Activate Set to Open High-Tech Playground in Pembroke Pines

Get ready to break a sweat, flex your brain, and maybe earn a TikTok-worthy victory dance of your own: Activate is set to open in South Florida.

The wildly popular active gaming experience, which blends arcade fun with borderline boot camp-style movement and challenges, has announced it will open its first South Florida location in Pembroke Pines — and its second in Florida, following a successful debut in Orlando earlier this year — by the end of June. Its 40-plus locations worldwide indicate the brand’s fast rise from Canadian startup to viral global sensation.

So, what exactly is Activate? Think of it as your childhood game night, laser tag arena, and escape room all under one roof, but with futuristic tech and way fewer stuffy rules. Players wear RFID wristbands that track scores and achievements as they dash through game rooms — there will be 14 of them at the Pembroke Pines location — packed with digital challenges, flashing lights, and reactive walls and floors.

"We’re excited to bring Activate to Pembroke Pines and introduce a first-of-its-kind experience to South Florida," Sébastien Piché, Activate’s vice president of operations, tells New Times. "Our concept blends physical activity and technology in a way that’s engaging, social, and refreshingly different from anything else out there."

At its South Florida location, fans can expect rooms like Mega Grid — where players hop across light-up tiles in a Floor is Lava-style scramble — and Mega Laser, which dares you to dodge Mission: Impossible-esque beams while racing the clock. Each room features multiple games with 10 different levels to unlock, from memory puzzles to team-based obstacle courses.

"We’ve welcomed millions of players worldwide since 2019," says Piché. "What keeps people coming back is the depth and replayability. You can play cooperatively with friends one night and competitively against them the next. It’s always a different experience."

Admission options include 60- and 90-minute passes, which can be booked in advance at playactivate.com. Pricing hasn’t been released for Pembroke Pines just yet, but based on other U.S. locations, expect it to hover at around $30 to $40 per person per session. Pro tip: Wear athletic shoes and dress lightly because you’ll be moving.

Piché also recommends that first-timers embrace variety. "Try as many game rooms as possible," he says. "There are both physically intense and more puzzle-focused rooms. It’s about discovering your own style of play and figuring out what makes you tick."

Activate is finalizing inspections with local authorities and prepping the finishing touches on the high-tech facility. Once doors open on July 15, you can expect extended hours seven days a week and plenty of new challenges: Game developers roll out fresh levels, features, and hidden "Easter eggs" year-round.

"The goal is to keep the experience evolving," says Piché. "We want Activate to be something you can come back to again and again, whether you are team-building, celebrating a birthday, or just looking to do something totally different on a Saturday night."

As for a firm opening date, stay tuned to @activategames on Instagram and TikTok...and maybe start stretching now. Your leaderboard debut awaits.

Activate. Opening in June at 10350 Pines Blvd., Unit #D106, Pembroke Pines; playactivate.com.