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    Activate Games

    4.8 (16 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

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    The Naperville location is now open (as of 3/22/25). Bookings are $25-30pp for a 75min slot, very much worth it!
    Eric S.

    PUSH THE BUTTON Naperville's hottest new gaming experience will challenge your mind & test your physical endurance. The latest member to join the Activate family recently opened their doors on Route 59, just east of Fox Valley Mall in the western Chicago suburbs. My wife and I have been huge fans of Activate ever since attending a Yelp event at the Oak Brook location in September '23, so we jumped at a chance to be part of opening weekend here. Once you arrive, staff will get you checked in. I strongly recommend using their free lockers, since you'll be doing lots of crouching, jumping and other motions that will empty all the change out of your pockets. Word to the wise: do NOT wear jeans, stick to workout gear like underarmor, leggings, etc. Open-toed shoes are strictly forbidden. Activate Naperville has 14 rooms, each with its own unique twist. Most of the rooms are the same as those at Oak Brook albeit with a slightly different layout, plus two 'STRIKE' rooms instead of just one (a decision based on the innate desire of people wanting to hurl balls at targets). 'CONTROL' will test your multitasking abilities (jumping on a pad, pressing buttons on a console) while 'HIDE' is an exhilarating game of "don't get caught" while racing to spell a word or count to 30. This location is missing 'CLIMB', but they have a new area called 'SCAN' which uses 8 large touchscreens and had a virtual supermarket vibe we loved. We noticed plenty of staff answering questions and attending to various issues within the rooms, but we never encountered any problems. Everyone was very friendly and eager to assist. Once our time was up, we were thanked and redeemed Activate's internal microcurrency for a prize. Despite only being open for 3 days as of this writing, I wasn't fast enough to snag a Yelp first-to-review....however I DID walk away with a snazzy blue basketball thanks to the "coins" my wife and I accrued from kicking huge amounts of ass in there. It's the same bball used in their 'HOOPS' room, which is cool. Prices are normally $25-30pp for a 75min session, but from 3/21/25--3/23/25 all bookings were free! They wanted to get the word out, and based on the crowds we saw shuffling in at 5pm on a Saturday, their strategy seems to have worked. With a prime location in Naperville, they ought to pull in tons of business. Here's hoping! * TL;DR * Cardio and quick decision-making are a must if you want to succeed at Activate. I've said it once, I'll say it again--a session here is the most fun you can have without taking your pants off. It's unlike ANYTHING else you've experienced, a crazy hybrid combining the elements of Dance Dance Revolution with low-stakes Squid Game puzzles, along with other arcade challenges like shooting free throws & firing laser guns at light up targets. I consider myself an Activate veteran who'll continue to sing high praise for this brand of one-of-a-kind entertainment. Text your friends, neighbors, and coworkers to meet you at Activate, see if anyone can bump "ericmagnum" off of the leaderboards! (betcha can't)

    Rachana P.

    Check in process and waiver process was seamless. Great variety of games. Great time for kids, friends, family, etc. Definitely will be back!!

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    15 hours ago

    SUPER fun! Staff was very nice and the games were also fun, my favorite were the hoops and grid.

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    Ask the Community - Activate Games

    Review Highlights - Activate Games

    There's games that are super active, where you're running and jumping.

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    Activate Games

    Activate Games

    4.7
    (96 reviews)
    14.4 mi

    I have been coming to Activate: Oak Brook since it opened and it is always a fun way to get your…read moreheart pumping, muscles activated, and brain juices flowing! I was here on Good Friday since I had the day off. I made my gaming partner go early because those times were discounted and boy, am I glad I did! By the time our 90 minutes were up, the place was getting PACKED. It made my heart happy to see so many families doing something active and together! Like I stated before, I have been coming since it opened, and I appreciated in this visit that the instruction screens were updated, some of the rooms that we not working on my previous version were up and running again, etc. I also appreciate an upgrade to their reward system! Before, they used to hand you items (a water bottle, a basketball, etc.), but now you earn coins and can "spend" them on the items of your choice. I prefer that so I can pick items that I will actually use! (The aforementioned water bottle and basketball were donated to my local charity shop.) I chose a personal bracelet that Activate uses to track your time and points while you are actively participating in the games. The facilities have bathrooms, access to clean drinking water, free lockers to protect your belongings, etc. This time, too, I wore my fitness tracker for kicks and giggles and I burned almost 500 calories in 90 minutes of fun. I wish they offered a summer pass or a monthly pass like other entertainment options in the suburbs.

    I've been to this location twice. We came here on NYE and were able to do the 60 min session. The…read more90 min session was not available but 60 min is more than enough to try all of the rooms at least once. After that, you can choose to go back to your favorite ones. There are free lockers to put your belongings as well as a free coat check. There are restrooms and a water fountain in the very back. There is a lounge area that is used for private parties but you can also just sit in there. You can watch other people play on the big screen. I recommend wearing casual or active attire because you'll get a workout for sure Each game room has a variety of levels and different types of games within that room. The cost per person is cheaper Mon - Thurs. $20.99 for 60 mins. $26.99 for 90 mins. Fri - Sun it's $26.99 for 60 mins and $38.99 for 90 mins. For Mondays and holidays, it's best to check back because the prices do change. I highly recommend booking on the website instead of blindly going there. The slots fill up fast. The games are short so you don't have to wait long to go into that room. The room types are arena, climb, grid, hoops, mega laser, hide, control, mega grid, strike, portals, and press. The staff were all friendly and helpful. There's no issue with finding parking.

    Photos
    After completing the waiver online, you activate your wristband here.
    After completing the waiver online, you activate your wristband here.
    Activate Games
    Activate Games

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    Twisted Pin

    Twisted Pin

    4.1
    (99 reviews)
    10.9 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    Private events

    This was my first time at Twisted Pin, and I was very impressed. The prices are pretty high but as…read morea non-bowler, I am not sure how they rank compared to other places. On the other hand, this place is also a little more high end compared to your old fashion bowling/dive bar places. The location was very easy to find. We used Google Navigation and it lead us directly to the place. If you miss the entrance, it might be a little annoying to backtrack but no big issues. Parking was no issues and it is very big compared to the size of the building. We showed up on a busy Wednesday where it is penny pins so you only pay a penny per pin you knock down. Essentially...the worst you are, the cheaper your game will be. Inside the building is very nice and clean. There are two entrances..one is a "restaurant" and the other is the decent sized arcade and bowling. There is a self serving beer tap. And they do serve food. They do a little star less due to the prices of the food as well. It is better than your traditional bar/bowling food but it is a little more expensive. Also, I do enjoy the service of the self serving beer tap. They had a lot of selections of beer, 1-2 seltzers, 1 cider and ~5 wine selection. Also, they do have a "limit" of ~32 oz where the bartender can allow you or less depending on how you act. I do appreciate that so while you can drink feely, no one is getting drunk. I think we were paying ~.60 cents an oz and it does tell you how much your drink will cost as you are pouring. Also, they do have a small water station will is greatly appreciated. The arcade is decently sized. They do have a lot of selections of games but it is not a place where I would go just for the arcade. The size is good for after bowling or while you are waiting for your lane. Overall, I am very impressed with this location. Food, self serving beer tap, and arcades... I am fan of Twisted Pins and I would be back in the future.

    Went here recently. It's been many years since I've been there and the whole place has been…read moremodernized. They changed names they've got all new lanes, got a pro shop, they got all sorts of crane games and video games etc. I did not bowl, but my kids all bowled with their cousins. What I didn't like, was we got there at 245 and the kids wanted to bowl for an hour, 3 games and there was really nobody on the main lanes except two of the lanes which were already in use and they didn't want to rent lanes to my kids because they said the Plainfield teachers group is coming in. And I'm sure they wouldn't be there till 4 o'clock but this is it like at 2:30 2:45 and so they made my kids rent a lane which cost more dollars an hour and the shoes were more and they had to rent a lane in the VIP section which had colored lights and video on the wall and because they're worried about taking care of this teachers group and school wasn't even close to being over yet but they just wanted to make money on whoever was there. So we got stiffed by having to pay a lot higher prices and I didn't like that. So of course my wife liked the fact that they had a pour your own beer area. With like 20 different beers, some wines, some seltzers etc. etc. And you give them your card upfront they give you a separate card which you wave over the selection that you want , and then it weighs by the ounce how much it pours for you and then charges you a fee. It was in the afternoon and I didn't feel like drinking although the wife drank with my nephew. That was a good thing but I'm really only gonna give them two & 1/2 stars because they were obviously didn't want to rent to us so they gave us the expensive lanes. I just didn't like the service so at our expense they made extra money which was wrong. I personally wouldn't go back.

    Photos
    Hot, oven-baked pizzas served fresh at Twisted Pin, offering classic comfort food with a modern twist--ideal for bowling night...
    Hot, oven-baked pizzas served fresh at Twisted Pin, offering classic comfort food with a modern twist--ideal for bowling night...
    Craft cocktails, indulgent desserts, and crave-worthy appetizers come together at Twisted Pin, creating the perfect pairing o...
    Craft cocktails, indulgent desserts, and crave-worthy appetizers come together at Twisted Pin, creating the perfect pairing o...
    Be happy about splitting - dive into juicy boneless wings drenched in the sauce of your choice (shown w/ buffalo), indulge ...

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    Be happy about splitting - dive into juicy boneless wings drenched in the sauce of your choice (shown w/ buffalo), indulge ...
    Galloping Ghost Arcade

    Galloping Ghost Arcade

    4.5
    (388 reviews)
    18.5 mi

    I would love to see the electric bill - I can only imagine what it must be for the largest arcade…read morein the world with over 850 playable arcade cabinets. Speaking of, how wonderful is it that this place exists? Far too many modern places are drink-focused enough that games have cup-holders, the games themselves have giant, modern LCD screens with the brightness and color turned way up, and all this for about $1.50-$2.00 a game that lasts a minute, 90 seconds at best, and does not require much skill (with alcohol, I suppose they want something winnable even while a little inebriated). This is to say nothing of the games where the goal is to win tickets to exchange for prizes - don't get me started on the shenanigans at play. Galloping Ghost has arcade games where a simple joystick and a couple buttons is all you need. There are some older shoot the screen games, and other retro games as well. Let's say that none have a modern, flat-screen, and all are old enough to use CRT (Tube) Screens. Given their age, the games are kept in very good shape! I also love that Galloping Ghost is about the love of the games, and not about the love of liquor with games being an excuse to drink. There are bottled sodas available for sale, but not cup-holders, alcohol, or food. Even gum is forbidden. This also has the effect of being a community icon! When I visited, there was a gathering of furries (not something I engage in, but power to you!) I haven't even gotten to the best part: $25 for all day, all-you-can-play access. Open from 11am to midnight (or 2am Friday & Saturday night). The ticket allows you access throughout the day, so you can come and go as you please. Better still, an extra $5 gets you access to all-you-can-play pinball a couple blocks down the street. Also a good selection of fun machines somewhere between retro and modern Stern. Final verdict: While Chicagoland has some arcades with free-play, and some even don't require an entrance fee, these, despite a modest selection revolve around booze. Galloping Ghost is a dying breed that exists to test your skills, maybe set a record if you're that good, and hang out. All this, for a very reasonable entrance fee.

    I love video games. Always have. When I found out that the largest arcade in America was near…read moreChicago, I had to stop. Here is what I liked and didn't like about this place. Liked - Over 900+ games. I mean, just by sheer numbers, that is impressive as hell! Every game you can think of, and then some. So many games I had never heard of before. - Unlimited play with entry. - Its like an interactive video game museum, pretty much. Didn't Like - $25.00 to get in. Wish they had a "by the hour" type pricing. I was there for about 3 hours, and I probably just broke even, money wise, on the games I actually played. - Almost TOO MANY games if there is a such a thing. I spent half my time walking around looking at the different games instead of just sitting down playing them. - Hot inside. Little bit stuffy in there, and it wasn't even that crowded. Couldn't imagine if the place was packed during the Summer months. - Some broken/unplayable games. Most of them I tried worked, but there were a few where the controller was jacked, or certain buttons didn't respond/work well. Would I come back? Yeah, maybe. I'm glad I got to see it, and was impressed by the sheer number of games they have. I just didn't have as much "fun" as I thought I would for the $25.00 entry fee.

    Photos
    Two rare 3D games - Hologram and Holossium!
    Two rare 3D games - Hologram and Holossium!
    Galloping Ghost Arcade
    Galloping Ghost Arcade

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    Activate Games - arcades - Updated July 2026

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