Action Games & Birthday Party Venues in Des Moines, IA

Omniverse Virtual Reality is located within Pole Position Raceway Des Moines, just off the I-80/35 and Highway 141 interchange on the edge of the metro area in Grimes, Iowa.

The Omni Arena by Virtuix offers free-roam virtual reality where players can actually walk and run inside the game. Four game modes are available: Dead Zone Zombies (cooperative zombie survival), Elite Force Deathmatch (competitive arena shooter), Core Defense Robot Shooter (team-based robot defense), and Blackbeard Pirate Adventure (family-friendly treasure hunting). Each session runs approximately 10 minutes, and the VR experience can be combined with indoor go-kart racing at the same facility.

Beyond VR and karting, the venue offers iRacing simulators, a snack bar with refreshments, catering for private events, and a conference room for gatherings. The facility hosts birthday parties, corporate events, and team building activities, with full facility rentals available for larger groups. Weekly and monthly Omniverse ESPORTS competitions with cash prizes add a competitive edge, and spectator monitors allow non-players to watch the action in real time.

Spare Time Des Moines is located in the Jordan Creek area of West Des Moines, Iowa, right off Jordan Creek Parkway.

This family-friendly entertainment hub features an epic laser tag arena with tactical obstacles and multi-level gameplay, two escape room experiences (30 and 60 minutes), luxury bowling lanes, and a massive Game Zone arcade. Guests can enjoy chef-crafted dining and signature cocktails at multiple restaurants and bars throughout the venue. The facility offers four customizable birthday party packages (Bowling, Bash, Laser Tag, and Gamer), each with a dedicated party host who handles setup and cleanup. Private event spaces include the Elite Suite with eight bowling lanes and a private bar, a Climate Controlled Patio with a firepit, and a Restaurant Event Space for up to 130 guests.

For corporate events and large gatherings, the entire venue can be rented for up to 975 guests, with full catering options from casual appetizers to elegant plated dinners. The venue also features comfortable lounge areas, a climate-controlled patio, and multiple bars for post-game relaxation. The professional staff, praised in guest reviews for their attentiveness, ensures every event runs smoothly. Spare Time is well-suited for birthdays, corporate team-building, fundraisers, field trips, weddings, and milestone celebrations.

Des Moines Paintball Park at Archery Field and Sports is located in Altoona, Iowa, just northeast of Des Moines.

The park offers multiple well-designed paintball fields supporting speedball, woodsball, and scenario games like capture the flag and team deathmatch. Standard paintball is available for ages 10 and up, while low-impact paintball provides a gentler option for younger players. Archery Tag — a dodgeball-style game using bows and foam-tipped arrows — is also offered both indoors and outdoors. Rental equipment is available at reasonable prices, and the facility operates on a reservation-only basis for paintball groups.

The venue is well-suited for birthday parties, bachelor and bachelorette events, school functions, and corporate outings, with private field reservations and dedicated referees available for groups. The on-site pro shop carries equipment and accessories, and the knowledgeable staff provides guidance for newcomers. As part of Archery Field & Sports, the park also benefits from a lounge area, recreation space, and access to one of Iowa’s largest indoor archery ranges.

The White Rabbit VR Arcade is located inside Merle Hay Mall in Des Moines, Iowa, near Flix Brewhouse.

The venue offers four main VR experiences: a free-roam multiplayer VR Arena where up to four players move and battle in real time, a VR Arcade with over 30 games ranging from action shooters to creative puzzles, team-based VR Escape Rooms with themes like Chernobyl and Cyberpunk, and immersive VR Haunted Houses for thrill-seekers. A $5 VR Teaser is available for first-timers. The VIP Exclusive Experience allows private rental for up to eight players with unlimited game access and a dedicated Game Master.

The space is particularly well-suited for birthday parties, family gatherings, and corporate team-building events. The owner and staff are frequently praised for their patience and attentiveness, especially with first-time VR users and children. Walk-ins are welcome, but advance booking is recommended for weekends and holidays. The mall location provides easy access to additional dining and entertainment options.

RezBlue VR Arena is located in Des Moines, Iowa, near the Grand Avenue area.

The venue specializes in room-scale, untethered virtual reality experiences including multiplayer VR Laser Tag, VR Escape Rooms, and VR Arcade adventures. With up to 20 headsets operating simultaneously, groups of all sizes can battle, solve puzzles, and explore immersive digital worlds together. The arena features safety foam flooring, spectator viewing screens, and a game library designed for both casual players and competitive enthusiasts.

Beyond gaming, RezBlue offers private party areas for celebrations, a LAN center for video game parties, and pop-up mobile VR services that bring the experience to offsite events. The venue welcomes outside food and decorations for parties, sells pizza and refreshments on-site, and provides prepaid play credit packages for returning guests. The friendly, knowledgeable staff consistently earns praise for making first-time VR users feel at ease, making this a welcoming destination for birthdays, corporate team-building, family outings, and community gatherings.

Located on Quail Ridge Avenue in Saint Charles, Iowa — a short drive southwest of Des Moines — DOA Paintball and Airsoft Field offers two large, well-maintained fields packed with creative obstacles like buses, two-story towers, forts, and bunkers. Players can enjoy a rotating selection of game modes including capture the flag, domination, and attack and defend, with both paintball and airsoft available. Rental equipment is provided on-site at reasonable prices, and the staff is known for being professional, safety-conscious, and welcoming to newcomers.

The field is a popular destination for birthday parties, corporate team-building events, bachelor parties, school groups, and family reunions. The minimum age for standard paintball is 10, with a parent waiver required for players under 18. With a 4.9 Google rating and a perfect 5.0 on Facebook, DOA has built a loyal community of regulars who appreciate the spacious fields, short walking distances between play areas, and the friendly, down-to-earth atmosphere.

Combat Live Laser Tag is located inside Merle Hay Mall in Des Moines, IA.

The venue features a 5,000-square-foot laser tag arena with a layout that changes every week and military-grade equipment that simulates 285 different weapons, rotated weekly. Game modes include Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, Battle Royal, Predator, Zombie mode, and many more. Walk-in laser tag sessions are available, and private parties can book the arena exclusively with customized game modes for groups of up to 16 players.

Beyond laser tag, the facility includes a game center where visitors can play video games on a dedicated high-speed connection, with purchased time saved to a user ID for future use. The venue is well-suited for birthday parties, corporate team-building events, and family outings. Staff are noted for being welcoming and attentive, and the arena offers discounted walk-in rates during the current setup phase of the facility.