BURLINGTON WEATHER

Burlington Buzz was invited to Activate's preview night. That invitation did not influence our coverage. 


Burlington fun seekers now have a new destination for immersive gaming. Activate Burlington will hold its grand opening on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 90 Middlesex Tpk., with a dozen game rooms built for anyone who enjoys a challenge that gets their heart pumping.

Founded in Canada, Activate currently operates more than 75 locations globally, and the Burlington location is the second in the Boston area and one of over 40 in the United States. The nearly 11,000-square-foot venue features 12 themed high-tech rooms where, said General Manager Meghann Breton, ā€œYou can be the main character of your own video game.ā€ 

Activate is one in a growing list of experiential retail stores permitted in Burlington after a 2022 bylaw was passed by Town Meeting. Longtime Burlington residents may remember a 2011 proposal for a Dave and Busters in the same space that was ultimately rejected. Dave and Busters ended up in Woburn, where Activate’s sister company Breakout Games has an escape room venue.

But Activate isn’t your typical arcade. Step into Laser and jump, duck and crawl around the room without triggering any of the lasers. Head to Mega Grid, but watch where you step! You have to avoid the red tiles while touching all the blue ones. Try Hoops or Strike if you enjoy perfecting your aim, or Scan if you like more of a mental challenge. And, you don’t have to choose just one. Your pass gets you unlimited access to all 12 rooms, each with several games, levels, and the choice to play cooperatively or competitively. Games take between one and three minutes to complete, meaning there’s plenty of time to try again, level up, or try a different game during your visit.

Across visits, players earn points for their performance in each room, which can earn them a spot on the day-of and all-time leaderboard. And frequent gamers can participate in leagues with players all around the world or the Tournament of Champions, where they can compete solo for cash prizes. 

Breton has opened stores in New York City and Dorchester, and says the experience is great for team building, not just for outside groups but within the Activate staff. They hold weekly competitions to level up so employees can become experts in the games and support players. Those staff members are on the floor as a resource for visitors and can even go into rooms to help out upon request.

Activate offers 60- or 90-minute passes as well as parties for all occasions, corporate team building, and total buyouts during off-peak times. All ages are welcome to play, and children under 6 are free, though Breton cautions younger children might not be able to fully participate. Activate also partners with local restaurants like the Chateau to offer discounts on food for parties. Parties get a dedicated coach to show them around, answer questions, and support with games, and those not participating can hang out in the common area and watch the gamers on the live feed.

The grand opening celebration is this Saturday, Nov. 7, starting at 10:00 AM. There will be mini competitions and a live DJ. If you’re up early, it pays off: the first 50 people in line get half-price play without a reservation and a wristband good for free weekly gameplay for a month. Learn more about the venue, including hours and frequently asked questions, at the Activate website. 

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