Arrow tag, archery game, battle archery: what is the difference?
Published on 18 July 2026 by the Tag Brussels team
Arrow tag, archery tag, archery game, battle archery, combat archery… If you have googled this activity, you have inevitably run into several of these names. Good news: they all refer to the same game. Here is where these terms come from, and what actually changes from one venue to another.
Why so many names for the same activity?
The game was born in the US in 2011 under the registered trademark Archery Tag®, created by John Jackson. Since the name is a brand (like Frisbee or Kleenex), operators who do not use the official equipment coined variants: arrow tag, archery game, battle archery, archery attack… Some simply call it "dodgeball with bows".
In every case the principle is identical: two teams, bows, rubber-tipped arrows, and elimination or objective scenarios. The complete rules are here.
What actually changes from one venue to another?
- Indoor or outdoor: most Belgian offers are played in halls with inflatable obstacles. The outdoor forest version, like ours on 5 hectares in Bierges, transforms the whole experience: natural cover, terrain, life-size scenarios.
- Fixed field or mobile animation: some providers come to you with equipment; convenient, but an improvised arena on a lawn lacks the character of a dedicated field.
- Instruction: shooting initiation, refereeing, rotating scenarios: that is what separates 2 intense hours from a game that fizzles out.
- Gear: kid-adapted bows, full-face masks (not mere goggles), regularly checked arrows.
Archery Tag and classic archery: nothing in common
Worth clarifying: Archery Tag is not target archery. No Olympic precision or patience required: it is a dynamic team game where you run, dodge and shoot on the move. The initiation at the start of the session is enough to hit your first targets; after that, team tactics win games, not individual technique.
Where to play arrow tag near Brussels?
At Tag Brussels you play the outdoor version, deep in the forest, on a dedicated field: a unique setup in Belgium. 20 minutes from Brussels via the E411, from age 8, from €35 per player for 2 hours of play, gear and instructors included. And if your group is hesitating with paintball, both activities live on the same site: our full comparison is here.
Arrow tag, archery game… the name does not matter
What matters is the field. Come try ours: 5 hectares of private forest, 2-hour sessions, from age 8.
Book my gameFrequently asked questions
Are arrow tag and archery tag exactly the same?
Yes. "Archery Tag" is the original American brand, "arrow tag" the most common generic name in Belgium and the Netherlands. The game, rules and gear are the same.
Is combat archery an official sport?
Leagues and tournaments exist (mostly in North America), but in Belgium the activity is played mainly for leisure: birthdays, stag/hen parties, team buildings and outings with friends.
Do you need previous archery experience?
No prerequisite at all: every session starts with a shooting initiation with our instructors, and the bows are designed to be easy to draw, including for kids from age 8.