Escape room and video game experience “Activate” comes to Edmonton

Imagine an escape room, video game and a playground all in one. Activate is the first immersive active gaming experience of its kind in Edmonton — here’s a peek into what the rooms offer.

Activate opened on September 2nd in South Edmonton Common, with ten play rooms and nine different designs to keep players occupied. Each room hosts multiple games for groups of up to five players, all brightly lit with LEDs with touch and motion sensors, and all games have several levels to keep things interesting.

“The goal was to create a cooperative environment for people to solve puzzles, have a little bit of fun, be a little more active, and be able to revisit,” said Quaid York, the general manager at Activate Games in Edmonton.

Some of the rooms require agility, speed and strength, like any other fitness challenge, but others require more strategy and problem-solving – like a game of trivia you have to answer by throwing basketballs in hoops.

Since its opening earlier this month, already the general manager said some people have returned up to eight times to play and increase their rank.

“The idea is they want to be the best, they want to rank up,” said York, “And as they rank up they get to see cool, unique prizes you don’t really get anywhere else.”

He said the gaming centre draws adults, corporate groups and families – like these brothers who experienced Activate for the first time on Wednesday.

“I’d say lasers,” said Jordan Tampai. “Lasers were really fun. It tests your skill of observation and also you have to go down, go up, jump around – yeah, it’s really nice there.”

“I think it’s really nice,” agreed his brother, Jefferson Tampai. “It’s getting really active – like the name, eh? And a few of the games around here get you sweating, so it’s pretty good.”

Their oldest brother Josh Tampai said he’s gone to the location in Winnipeg before, but he’s glad to bring his brothers to this location while they visit him in Edmonton. “I think there’s many games here that can suit any age, but I think it’d be perfect for teenagers or even young adults,” said Josh.

In terms of accessibility, the general manager says they are always open to feedback and there should be something for everyone to play.

“Playing in Mega Grid in a wheelchair is definitely not going to be a possible thing for you,” said York, “But Arena, Hoops and Pipes? Definitely a thing you can do.”

As it gets colder outside, Activate could be your way of staying fit indoors while still having fun. So say goodbye to your treadmill, hello to the climbing wall.