Buzzers at the ready! Survey says that game night just got an upgrade.
Game Show Battle Rooms—an entertainment experience that launched in Minnesota—landed in Chesterfield’s The District this month, and it’s already igniting competitive spirits all over the metro area. Ideal for ages 9 and up, Game Show Battle Room takes versions of classic and modern game shows from the TV screen and brings them to life for fans.
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“If you love watching game shows or playing along with games shows at home, it’s your opportunity to live that out in person,” says general manager Melissa Spears. “Each ‘show’ has a dedicated host and producer, so you have the theatrics and everything behind it too. With the music and lights, it really does feel like you’re entering a game show. We even give you the little name tags. We really like to go all out.”
Game Show Battle Rooms offers a one-hour session for groups of six—19 and a 75-minute session for groups of 20 or more. For the Classic Showdowns package, players experience Survey Says (Spears notes this is the fan favorite), Spin and Solve, and What’s That Cost?. For the Prime Time Showdowns package, groups will also have the chance to play Survey Says, but then will take part in MatchUp Wars and Time Rush Games. After each game, employees will take a champions trophy winner photo, which is posted on the Wall of Champions.
“The Classics are really for the ultimate game show lovers, in my opinion,” Spears says. “The Prime Time package, I would say, is a little more interactive.”
Spears explains that the content of the games can be catered to the group visiting, such as a volleyball team, a bachelorette party, or a family with a big interest in music. She adds that the entertainment venue changes the content for the games every two months, so players can keep coming back for more.
Drink options include nonalcoholic beverages such as Coke products, as well as alcoholic options, which include seltzers, beer and wine. Guests are encouraged to stop in the nearby 4 Hands Brewing Co. or Hi-Pointe Drive-In for food before or after their experience.
St. Louis is only the 10th location of Game Show Battle Rooms, but the company has its eye on expansion through 2024. Spears came to this role by way of TV, after eight years as the executive producer of Show Me St. Louis. “I knew I wanted to get out of TV and see what else I’m capable of,” she says. “When I stumbled upon this job, it sounded too good to be true—to have a little bit of my TV background but also do something completely new. For me, going from sharing positive news daily, being a part of that positivity for people every day was something I was still looking for. The best part is having more and more people just be able to experience some positivity and fun.”
Spear also hopes Game Show Battle Rooms can act as a sort of escape for those in need of one: “In the world, we have so much going on, but when you enter that arena, you’re playing those games and you’re not really thinking about anything else.”
Reservations are required in advance for Game Show Battle Rooms. Tickets are $34.95 per person, and holiday rates are $36.95 per person through January 31.
The company hopes to expand further into the community in 2024, with pop-up events outside of the Chesterfield studio.
“I’m a St. Louis native and to be able to open this in my hometown is so exciting,” Spears says. “Just bringing the St. Louis community something that we didn’t have before and the opportunity to do something outside of the norm—it’s a perfect opportunity for families, friends, colleagues, etc. to have a fun outing and get competitive.”
