Sandbox VR — Attraction in San Mateo

About 19 years ago I worked for a company named Ligos which had developed a very cool virtual reality product. When I first joined, I was told every ten or so years, corresponding with each new wave of technological advancement, virtual reality becomes a big thing, and then it’s gone for another ten. At the time I joined Ligos, it was on the way out and our business focus was elsewhere.

Right now it’s back in, for better or worse, and as long as the economy can continue to support its chosen manifestation, in this case leisure games, it isn’t going anywhere soon.

If you are an experienced VR veteran, or if you are anywhere in the current VR development space, which many locals are, you will unquestionably have a high standard for your VR experience. And so you should. But for the other 99% of us I offer my experience.

By way of background our only significant interactive VR experience to date was the Jedi Challenges game - which came out about a year ago and has delivered many hours of fun.

We drove down for my daughter’s eleventh birthday from Marin after hearing about it from a friend and confirming everyone in our group satisfied the 1.2m height requirement. When we arrived we were strapped to wireless portable individual tracking modules attached to our wrists and ankles to map the CG, ushered into a green room, and given what is undoubtedly some expensive equipment, including headgear. Then we were told the parameters of the game play and the technology.

If you’ve ever seen the making of your favorite sci fi movie, this is the same deal except the director and audience aren’t the only ones who can see the CG, so can the actors (in this case us), realtime. Then they turned everything on and suddenly we found ourselves aboard a pirate ship on a mission to recover a treasure chest of gold, each of us replaced by our chosen virtual characters, having grabbed weapons from the many floating in the air around us. We had just jacked into the Matrix.

They carefully monitored the green room and each of our perceptions to ensure that everything was safe and that each of us was enjoying our individual experience. When someone in our party got a tad too engrossed and fell out of the game mid-play, and nearly broke the equipment, they handled the situation gracefully, minimizing the impact on the rest of our experiences, and making it a nonissue as quickly and invisibly as they could. Before a few minutes had passed, we were all back in the game together as if it never happened.

After 30 minutes of interactive gameplay involving recovery of a treasure of gold from a haunted wreckage and disposing of, on average, 70 bad guys each (which was a satisfying amount of time and a healthy complement to my day job), we were done.

Having traveled a fair amount and been to different amusement parks, I braced myself for the post-experience photo/video upsell. By the time our gear was off, a short animated video sequence with each of our scores, game stats, and customized character names was done rendering. And the resulting product was unquestionably cool. Then came a surprise: When they airdropped the materials they recorded and produced to my phone, the extra cost came to exactly $00.00.

The experience left us feeling like their guests and that they took pride in ensuring that they hosted a first class experience, caring about us far more than nickel and diming us. No the technology isn’t invisible, small, or perfect, but it was impossible not to completely immerse ourselves and get lost in the game. As I understand it, that’s the whole idea. And when it was presented with both class and integrity, SandboxVR delivered a home run.

Everyone in our party had an excellent time and everyone was safe and happy throughout, the kids couldn’t stop talking about it for the entire ride back, and the birthday girl was elated leaving me feeling like (in best Batman voice) “my work here is done.”

SandboxVR comes with my high recommendation. And we will likely be heading...

If I’m being honest, my VR was glitched the whole time and I didn’t want to ask the staff because of the attitude that some of them had. The games were fun, but I really did not appreciate the staff giving dirty looks and so much attitude. After reading the other reviews, I’m extremely saddened at the fact that they had only good things to say about their experience unlike my group. My group was only here because of a birthday party, and I’m really upset on how the staff treated the kids that are 12yrs old and below. Instead of saying “HEY” or “LISTEN UP”, he could have just politely said “excuse me”. It’s very unnecessary to give attitude to a 8yr old child, especially if that child was just asking someone from our group for help. They especially seemed as if they were rushing our entire group out the door even if our group reserved the room for 3hrs long (3 sessions). For example, one of the children (11yrs old) raised their hand and asked to pause the game (the staff instructed us to raise our hand and say “pause pause pause” if we needed assistance), and he completely gave attitude and said “What is the reason why you’re pausing the game”. I completely understand if it was just to get an understanding of what’s happening, but was the attitude and aggression really necessary?

Edit from my previous rating: I originally left a 1 star due to poor services. I’m bumping it to a 3 because of the management. Not even 24 hrs after our session, and the manager went out of his was to call me and ask for my feedback on the game, and tried to understand what I previously reviewed. I really appreciate how management ensures quality customer...

If you’re looking for an unforgettable experience, this VR game place is the spot! From the moment you walk in, the vibe is electric. The staff is welcoming and super knowledgeable, guiding you through the equipment setup and making sure you’re comfortable every step of the way. Whether you’re a VR pro or it’s your first time, they make the experience fun and easy to dive into.

The game selection is incredible, with everything from heart-pumping action shooters to mesmerizing adventure and puzzle games. I tried a few different ones, and each had immersive graphics and gameplay that made you feel as if you were transported to another world. The VR quality is top-notch—high resolution, smooth performance, and the controllers were responsive, so every movement feels natural and precise.

The best part? This VR experience isn’t just fun solo; it’s perfect for groups. My friends and I had a blast teaming up in multiplayer games, strategizing and laughing the whole time. Even after the games, we couldn’t stop talking about our favorite moments, and I’m already planning our next visit!

If you’re looking for a unique, adrenaline-packed way to spend an afternoon or evening, this VR game spot is absolutely worth it. You’ll leave with amazing memories, and I guarantee you’ll be hooked after your first try. Five stars aren’t enough for the incredible time...