Robert WebbWe’re not sure about you, but our first encounter with virtual reality (VR) centers was when we were taking a walk around our local mall. We spotted a VR center that looked like it had interesting games, and from then on, we were hooked.
Imagine getting into immersive gameplay right before your eyes. If that doesn’t sound like a blast, we’re not sure what would. Check out the top VR centers in Vancouver, right here.
Vancouver’s Best VR Centers
VR centers are a fun way to experience virtual reality technology. It’s got fun games, educational experiences, and interactive simulations that can transport you to different worlds.
This is why we’ve assessed the following VR centers based on the criteria below to make sure they provide the best virtual reality experiences in Vancouver:
1. Evolve Virtual Reality
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| VR Experience | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Variety | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Multiplayer Options | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Quality of Equipment | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Customer Service | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Staff Feedback | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Waiting Time | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Rates | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Evolve Virtual Reality is a virtual reality center that has over 60 VR games and escape rooms. The place was filled with colorful LED lights, game posters, and action figures of popular video game characters.
For us, it definitely set a futuristic atmosphere, and the sound effects played from different corners of the room added to the immersive experience.
We were most impressed with their selection of games, as there’s literally everything you might want, from action, shooters, fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and even kid-friendly games like Minecraft and Beat Saber.
An even more awesome feature is that all their games have multiplayer options, which can accommodate up to 10 players.
In addition, we liked that they’ve got the latest hardware and software for all gaming platforms, including consoles, PCs, and VR systems.
We also appreciate that there’s plenty of staff roaming around the center, as they’ll come in handy when we need help with a particular game or console.
Price-wise, you pay $45 for 55 minutes, and an additional $20 per half hour extension, which we thought was reasonable given that you can choose from over 50 VR games.
All in all, we’re pretty confident to say that Evolve Virtual Reality is one of the best VR centers in Vancouver.
Pros
- Over 60 VR games and escape rooms
- Multiplayer games for 10 players available
- Uses the latest hardware and software
Cons
- Some complaints about helpfulness of staff
Customer Reviews
Accessible location with free parking
“We visited today for my sons birthday, we had a GREAT experience from start to finish. Easy to find, free parking and super friendly staff…”
-Sarah G.
Professional and attentive
“Very professional and attentive. As soon as you arrive, they attend to you and take the time to explain the options you have to play…”
-Gabriel G.
2. Sandbox VR
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| VR Experience | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Variety | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Multiplayer Options | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Quality of Equipment | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Customer Service | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Staff Feedback | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Waiting Time | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Rates | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Here’s another one that you might’ve expected to be on our list: Sandbox VR. This VR center in Richmond provides gamers with full-body motion capture to make you feel like you’re truly inside the game.
Six players are able to play their game of choice, and it’s quite impressive that they use real-time motion capture technology so you can see each other as you would in real life.
The games here at Sandbox VR are mostly action, adventure, and arcade. Some of their popular titles include Seekers of Shard, Deadwood Valley, Amber Sky, and Unbound Fighting League, among others.
And you know what’s even cooler? The team at Sandbox VR makes these games themselves! A typical VR game here will last about an hour and a half, which we think is reasonable for the price of $55.
We were also surprised to see that they’d videotaped us during our gameplay, which earned a few laughs and embarrassments, but hey, it’s all part of the fun.
Players are also encouraged to take photos while they’re here at Sandbox VR, and we appreciate that there are props in the lobby for photo-taking purposes before and after your gameplay.
Despite the limited number of VR experiences, we think Sandbox VR is one of the best VR centers in Vancouver, as they’ve personally curated each of ’em, with a focus on action and adventure.
Pros
- Has full-body motion capture technology
- Creates their own VR games
Cons
- Some complaints about technical issues
Customer Reviews
Fully immersive VR experience
“If you’re looking for a fully immersive VR experience, Sandbox VR is definitely the place to go. The staff are friendly and helpful…”
-Kevin A.
Excellent customer service
“Hats off to the staff for going above and beyond for us! The game was very fun and enjoyable. Clear instructions and continued support made…”
-Jaskaran S.
3. Zero Latency
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| VR Experience | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Variety | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Multiplayer Options | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Quality of Equipment | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Customer Service | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Staff Feedback | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Waiting Time | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Rates | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Inside Kingsgate Mall, you’ll find Zero Latency, a free-roam gaming VR center that’ll surely satisfy anyone who’s a big fan of open-world games like Far Cry, Singularity, and Sol Raiders.
From our experience, playing these games felt like we were actually there in person, roaming a never-ending city where each corner held a new adventure.
We also appreciated how spacious the game arena was, as there was a lot of room to walk around and we didn’t bump into one another while playing.
So the deal here is that you’re able to play with eight players on your team, and you’ll put on these cool 5K headsets, which we were pretty impressed with as they felt as if we were wearing a second skin.
Let’s just say the graphics were incredibly realistic. And while we have played VR games in the past, we liked that their staff was readily available to assist with any technical difficulties or questions we had.
After our gameplay, we got the chance to talk with some of the other players who had also just finished their sessions, and they shared with us how they were equally amazed by the immersive experience.
We’re just a bit iffy that there’s a bit of a wait time to get into a session, but overall, we believe that Zero Latency is one of the best VR centers in Vancouver.
Pros
- Ideal for open-world game fans
- Spacious game arena
Cons
- Expect to wait during peak hours
Customer Reviews
Absolutely fun experience
“What an absolutely fun experience! Even for us beginners we had an amazing time on our team building exercise at Zero Latency, and Rabiya was a great host!.”
-David P.
Easy to understand
“Overview and instructions of the game were easy to understand and fairly quick to get through…”
-Marie C.
4. MetaRealm VR
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| VR Experience | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Variety | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Multiplayer Options | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Quality of Equipment | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Customer Service | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Staff Feedback | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Waiting Time | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Rates | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
Here’s another VR center worth considering that boasts 10 VR game spots inside their 3,000-square-foot facility in Richmond, MetaRealm VR. From what we’ve seen, these guys are all about adventure games.
They’ve got Cyberpunk, Beyond Medusa’s Gate, Chernobyl, and other popular titles that are able to accommodate up to four players. But we believe what sets them apart is that they have educational VR games.
These games, in our opinion, are awesome for kids because they can learn about science, visit historical sites, and even practice job skills while playing in a fun and immersive way.
As tired adults, we were also happy to see a selection of relaxing VR simulations where we could take nature walks and do meditations. In our opinion, this pretty much makes them the ideal VR center for families.
When it comes to equipment, we’re glad to see that they use high-end headsets, controllers, and VR equipment, as we believe this will give customers the best gaming experience possible.
It’s just a bit disappointing that they don’t have games for larger groups of more than four people, as we thought this would’ve been perfect for their adventure games.
Nevertheless, we included MetaRealm VR on our list of the best VR centers in Vancouver as they have not just fun games, but also education and relaxing ones.
Pros
- Educational and relaxing VR games available
- High-end VR equipment
Cons
- Limited multiplayer options
Customer Reviews
Impressive VR experience
“Me and my friend came to Meta twice in a week. We loved all the VR escape games that we played so far, it was so empress us. The headset and the control mode were so cool.”
-Wing Z.
Very detailed instructions
“It was the best 1 hour I have spent playing a game. Very detailed instructions and really really fun…”
-Khush K.
5. VR Funtastic World
| CRITERIA | RATING |
| VR Experience | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Variety | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Multiplayer Options | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Quality of Equipment | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Customer Service | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Staff Feedback | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
| Waiting Time | ★★★★☆ 4/5 |
| Rates | ★★★★★ 5/5 |
Located at Kids Market on Granville Island is the VR Funtastic World. But don’t be fooled; kids, as well as adults, are able to have a fun VR experience here, and we’re here to tell you all about it.
Looking at their game selection, we couldn’t help but notice that while they had the classics like Beat Saber and Job Simulator, they also had Spiderman Homecoming and Space Pirate.
These games are truly a homage to arcade games, and with VR technology, they were more engaging to the point where we felt like kids again stepping into a virtual world.
The best thing about VR Funtastic World is that they have mild games that won’t scare the little ones and scary games as well for adults who are looking for a thrilling VR experience.
We enjoyed Zombieland and The Last of Us, and we were happy we could play them with four other players. It’s also convenient to have staff who are ready to explain which games are chill and which ones are not for the fainthearted (like Zombieland).
Ultimately, we think VR Funtastic World is going to be on our must-stop list every time we visit Granville Island, as they’re one of the best VR centers in Vancouver.
Pros
- Wide selection of children’s games
- No reservations required
Cons
- Can get busy during weekends
Customer Reviews
Entertaining experience
“Really awesome place to entertain ourselves. Its my first experience with the VR world, there are various experiences to enjoy and you feel real…”
-Manveer K.
Perfect place for children birthday parties
“Booked the place for my kiddos birthday. So cool – all the games were fantastic and Hassan is an amazing guy…”
-Vish T.
