Futuristic combat has come to Kent! Your mission - should you choose to accept it - is to take up a laser gun, join your squad, and annihilate the enemy. The battles will take place in town centres, specially designed out-of-town arenas and in the great outdoors of this southeastern county, and you will be the protagonist. Keep your wits about you and you might survive, hone your aim and you’ll hit your target, lead your team to victory and you’ll be a legend! Laser tag is the perfect way to live out your fantasies of tactical combat, or experience the thrill of shoot ‘em up video games in real life, and you can enjoy it at centres around the county. Young or old, as an individual or with a team, a quick skirmish or a long campaign, Kent boasts a range of games for everyone and any occasion with great fun guaranteed - and great prices too.

Where are the best places to play Laser Tag in Kent?

• Gravesend: Just 20 miles down the River Thames from central London, this town has always had a close connection with the capital. It was an important port for maritime travel, but nowadays you can take a fantasy voyage here in one of the laser tag arenas. You can battle across a multilevel game zone, immerse yourself in a cyberpunk themed adventure, or try the latest in laser tag tech, hypershock - but only if you’re brave enough.

• Medway: Rochdale town has a “disco dark” laser tag arena where the action is illuminated by neon lights and hidden by smoke machines. You’ll have to keep a cool head to avoid distractions if you’re going to track down your opponents here. Lighting isn’t an issue outside the conurbation where you can find outdoor laser tag. There are no shadows to hide in here, so take advantage of the cover and come up with a winning strategy.

• Whitstable: The sandy beaches of this seaside resort aren’t so attractive on grey days, so here’s a Plan B. Have a blast in a specially designed arena with colourful equipment and vivid laser beams. You can come with a friend or two, or book out the whole centre for a special occasion to remember.

• Canterbury: Travel to the future of fun in the historic capital of Kent. Canterbury’s arena boasts the latest in laser equipment and you can find out what it’s capable of in five different game modes - individual free-for-alls, team deathmatches, zone defence and more! There’s enough to keep you entertained for ages.

• Dover: On the South coast, the combat takes place in a sci-fi labyrinth complete with music, lights fog, and obstacles. You can book the laser quest arena for a youth group or birthday party, and also for groups of adults - this is entertainment for all, and you’ll be surprised how seriously your parents will take it.

• Folkestone: This town has a laser combat experience in which three teams can face off against each other in an arena which is truly out of this world. The set design will make you believe you’re in outer space, living out the action of films like Star Wars, Star Trek or Ender's Game.

• Ashford: Is a bit more down to Earth, but no less fun. It takes place in a multilevel Second World War themed arena. The past comes to life and the excitement is guaranteed here, where your tactical expertise could be the deciding factor between victory and defeat.

Who can take part in the game?

This is a combat simulation sport, and like real combat, or other sports, you won’t get very far on your own. This is why it’s best enjoyed as a team. The centres welcome birthday parties, youth groups and other teams of youngsters, as well as adult groups like stag and hen parties, to play together. You might work together against another group, or, if there are enough of you, get the whole arena to yourself and take shots at each other! The maximum size of a group booking depends on the centre, but many can host over 20 players at once. If you want to enjoy the thrills of laser combat but you don’t have a large group to book with, don’t worry. You can take part in an open session, where you’ll be paired with other people to form teams. You might find that you make friends in the battle zone who you can play with again and again.

Of all sports that involve shooting at other people, this is the safest and most inclusive. There’s no need to carry around ammunition, and no flying projectiles that can cause bruises. In fact, the laser guns use the same harmless technology as you find in a TV remote.This means that children can take up arms from the tender age of 6 years old in some of Kent’s centres, and 8 years old in others depending on the size and weight of the guns. But there’s one thing that children will have to wait to experience - Hypershock. This is laser tag with the addition of an electric shock belt which punishes you if you’re careless enough to get hit! You can take laser tag to the next level with Hypershock in Gravesend if you’re over 15 years old.

How long does experience last?

The great thing is that you can learn how to use the equipment in seconds, so even in a single game, which usually lasts 10 - 15 minutes, you’ll be blasting your enemies into submission. But when it comes to developing a strategy, you need more time in the arena. It’s common to organise a laser tag session that includes two or three single games, so that you’re at the centre for 1 hour or more.

If you’re bringing your group to enjoy this activity, it’s organised in a similar way. You’ll alternate between games and breaks - during which you get the scores of the previous game and stats about individual players’ performance - and if it’s a birthday party or something similar you can finish off with a celebratory meal. The normal length for a party, or for booking out a centre, is 2 to 3 hours.

Your county needs you to fight in the battle of your life! What are you waiting for?