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Be sure to check with each venue for its COVID guidelines and requirements before heading out.

1. The Funplex – East Hanover

With more than 100,000 square feet of attractions, there’s plenty to keep all ages busy at this family amusement center. The arcade features everything from boardwalk classics, like Skeeball and air hockey, to the latest video games. Bumper cars, go-karts, and laser tag are perfect choices for older kids, and kids ages 4-12 can have a blast in the three-level Foam Frenzy play area, where air canons and blasters shoot thousands of colorful foam balls. The Pit Stop Cafe offers standard fare like burgers and pizza, as well as salad and vegetarian options. In the summer, Funplex has an amazing outdoor area with water slides, a pool, spray attractions, and more. In addition, Funplex is said to be the state’s first recreation venue to offer Hyper Bowling, an interactive set of bowling-related games designed around an innovative bumper system. 

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Branchburg Sports Complex boasts a four-level laser tag arena that's perfect for big kids.

2. Branchburg Sports Complex – Branchburg

Branchburg Sports Complex is perfect for toddlers, kids, and adults. The PlayMaze, for children ages 3-12, boasts 82 different play elements including slides, tunnels, and bridges as well as an arcade where kids can collect tickets and win prizes. BSC also has a four-level, 9,000-square-foot interactive laser tag arena, which requires a reservation for you and your group (15 people minimum). At drop-in Tod Squad sessions, kids ages 1-4 can enjoy bounce houses, soft play equipment, the PlayMaze, and more.

3. Funtime Junction – Fairfield

Funtime Junction is a large play palace with a soft, two-story playground, a bounce house, arcade games, laser tag, and even a helicopter ride. It's closed on Mondays, but walk-ins are welcome every other day of the week. Pizza, drinks, and snacks are available for purchase. Socks are required, and adults are always free! Register in advance for open play.

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Work your way up the walls at ClimbZone.

4. ClimbZone – Howell

ClimbZone puts a whole new spin on wall climbing. Scale Mount Rushmore, climb an enormous piano, and try to run up a vertical ramp. The panels themselves are like works of art. There's also a giant indoor play maze for kids ages 3-10, a ropes course that goes 30 feet in the air, and an arcade area.

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Parents can keep a close eye on little ones in the enclosed toddler area at CatchAir.

5. CatchAir – Hasbrouck Heights, Paramus, Jersey City

This fantastical spot is a space-themed dreamscape filled with fun stuff for kids 12 and under. There's a soft play area for toddlers and a three-story play structure with slides, ball cannons, and an interactive dance floor for bigger kids. Check out our review of CatchAir for more. The Paramus location is just as fun as Hasbrouck Heights, but has an aquatic theme.

6. Kids Empire – Multiple Locations

If your child wants to climb, spin, and slide, Kids Empire is the place for you. These newly opened facilities feature floor-to-ceiling climbing walls and structures, a ball pit, bridges, and more. Play soccer high in the upper-deck arena, race on a motorcycle ride-on, use enormous blocks to build your own city, or show off your moves on the dance floor. When it's time for a break, visit the snack bar.

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Launch Trampoline Park offers high-flying fun for all ages.

7. Launch Trampoline Park – Deptford

It's OK to let your kids bounce off the walls at Launch. Play on a huge grid of tramps, as well as an extreme dodgeball court, slam-dunk area, ninja course, indoor jungle gym, arcade, rock wall, and cafe.

8. Xtreme Energy – Englewood, Paramus, Rockaway

Kids from toddlers to teens will love the variety of Xtreme Energy. There's a huge three-tier climbing structure, ride-ons for little ones, a two-story ropes course, a rock-climbing wall, and a ninja course. If that weren't enough, kids have a blast on the enormous trampoline grid.

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Pump It Up is known for parties, but it also offers daily open-jump sessions.

9. Pump It Up – Multiple Locations

This bounce spot is known for its epic parties, but it also offers daily open-jump sessions (all 70 minutes). There's your basic open jump as well as many special themed sessions, including glow jump sessions. In addition to two arenas full of inflatable fun, the Roselle Park location features a ninja warrior course with hanging bridges, jungle swings, cargo tube nets, and more.

10. Jungle Jim & Jane – Atlantic Highlands

This high-tech, jungle-themed play center features a wide array of activities kids from crawlers through about age 10 enjoy. From slides and tunnels to a huge ball with interactive games, there's plenty to do to fill an afternoon. There are also some arcade games, air hockey, and even games projected on the floor throughout the playground.

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The lights go out at Urban Air for glow-in-the-dark fun.

11. Urban Air Trampoline & Adventure Park – Multiple Locations

Wall-to-wall trampolines, air basketball hoops, dodgeball courts, a climbing wall, and an obstacle course are just some of the highlights at this jumping spot. A Thursday family special bundles jumping, pizza, and drinks; a weekly sensory-friendly jump lets kids enjoy the park without loud music and flashing lights; and a weekly Jumperoo toddler time offers full use of the park to the 5-and-under set.

12. iPlay America – Freehold

This indoor theme park keeps kids of all ages happy. With rides, arcade games, mini-bowling, laser tag, and a 4D theater, iPlay is the perfect place to go when the weather outside is frightful. There's a variety of rides and attractions for children of all sizes, including ropes courses (both high ropes and kids courses). Both arcade and boardwalk-style games are available, as well as a variety of food options. iPlay offers unlimited four-hour ride bands, or you can buy credits to enjoy individual attractions. You can also explore Ballocity, a four-level structure with tubes, slides, and obstacles that spits balls out at guests.

13. Sesame Street Learn & Play – East Rutherford

This educational play center located at American Dream lets little ones interact with all their favorite Sesame Street characters while climbing and crawling through the play structure, learning about things like animals and nature, and doing crafts.

14. Ocean Park – Burlington

This new indoor play space opened its doors in late 2024 and has a unique ocean-themed playspace for kids ages 3 through 13. Expect climbing and slides, a ball gun area, an obstacle course, a zip line course, a junior warrior course, a toddler zone, basketball and soccer area, and more. There's also a cafe where parents can relax and recharge. Note that admission on the weekends is for certain time blocks. Call for more details about open play hours.

15. Genius Gems – Millburn

Genius Gems is a unique STEM-inspired playspace where kids can build with magnetic files or try the robot station. For an extra fee, you can go to the design station and make a project like slime or glitter tiles.

16. Legoland Discovery Center – East Rutherford

Lego lovers won't be able to resist this play center, which features play zones to explore and build in such as Duplo Park for younger kids, the Hero Zone, and Build Adventures. You can also take an interactive train ride or see a 4D film.

17. Rock 'N Air – East Brunswick

This huge facility has something for everyone, whether it be trampolines, a ropes course, climbing walls, a zip line, or a ninja course. There's also a large climbing structure and a special area for littles under 5.

18. Kiddie Dome – Butler

This spot has three great areas for indoor play. There's a large multilevel play structure with slides, ramps, and tunnels. Or try the obstacle course, which has a foam pit zone with trampolines, a zipline, a climbing wall and more. There's also an area for younger kids with a ball pit. You'll also find safe "go karts" for kids, which are sort of like bumper bikes.

19. Play Big Zone – Morganville

This spot has lots of great attractions like a 2,000-square-foot obstacle course (with a warped wall and a mega slide!), spinning bumper cars, a laser maze, human foosball, and more.

20. Planet Playskool – Paramus

Head to the Garden State Plaza mall and you'll find this 20,000 square-foot play spot with several interactive areas with Playskool themes. Get lost in the Mousetrap maze, try the Play-Doh Imagination Station, build at Tinkertoy Town, or do Spirograph Art Studio. 

Photos courtesy of the venues

This article was originally published in 2019 and has been updated since.