If you’re on the fence about laser tag for your family, psychologist Mary McGaughan, PsyD, has some guidance for determining whether it’s appropriate: “Think about where your child is in terms of skills like impulse control, self-monitoring, problem-solving, emotional regulation, and reasoning skills.” McGaughan adds, “These are all skills that I believe are important for safely and appropriately engaging in a game like laser tag and processing the experience.” When purchasing a laser tag set, you should consider its durability, price, ease of use, and range of settings. To make this list, we aimed for products that kids could play right out of the box without much setup and would continue to enjoy for years to come. Here are the best laser tag sets for kids. Suitable for playing outdoors or indoors, the blasters have four weapon modes (pistol, automatic, laser, and rocket). There’s also lots of flexibility in how you play with this top-pick set. We like that the blasters can be set to individual mode (every player for themself) or paired up to make teams. There are four colors, so it’s easy to make teams and gather the appropriate gear. If you’re playing at night, “stealth mode” turns off the lights, and a flashlight helps find your opponents in the dark. Make the game as challenging as you want; players can choose anywhere from one to 99 lives per game. Nobody has to worry about remembering the score because the LED screen on the vest tracks lives, ammo, and battery life in an easy-to-read format. For larger groups, you can add on other sets and have a full round of eight players all at once. The only downsides of this set are that it’s best for older kids and is on the more expensive side. The blasters are shaped like guns, so if you’re not comfortable with that, look for one of the other sets on this list. Price at time of publication: $200 While you can use it both outdoors and indoors, this set has a limited range of 60 feet, so it’s best for smaller yards or indoor playrooms. The blasters have both lights and vibrations, which add a fun, interactive element to the game. There’s only one receiver on the wearable target, so proper aim will be important. The set comes with two guns, but if you buy more than one set, they will coordinate and work together in an individual setting. There’s no way to hook up the four guns and make two teams. Both blasters look pretty much the same and are the same color, though they’re labeled “Player One” and “Player Two.” This is a fun starter set, but more advanced players or older kids may get frustrated by the limited capabilities and shorter range of this pick. Price at time of publication: $30 Other fun features include the vibrating guns and responders, a night vision flashlight on the gun and invisibility mode, which turns off all lights on the blaster for 15 seconds, allowing you to ambush the enemy players in the dark. The laser guns come with four settings (machine gun, pistol, shotgun, and rocket), and it’s easy to switch between modes. Each set includes four laser guns, targets, and strap-on vests. They come in four colors, and it’s easy to play with four individuals or separate into teams. If you purchase more sets, they can all be used together. The major downside of this set is that it requires 24 AAA batteries (three per laser gun and three per target vest), so there’s a costly addition to your purchase, and if you play a lot, the batteries will need to be changed frequently. Price at time of publication: $120 This set takes two AA batteries, and while it’s not a huge added expense, they can be a little tricky to install because you’ll need to use that mini screwdriver you’ve stored somewhere. While you technically can play indoors or out, there’s no range given on the packaging, so it’s probably best to play indoors or within a close range. The two guns are easy to use (once you get those batteries in) and pretty accurate. If you purchase additional sets, you can add to this one, but there’s no way to coordinate and create teams. This is an entertaining set that is probably best for younger kids or those without super high expectations. Price at time of publication: $35 Parents will also appreciate that instead of standard gun names, the weapons have names like “single blaster” and “extreme striker,” making it a more kid-friendly experience. While this is a super fun set, it does use up a lot of batteries, requiring 16 AA and 12 AAA batteries. This set can be combined with another for an eight-person game, but you’ll have to be arranged as four teams of two people. Price at time of publication: $93 The laser guns are on the smaller side at 5 inches. Each gun blaster has a quick slide reload. While the blasters light up, there’s no LED screen or numbers to track lives, battery life, or any other data. Additionally, there’s only one mode, so players cannot choose between different weapon settings. The biggest limitation is that the gun blaster needs to be connected via a short wire to the vest receiver. While this may not bother some kids, it can be a bit cumbersome and awkward, especially for younger kids. Price at time of publication: $50 Parents will appreciate that there are no guns, so this will appeal to lots of families. The bands have a range of 120 feet, so if you’re playing in a big backyard or park, the bands may go out of range. Price at time of publication: $45 There’s no responder or receiver; players just have to aim at the other guns to make a shot. That’s a nice feature for indoor play, where there’s less room to hide. The guns can also be used outdoors, and there’s an indoor/outdoor setting, which impacts how the guns work in different lighting. For older kids or those with access to a smartphone, a Nerf Laser Opps Pro app tracks performance, customizes blasters, and more. The armbands that are included in the set are designed to hold the smartphone, but note they aren’t super secure and don’t offer much protection. Price at time of publication: $40
What to Look for in a Laser Tag Set
Keep these factors in mind when shopping for laser tag sets.
Battery life
Our top pick, Squad Hero Rechargeable Laser Tag, is a rechargeable option that we love for both financial and environmental reasons. Many other sets require batteries, which will limit how long the blasters work. It’s hard to judge battery life since it depends on the frequency of use, but if the laser tag sets are used often, count on replacing the batteries often, and that can get expensive and time-consuming (especially if that tiny screwdriver needs to get involved).
Range
The range of the laser guns is an important factor and may impact where your kids will play. Shorter ranges are fine for indoor play. But if you have a large yard or plan to play in a large park, the players may be hitting their targets, but the receivers frustratingly won’t register them.
Durability
We’d all prefer toys that are super durable. Realistically, laser gun sets are made of plastic and used with active kids. The sturdier sets may last longer but can also be heavier for little hands. No matter what set you get, designate some rules to care for the blasters and responders and store them safely, so all the parts stay together.
Why Trust Very Well Family
Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s also the mom of a 12-year-old son, 9-year-old son, and 5-year old daughter. Her older kids have a laser tag set that they enjoy playing with in the backyard. It only came with two blasters and targets, so for now, Maya hasn’t joined in on the fun yet. But it sure does look fun!
