I haven't gone paintballing in over a decade but did it a few times as a teenager at birthdays and it was really fun. Thought it might be a good time to go again for my upcoming birthday. However, airsoft has also become a big thing over the past few decades so maybe that would be more fun instead. Thoughts, experiences, opinions?
Paintball is super fun, and typically the fields have more "gamey" layouts. I have more fun with it. The paintballs themselves are more visible and visceral, so it's easier to perceive when you're getting shot at... and makes tags against other players all the more satisfying.
Both are fun, and are fundamentally the same sort of game. I think paintball works way better as a walk-on game. But airsoft is much easier to play in an outlaw setting (that is: not on a paid field).
In both cases, you're going to be playing with some chuds.