Activate Games — Attraction in Utica

Went cautiously as there are cheesy game places for young kids that are more "gimmicky" than entertaining for an adult, lets face it! Went with my teen son, with the promise we don't have to stay long if so. Greeted by energetic team member with a smile the size of the sun. Cashier at kiosk handled us effectively, without wait, and explained in detail the process. After placing our extra items in the complimentary locker, entered the game area, which was introduced in great detail on how to proceed. LOVE the clarity, as it can be overwhelming. It was my FIRST INSTINCT, this is not Chucky C's down the road!! LOL. The décor is certainly edgy, and when combined with the games, evident the place is best for 10yo and above, though families could enjoy with kids as low as about 6yo. The games are in twelve rooms, VERY DIFFERENT in attack, and can be as competitive/combative as one wishes in your utmost race against the clock. Great for families on a Sunday afternoon, teens and adults will find it a serious workout if your going all out for THE WIN!!! Trust me.....we went to kill, found us having a great time, sweaty (though Niko the GM said A/C at 66 degrees, and catching our breath between games with a drink from one of two water fountains. (Place to refill water bottles was on the drinking fountain, however confusing as the entryway states no food or drinks.) Stayed our full time frame, enjoying every moment, less a small computer glitch when reprogramming our wrist bands for extra time. Overall a great, and unexpectedly SUPERIOR afternoon that included a complimentary work-out for our determination to beat every clock with highest of adrenaline! (Skipped the gym and still felt it the next day!!! LOL) So much more than expected, including a wonderful conversation with Niko the General Manager complimenting him on a wonderful establishment, great staffing of pumped up , positive team members, welcoming and clean atmosphere, intense gaming (totally flexible to the degree that one wishes it to be) and a great hospitable feel to our overall experience! GREAT JOB

My sister was lucky enough to grab a free slot for the grand opening of Activate-Detroit (Utica) and she invited me!! We also brought my 17 and 13 year olds and her 13 and 10 year olds. This place was PERFECT! Everyone was so friendly and warm which is what is expected for a grand opening. We were helped, initially, by Nico and then got our instructions from Nico (there are two!). This place is awesome! It isn’t virtual reality, oh no! This is, essentially, an interactive arcade where you and a group of up to 5 people can play games! You can either work together to beat the game or compete each other.. how cool is that!? In the middle of the “hub”, they project the rankings and scores of players so you can see if you make the top rankings as you go! Maybe even compete against people you don’t even know!! Downside is no food or drink.. don’t really care about the food part but water is a MUST!! You WILL work up a sweat!! Each room has a category and that category has different games you can play. Just pick a room, scan your awesome wristband, either enter or wait your turn, and then play! Then, if you feel you want to commemorate being there and getting all sweaty, there’s even a room to take a group photo! I will definitely be talking to my coworkers about doing an event here! All four kids had an AMAZING time and even the 10 year old was able to easily participate! There IS a water fountain by the bathrooms that definitely came in handy! Thanks for a great time, Activate, and...

I didn’t know what to expect here — but I’m sure glad we brought the family! Brought our son and grandkids (11 and 8) here for a visit. You get 75 minutes to explore the different “rooms” where you choose your activity, whether you want to work cooperatively or competitively and what level to start on. The rooms present different activities for you - jumping around on a grid, dodging a laser, finding gem pairs, shooting basketballs or throwing balls at targets are a few of the activities. It’s easy to get a description of the activities tied to each room, and games are fast paced and fun. You don’t have to worry about getting bored — the “rounds” only last a minute and a half or so! We went on a rather quiet midweek afternoon and had no trouble getting in to the various rooms, and staying for several rounds. Our time went by quickly and we all enjoyed the various games. And we are looking forward to going again, to try our luck! You can accumulate points and cash them in for small trinkets like a key chain or water bottle, or save your points over several visits to get better prizes. These games were fun for the children and the adults, even though there was a mix of abilities between us. The children were better at some activities than us and vice versa, so we all stayed engaged and entertained. Wear very comfortable shoes and clothes as you will be very active here. This was a lot of fun and a great bonding experience, too. Can’t wait...