Fall River School Uses Arcade Games to Help Students Relieve Stress

The last thing I expected to see walking into a school hallway for career day was a full-blown retro arcade, but that’s exactly what stopped me in my tracks at Saint Michael School in Fall River.

Right outside the principal’s office, tucked neatly along the wall, were classic, old-school machines that instantly brought me back. We’re talking The Simpsons and X-Men vs. Street Fighter, the kind of games that make you want to grab a joystick and forget about everything else for a little while.

Naturally, I had to ask what these arcade games were doing in a school hallway, and it turns out there’s a lot more to the story than just a few cool machines plugged in for fun.

A Passion Project Turned Something Bigger

Principal Ryan Klein told me the idea actually started as something personal.

“A few of the machines you saw came from my own collection at home,” Klein said, explaining that what began as a hobby slowly found its way into the school in a meaningful and intentional way. You can tell this wasn’t just about dropping arcade games into a hallway, but about creating something students could genuinely connect with.

Over time, that personal interest turned into something much bigger than anyone probably expected. It became part of the culture inside the building, something students look forward to and talk about, which is not always easy to create in a school setting.

More Than Just Games

Klein made it clear that this isn’t about letting kids play video games all day, but rather about creating balance in an environment where stress can show up in different ways.

“Over the years, I’ve tried to be intentional about creating a school environment that supports the whole child,” he said, pointing out that students deal with academic pressure, social challenges, and sometimes things happening outside of school that follow them into the classroom.

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That’s where the arcade fits in, and it’s actually a lot more purposeful than you might think at first glance. “I’ve found that providing outlets like this gives them a chance to decompress, connect with peers, and just enjoy being kids,” Klein said, adding that the machines also serve as both a stress reliever and a reward system. From what he’s seen so far, it’s been extremely well received by students across different grade levels.

A Smart Solution for New England Winters

If you’ve lived in New England long enough, you already know how quickly outdoor recess can disappear once winter rolls in, and that can make a long school day feel even longer. Klein explained that the colder months limit opportunities for kids to get outside and burn off energy in the way they normally would.

Instead of letting that turn into restless energy inside the classroom, the arcade has helped fill that gap. “These games have helped give students something active and engaging to look forward to,” he said, noting that the school has built in scheduled times so different grades can take part.

It’s Only Getting Bigger

As if the current lineup wasn’t already impressive enough, there’s more on the way, which is probably the most exciting part for the students. Klein shared that along with The Simpsons and X-Men vs. Street Fighter, the school is adding NBA Jam and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles this week, which enviously me enviously wish I was a student at St. Michael School.

At this point, it’s safe to say this hallway has officially become one of the coolest spots in the building, and not just because of the games themselves.

Why This Stuck With Me

I went to Saint Michael School to talk about careers, radio, and following your path, but I left thinking about something completely different. There’s something powerful about a principal and staff who understands that students need more than just structure and academics to succeed, especially in today’s world.

Sometimes, the best thing you can give a kid is a chance to breathe, reset, and just be a kid for a little while, and that’s exactly what this setup is doing.