Sandbox VR

Had an amazing time at Sandbox VR in Mission Valley. We played the Stranger Things VR experience and it was SO fun and immersive. The graphics were impressive and it really felt like you were inside the Stranger Things world. The full body tracking made everything feel realistic and interactive, especially when playing as a group. Staff was friendly, helpful, and made sure we understood everything before starting. The facility was clean, well organized, and overall just a great vibe. Perfect for friends, dates, or group outings. I would absolutely come back to try more games. Highly recommend checking this place out if you are in Mission Valley

Great experience. The manager, Jacob, was so helpful and kind. He really walked us through the options, what to expect and how to navigate it. Especially with two of us being prone to motion sickness, which was surprisingly not an issue. We had so much fun doing Seekers of the Shard. Highly recommend. My kiddo is obsessed.

The team was fun, attentive and very well received by our group of pre-teens. Vi was an absolutel pleasure, as was the rest of the guys. We'll certainly return.

This was honestly such an amazing experience, I’m definitely coming back! I played Deadpool Phobia and it was SO cool. V helped us out and she was absolutely incredible. She made everything run smoothly and kept the whole experience fun from start to finish. Highly recommend!

Vi was absolutely amazing! My toy gun kept messing up during our session, i think it was my fault lol! (I played deadwood phobia) but she was so patient and understanding the entire time. She never made me feel rushed or frustrated and stayed super helpful while we figured everything out. Her energy was so fun and positive — it honestly made the whole experience even better. You can tell she genuinely cares and wants you to have a good time. I would definitely come back again just because of her. Highly recommend! 😊

We had an incredible experience at Sandbox VR in San Diego! This was our very first time ever doing VR, and from start to finish it exceeded our expectations. A huge part of that was thanks to the manager, Jacob. He was incredibly patient, knowledgeable, and took the time to thoroughly explain everything to us so we felt comfortable and excited rather than overwhelmed. Jacob truly delivered white-glove service—checking in on us, answering all of our questions, and making sure every detail of our experience was seamless. Because of him, our first VR experience was not only easy but unforgettable. The entire experience felt welcoming, fun, and well-run. We can’t recommend Sandbox VR enough, especially if it’s your first time. Exceptional service, an amazing experience, and a big shoutout to Jacob for going above and beyond!

First, I'd like to focus on the staff... Jacob and Isaiah are awesome. The directions for gearing up and how the game works were precise and easy. They were both professional and attentive to our group. Now to the constructive feedback... As a crew of USN veterans who have played VR games at other locations, this location is by far the most basic. Everything about the establishment is basic and the cost is drastically more expensive compared to other locations we frequent. From the amount of fans located in the rooms, size of the rooms, video quality, minimal snack and non alcoholic beverage options left more to be desired. The other locations also offered alcoholic beverages so it was disappointing to learn this location does not. The space is clean and well maintained thanks to the staff. Hopefully this review will encourage improvements in the future. We enjoyed the experience just not as much as we did at other locations. Again, the staff was amazing; however, what the location offers is a bit disappointing and subpar compared to other locations.

El was amazing. It was our first experience and we will definitely be coming back

Shout out to Isaiah again for helping our group out. I didn't catch the name of the person helping us in the beginning or the end. all the staff helping us was nice. We had such a good time last time I decided to do this on my birthday with my family. My mom booked it and got Stranger Things. She called to make the reservation, paid in person and we got military discount. Even though I didn't watch the whole thing consistently I still enjoyed it. It was a lot more physical than Deadwood Phobia since we didn't have guns. Whole family had a blast. Parking is easy since it's in the mall next to Pandas. I have been here a couple times with friends as well. Great experience as always... I will be back!

My middle son wanted to celebrate his birthday with his brothers and experience virtual reality (VR), and this place was a great choice. I signed up online and later found out they offer a 15% military discount. You can call to make a reservation and let them know you're military, then show your military ID when you arrive. They also accept walk-ins. Pricing: *$50 per person (public session) *$90 per person (private session) Each session fits up to 6 people. If you book all six spots together, your group will have a private session. If you have more than six people, they try to schedule sessions to run at the same time. My kids did a public session and were grouped with other guests. The birthday boy choose to do Deadwood Phobia : 0 A huge shout-out to Isaiah -- he was amazing with my kids! He explained everything clearly and gave helpful tips that made the experience even better. Location: Sandbox VR is located in Mission Valley Mall, near Target, next to Panda Express, and across from Outback Steakhouse. The mall has plenty of parking, which made things easy. The Experience (1 hour+): * Arrive 10-15 minutes early (I recommend earlier if you haven't signed the waiver) *10 minutes to gear up and complete the tutorial * 30 minutes of GAMEPLAY * 10 minutes to remove gear and watch highlights - A highlight video is also emailed to you I had some difficulty signing the waiver online beforehand, so we arrived about 20 minutes early, which worked out perfectly. While it is on the pricey side, my kids had a fantastic time. We do own an Oculus at home, but they all agreed this experience isn't comparable. Overall, it was a great experience, and we'll definitely be back -- next time as a whole family outing.

My wife and I tried this out and had a great time. Rebel moon was a blast. The game lasted so long I was getting tired and sweaty. Squid game is boring. My wife thought so also. Sometimes a gun would stop working and we had to stop the game to fix. It could take up to 5 min. The fans help keep you cool. We like to return and try other games.

My first time at Sandbox today and Vi was our associate. She was super amazing and gave us detailed instructions on how to navigate the VR platform. We had a group of 6 playing Squid Games and it was extremely fun! Red light green light had me rolling!! It was hilarious! The games aren't what you see in the actual show and Sandbox is owned by a Chinese company. So the games can be played in any other language except for Korean! weird right? I think I would definitely return to play another game! I love shooting games and it looks fun! Sadly, I didn't win today but there are so many other chances to play and get the opportunity to carry the team! LOL I highly suggest Sandbox if this is your first time trying VR Games!

I had a great first experience at Sandbox VR! Honestly, I'd been avoiding it for a while because $50 per person seemed a little steep--but I was so wrong. We played their new zombie game Deadwood Valley: Phobia, and it absolutely exceeded my expectations. The visuals were far better than I imagined. I don't have a Meta Quest 3 or PSVR at home, so I can't compare directly, but the immersion was top-tier. Zombies come at you from all directions--full 360--so you really have to stay on your toes. My heart was racing the entire time. The vibrating vest adds a whole other level of realism when you're getting attacked. Our experience coordinator, Vi, was awesome. She was super friendly and explained everything clearly. We arrived about 20 minutes early (which I definitely recommend) so we could check in on the iPad and get briefed before jumping in. Just a heads up--they do mention on the receipt that your reservation could be canceled if you're more than 5 minutes late. Afterward, you get a fun highlight video included in the price. We downloaded it to our phones and it had us cracking up--definitely a great memory to share with friends and family. The only downside for me is the price. $50 per person for a 30-minute experience can add up fast, especially for families. A family of four would be looking at $200+, which could be a lot for some for such a short activity. That said, I'd totally do it again--especially on a random weekday morning like we did. We had the whole room to ourselves and didn't need to pay extra for a private session. Highly recommend giving it a try!

Sandbox VR in San Diego is next-level fun and completely immersive. We booked the Deadwood Phobia experience for a group of four, and from start to finish, it was wild. The gear is high-tech. You can actually feel the gunshots through the vest, and don't be surprised if you break a sweat. It feels more like a workout than a game, especially with all the moving, ducking, and shooting. Thankfully, fans kick on during the experience to help cool you down, but you'll still leave drenched and smiling. We celebrated a birthday, and at the end of the game, they surprised us with a fun video presentation that made the whole thing even more memorable. If you're bringing friends or family to watch, there's a small bench in the game room and a couple of spots on the floor where spectators can sit and enjoy the action. There's also a small TV screen showing what the players are seeing, which is a nice touch for anyone not playing. At the end of the game, they offer the players a free water bottle to cool off. If you're looking for something unique, active, and ridiculously fun, Sandbox VR is worth checking out. Just come ready to move, laugh, and sweat.

Tried VR for the first time with the Squid Game experience. When it is your groups turn, they have you strap on devices to your ankles and wrists. You also take photos that will be incorporated into a video review at the end of the game. Once you are in the room, you can store personal belongings in their ottoman and their staff will start helping you with your vest and headset. Instructions are given, then the game begins. Pros: -you get to choose your own avatar -the staff that spoke with our group was friendly -I usually get motion sickness but luckily this experience did not have a negative effect on me -the games are actually fun. It involves some movement but as someone who is out of shape, I wasn't out of breath or anything -I'm a plus sized girl and was pleasantly surprised that their vest still fit me. Cons: -the restrooms were a bit disgusting. Toilets were not flushing, it seemed like urine was on the walls, etc. -my friends had issues with their avatar where their arms and legs weren't registering properly. However when they used the safe word for help (pineapple), no one came to help them with the issue. This had impacts on what they could score/complete in the game. Other: -there was another group directly before us that were doing a different virtual experience where they were running around and shooting at things. They came out drenched in sweat. It seems like their method of cleaning between groups is putting their items that they wore in a pile and spraying it.

Although there was a little of a wait, Vi was so wonderful. She was very patient and kind making the experience for the boys amazing. She went out of her way to make everything work perfectly for the boys. Highly recommend coming here!

A must try for gamers and this is excellent for team building with co-workers. Yes, the cost is steep but it's worth the cost for a first-time experience. Beyond that, you're better off buying a home VR set. We did the zombie game and it was fun. It may be too intense for children, but this is perfect for teens and adults. The difficulty was medium, as I had to be revived by a teammate 2x; however, this occurred at the beginning while I was getting acclimated with the gameplay. Make sure to make an appointment on-line to secure your time slot. The staff was helpful and the VR rooms are spacious. And they sanitze the gear after each use.

Place such an awesome place to take the kids and friends. Maurice made the whole experience so much more fun than it already is, thank you to him.

Sandbox VR was hands down a great experience! Super friendly and patient staff who were very inviting. Fun activity for family and friends. This is would be ideal for birthdays of all ages! My kids loved it, but this is easily a fun activity for adults too. My family is already asking when we're going back! Overall amazing time!

John, our host, greeted us at the door and directed us to the kiosk to fill out our waivers. We were hosting a teenage birthday party for six and before the game we had a lot of questions. John answered each one clearly and allowed everyone a chance to use the restroom beforehand. Every step of the way, through putting on the gear, making comfort adjustments and providing instructions and rules, he was patient with a gaggle of teenagers, which is saying a lot! Overall, the party was fun, everyone had a great time and the group is already taking about coming back to do it all again soon. Thank you Sandbox and John for a wonderful experience!

We decided to surprise my son for his birthday with this experience. My first thought was " man, it's pretty costly" when I was booking the event . However , after the experience we are already thinking about planning another one ! Super fun experience, the more the merrier. Couple of beforehands: you will need to come up with a team name and individual game names . Make sure to dress comfortably and we were sweating by the end so maybe less clothes is better . You should arrive 15 minutes before and everyone will have to sign a waiver in your party before they will let you begin . The staff was nice , efficient and helpful ! I look forward to playing again !

Our group played the dragon game. It was very interactive and fun. It was glitchy at times but not too bad. Vi was our guide and she was great! Very professional and helpful. Only 4 stars due do my equipment being pretty worn. My vest didn't stay zipped (came undone from the bottom) and it was missing a strap. Overall I would recommend it as it was very entertaining.

Great experience! It was my first time and Olivia was attentive and made sure everyone was taking care of. Highly recommend and be sure to ask for Olivia.

I love this place!! It is located at the Mission Valley Mall. Behind the Target and Outback Steakhouse. My family and I had no idea what was in store! For all my gamers, it was like playing Resident Evil 3 with zombies ‍ on every side, bugs, chainsaws, and a demonic witch! There is a total of 4 different games to play. So if you're not scare to be face to face with 7 foot zombies and you're not scare of the dark then this is definitely for you!! The staff will walk you thru and gear you up. I recommend the two magnum or the shotgun. We are planning our next event there! We had a blast, thank you

Love our guy John, absolutely recommend coming with a big group of 6 people. We did the zombie one and it was super fun! Make sure to wear comfortable clothes, it gets hot! They also have a recap at the end

I have to say this was the most fun my family has had in a long time! The whole thing lasts about 30 minutes and they provide a military discount. We did Deadwood Phobia and my wife even participated. I do recommend a sweatband, as you do exert yourself a bit.

Brought my sisters here to play squid games. We all had a really good time. Zee (I know I butchered it) but she was the one who helped us and she was honestly the best I had encountered here at this location! It was my third time and my sisters first. Would 10/10 recommend !

Came here for my best friend's birthday and we did not regret it! We went for the Squid Game experience. Omg. It was soo fun. The technology is so advanced. We were told each VR goggles cost about $3k! Woah. I believe it because I truly felt immersed in the game. We had about an hour - 1.5 hr to complete each game. A very experienced worker helped us out before, during and after. One of my friends had issues with her VR goggles. Her character would glitch often, which caused us to pause the game so the worker could fix it. They were super helpful and attentive while making sure we had an amazing experience. After the experience, you get videos of yourself and the game. It's super cool to watch and look back on! We got the content emailed to us. There's more than a dozen different games you can do. Next time we'll probably try something with zombies.

Such an awesome experience! Brought the whole family for a zombie experience & Ariana our game host was kind, courteous & professional. She was extremely helpful & made our first time here a memorable one!!! Will most definitely be back & recommend to others! - Dirty Mike & The Boyz

So much fun. Good energy from everyone. The staff are awesome and very helpful. Definitely recommend everyone try's.

This used to be such a fun night out, but the last few times we have gone, the equipment has gotten worse and worse. Tonight was an all time low. The game stopped three different times on its own and once we stopped it because one of our player's equipment completely stopped working. They had to replace it. You would think that with three game freezes and having to replace the equipment, some sort of discount would have been offered. But, no. We still had to pay full price. The point of VR is the immersive experience. When the game freezes in the middle of it (multiple times) you lose that experience. Very disappointing. Keep reading. Technical difficulties are not a new complaint. It's sad that nothing is being done about it.

I had such a great time at this place. It was so amazing. The VR sessions are so awesome. Definitely coming back.

The experience was incredible! An awesome zombies game, the gear was great, and the staff was friendly! Vi was a great guide and an excellent person!

WOW! What an amazing experience at Sandbox VR tonight. If you think you know Virtual Reality, think again. This was so fully immersive. The vests are super lightweight now compared to those in the past that had the computer systems embedded within. And the headsets were truly HD quality. Super realistic. We played as a team of six and had to go into a compound to save our fellow soldiers. But watch out! Suddenly there were zombies everywhere around you. This experience was intense. You feel everything and you help each other get through to the end. They have experiences for all age levels, all intensity levels and no one goes home feeling left out. I can't say enough good things about Sandbox VR. Go with friends and check it out. You will love it. One final thought, ask their experienced team to give you guidance on the intensity level you feel most comfortable with and they'll hook you up and guide you accordingly. Loved it!!!!!

IF you are someone who is often late to events then DO NOT BOOK this game. They have a 5 min late run. If you are even more then 6 mins late, they will cancel your game without trying to contact, you. This is not stated at all when booking your reservation. It is only NOW that they add it to your receipt after they have your money. the only other place you will see this detail is in the FAQ section on their website. There is no one to actual great you when you arrive so if you are a walk in or this is your first experience it is very confusing as to what to do or what is to be expected. There is no uniform for the employees, so you have no idea who actually works their and who is trying to enjoy the experience. If you walk into the secondary room because you have no idea where to go, they get annoyed with you and tell you to get out. once they are ready to deal with you, they plaster on fake smiles and rush through the rules. The equipment is unreliable. There are sensors that you have to put on your wrists and feet, a vest and a headset with microphone. Since the company has been open since 2020 their materials are starting to wear down. My group played Squid Games, and all the tasks rely on certain movements, so it is disappointing to lose because of the equipment not working. The Microphones were on a lag as well so there was a horrible echo from everyones communication which again caused people to die. There were glitches all throughout our 25 min game. The price for this game was $60 per person and we had 6 in our party. Yes it is fun and new but it also left a really bad experience. We all agreed we would not do this ever again. That for this kind of money we would rather do an escape game that was more interactive and worth our time. so if you made it this far i'd say if you like the shoot them up zombie games or really loved Squid Games you MAY want to spend the money ONCE. but really just create the games at home! Go find the cookie.

Vi was a great hostess, truly helped us get comfortable & had an amazing experience! My boyfriend & I truly had so much fun!!

Everything went well for 5/6 mine kept bugging about the volume and glitching out, but other wise it was a fun family event that we all enjoyed. Great for a birthday present.

Had an absolute blast at Sandbox VR. I took my nephew, 12 y.o. and he can't wait to go back! We played Deadwood Phobia, which is one of their top games. He's into all that zombie stuff, so he loved it. Vi, who was amazing, helped us get ready and walked us through the process! She was great, she was like a tour guide at Disneyland, giving instructions, but throwing in jokes at the same time. Super helpful and made the experience even better! For equipment, you get a motion sensor on both wrists and high ankles. A vest that lets you feel anytime you take damage, a headset, a mic, and your weapon if choice. I went with dual handguns. My nephew did the assault rifle. Once you step into the world it's so immersive and cool! At the end there's an MVP so make sure you actually try, and they have a video they send you a link to with highlights. Definitely a great gift or could be a fun activity for a birthday, such a cool experience my nephew keeps talking about. Thanks Sandbox and Vi!

We did phobia and John was an awesome host. I hope he continues to kill it. Well we definitely will be returning.

Been looking forward for Sandbox VR for over a year. Set an appointment last year but got shutdown due to covid. Finally got to go in December a year later. Overall the game was a lot of fun. There were some glitches in the beginning but that was sorted out. In the end they give a short replay video of you and your team. While the game was very fun, I took a star off for the condition of the equipment. A lot of the elastic bands felt like they were done stretching. The pads on the goggles and vests felt worn out. Some of the clips on the vests were too. For something so expensive, you would think they could maintain their equipment a little better.

Currently on vacation my family and I made reservations weeks ago online. Their website is user friendly you can choose the time and the experience. We reserved for a party of 6 and did the Dead Wood Valley experience. They sent us many multiple email reminders leading up the the date and it was very detailed. We arrived 15 mins before our reserved time. We were greeted and asked to check in/ signed waivers with the iPads located in the front. Our host was very nice and explained the experience to us and gave us our gears. It was a fun great experience. Only complaints: they don't turn on the fans continuously (the only a part of the game it turned on was part of the experience during the helicopter scene) and it gets VERY HOT with all the gear on. We were so sweaty, literally dripping in sweat. The other complaint is the connectivity, we had to step out of our room twice for the room the get recalibrated. Throughout the game they had to pause it multiple times because at least one of us had issues but mostly my husband had issues from start to finish with his gun and they even changed his gun out and it still didn't work. He unfortunately didn't have as good of an experience as everyone else in the group but he didn't want to ruin it for everyone although most time he didn't get to play. They were apologetic and said they would send him a certificate via email for when he returns but he never received it. Other than that we would return. They also did a virtual Birthday Party Celebration for me which was really cool. They recorded us and sent it via email and we were able to save and download it. It's definitely a fun experience.

Last minute birthday idea & it was a fun one! They even did a small birthday song/VR video at the end! It was definitely worth it, highly recommend. Ariana was very sweet, too, she made everything simple & easy!

My son and some family went for his birthday. Half had multiple technical issues and at a few points only half the players we active while other times they were all paused. They were told technical issues are normal but seemed like it was downplayed in person. I called after and encountered a person who simply said, "I'm not going to do anything for you, maybe someone else will..." a male then answered. He said he was an administrator and made no apologies nor attempt to compensate. He said MULTIPLE issues are expected during sessions, especially in the morning. This was not disclosed while we booked. At $50 person, we paid close to $500 for 30 minutes of play. When technical issues are expected and a normal part of gameplay, the price does not meet the quality for a sub-par experience. The issue was made worse as the company took no responsibility and did not even apologize. I hope people take this information into consideration before patronizing this establishment.

STOP READING REVIEWS AND JUST GO DO IT!!! This was so fun!!! Our entire group had a blast and we are so glad we got to experience this during our trip from NC! It is energetic, fun, and everyone can do it even if you aren't used to it! We had such clear instructions from Vi that she made it easy for us to not have any questions and really soar through the game successfully. She was awesome and so knowledgeable and helpful. She multitasked easily, helped several groups at once, gave very thorough instructions and made sure we felt safe and comfortable the entire time. Definitely ask for her!!! You will have fun and you won't regret it! We did Deadwood Mansion and the rats were so creepy because sometimes they would climb on you (digitally) and some of those zombies are FAST! But wow it was so fun!!!

Arianna was a great host today and Squid Games experience was very nice. Recommend for small groups!

Sandbox VR at Mission Valley is seriously next level. Huge shoutout to the entire team: Ava, Arianna, Gianna, Minh, and Erica. You all made the experience unforgettable. Gianna, I really hope you end up watching Trainwreck because then "pineapple" will make just as much sense to you as it did to me. Thank you for being so patient with us. Your graciousness honestly blew me away more than the fan in the VR room. Minh, thank you for laughing with us during the video replays. That moment at the end was everything. Erica, you were hilarious and the best kind of host, always quick with something clever to say, and it made the whole experience even better. Ava, thank you for fixing my vest. I appreciate you. And Arianna, thank you for helping us get all strapped in with the wristlets and anklets. I'm pretty sure our avatars would have ended up upside down without you. Such a mind-blowing experience. If you haven't been here yet, where have you been?

Me and my friends came here Saturday morning and I HAD the best time!! We played Deadwood Valley. The staff was super nice and patient. They gave us instructions on how to out on our gears and what to expect in the game. At the end they even let you see a video of you playing the game, tell you the stats of how well you played the game. They even email it to you so you have a copy. If you like games or if you have never played games you'll definitely want to check this place out. It was a fun experience. Thank you Sandbox VR for a great first time experience. Can't wait to come back and try a different game.

My first time at sandbox was amazing. First of all. Kevin was really helpful and welcoming the second we walked in. The experience is very fun and feels very real. I didn't expect to have this much fun. Will go back next week to try more games !!! This is my new favorite spot.

Came here today with my nephew for his birthday. The entire experience was a waste as my mic didn't work and I couldn't communicate with him or the rest of the team. Throughout the game I repeatedly said out loud that my mic wasn't working hoping an employee would help, got nothing. Since you pay before the experience, they couldn't care less afterwards. Just on to the next. Staff wasn't nice or helpful before or after the experience. More option are popping up with vr, I'd recommend trying another brand/company.

Vi was amazing! She made the whole experience seamless and REAL! Define will return

First, I'll say that this is a really fun experience and I want to go back. I'm writing this to be constructive and hope someone at the company will take action. Need a good manager to come in and clean up the place. I should not walk in and the first thing I think is that someone needs to sweep and vacuum the rooms. Why are the floors littered with bits of plastic and boxes everywhere? Clean up the place. There needs to be a storage area where repairs to equipment occurs that is not in public view. Unopened tv boxes, sensor parts are strewn about. The rooms are warm and when you're killing zombies or dragons, some cool air is nice to have. Had a couple of lag issues, and not all the rooms were functional. I also didn't see anyone clean/sterilize the headsets in between sessions. I don't know, for $50 pp, seems like you need a manager to step in and manage these types of things.

Third time here with my son and as always we had a blast!!! Great new game (Deadwood Phobia) and our host Vi was awesome and funny. Definitely coming back again.

V was an amazing host at Sandbox VR. We had an absolute blast. Well done. Can't wait come back for another experience.

Vi as the host was awesome! best VR experience out! The action is amazing and the horror and make you jump!

Overall a great experience. My first time and I enjoyed it! Vi Rose was excellent and helped us navigate thru the whole experience! It's a fun activity for a fun time with friends!

This was so much fun!! Went with some friends to try it out and it really was a super futuristic experience. We played deadwood valley and it was just as high stress and chaotic as you would think it would be. If you're not a fan of scary stuff, I wouldn't recommend deadwood valley or deadwood mansion, as it is a bit scary. Being able to actually hold a simulation of the weapons we chose was also super cool! A video of your group playing in the game and outside is part of the price, so you get to relive the moment afterwards too.

Love coming here. Have lots of fun each time. Vi explained well how to put on the motion sensors and vest and headset. She was great and has an awesome sense of humor. Different worlds have different weapons. The hardest part is figuring out a team name.