Game Over, Boring Nights: Level99's Epic 40,000 Sq Ft Real-Life Video Game Just Landed in Tysons Corner

Posted by Chris Colgan on Thursday, August 21st, 2025  1:22pm.

Game Over, Boring Nights: Level99's Epic 40,000 Sq Ft Real-Life Video Game Just Landed in Tysons Corner

Break glass in case of adventure emergency. That emergency is happening Monday, August 25, 2025, when Level99 transforms 40,000+ square feet of prime Tysons Corner Center real estate into the DMV's first-ever real-life video game experience. This isn't your kid's Chuck E. Cheese or another escape room knockoff—this is what happens when brilliant game designers ask: "What if we built a playground where adults could literally live inside a video game?"

Welcome to Real-Life Gaming That'll Blow Your Mind


Forget everything you think you know about "entertainment venues." Level99 has gutted the former Barnes & Noble and Old Navy spaces on Tysons Corner Center's second floor and rebuilt them as something that shouldn't exist outside of science fiction: 50+ immersive challenge rooms where you become the main character in games that demand every ounce of your mental sharpness, physical agility, and teamwork skills.

Picture this: You and your squad sprint into Axe Run, where split-second decisions mean the difference between glory and getting virtually chopped. Your heart's still pounding when you pivot to Mansion Banquet, a mind-bending puzzle that'll have your team arguing over strategy (in the best way). Then Wavelength Cord tests whether you can trust your teammates with your virtual life, while Space Nebula launches you into an otherworldly challenge that feels ripped from a blockbuster sci-fi movie. Cap it off with Flux.0, where cutting-edge tech responds to your every move like you're controlling reality itself.

Each challenge runs just 1-4 minutes—fast enough to keep your adrenaline spiking, quick enough that you'll immediately want to tackle the next room. With 2-6 players per challenge, this is engineered for maximum social chaos (the fun kind).

"Feel Like a 10-Year-Old Again" (But With Better Snacks)

"We're creating a space where adults can feel like a 10-year-old again," says Rachel Scheinfeld, VP of Marketing at Level99. But here's the genius part—it's designed specifically for adults ages 21-39 who've been stuck in a world of Netflix-and-dinner-date monotony.

Level99 founder and CEO Matt DuPlessie didn't just want to create another entertainment option. "This isn't passive entertainment," he explains. "Every room demands that you think quickly, move strategically, and work as a team. It's social, mentally stimulating, and physically active play all rolled into one unforgettable experience."

Translation: Your phone stays in your pocket, your brain actually works, and you'll leave with stories that sound too wild to be true.

Why Tysons Corner Center? Because Location Is Everything

DuPlessie chose Tysons Corner for Level99's first DMV invasion for one simple reason: it's where Northern Virginia's energy converges. "Tysons has this incredible energy and accessibility that made it the obvious choice for our first DMV location," he explains.

Translation: Easy metro access + tons of parking + surrounded by people who work hard and want to play harder = perfect storm for real-life gaming domination.

Victory Brewing Brings the Heat (Literally and Figuratively)

Just survived a death-defying challenge? Time to celebrate with food that's as extra as the experience you just had. Victory Brewing operates the full-service restaurant and bar, and they're not messing around.

Start with Detroit-style pizza that has those crispy, caramelized edges that make you question why you ever ate thin crust. Move to garlic-parmesan wings that are scientifically engineered to be impossible to stop eating. The cantina nachos arrive as a glorious mountain of melted cheese and toppings, while the wagyu burgers justify their premium price with every bite.

Feeling adventurous? The Korean BBQ chicken delivers that perfect sweet-spicy-savory combination that pairs perfectly with Victory Brewing's craft beer lineup. And yes, they've got handcrafted cocktails, wine, and mocktails because Level99 believes everyone deserves the perfect drink—whether you're celebrating a victory or drowning your sorrows after your team spectacularly failed at teamwork.

This Changes Everything: Why Level99 Matters

Here's what Level99 really offers: genuine human connection in a hyperconnected world. When's the last time you and your friends had to actually work together—not just sit next to each other scrolling phones—to accomplish something? When did you last feel that rush of adrenaline from succeeding at something that required your full attention?

Level99 forces you to be present. You can't Instagram your way through Wavelength Cord or text during Space Nebula. You have to show up, engage, communicate, and celebrate (or commiserate) with your team. It's social media detox disguised as the most fun you'll have all year.

The rapid-fire format means no one gets bored, everyone stays engaged, and your group builds momentum as you conquer challenge after challenge. Whether it's date night, birthday celebrations, corporate team building, or just "we need to do something different," Level99 delivers experiences that create actual stories worth telling.

Ready to Level Up Your Life? Here's Your Mission Briefing

Mission Launch: Monday, August 25, 2025

Command Center: Tysons Corner Center, 2nd floor (former Barnes & Noble/Old Navy territory)

Equipment Costs:

Base Operating Hours:

Your Next Move Starts Now

Level99 Tysons Corner isn't just opening—it's detonating the conventional entertainment landscape and rebuilding it as something infinitely more engaging. This is where boring date nights go to die and legendary friend group stories are born.

Stop reading. Start booking. Visit Level99's website right now and secure your spot among the first wave of players to experience the DMV's most anticipated opening of 2025. Because once word gets out about this place, you're going to want bragging rights that you were there from day one.

Fair warning: After you experience real-life gaming, regular entertainment is going to feel like watching paint dry. You've been warned.

Game on, DMV. Your move.