VIRTUAL ROOM GENEVA
by Sarah Scaddan
I can honestly, hand on my heart, say I haven’t had as much fun in ages as during a recent visit to Virtual Room Geneva. I was expecting it to be child orientated and a bit lame for adults, or so complicated that I would be totally useless and ostracised by my team mates. Luckily neither of my predicted scenarios became reality.
SENSES OVERWHELMED
The Virtual Room is new in town – located in Carouge, part of a worldwide chain with experiences in 16 different countries. Players get a briefing (in English or French) beforehand and told how to use the equipment, and then each player takes position in their own cubicle (not dissimilar to a store changing room) wearing a mask, headphones with a mic, and holding hand controls. As the adventure began, my senses were a little overwhelmed. You can see your team mates in the virtual world, move your hands, walk, turn, throw, grab, talk and hear. But as the adventure begins, you are immediately immersed in the mission and focused on solving clues and working as a team. It is like an Escape Room but a zillion times more fun. The time flew and we left exhilarated and desperate to do it again.
I would recommend the Virtual Room for team bonding, birthday parties, friends wanting to do something different together, family time, introducing your grandparents to technology, testing if your boss is human or an android as you have always suspected and any other social gathering where you want to remain sober (for an hour). The only downside is that there are currently only two missions available, but apparently more are to be introduced. Bring them on.
VIRTUAL ROOM TIPS:
- Book online
- Opening hours are Monday – Friday 14h00 – 23h00 and weekends 9h00 to 23h00.
- Costs CHF90 for two players, CHF120 for three players or CHF140 for four players.
- Missions are in English of French.
- Sessions are one hour long.
- Teams can be two, three or four players.
- Wear glasses or contacts if you usually do.
- Minimum age 10 years old (although I did sneak my 9 year old in and she got it)
- Not suitable for persons with epilepsy and no wheelchair facilities. Not recommended for pregnant women.
