Does Dave & Buster's Have Laser Tag

Picture this: It’s a Saturday night, and I’m standing in a Dave & Buster’s parking lot with my buddy Mark, hyped up on nachos and a vague sense of invincibility. We’d just polished off a round of Jurassic Park at the virtual reality rig, and Mark turns to me with that glint in his eye. “Dude,” he says, “let’s settle this in the laser tag arena.”

I nodded, already imagining myself dodging red beams like a ninja. We marched inside, past the flashing neon and the clatter of skee-ball, and stopped dead at the counter. The employee just blinked at us. “Laser tag? We don’t have that here.”

Wait, what? I felt like I’d just been told there’s no cheese on the pizza. It was a betrayal of the highest order—a classic case of “adult playground” false advertising. So, let’s clear this up once and for all: Does Dave & Buster’s have laser tag? The short answer is no, they do not, and I’m here to explain why that’s both frustrating and totally fine.

The Hard Truth: No Lasers, Just Tickets

If you’re hunting for a dark room filled with fog machines and infrared vests, you’re out of luck. Dave & Buster’s sticks to their core vibe: a mix of arcade games, sports bar action, and a redemption counter that smells faintly of stale popcorn and victory.

Why skip laser tag? Because it’s a space hog—you need a whole room, safety briefings, and staff who don’t mind getting zapped by accident. Instead, they pack in massive virtual reality setups like the Halo: Fireteam Raven and multiplayer racing sims. It’s a trade-off, and honestly, I get it.

But let’s be real: the first time you hear that, it stings a little. You’re like, “But the commercials made it look so epic!” And yeah, they do—but that’s because marketing loves to blur the line between arcade and full-on laser warfare.

What They Offer Instead (And Why It Still Rocks)

Don’t close this tab yet. While there’s no laser tag, Dave & Buster’s has something arguably better for a group of hyper-caffeinated adults: interactive games that scratch that same competitive itch. Think Angry Birds 2: The Arcade Game or a basketball shootout where you can trash-talk your friends without a referee.

For the true “shooter” fix, they host Jurassic World VR: Mission Jurassic and Minecraft Dungeons Arcade. These drop you into a world with tangible stakes—like a virtual T-Rex chasing you, or a horde of creepers. It’s not quite dodging beams, but it’s close enough to make your heart pound.

And here’s the kicker: you can win tickets from those games. Laser tag gives you bragging rights; a mountain of tickets buys you a giant unicorn stuffed animal. Which legacy sounds more ridiculous? The unicorn wins, every time.

But Why Does Everyone Think They Have It?

I blame the collective nostalgia. Places like Main Event, Chuck E. Cheese, and even some bowling alleys have laser tag, so our brains lump all “fun food arcades” together. It’s like assuming every pizza place has pepperoni—most do, but Dave & Buster’s is the pineapple pizza of this metaphor.

Also, they used to test laser tag in a few locations years ago. Like, ancient history—2010-ish. Those experiments fizzled out faster than a faulty vest battery. So if you heard a rumor from your cousin’s friend, it’s probably survivor bias from a single Dallas branch that had a laser tag room for exactly eighteen months.

Bottom line: don’t believe every Facebook post that says “D&B has it now.” Check their website or call ahead. I failed that step, and I’ll never forget the shame of walking out with a bag of pretzel bites and zero laser bruises.

What You Should Do Instead (A Pro Tip)

If you absolutely must go laser tagging, pair it with Dave & Buster’s. Hit an arena like Laser Quest or Activate first—yeah, it’s a separate trip—then waltz into D&B for drinks and Pressure Putt mini-golf. It’s the perfect buzz collision of two worlds: tactical combat + greasy wings.

Or, just embrace the chaos. Dave & Buster’s is about friendly competition without the sweaty gear. Grab a squad, challenge them to Deal or No Deal on the big screen, and mock whoever loses. That’s a memory, people.

And if you’re still bitter? Write a strongly worded suggestion card. I’ve already submitted three. I’m waiting for the day they finally cave and install a laser tag mezzanine over the bar. A guy can dream.

The Final Score: Laser Tag = 0, D&B = Still Fun

So, does Dave & Buster’s have laser tag? No. Do they care? Based on the crowds shoving tokens into the Claw Machine, probably not. It’s like asking if a sports car has a minivan feature—it was never part of the design.

But here’s my honest take: go anyway. Grab a craft beer, dominate a racing sim, and hum the theme to Mission: Impossible as you swipe your Power Card. You’ll forget about laser tag by the time you’re holding a giant T-Rex plushie. And if you don’t? Well, Mark and I will be at the bar, telling anyone who’ll listen about the night we almost fought in a phantom laser war.