
Overview:
Sandbox VR is a gaming company with physical spaces that you can rent to experience full body VR immersion with your friends. Their rigs include body packs and headsets that make you feel like you’re in the middle of the action and you get a whole room to move around in, whether you’re with people you know or part of a party of solo gamers. The company began as a startup and has grown to offer locations around the world, with several brick and mortar offerings in the United States. It’s a real VR experience and the company runs its own games publisher, bringing you exclusive titles you can only play through them.
Company History

The recorded history of Sandbox VR starts back in 2016 with a very simple interaction. Sidi Chen got a call from Steven Zhao, his friend of many years, asking for an investment in his new startup. His idea was to create an escape room inside the holodeck of the Enterprise and give people a VR experience they couldn’t get anywhere else. This was at a time when investors were already jaded by VR, but Sidi gave him a small amount of capital and became one of the ground floor benefactors on what has become a sprawling company with locations on three continents.
Their first location was opened in Hong Kong with word of mouth spreading far and wide. People were soon booking international trips with Sandbox VR as their main attraction. TripAdvisor made it their #1 destination in Hong Kong and the company now has backers from Hollywood with millions of dollars in revenue. There are no fewer than five locations currently under construction with over 50 stores open and operating right now. They also have their own games studio producing exclusive VR games that you can’t get anywhere else.
Full Body VR Rigs

The main thing that separates Sandbox VR from your home VR rig is the full body immersion they offer you. You get a VR headset to wear during your session, along with physical controllers shaped like the guns you’re using in the game. It doesn’t end there, though. You also get a haptic feedback vest to let you feel the action as you make your way through the games. This vest registers concussion and the high-quality headphones give you a level of immersion you can’t get at home, let alone at your local arcade.
Their biggest innovation is the inclusion of rigid IK for the full body tracking of your limbs and head. That’s what makes this VR room the closest thing to the holodeck that you’ll ever get. Players get trackers on their wrists, ankles, controllers, and heads so you can see everyone you’re playing with in the VR world. The tracking is so precise that you’ll know exactly where everyone is at all times and that really lets you play with your friends and gaming squad in a way that makes you part of the environment. It’s something that everyone should try at least once in their lives.
Gaming Options

Sandbox VR currently has 8 titles available to play with a few different genres for players to choose from. Deadwood Valler is a zombie survival shooter while Deadwood Mansion is a horror survival game. They also have action/adventure with titles like Seekers of the Shard and Star Trek Discovery Away Mission. You can also enjoy a one on one fighting game with Unbound Fighting League or head-to-head competition with Squid Game Virtuals. The company has licensing deals with several IPs to let you step into fictional worlds from the most popular shows you can find.
Booking your Game

Booking your time in the VR room is easy and you’ll have the option of going by yourself or with friends. Reservations can include up to six people and last a half hour. A solo reservation will cost you $55 and you’ll be placed into a room with other solo gamers to act as your squad. The full price of a six-person reservation comes in at $360, or $60 per person. You’ll also have the option of reserving snacks that you can share while you’re in the building. You’ll also select the game you want to play during the reservation process and each one comes with a trailer you can watch on their site.
Motion Sickness
As with any VR gaming, motion sickness is possible, but Sandbox VR really makes it hard to get it. The main reason that most people feel sick in VR is the disconnect between what they’re doing and what they see. When you move your arm in the real world, you don’t see it in VR, so your brain gets confused. With this company’s real time and precise tracking, you’ll see yourself as you move your limbs, drastically reducing your chances of experiencing motion sickness.
PROS:
- International locations
- VR games built by major studio veterans
- Full body VR rig
CONS:
- US locations in just 13 states
- No solo games available
- Only 30-minute sessions available
FEATURES
- Full body VR rigs that let you feel what’s going on in the game
- Move freely around the game room with your friends
- Shooting, adventure, and one on one fighting games
- Buy snacks to enjoy while you game in VR
RATING
VR Visuals: **** 4/5
Immersion: ***** 5/5
Availability: ** 2.5/5
Gameplay: **** 4/5
Overall: *** 3.87/5
Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a VR experience that makes you feel like you’re using the holodeck, this is where you can find it. The real time tracking makes all the difference and you’ll be fully immersed with haptic vests and high-quality VR headsets. The games are made by industry veterans, and you won’t be able to find them anywhere else. You can book a session for yourself or with your friends, it’s up to you. It’s more than worth the price and you’ll finally get to play with a level of VR immersion you’ve always dreamed about.