Activate - Kansas City's New Active Gaming Facility

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Activate KC photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com

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Activate KC photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com

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Activate KC photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com

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Activate KC photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com

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Activate KC photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com

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Activate KC photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com

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Activate KC photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com

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Activate KC photos by Kristina Light for KCParent.com

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Recently opened in Overland Park, Activate is Kansas City's newest attraction featuring high-energy tech games that focus on teamwork, coordination, being active (as the name suggests), and fun. Our family recently visited this new attraction and all three tween/teen girls LOVED it! They all highly recommend it to friends and said it was one of the most fun new things they've tried this summer. 

So, what is Activate?

Players, ages 10+, are invited into a space where they try games in eleven different game rooms that challenge your skills. Each room is labeled and categorized: Hoops (you shoot baskets to score points), Grid (a colored tile floor grid game), Mega Grid (larger version of grid) Lasers (laser mazes and the like), Strike (throw a ball at a screen), Press (press the appropriate buttons in time), Hide (move around the room hiding from the "eye"), Portals (drop balls in the correct colored slot at the right time and match the slot it comes out of), and Control (a game that involves navigating with a large controller).

Each Activate room offers multiple games using its particular technique or skillset. For instance, in Hoops you might be shooting baskets aiming for the correct hoop to correspond with the answer to a trivia question, or you might be matching a color pattern, or you may be going for speed. In Strike, you may be throwing balls to crush asteroids, or you might be play a giant version of the classic game, "Memory."

Activate Games take 1-3 minutes and is easy to learn with "How To" instructions displayed before you enter the room. You select the game you want to play, and if you enjoy it you can play another round that is more challenging working up levels of the game. We played a few games through levels, but in many cases we opted to play once so we could try more variety. As you play, it logs your score on a leaderboard and your score is accumulated to your account over time. Each game is designed to be played by 2-5 people. If you have a larger group, you can split up and create teams. 

Players are logged in with an electronic wristband that tracks your progress so you can rack up points, advance through the levels, earn prizes and streak discounts, and gain the reputation as the best in your group.

Our family had a blast at Activate and our girls all agreed it is a fun way to spend an evening. We loved the creativity, the variety, and that each game requires a blend of mental and physical skill. My girls especially loved the laser game, I was partial to strike and hoops, and everyone enjoyed grid. All of the girls can't wait to return!

If you're looking for something new to try this summer, we highly recommend Activate!