Immersive game show experience in Charlotte gives players a shot at $100K
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The Game Show Challenge expanded to Charlotte in May. Photo by The Cork Bros, courtesy of The Show Challenge.
An interactive game show experience with a $100K grand prize recently opened its first Charlotte location in the Belmont neighborhood.
Why it matters: The Game Show Challenge is the latest in a wave of immersive entertainment venues popping up across the city, from escape rooms to other game-show style attractions.
What to expect: In one hour, players partake in four to five fast-paced games, inspired by popular game shows, from "Family Feud" to "Minute to Win It," explains creator and managing partner Josh Brickey.
- Think "Spin to Win," similar to "Wheel of Fortune," where, depending on where the wheel lands, you might have to confess a secret or bust a dance move in front of the group.
- Like a real game show, there are buzzers, a live host and producer to keep things moving.
The intrigue: A recently added bonus round called "The Perfect Eight" gives players a chance to win $100K.
How it works: One contestant per game gets the chance to roll eight custom dice. If every die lands on the winning side, that person walks away with $100,000.
Yes, but: No one has taken home $100K yet. Brickey says the odds of winning are about 1 in 1.16 million.
- Even if you don't win the grand cash prize, you can still win real prizes, like gift cards from local businesses and branded merch, says Brickey.
The vibe: The experience is customized for each group, from kids' birthday parties to company outings, says Brickey, adding no one will have the same experience twice.
- All games are developed in-house.
Flashback: Husband-and-wife duo Josh and Patty Brickey opened the flagship Game Show Challenge in Columbia, SC, in late 2019 next to their former escape room business, Escape Plan Columbia.
- It has since expanded to Greenville, SC; Charlotte, and most recently, Atlanta.
Fun fact: Josh Brickey is an ordained minister, and Patty is a chiropractor. But together, they've built a career in immersive entertainment.
- Josh says he stumbled into the business after reading an article about escape rooms a decade ago.
What's next: New games are coming soon, including a trivia-style game called "Brain Buzz."
- They're also working on food and drink partnerships with local businesses and hope to eventually record games so guests can receive "highlight reels" of their experience.
If you go: Tickets are $35.97 per person. Bookings must have a minimum of six people ages seven or older.
Stop by: 933 Louise Ave., in the same plaza as Hygge Coworking, The Royal Tot and BATL Axe Throwing.
