Into the Woods: A Day of Strategy and Laughs at Battlefront Memphis

Last weekend, my partner and I decided to surprise our two teenagers (aged 15 and 17) with something different — a day of outdoor action at Battlefront LaserTag & Paintball in Memphis. We’d heard good things: a sprawling wooded field, varied game types, and a flexible atmosphere that could suit both novice and serious players. It turned out to be exactly what we needed — tension, teamwork, fun, and shared stories.

We arrived early, the morning sun filtering through trees as we drove into the park entrance. The check-in area was rustic but welcoming, with wooden benches, gear racks, and staff ready to help. We registered, signed waivers, and got matched up with our gear (goggles, markers, vests). The staff explained field boundaries and safety rules clearly, and walked us to the staging area where we could see glimpses of bunkers and terrain ahead.

From there, you could feel the anticipation: the hush of leaves, the distant clatter of equipment, and birds overhead — a strangely anticipatory calm before the storm.

We opted for a mixed package combining standard paintball, low-impact paintball, and a round of outdoor laser tag / battlefield laser hybrid mode. The idea was to test different formats and keep things fresh.

Standard paintball: the full-impact markering, for adrenaline and serious tagging.

Low-impact paintball: a gentler version, good for those wanting the look and feel without so much sting.

Battlefield / outdoor laser tag: a mode that combines paintball-like tactics without splatter — tactical and strategic.

This variety let each of us pick rounds that matched our comfort level but still felt connected as a team.

We stepped into the first battleground: densely wooded terrain, natural cover, man-made barricades and angled bunkers. The sunlight filtered through leaves, casting shifting shadows. Our first game was straightforward team elimination: sprinting between cover, calling flanks, ducking into hideouts, and coordinating suppressive fire.

One moment stands out: I peeked over a log wall and saw my older daughter mid-dash across a clearing. In that split second, I hesitated — should I cover her or push forward? She made it. That rush, that moment of trust, felt like a highlight.

Later, we switched to low-impact rounds together. That one was more relaxed, more forgiving — yet when we paired up and faced off against another pair, the stakes felt oddly high. The laughter then, when someone miscalculated a shot or slipped behind cover, was just as intense as the serious fights.

In the laser / hybrid mode, the maps opened further. Without paint splatters, we could push into darker lanes, use stealth maneuvers, and time our advances. The contrast between the pure adrenaline of standard paintball and the tactical patience of the hybrid round made the day feel balanced.

Between matches, we gathered in the staging zone. We compared misses, teased near hits, drank water, reloaded gear, and planned our next push. The kids swapped strategies and maps, sometimes turning us parents’ advice into jokes (“Dad, your flank failed”). The quiet rustle of the woods, the sound of gear being adjusted, the steady hum of insects — all that became part of the soundtrack.

Watching from the sidelines, I felt proud — of how they strategized, how they leaned in, how they laughed after a tough fight.

As dusk crept in and the final games concluded, we walked off the field sweaty, dusty, exhilarated. My body felt pleasantly tired, my mind still buzzing with tactics and near-misses. But beyond that, I felt connection: with my partner, my kids, the shared adrenaline and laughter filling space between us.

We left with backseat chatter: “Let’s do this again, sooner.” “Next time, I’m leading the flank.” “I want more low-impact rounds.” In the car, we recounted every tactical surprise, every moment we risked a push, and every burst of cheering.

Battlefront Memphis gave us not just games, but a living, breathing experience where we were a team — strategizing, advancing, falling back, laughing, and most of all, present with each other.

If you want a day that tests reflexes and fosters bonds, where victory and laughter go hand in hand, this is a place I’ll happily return to. 5/5 — unforgettable and full of heart.