Crazy, loud, unforgettable — our big group’s airsoft night at Richmond Indoor Paintball

Our big group’s airsoft night at Richmond Indoor Paintball

We came as a group of 10–13 friends — a wild mix of personalities, ages, moods and headcounts — looking for a night out that would blow off steam. What we got was pure, chaotic, adrenaline-fuelled fun

When we first walked in, we were a bit calm — joking, chatting, lining up for the gear. But once the masks, vests and airsoft markers were on, and we stepped into the 25,000 sq ft indoor arena, it felt like someone pressed “launch.” Corridors, bunkers, barricades — everything echoed with shouts, footsteps, and the whirl of plastic BBs. At first only a few of us sprinted, but soon nearly everyone was darting between corners, shouting “move up!”, “watch left!”, “go go go!”.

The mix of characters was hilarious: the quietest guy in the group suddenly became a sniper hiding behind crates; the one who’s always late turned into the reckless runner charging ahead; the normally calm one morphed into a tactical leader barking orders — and somewhere in that chaos, laughter erupted, high-fives flew, and we all felt ridiculous (in the best way).

We split into two teams, and after the first round — complete pandemonium. People ducked behind walls, rolled on the floor, jumped over obstacles, dodged tracer lights — sometimes screaming from surprise or excitement. We weren’t just playing a game; we were living it. Every “hit” became a mini-celebration, every clever flank earned cheers, and every failed attempt ended in laughter.

What was great: the gear rental was smooth, safety masks and coveralls fit everyone, refs kept the game fair and quick. It let us forget about thinking ahead, about responsibility — and just be there.

Between rounds, we gathered at the lounge area — sweaty, masked, buzzing with adrenaline. We swapped stories about “that crazy ambush”, teased someone who ran right into fire, and laughed about how we looked in our masks. A few of us reloaded early, already feeling the itch for the next round. Others leaned against walls, catching their breath, grinning from ear to ear.

There was something liberating about that — the feeling that for a couple of hours, all pairs of eyes were on the mission; afterwards — on jokes and stories. Strangers became teammates, teammates — friends, the friends — a squad that survived together.

Why we’ll come back — and soon

Because it wasn’t just a night out. It was a reset. A discharge of stress. A celebration of friendship and impulsiveness. In a world where so much feels planned, controlled, serious — that chaotic, joyful mess at Richmond Indoor Paintball felt like a small riot of freedom.

We left tired, messily happy — some covered in BB-dust, some with bruised egos, all with big grins and a collective “We have to do this again.”

If you’re a group of crazy friends, colleagues, strangers looking for a unifying blast of energy — do yourself a favor. Bring a dozen people, suit up, step into the arena — and let chaos, laughter, and a little friendly fire do the rest.