INDOOR VS OUTDOOR - IN BRIEF
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Town centres,shopping malls, idustrial estates |
Out of town, often in woodland |
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From 10 minutes for a singe game |
From 15 minutes for a game, 1 hour for a session |
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Sci-fi, smoke machines, neon lights |
Usually military theme |
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Usually between 5 and 7 years old |
Can be the same, but is often a bit older |
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Immersive, action-packed fun |
Expansive arena encourages strategic play |
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Can be a little claustrophobic |
Laser beams are less visible so aiming is harder |
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London, Plymouth, Preston |
Surrey, Yorkshire |
WHAT INDOOR LASER TAG IS REALLY LIKE
A labyrinth of twists and turns, booming sound effects, and laser beams cutting through the fog, there’s something incredibly cinematic about indoor laser tag. There’s a good reason for that - The inventor of the game wanted to recreate the blasters and battles of the Star Wars original trilogy. Just like the films, laser tag appeals to children and adults alike.
The indoor version of laser tag is particularly good for children. It combines high-excitement gameplay with safety. Indoor arenas are set up to reduce the chance of injury. They favour ramps over steps, highlight corners and changes in level with lights and fluorescent materials, and are free from trip hazards. The equipment is child friendly too, and some centres even use CCTV to keep an eye on things. The fact that you can pop in for little more than 10 minutes, play a game, and then continue shopping is just a bonus!
Of all the cities of the UK, it’s no surprise that the laser tag experiences in London are the most numerous. There are also highly recommended indoor laser tag venues in Lancashire, especially in the city of Preston.
THE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE
Laser tag utilises infrared beams, wavelengths of light invisible to the human eye, that are emitted from a gun and set off sensors on the opponent's gun or vest. The kinds of gun (or tagger, phaser, blaster) used by indoor venues also fire a laser like the ones used in a laser pointer to allow you to aim and to make the game more visual. In daylight, those beams are invisible, but the infrared still does its job. In fact, unaffected by air resistance, the beams in laser tag are hihgly accurate, much more accurate than the projectiles used in similar sports like paintball and airsoft.
So what’s the attraction of outdoor laser tag? It’s got to be the size and the real-feel of the battle zone. Most outdoor laser tag games take place at paintball venues, so you can imagine the varied terrain and built structures that you might encounter. Laser tagging offers you all of this without the pain and bruising that can come with paintball, so it’s a family-friendly way to enjoy strategic gameplay in the great outdoors.
You’ll find some excellent laser tag experiences in Surrey that take place on outdoor sites and are suitable for everyone from the 6 years of age and up. If, however, you're not afraid of a bit of pain, why not try Hypershock? In this new game, when a hit is detected on your laser vest, you receive an electric shock! Try this 18+ version of outdoor laser tag in Essex.
VIRTUAL REALITY?!
The latest trend in leisure and gaming is virtual reality, the use of special devices and technology to transport you to a whole new world of adventure. Imagine playing your favourite shoot-’em-game, like Fortnite or Call of Duty, but you’re really in the game, controlling the action with the movements of your body. This is VR laser tag. You put on a headset which displays the virtual world in front of your eyes and moves it according to where you direct your gaze. Wearing a vest with movement detectors and wielding a controller in the shape of a gun, you can explore the environment, aim your weapon and fire at the enemy!
This immersive experience is becoming more accessible, with VR gaming and esports venues opening in cities and towns around the country. You can try your hand at blasting zombies or space robots to kingdom come by checking out our list of laser tag activities in Greater Manchester.
