What Computerspielemuseum Berlin does

Computerspielemuseum Berlin is a privately operated cultural institution dedicated to preserving and presenting the history of interactive digital entertainment, located at Karl-Marx-Allee 93a in Berlin's Friedrichshain district. It is legally organized under Gameshouse gGmbH, with Managing Directors Martin Görlich and Daniel Schötz. The core product is a permanent exhibition (Dauerausstellung) featuring over 300 exhibits — including rare original machines such as the Pong cabinet, the only remaining Poly-Play arcade machine, and the Nürburgring hardware — alongside a Wall of Hardware with 70+ gaming machines, a 1980s-styled arcade hall, and interactive installations such as PainStation and a giant joystick. Rotating special exhibitions (e.g., "A Fantastic Failure," "Wohnzimmer der 1990er Jahre," "Arcadehalle der 1980er Jahre") refresh the program, and an interactive companion app called Chat.txt, co-developed with Homo Ludens GmbH, allows visitors to digitally engage with exhibits.

The museum operates a direct-to-consumer model anchored by individual admission tickets sold via an external online ticketing platform (csmb-shop.visitate.net) and walk-in visits during daily opening hours of 10:00–20:00. Revenue is diversified across guided tours, school-group visits, children's birthday parties, corporate and private event venue rentals (including "Lange Nacht im Computerspielemuseum" for up to ~100 guests), rental of playable classic arcade machines to external event organizers, a travelling exhibition ("Gameskultur in Deutschland – 20 Meilensteine") rented to other institutions, an on-site museum shop carrying 190+ items, and a supporter membership program (Kreis der Fördernden). Go-to-market is primarily direct through the museum's own website, the online ticketing storefront, newsletter, organic social media, and PR/earned media.

Distribution is overwhelmingly Berlin-based and physical, with the digital extension provided by the Chat.txt app and the travelling-exhibition product providing occasional out-of-region reach. With only ~5 disclosed employees, the operation is a small, lean cultural venue whose competitive position rests on a non-replicable physical collection and its status as Germany's first dedicated video game museum.

Name

Computerspielemuseum Berlin

Legal name

Gameshouse gGmbH

Website

https://computerspielemuseum.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Computerspielemuseum Berlin, operated by Gameshouse gGmbH, is a Berlin-based video game museum offering a permanent exhibition of 300+ rare playable gaming artifacts, rotating special exhibitions, guided tours, event rentals, and a travelling exhibition rented to other institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Museum (Video Game Museum)

NAICS

Museums (712110), Amusement Arcades (713120)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film) (THAJADAF), Amusement/Redemption Arcade Machines (Ticket & Prize) (MPAEAJAD)

Keywords

• Video game museum
• Interactive gaming exhibits
• Cultural heritage preservation
• Museum venue rental
• Educational guided tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Museum Admission Tickets: Direct ticket sales to individual visitors for museum entry during operating hours.
2. Guided Tours: Professional guided tours booked by groups and individuals for enhanced museum experiences.
3. Event Venue Rental: Private hire of museum spaces for corporate events and exclusive celebrations ('Lange Nacht im Computerspielemuseum'), including standing receptions up to 100 guests and use of exhibition areas.
4. Exhibit Rentals: Rental of playable classic arcade machines and gaming hardware to external events, including original rare machines from the museum collection.
5. Travelling Exhibitions: Mobile exhibition packages ('Gameskultur in Deutschland - 20 Meilensteine') rented to other institutions for display at external venues.
6. Museum Shop: Retail sales of gaming merchandise and cult items, including the museum's own publication about its history.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Computerspielemuseum Berlin operates a public video game museum with a permanent exhibition of over 300 rare original gaming machines and interactive installations, supplemented by rotating special exhibitions. It generates revenue through admission tickets, guided tours, museum shop sales, venue and exhibit rentals, a travelling exhibition program, children's birthday parties, and a supporter membership program, all anchored at its Karl-Marx-Allee location in Berlin.

Product overview

Computerspielemuseum Berlin is a video game museum offering a permanent exhibition (Dauerausstellung) featuring over 300 exhibits of rare original gaming machines, arcade classics, and interactive art installations, supplemented by rotating special exhibitions (Sonderausstellungen). The museum provides guided tours, children's birthday parties, and educational programs. It operates a companion mobile app called Chat.txt for self-guided museum exploration, and offers venue rentals including "Long Night" corporate events and private celebrations. The museum also rents playable classic game machines for external events and provides a travelling exhibition ("Gameskultur in Deutschland – 20 Meilensteine") for other institutions. A museum shop offers gaming merchandise, and a supporter circle (Kreis der Fördernden) provides membership opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Chat.txt: An interactive companion app developed in collaboration with Homo Ludens GmbH, funded by the Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Europa, allowing visitors to chat with exhibits in the museum.

Quantifiable outcome

• Daily opening 10:00-20:00 demonstrates consistent public accessibility

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Homo Ludens GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationCo-development partner for the Chat.txt interactive museum companion app. The app, available on iOS and Android, allows visitors to chat with exhibits, plan museum visits, and navigate the collection. Homo Ludens GmbH developed the technology in collaboration with the Computerspielemuseum.
• Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und EuropacoreOthersGerman Senate administration for Culture and Europe provided funding through the 'Digitale Entwicklung im Kulturbereich' (Digital Development in Culture) program to support the development of the Chat.txt app.
• 2026 Gameshouse gGmbHminorOthersParent company managing the Computerspielemuseum operations. Listed in footer as partner/copyright holder. Located at Karl-Marx-Allee 93a, Berlin.
• nextbikeminorOthersBike sharing station located immediately adjacent to the museum, supporting sustainable transportation options for visitors.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Spear Interactive Museum of Video Games: Musée du Jeu Vidéo in Paris is a direct peer as a dedicated video game museum with playable exhibits and cultural programming, serving a comparable niche in a different European capital.
• The Strong National Museum of Play: The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, NY is a direct peer as a dedicated museum preserving the history of play and video games, with interactive playable exhibits and educational programming comparable to Computerspielemuseum.
• Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum: Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum in Paderborn is Germany's largest computer and digital history museum and the closest geographic peer, sharing Computerspielemuseum's focus on preserving computing and digital culture.
• Computer History Museum: The Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA is a direct peer dedicated to preserving computing and digital technology heritage, with comparable exhibit curation, educational programs, and event rentals.
• National Video Game Museum: The National Video Game Museum (Frisco, TX) is a direct peer operating as a dedicated video game museum with playable classics, special exhibitions, and community programming closely aligned with the Computerspielemuseum model.

Emerging players

• House of Retro Gaming: An emerging venue combining retro gaming exhibitions with retail and events; comparable to Computerspielemuseum's playable classics and merchandising approach but at a smaller, more commercial scale.

Broad incumbents

• Deutsches Museum: Deutsches Museum in Munich is a broad incumbent German science and technology museum with overlapping exhibits on computing and interactive media, but covers a much wider subject area than Computerspielemuseum's gaming focus.

Others

• Games Industry Berlin (Stiftung Digitale Spielekultur): The German Games Industry Foundation is a thematically adjacent organization promoting video game culture in Germany; comparable ecosystem participant that influences education, policy, and cultural recognition relevant to the museum's mission.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/computerspielemuseum-berlin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Computerspielemuseum Berlin