Bowlero vs Dave & Buster's:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Dave & Buster's had more branded searches than Bowlero among family entertainment centers in the United States. Dave & Buster's had about 1.2 million branded searches, while Bowlero had 135,000. Dave & Buster's made up 39.8% of all family entertainment center searches we track, and Bowlero accounted for 4.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about family entertainment centers, Dave & Buster's appeared in all three answers and Bowlero in one. Dave & Buster's was mentioned before Bowlero in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Dave & Buster's, about 9 searches for every 1 for Bowlero
Who does AI mention more?
Dave & Buster's, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Dave & Buster's, named ahead of Bowlero in every answer
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Top family entertainment centers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions, Dave & Buster's appeared in all three answers. Bowlero was mentioned in one out of three: in one of the three ChatGPT answers. Dave & Buster's was listed before Bowlero in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Main Event1st
Round12nd- Dave & Buster's3rd
Topgolf4th
Bowlero5th
Puttshack–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Dave & Buster's3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Round13 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Main Event3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Topgolf1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Bowlero1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Puttshack0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
See every answer about family entertainment centers
3 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best family entertainment center chain in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which chain in the US is best for bowling and arcade games?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Where should I go for a fun night out with games and food in the US?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“family entertainment center”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“arcade near me”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 23, 2026.
Is Bowlero or Dave & Buster's more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Bowlero and Dave & Buster's by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six family entertainment centers we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for Dave & Buster's, Bowlero. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Dave & Buster's | Topgolf | Round1 | Puttshack | Bowlero | Main Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 36.5% | 44.6% | 7.6% | 4.9% | 6% | 0.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 40.1% | 40.1% | 8.4% | 4.4% | 6.6% | 0.44% |
| Dec 2025 | 36.2% | 44.3% | 7.6% | 4% | 7.3% | 0.52% |
| Jan 2026 | 38.7% | 38.7% | 10% | 4.3% | 7.8% | 0.55% |
| Feb 2026 | 40.1% | 40.1% | 8.5% | 4.4% | 6.6% | 0.41% |
| Mar 2026 | 36.7% | 45% | 7.8% | 4% | 6% | 0.46% |
| Apr 2026 | 37.2% | 45.4% | 7.8% | 4.1% | 5% | 0.46% |
| May 2026 | 37.2% | 45.4% | 7.8% | 4.1% | 5% | 0.46% |
| Jun 2026 | 32.6% | 48.8% | 8.4% | 4.4% | 5.4% | 0.47% |
| Jul 2026 | 36.6% | 44.7% | 9.3% | 4.9% | 4% | 0.46% |
| Aug 2026 | 32.9% | 49.3% | 8.5% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 0.41% |
| Sep 2026 | 39.8% | 39.8% | 10.2% | 5.4% | 4.4% | 0.41% |
How has the Bowlero and Dave & Buster's comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Dave & Buster's was ahead of Bowlero in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Bowlero’s share of searches among family entertainment centers in the United States moved from 6% to 4.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 246K to 135K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Dave & Buster's’ share of searches among family entertainment centers in the United States moved from 36.5% to 39.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.5M to 1.2M.
How did search popularity change for United States family entertainment centers in September 2026?
3 changes
In September 2026, Dave & Buster's overtook Topgolf to become the leader among family entertainment centers in the United States, with 39.8% of the searches.
In September 2026, Puttshack overtook Bowlero to rank 4th among family entertainment centers in the United States, with 5.4% of the searches.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Bowlero in the United States fell 45.1% over 12 measured months, from 246K to 135K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Bowlero’s and Dave & Buster's’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Bowlero
1 branded search term
- bowlero
Dave & Buster's
1 branded search term
- dave and busters
Other head-to-heads among family entertainment centers
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