In the middle of summer in North Carolina, you need to be cautious given the intense heat and sun. While museums, trampoline parks, and arcades are often top of mind, you’ve got a newer, fun option: Activate Games. Billed as an indoor, active gaming facility for adults, Activate Games is an awesome way to spend an hour or two testing your mind and body. And with locations in both Raleigh and Charlotte, hopefully you’ll have one nearby to visit!
Before you head on over to Activate Games, I’d recommend making reservations online. As of July 2026 it’s $22.99 for 60 minutes and $29.99 for 90 minutes at the Raleigh location. You can find discounted periods to save some money. Once you’ve got a reservation, you can fill out an online waiver or take care of the legalese onsite at an Activate kiosk.
After you’re onsite and get checked in at the desk, you’ll receive an Activate wristband that tracks your time playing, track your score and get you access to each room! There’s also a couple of scoreboards for the top players of the day and for all-time at the facility.
In the gaming area, you’ll find 10 or so rooms clearly marked with the game type. At each entrance, you’ll find a brightly lit game panel where you can tap your wristband to register your player name, choose a game and difficulty level and get started. There are solid instructions for each game giving you a short description and how to play the game!
For the Raleigh location, you’ve got 11 different rooms to choose from ranging from Grid, Hoops, Laser, Scan, Hide and a lot more. Each room usually offers multiple types of games that are either collaborative (work together as a team) or competitive (play against each other). The games are pretty quick, usually 1 to 3 minutes and keep you on your toes!
Even with the game instructions out front, there’s a bit of a learning curve for most people. Most games require you to toss a ball, hit a button or control pad, jump around given clues and commands (visual, voice) from the game. I loved the laser game which reminded me of those cat burglar thriller type movies where you need to sneak around deadly laser beams, lots of fun!
And the Grid game has you jumping around as a color and squares are lit up, you just need to act quick and get to your spot. As each game finishes, you’ll get a score if you completed it successfully and usually an option to move to the next level. Activate keeps the games and people moving along, if there’s a group waiting outside, you’ll have to finish and move on to the next game and let the new team in.
Check out the leaderboard when you step out to see where you stand for the day but it’s all a lot of fun even without being a top scorer. And you’ll certainly work up a sweat as you move through all the challenges at Activate!
All in all, my visit to Activate Games Raleigh was a pleasant surprise and a lot of fun. You’ll work up a sweat if you’re competing and the mental twists to understand the game and strategize takes a bit of effort. It’s affordable, it’s fun and way better than sitting in a movie theater in my opinion! Just visit and get your mind and brain activated for a bit, I think you’ll love the experience.
Activate Games, Raleigh
601 E Six Forks Rd Ste 105, Raleigh, NC 27609
919.825.0187
Activate Games, Charlotte
1848 Galleria Blvd Ste 9B, Charlotte, NC 28270
704.412.6464
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much does it cost to play at Activate Game?
Current prices as of July 2026 is $20.99 to $26.99 for 60 minutes of play time. 90 minute blocks of time are available at prices from $29.99 to $32.99. Note, there are often discounted prices depending on the time and day.
Who is Activate Games good for?
Games are limited to 2 to 5 people and great for couples, families, and friends! Players must be at least 6 years old.
What are the games like at Activate Games?
Games at Activate will test your mind and body. From throwing balls at targets to shooting basketballs into hoops, dodging lasers and jumping on colored panels, each game is unique and offers both collaborative and competitive play options.
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