West Edmonton Mall's Nerf-themed rollercoaster nears completion, opening spring 2027

West Edmonton Mall has officially announced a Nerf-themed rollercoaster that will replace the Mindbender in Galaxyland, with an expected opening in the first half of 2027.

The neon-coloured ride offers two modes: a family-friendly "core" mode and a faster "quantum" mode that includes inversions, twists and higher speeds. The new coaster is part of WEM's licensing agreement with Hasbro, the toy and entertainment company. Galaxyland underwent a makeover from 2019-2020 to become Canada's first Hasbro-themed amusement park, featuring brands including Monopoly, G.I. Joe, My Little Pony and Nerf.

The Mindbender, which closed and was decommissioned in 2023, operated for 38 years. It once held the title for the world's tallest and longest indoor triple-loop rollercoaster. The ride operated without major incident after safety modifications were made following a June 1986 crash in which four passengers fell to the floor below, killing three and leaving one with extensive injuries.

Matthew Dutczak, an unofficial WEM historian and enthusiast, told the Edmonton Journal: "I think anyone who's visited Galaxyland in the last few years has probably noticed the gap left by the Mindbender's departure." Dutczak described the Mindbender as "the king of all the rides and slides" — a "rough and tumble coaster" that would "beat you up and push you around and you would go back for more because it was just so intense." He added: "If the mall is willing to let me ride the first ride, you better believe I'll do everything in my power to be there front and center."