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Our Top Picks for the Best Laser Tag Guns & Sets
Best for young kids (ages 4-7)
Best for older kids (ages 8-12)
Best for the whole family
Best for teenagers (ages 13+)
Best for adults
Have you heard your kids talking about laser tag? Are you completely in the dark about this game? We’ve got your back!
While it may look complicated, laser tag is essentially what it sounds like: a fancy version of the playground game of tag. Instead of tagging with hands, though, players tag each other with blasters. And rest assured, the home version doesn’t utilize real lasers. Shooters hit their target with an infrared beam. This is basically the same technology used in a TV remote, so it’s perfectly safe for kiddos.
One of the best parts of laser tag is its multi-generational appeal. Many families report 4-year-old kids playing alongside their grandparents. It’s a wonderful way to stay active, getting everyone off the couch and into stealth mode. Laser tag, with its sounds and lights, can be fun outdoors, but also works well as an indoor game. This makes it the perfect activity year round.
While most laser tag sets work well for families, some are better suited for specific age groups. Some sets differ in size or sound, some come with integrated smartphone apps, and others require vests. Shooters may have basic buttons or multiple functions.
We’ve sorted our favorite laser tag sets based on age range, but keep in mind your own child’s strengths and weaknesses. If your kid is particularly dexterous, they might do well with a shooter made for adults. If your teenager hates loud noises, look for one that doesn’t beep too much.
Laser tag can be a great way to bring people together. Here are our picks for the best laser tag guns and sets for playing together as a family, or with all the kids in the neighborhood.
- Our Top Picks for the Best Laser Tag Guns & Sets
- Best laser tag guns & sets for the whole family to play together
- Best laser tag guns & sets for young kids (ages 4-7)
- Best laser tag guns & sets for older kids (ages 8-12)
- Best laser tag guns & sets for teenagers (ages 13+)
- Best laser tag guns & sets for adults
- A Guide to Buying the Best Laser Tag Guns & Sets
- Laser Tag FAQ
- Final thoughts
Best laser tag guns & sets for the whole family to play together
Top choice: Squad Hero Rechargeable Laser Tag Set
This set is rechargeable, and that alone guarantees it a top spot. There’s no need for a separate pack of batteries, and each charge gets around four hours of gameplay. On top of that, this set has fun features: lights, sounds, vibration, stealth mode, and a flashlight.
The Squad Hero set provides a wonderful introduction to family laser tag. And if you have a bigger group, you can purchase more shooters separately.
- Rechargeable gear holds a long charge
- Flashlight for nighttime or basement play
- LCD screens display lives, ammo and battery
- Shooters have a mute button
- 150-foot range
- Manufacturer recommended age: 8 years and up
Budget choice: Best Choice Products Kids Laser Tag Set
The Best Choice set provides a family laser tag experience without extra bells and whistles. The target is on the gun itself, so there’s no need to wear vests or armbands. Each blaster lights up, makes sounds, and vibrates when hit.
As a bonus, these shooters are compatible with the popular Dynasty brand, so you can easily integrate more players.
- Target is on the guns themselves
- Weapons light up, make noise, and vibrate
- 130-foot range
- Manufacturer recommended age: 8 years and up
Best laser tag guns & sets for young kids (ages 4-7)
Top choice: Laser X Micro Blasters
Unlike the other brands on our list, Laser X connects its blasters and receivers with a small cable. Players wear an armband, and a cord fastens the band to a blaster. It sounds bulky, but players say it doesn’t get in the way.
Laser X Micro Blasters are also smaller than other shooters. This might be a disappointment for adult players, but it works perfectly for six-year-olds with little hands.
- Target is located on armbands
- Set includes batteries
- Lights and sounds
- 100-foot range
- Manufacturer recommended age: 6 years and up
Budget choice: Ryan’s World Laser Tag for Kids
Ryan’s World made the perfect blasters for moms who are uncomfortable handing their kids toy guns. They’re shaped like retro space shooters instead of handguns, and they sound more like lightsabers than real weapons.
Some customers say the poor accuracy results in a less enjoyable game, but the lights and sounds make the shooters a fun toy for young kids anyway. It’s a great pick if you want a physical activity for little ones.
- 3 shooting modes
- Guns only; no vests
- Includes first set of 6 batteries
- 100-foot range
- Manufacturer recommended age: 3 years and up
Best laser tag guns & sets for older kids (ages 8-12)
Top choice: The Adventure Guys Deluxe Lazer Tag Gun Set
Take the laser tag battles up a notch with the Adventure Guys’ Bitsybot! This robotic beetle scurries around your game, trying to avoid getting hit. It works for solo practice or adds an extra element of fun to large games.
Targets are on the guns themselves, so while you’ll need plenty of batteries, you won’t need to wear any gear. It’s a fun set for kids who want something a little different.
- Comes with a carrying case
- Includes a robotic beetle
- Four weapon modes
- 150-foot range
- Manufacturer recommended age: 6 years and up
Budget choice: HipHopToy Laser Tag Set with Drone
If you like the idea of solo play, check out the HipHopToy set with a high-flying drone. One person uses the infrared blaster to shoot the drone, and by shooting it, keeps it flying even higher. The sets are compatible, so you can add more blasters and more drones. These can be used to play traditional laser tag with or without the addition of drone targets.
- Designed to be played solo
- Can add a second set to play traditional laser tag
- Drone flies up to 164 feet high
- 130-foot range
- Manufacturer recommended age: 5 years and up
Best laser tag guns & sets for teenagers (ages 13+)
Top choice (and budget choice!): AlphaPoint Nerf Laser Ops Pro Toy Blasters
This set is a good one for teenagers since they generally already have smart devices. There’s an app that works as a scoreboard and can be used as GPS to find hidden players. Each blaster comes with an armband for wearing a smartphone during gameplay. The range is also longer, making it extra fun for older players who want to play sniper-style.
- No vests
- Connects to a smartphone app for tracking performance and customizing blaster
- 225-foot range
- Manufacturer recommended age: 8 years and up
Best laser tag guns & sets for adults
Top choice: Nerf Lazer Tag Phoenix LTX Tagger
This relatively inexpensive set lends itself well to strategic laser tag. The range is long, the batteries last for over 10 hours of play, and the shooting is more accurate than on other sets. It’s wonderful for grown-ups who want to play laser tag in the woods, hide, and hit their targets from afar.
The shooters also allow players to start with different numbers of lives, which evens the playing field for newbies and experienced laser taggers. Adults might also appreciate the old-school arcade-style stat displays.
- Ability to equip blasters with different numbers of lives
- Shield option makes players invincible for a few seconds
- Unspecified range (users say around 200 feet)
- Manufacturer recommended age: 8 years and up
Budget choice: ArmoGear Laser Tag Set
ArmoGear doesn’t have the same range or accuracy level as Nerf. But adults will still enjoy features like stealth mode and the night vision flashlight. This set includes four vests and four blasters with plenty of lights and sounds. One mom mentioned the sound effects are very realistic, which makes this a better set for older players.
On the surface level, the ArmoGear set seems more expensive than our top choice, the Nerf Lazer Tag Phoenix LTX Tagger. However, the Nerf Lazer Tag Phoenix comes with only two guns, while the ArmoGear comes with four, so the cost per gun for the ArmoGear works out to be lower, making it our budget choice.
Also recommended in our list of best outdoor toys for 10-year-olds!
- Vibrations, lights and sounds
- Sensors on vests and guns, which makes vests optional
- Night vision flashlight
- 150-foot range
- Manufacturer recommended age: 8 years and up
A Guide to Buying the Best Laser Tag Guns & Sets
Laser tag rightfully gets heaps of praise for being a great activity. It provides wonderful team building for friends, families or co-workers. Laser tag supplies plenty of exercise, making it a good alternative to traditional video games. And best of all, these portable sets allow laser tag to be played almost anywhere, anytime. Players can gear up and run around indoors even if the weather is cold or damp. Games can happen outside during the day or after the sun sets.
Getting started can feel a bit confusing, though. With all the laser tag equipment out there, where do you begin? There are a few things that will help you narrow your search:
Know your audience
Some sets work best for younger kids and others lend themselves to adult play. Pay attention to the gear required. If there are vests in a set, will they fit everyone playing? Are the sounds too realistic for young players? Are the shooters too big for little players, or too small for adults? If your kids are wowed by details, look for a set with lights, sounds, vibrations and multiple weapon modes.
Size matters
If you only have one kid, look for a smaller set that has the option for solo play. Some sets provide drones or bugs for target practice. If you have a large group, pick a set with at least four shooters and the ability to add more.
Go the distance
When you plan to play inside, range might not matter too much. But if you’re hoping to get an outdoor neighborhood game going, try a set with long-range shooters. Being able to hit your target from 250 feet away makes the game more fun.
Power up
Make sure you read the battery requirements. One of the sets on our list is rechargeable, but the rest require a large number of AA or AAA batteries. Be sure you have plenty of batteries to start playing. Also look for sets that last a long time between battery changes. Nothing is worse than having your gear stop functioning halfway through a game.
Laser Tag FAQ
What is laser tag? How do you play it?
Laser tag is basically the playground game of tag played with infrared shooters instead of hands. Opponents each have a blaster and a target, though sometimes these are the same thing. If the target is a vest, players hide, run, and strategically attempt to hit other players’ vests. If the target is the gun, players attempt to hit the other players’ weapon. Every player begins with a certain number of lives, and once lives are gone, players must sit out. The last person standing wins.
How many people are needed to play laser tag?
Technically, only one person is needed. Some sets are designed for solo play and come with a drone or robotic bug that can be used as target practice. A single player could also set up a second gun or vest and shoot at it from a distance. Really, though, the traditional game of laser tag requires at least two players who tag each other with their blasters. If you have enough equipment, whole families or blocks or birthday parties can play together.
Do all laser tag guns work together?
Most shooters are only in-brand compatible. If you buy a set, you can add more blasters and vests by purchasing more from the same brand. Occasionally, brands do work together because they’re manufactured so similarly. One example is the Best Choice and Dynasty brands. Several customers report using these shooters interchangeably. Be sure to check product information or read customer reviews before expecting your equipment to be compatible.
What should you wear to play laser tag?
Players should dress in comfortable clothing that doesn’t restrict movement. This is a physically active game that requires running, jumping, ducking, hiding and shooting. If players want to be sneaky, wear dark colors at night. If laser tag happens during day time, try to wear something that lets you blend into your surroundings.
Where can you play laser tag?
Traditionally, laser tag is played in a dark facility. This makes the light effects more vibrant, noticeable and fun. At home, laser tag can be played in the dark — perhaps in a basement or around the house at night. But players can also have a game during the daytime, inside or outside. Some users say the beam has a longer range in the dark and to avoid playing in direct sunlight.
Is laser tag safe, especially for kids?
The laser isn’t actually a laser, so it shouldn’t cause any eye damage. It’s the same infrared technology utilized by a TV remote or garage door opener. The safety precautions are the same as in any physical activity. Plan for kids to run, jump, duck, hide and roll. In other words, pick up your Lego pieces and put away your fragile items before you play!
How young can kids play laser tag?
The bulk of laser tag sets are sold with an ages 8+ recommendation. But plenty of users have reported playing with their 3-year-olds. Grandparents are known to join in the fun, so it’s truly an all-ages activity.
Can laser tag hurt my eyes?
Laser blasters shouldn’t be directed into eyes, just like flashlights or any other light-up toy. But they aren’t any more dangerous than other toys.
Final thoughts
Laser tag can be a wonderful activity for families and friends to play together. It gets everyone off the couch, potentially outdoors, and moving their bodies. With the right set of shooters, young kids and adults can play side by side. The infrared guns are safe as a TV remote and there are no foam darts to pick up when the game is over, which saves hassle of cleaning up. Any parent looking to up their cool factor should check out a laser tag set and get ready for a rambunctious family game night.
Looking for more fun outdoor activities to occupy and keep your kids active? Check out our picks for The Best Nerf Guns for the Whole Family and The 50 Best Outdoor Toys for 10-Year-Olds.
I read all reviews before buying Nerf Lazer Tag Phoenix LTX Tagger because I am worried that Lazer Tag Gun will be damaged. But all works very well and with no problems. There’s a sensor on the gun that tracks how many times you’ve been shot, so you know how much stamina you have left. My son loves this gun. Would recommend it to anyone.
That’s awesome to hear, glad we could be of help!
These are more interesting than I expected. I also predict the battery will last a little longer, but given the way there’s light, sound, and physical feedback in them, I can’t complain.