My Review Of Activate Games In Woodbridge: 'Squid Games,' Hide 'N Seek, Laser Mash-Up

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Editor's note: This is a first-person review written by the Woodbridge Patch reporter, who was given complimentary admission to Activate Games as part of its grand opening. She toured the facility with six guests on March 13, 2026.

I don't like Activate Games. I LOVE Activate Games.

Activate is a new indoor "active gaming" space that just opened on Rt. 1 north in Woodbridge (address is technically 893 St. Georges Ave, Woodbridge, NJ 07095). When you hear "gaming," please don't think video games — nothing about Activate Games involves sitting down. And this is not an arcade either, so don't think some place like Dave & Busters.

Instead, Activate Games is like a massive indoor obstacle course. Or an elevated version of hide 'n seek. Or the legal version of "Squid Games," where nobody actually gets killed.

They just opened and, as the Woodbridge Patch reporter, I asked if I and some of my son's friends could explore the place. It was a Friday afternoon in the middle of March (everyone's least favorite month) and everything in New Jersey was grey: The grey sky melded into the grey Turnpike, which melded into the grey cars. Another mom and I picked up a total of five kids, all 10 and under, from school. Too cold to play outside. Everyone had been cooped up all day. Time to head to Activate Games.

Activate Games is broken up into nine different rooms. In each room, you and your teammates get to experience a new physical challenge. You can make the challenges easy (for little kids) or hard (for adults). In one room, it's dodging lasers. In another, you play a more sophisticated version of hide 'n seek, and try to hide from a massive red eye that scans the room looking for exposed players. Another room involves trying to unscramble a bunch of words before a timer runs out. And still another involves dancing on a grid of squares. I'm not explaining the rooms well, because they are more fun than I'm describing. Each room has up to three different levels, or variations on the game. And what's really fun is you can change the settings to either compete against your friends, or work as a team.

Our five kids had a really fun time, and so did the two moms who participated. We even got tired before we got a chance to try out all nine rooms. Get ready to sweat, move and challenge your mind and body! Activate Games is well, extremely active. Bring a bottle of water for all players. This is an outstanding place for children, 'tweens and teens to burn off all that extra energy they always seem to have in spades.

The youngest kids we brought were age 8, and I would say that's the youngest age that kids could come to Activate Games and really understand how to play the games. Any younger than that and parents will definitely have to help kids play, but that's OK, too.

The space is really perfect for kids ages 10 and up, and it's actually designed for people in their 20s and adulthood. These are not children's games; they are extremely fast-paced and interactive physical and mental challenges. It's the perfect spot for a date, an after-work team outing or just to experience with friends. When we were there last Friday, we saw lots of after-work outings of people in their 20s and 30s.

In total, Activate Games has 55 games spread across nine different rooms. I think pricing is extremely affordable for how much fun you will have: Prices are $23.99 to $28.99 per player (it's slightly cheaper on weekdays and non-peak times) for 60 minutes and $29.99 to $39.99 for 90 minutes. Here's their website, and I truly wish Activate Games well. New Jersey is lucky to have such a unique new business now open in the center of the state: playactivate.com/woodbridge

Prior on Patch: Woodbridge's New Indoor Game Space, Activate Games, Now Open