I got to experience 3 classic game shows without leaving Texas, thanks to GameOn! HTX

GameOn! HTX gives you a full game show experience right in the Lone Star State, making it the perfect activity for parties, big groups, and work events.

I’ve always loved game shows, so the opening of GameOn! HTX is a huge deal. When I stayed home sick as a child—and even today when I’m sick as an adult)—“The Price Is Right” with Bob Barker would be appointment viewing. Drew Carey once retweeted me, and it made my entire week. (The tweet was about him referencing the Sir Douglas Quintet, a group that approximately zero of my friends are familiar with.)

I also regularly watch “Wheel of Fortune.” In college, a classmate of mine got to be on the show for a college-themed night. She performed pretty well and won a nice trip package, though I still think I would have done better if I had been selected.

Finally, “Family Feud” is a staple, especially when I’m traveling. The show is almost always on a hotel TV channel, and playing along while I get ready to explore is nearly as important as packing a toothbrush and sunscreen. Steve Harvey’s shocked reactions to people’s responses are a classic part of life.

I never thought I’d get to be on these game shows. But thanks to GameOn! HTX, I experienced that thrill in one jam-packed day.

A delightful big group experience

My friend Sean was having his birthday party at GameOn!, so it was a good mix of people from different friend groups. In total, we divided into two teams of seven apiece, choosing our squads “Survivor” style (a.k.a. reaching into a hat and picking out a chip that was one of two colors).

You’ll need a minimum of six people for GameOn! HTX, but one of their studios can hold up to 40 participants. We don’t know that many people who would reliably show up on time, so 14 was an ideal total for us.

My group included the birthday boy, and we weren’t going to let him lose on his big day. But first, we needed to pick a team name and individual monikers to rock on a name tag. Being fans of wordplay, we went with “The Sean-icles of Narnia,” and I was personally “A-Sean-Ti” in honor of the wonderful R&B singer.

Our opponents went a different route. Since their chips were blue, they opted for the “I just blue myself” bit from “Arrested Development.” Did basing their team name around one of the most hapless characters from the show seal their fate? Let’s find out!

The games of GameOn! HTX

I mentioned a trio of game shows earlier, and while GameOn! HTX heavily features their play elements, there’s a unique spin on the names of their offerings.

Survey Squabble

We started with Survey Squabble. GameOn! had previously asked groups of people about a variety of topics, and we had to figure out how they responded. For example, one of the questions was “What do parents think their teenagers spend too much time doing?” Our party had signed up for an X-rated version, so just about anything was fair game.

Each round of Survey Squabble started with one player from each team moving to the center stage. The host read the question, and whoever tapped their button first got the chance to answer. If it was the top answer, they could choose to pass or play; otherwise, the other team got a shot to do better.

Our team was significantly quicker on the draw, so we got to play the first couple of rounds. The answers go down the team’s row; as the sixth person in line, I had a few of the most obvious answers already taken. We got all of the answers for our first round, but sadly missed one in the second round—I tried to remain steadfast when one of my suggested responses that had been vetoed was revealed. We fell into an early deficit, but I wasn’t worried.

When it was my turn to hit the buzzer, I headed to the podium and extended my hand to my opponent. She refused to shake it. Big mistake. From then on, we wiped the floor with them, both in the regular rounds and the lightning rounds, where the first person to buzz in and say a correct answer gets the points.

Whirly Words

Next, we moved into Whirly Words. There was nary a Vanna White to be found, though there was a giant wheel to spin, and that’s equally impressive. My biggest fear in this game was that I would know the entire puzzle, only to hit a bankrupt. Luckily, the spinning luck was on my side, and I always landed on one of the wedges with points.

You can score some bonus points by solving the puzzle after guessing your first letter, but none of us had that sort of magic in us. Still, anyone on the team can shout out the answer when it’s your team’s turn, so we could come to the rescue when we noticed a teammate looking like a deer in headlights.

Our group of seven had never all interacted at once before, but if we could make a career out of solving word puzzles, we’d be darn good at it. Puzzle after puzzle saw “The Sean-icles of Narnia” emerging victorious. The first one that “We Just Blue Ourselves” got correct was one we had nearly solved, but we offered an incorrect word. I still think my teammate just felt sorry for the other side and wanted them to win one.

After the main puzzles, there’s a transition into the “fastest finger” round. The buzzers return, and opponents match up as the puzzle reveals one letter at a time. I will warn you right now: This is the most frustrating part of the entire GameOn! experience. Invariably, you will know the puzzle immediately when it’s not your turn, but you’re not allowed to shout out an answer, so you have to try not to internally combust as you watch a teammate remain clueless. And of course, when it’s your turn, your mind will go completely blank.

Unless you’re me. I’m great at this part of the game.

Disco Drop (AKA Cosmic Drop)

If you Survey Squabble-d 100 people on their favorite games from “The Price Is Right,” approximately all 100 would mention Plinko. Personally, I’d also include Rat Race and Punch a Bunch because I like games that are almost entirely up to chance and involve a bit of movement.

GameOn!’s final experience is an intergalactic version of Plinko. Disco Drop (also known as Cosmic Drop at GameOn!’s Austin location) brings out the luminescent effects and feels like a huge climax to the entire event. Teams take turns dropping pucks down a massive board, with pegs deflecting the pucks down into the bottom area, where each section has different point values.

Yes, a few slots are worth zero, which means you can walk away from the board with a goose egg. Luckily, everyone got at least some points, so we could all hold our heads high.

This round is a great equalizer. You can be a poor guesser in Survey Squabble or not figure out a puzzle in Whirly Words, but Cosmic Drop is virtually all luck. I suppose if you dropped your puck entirely off the board, that wouldn’t be any good, but that’s a highly unlikely scenario.

When the game is close, this is an incredibly tense time. We’re talking winning or losing being in the balance! Alas, “The Sean-icles of Narnia” had built up such an impressive lead that it wasn’t even a contest. We cruised to an easy victory, more than doubling our poor opposition’s score. The good news is that a blowout feels just as lovely as a close win. And you get to celebrate with a cool trophy!

How you can ‘come on down’ to GameOn! HTX

GameOn! HTX is a fantastic addition to the city and caters to all kinds of groups. Grab some friends for a post-work outing, suggest it as a better work bonding experience than all-day meetings, or host a family holiday gathering here instead of at home.

I also cannot compliment host Dalton and producer Brian enough. They brought the energy from the moment we stepped onto the game show floor. From quick reactions to whatever silly nonsense we uttered to a menagerie of sound effects (like canned audience laughter and a crash of thunder for the “lightning round”), it was as seamless as could be.

Check out more info below and book your experience on the GameOn! website. And if you ever need an extra player, I’m happy to volunteer. After all, I’m undefeated.

• Location: 1500 W. Sam Houston Parkway N., Houston (there’s also an Austin location at 1515 Dungan Lane, Ste. 200, Austin)
• Pricing: Starts at $34.50 per person on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and $38.50 per person on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
• Age range: This is an experience better suited for adults; GameOn! HTX recommends that everyone be at least 12 years old.
• Group size: You’ll need a minimum of six people to play, though GameOn! can accommodate up to 40 people, with players rotating between watching and participating.
• Booking info: When you’re booking, you can choose content ratings. Like the movies, the ratings range from PG to X, so you’ll be covered whether you’re looking for family-friendly or more extreme entertainment. If you book a second time, you can give GameOn! your info to ensure you aren’t asked repeat questions.