are fully stocked with classics and deep cuts—perfect for D&D sessions, strategic duels, or trying something new.
Bonus Round Game Cafe
One of the best curated comic shops in the city. The staff know their stuff and the shelves are a goldmine for indie comics, graphic novels, and longbox finds.
Challengers Comics
This place is weird in the best way. Think vintage He-Man, obscure Star Wars merch, and art by local geeks. A collector’s dream and great for quirky, affordable souvenirs.
Toy de Jour
The largest arcade in the U.S.—no tokens, just pay once and play all day. From obscure fighters to rare cabinets, this is a time-warp for serious retro gamers.
Galloping Ghost Arcade
Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Pop Culture Fun
From galaxy far, far away to tabletop realms, Chicago wears its fandoms proudly.
Catch midnight screenings, cult films, and indie fantasy flicks in a gorgeous vintage theater. They often do events for Star Wars, anime, and horror—perfect for cinephiles and cosplay nights.
Music Box Theatre
A barcade that rotates themes—think Stranger Things, Rick & Morty, Star Wars—with photo ops, themed cocktails, and free arcade games. It's like Comic-Con in bar form.
Replay Lincoln Park
30+ animatronic dinosaurs scattered across a giant zoo? Yes, please. Great for paleo-geeks, families, or anyone who still knows how to roar like a T. rex.
DINOS EVERYWHERE! at Brookfield Zoo (Seasonal)
Shops & Souvenir Stops
Take home a piece of the fandom—Chicago’s got nerd-friendly stores you’ll wish you had back home.
This is the place for designer vinyl toys, pop culture art, and limited edition collectibles. Think Kidrobot, Tokidoki, and local artists doing nerdy spins on high art.
Rotofugi
Used book heaven, especially if you’re into sci-fi, philosophy, and strange little paperbacks from the 1960s. You’ll lose track of time in the maze of shelves.
Myopic Books
A true mecca for tabletop fans—board games, miniatures, RPG supplies, and friendly locals who’ll invite you to join a session. One of the best-stocked gaming stores in the Midwest.
Chicagoland Games Dice Dojo