18 North Central, O'Fallon

Forget about little kids running around in a cheesy quasi-futuristic setting: the laser tag at 18 North Central is as realistic as it gets. Known as iCombat, the game uses guns with lifelike sound and recoil, and it's played on a two-story battleground that requires teams to engage in authentic combat tactics to succeed.

The gaming center's other main draw is a team game dubbed Cyber Sport. Part bumper cars, part lacrosse, the game involves driving a cart around a court while trying to toss a ball into a raised goal. After a round of either activity, groups can head over to Geno's Gourmet Grub to fill up on sandwiches, burgers, and craft beer.