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Activate Games Turns Screen Time Into Real-Life Play

By Tom Barnas
12/30/2025

Activate Games feels like someone finally cracked the code on what happens when video games escape the screen and take over the room.

Now open in Oak Brook at 1600 16th Street, Activate is the only Midwest outpost of this high-energy, tech-forward playground, and it’s built for families who want more than couch time and gamers who crave real-world challenges. This isn’t button-mashing. It’s full-body, brain-on, adrenaline-up play.

Inside, players choose from hundreds of game and difficulty combinations, each running a quick, punchy one to three minutes. Think obstacle courses, reaction-based challenges, memory tests, and strategy-driven missions that feel like stepping inside a living arcade cabinet. Every move is tracked via electronic wristbands, logging scores, progress, and bragging rights in real time.

For parents, Activate hits a rare sweet spot: kids are moving, thinking, collaborating, and competing without ever asking for a controller. For gamers, it’s a fresh twist on competition, where reflexes and strategy matter just as much as stamina. Whether you’re planning a family outing, a birthday blowout, or a friendly rivalry that escalates fast, Activate delivers fast-paced fun that scales for all ages and skill levels.

Looking for your next high-energy adventure? Consider this your invite. Activate Games isn’t just entertainment—it’s gaming, upgraded to real life.

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