Hey everyone, this time around, I took my wife Patty and our kids, John and Jenette, to check out a new virtual reality gaming restaurant that opened up in Atlanta called Good Game ATL. As an avid gamer myself, I had been looking forward to trying this place out for a while and finally made the trip with the whole family in tow. We figured it would be a fun Friday night out doing something new and exciting together. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint!
Overall, I found Good Game ATL to be a really cool and innovative concept, essentially combining a sports bar, restaurant, and full virtual reality experience all in one. The venue features semi-private virtual golf simulator booths powered by Topgolf Swing Suite technology where you can play various online multiplayer games together at your party.
They’ve got top-notch equipment and games covering everything from zombie dodgeball to ice hockey shots to carnival classics. There’s even a virtual Topgolf mode, so you can play rounds of golf on famous courses around the world right from your booth! Of course, they serve up delicious casual American fare and drinks as well to keep you fueled while gaming.
First Impressions
When we first walked through the front doors of Good Game, my initial thought was just “Wow, this place is awesome!” The atmosphere felt energetic yet inviting, with neon lighting, sleek decor, booming music, huge TV screens, and the excited chatter of fellow gamers filling the air.
We made a beeline straight for the virtual reality setup around the packed establishment, itching to check out the equipment and games on offer.
After checking in at the front desk, we were promptly escorted to our reserved Swing Suite booth which ended up being decked out with black leather couches, dynamic LED mood lighting, and a massive theater-sized high-definition screen that practically covered the entire wall. The booth had total sports bar vibes while still feeling private and exclusive at the same time.
While waiting for our golf simulator to boot up, John and I scoured through the insane game library listing over fifty different titles while Jenette eagerly studied the creative menu of bar food items and mocktails.
I ordered a refreshing strawberry ginger ale cocktail while Patty went with a peach-raspberry bubbly drink. John and Jenette shared a towering mountain of crispy french fries smothered in cheese sauce, bacon bits, sour cream, and green onions. For her main course, Jenette munched on chicken tenders with honey mustard and fries while John devoured a juicy bacon cheeseburger topped with a fried egg.
Virtual Reality Games
After filling our bellies with delicious grub and drinks, it was finally time to dive into the exhilarating world of virtual reality gaming! Since none of us had ever actually tried full VR before, we were all extremely excited and just a bit nervous too. Thankfully, our attendant Liam provided crystal clear instructions and got us set up with our headset/sensor gear and clubs in no time.
We started off our session playing a competitive round of mini golf on a wacky zombie-themed course. It was amazing how vivid and realistic the VR graphics were! As we took turns tee-ing off on each hole, we found ourselves ducking and dodging under swinging axes, hopping over bubbling toxic neon goop puddles, and narrowly avoiding zombie munching attacks.
John ended up winning by three strokes while Patty struggled at the back of the pack. But despite her last-place finish, she still had a smile plastered across her face the entire time. Everyone was simply having too much fun rolling with laughter as we experienced this zany zombie world in such an immersive way together as a family.
Next up was a riveting game of virtual ice hockey. After getting suited up in our goalie and skater avatars, we had an absolute blast smashing pucks at extreme speeds into the net and performing ridiculous dive saves together on the same team. The sensor tracking tech was so responsive, making us feel like professional NHL players out there as we deked opponents, zipped down the ice, and unleashed blistering slapshots. Of course, we made sure to indulge in some light-hearted family smack talk along the way too!
Though the fast-paced action definitely elevated our heart rates, it was 100% worth it. We ended up scoring seven goals while letting in three for a solid victory, with John’s blistering one-timer Bombs from the point absolutely lighting the lamp. What a thrill!
Overall Experience
Throughout our epic four-hour visit to Good Game ATL, we played a myriad of awesome virtual reality titles like archery, dodgeball, jetpack basketball, and home run derby in our private simulator booth.
By the end, we were utterly exhausted but filled to the brim with excitement, fun memories, and primary colors from the pulsing neon lights. Our faces hurt from smiling and laughing so much too!
Here are some of my main takeaways and highlights from our family outing:
- Diverse Game Library – With over 50 video game titles and, Good Game caters to literally every age and gaming taste imaginable. Even my wife who isn’t usually big on games had options she enjoyed. The VR sports sims were awesome!
- Innovative Tech – The VR graphics, sensor tracking tech, and simulator equipment from Topgolf Swing Suite were mighty impressive. Very crisp, responsive, and immersive. It felt like you were right in the game!
- Quality Food & Drinks – We sampled a wide variety of menu items and it was all delicious while still being fairly priced. Great portions too! The cocktail list looked awesome as well.
- Exciting Atmosphere – Lively ambiance with pulsing music, laughing patrons everywhere, and glowing neon mood lighting – created an infectious energy unlike any restaurant I’ve been to.
- Attentive Staff – Our bay attendant provided stellar customer service, answering every question we had and promptly fixing any technical hiccups. All employees were courteous.
- Premium Venue Space – Good Game’s chic design with sleek decor touches, and meticulous cleanliness enhance the overall experience.
In terms of constructive criticism, I only have a couple of minor suggestions for improvement:
- Game Library Curation – While extensive, I felt the VR game library could use some refining and curation since some titles weren’t fully fleshed out. I’d trim and enhance existing polished titles over adding more unfinished games.
- Drink Happy Hour – To better cater to patrons coming right after work, starting drink happy hour specials earlier at around 4 PM rather than just 6 PM makes sense. More affordable too!
Overall though, we had an absolute blast of an evening at Good Game ATL! I was thoroughly impressed by the elite equipment, immersive VR experiences, and visionary gaming restaurant concept. The exciting atmosphere and energetic vibe were truly infectious too.
It’s not every day you get to battle hordes of zombies, launch slapshots as an NHL all-star, pop trick basketball shots as a high-flying mech warrior, and putt across post-apocalyptic mini golf courses in the same night! This was virtual reality gaming cranked up to the max.
My whole family agreed Good Game would make for an awesome spot to host a birthday party, corporate team-building activity, group date night, or just a plain fun weekend hangout session. We’ll undoubtedly be back again soon to conquer more virtual worlds together! Maybe I can even set the VR home run derby high score next time too.
Wrapping Up
To wrap things up, Good Game ATL is an absolute must-visit destination in Atlanta for anyone looking to experience cutting-edge virtual reality gaming technology paired with tasty American fare, creative cocktails, and an energetic atmosphere all under one roof.
So if you find yourself in Atlanta and are itching for out-of-this-world family fun…then I cannot recommend swinging by Good Game ATL enough! Just make sure to come hungry and ready to embark on whimsical gaming quests you never thought possible.