During our weekend trip to Vegas, we had the opportunity to visit Xworld360, a virtual wonderland located on the Vegas strip inside the Grand Bazaar Shops at Bally’s that promised next-level VR adventures using state-of-the-art equipment.
We arrived at the Xworld360 Vegas location on Saturday around lunchtime. The sleek storefront decorated with larger-than-life VR headsets and futuristic neon lights made it easy to spot. My 13-year-old son, John, was already excited and scrolling through their options on his phone. “They have over 80 different rides, Dad!” he exclaimed. My wife, Patty, chuckled and ruffled our 11-year-old daughter, Jenette’s hair, as she skipped along excitedly. Although she was only 11, she shared her dad and brother’s love for anything hands-on and technical.
I had a feeling this VR experience would be perfect for us. Entering the store, we saw ads showcasing the various heart-racing VR worlds we could explore, from deep-sea diving with sharks to navigating an alien space station.
The staff member welcomed us warmly and began to explain the different rides and safety rules. Despite the eagerness shining on John and Jen’s faces, I appreciated that the staff took the time to properly fit everyone with gear and give clear instructions, especially with the children. Safety was the top priority, and it was great to see that they took it seriously.
The Hunted House VR Experience
After settling the payment, we walked into the main ride area, which contained around 12 separate stations. Each station was equipped with a high-backed rotating chair, plenty of straps, and some fierce-looking VR goggles. Jen and I decided to try out the Halloween-themed Hunted House first. Once we were seated and securely strapped in, the attendant helped me fit the VR headset over my glasses. Suddenly, everything went dark, only to flash seconds later into a creepy abandoned mansion!
I immediately noticed that this VR world was incredibly realistic, with seamless 360-degree views and spatial 3D audio that made me feel like I was truly inside the haunted house. Every little creak and groan echoed around me as I took hesitant steps forward. Cobwebs hung from the crumbling ceiling, and moonlight spilled across the dusty floor from cracked windows.
I nearly jumped out of my skin when a ghastly figure leaped out from the shadows! My heart was racing, and I somehow managed to let out a timid “h-hello?” That’s when things got really intense. Phantom faces materialized on all sides, spectral voices whispered chilling threats and bony hands kept grabbing me when I least expected it.
At one point, a secret passage opened up, leading down a spiral staircase into pitch darkness. Although I could vividly see floating specters and decrepit monsters around every turn, the total darkness definitely amplified my building panic. About halfway through, I completely forgot that this was only a simulation. The visuals were so real and reactive that my brain told me I was literally living this nightmarish haunting.
When a creepy girl suddenly appeared directly behind my chair, her bloodcurdling screams in my ear nearly made me rip off the headset! Thankfully, I remembered the safety straps in time. I’m pretty sure the staff and my laughing family heard me halfway down the strip with how loud I was yelling!
After barely surviving the rest of this heart-stopping 15-minute house of horrors, I have to say the Hunted House absolutely blew me away. My hands were shaking, and goosebumps covered every inch of my skin thanks to that insanely immersive world. Jen later told me she had just as thrilling of an experience, though with slightly less screaming involved. I guess I’ll need to brave some more rides before I reach her fearless level!
Roller Coaster VR Ride
While I took a quick water break to recover, John and Patty geared up for their first ride together – the fan-favorite Roller Coaster VR. Even with the ride barely starting, I could already hear John whooping it up. Leaning back in my chair, I watched their VR perspectives broadcast on two large overhead monitors. Their rail cart slowly began scaling an impossibly steep track flanked by stunning mountain vistas. Though fully aware he was sitting perfectly still in a Vegas shop, John stretched his hands out like he was truly feeling the frosty high-altitude air.
Their climbing cart suddenly stalled at the peak for a few agonizing seconds. Even I felt nervous watching the straight plummeting drop awaiting them. “Oh boy, here we go!” Patty laughed. The track released and their cart shot down at breakneck speeds while my family members screamed their heads off. Watching John and Patty wave their arms and glance every which way, I truly couldn’t tell the difference between their reactions and actually riding a real twisting, looping coaster.
Hairpin curves sent their cart careening precariously close to jagged cliffs. At one point they raced straight through an underground tunnel with vicious dinosaurs snapping at them from all sides! Just when it seemed like smooth sailing from there, a section of track disintegrated right beneath their wheels. Their now free-falling cart plunged straight toward a dinosaur-infested jungle river!
I seriously wondered if their brains could even process all that sensory input without short-circuiting. John’s mouth hung open in awe as their cart floated down the jungle river. A giant T-Rex suddenly erupted from the trees in front of them, massive jaws chomping after their fragile raft. Even Patty let out some choice words that I’ll refrain from including here! Suffice to say, the colorful language from my normally reserved wife told me this coaster ride was almost too realistic for its own good.
After barely cheating death at least a hundred times, their cart rolled safely into the exit station, both riders looking completely flabbergasted. John asked the attendant in confusion “It’s over?” Laughing at his dumbstruck expression, I had a feeling he could have stayed on that thrilling VR coaster all day if possible! Even Patty admitted no real coaster could ever compete with the complete sensory assault of Xworld’s VR creations. If this roller coaster was any indication, we still had so many vivid worlds left to explore.
Conclusion
Our family had an incredible experience at Xworld360, where we explored 89 unique VR rides and worlds. Over the course of a few hours, we traveled through space, went on a transatlantic ocean liner voyage, battled zombies in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, and even tried our hand at defusing a bomb! Each experience was more unbelievable than the last, thanks to the unmatched realism that pumped our senses full of pure adrenaline and excitement.
After reluctantly ending our final ride, we exited the building in a happy daze, already reminiscing over our wild adventures. John couldn’t stop talking about the zero-gravity alien spaceship dogfight that had him ducking laser fire and doing barrel rolls like a pro fighter pilot. Jen raved about the gorgeous Northern Lights display during her Arctic helicopter tour. Even my thrill-seeking wife Patty was still shaking her head in disbelief after surviving a stampede of rampaging dinosaurs by the skin of her teeth!
Xworld360 is one of the highest-rated attractions in Vegas, and for good reason. They truly capture that elusive feeling of presence which completely fools your mind and body into believing the digital worlds surrounding you are reality. Thanks to the incredibly vivid and realistic graphics, reactive motion simulation, and immersive spatial audio, these rides trigger your senses in ways flatscreens simply can’t compete with. No matter what exciting VR adventure you choose, the talented folks at Xworld360 guarantee an absolutely unforgettable experience each time!
I highly recommend this incredible VR attraction to fellow tech and adrenaline junkies. With quality rides for every age range, it’s the perfect activity for family vacations or date nights that need some extra thrill! The admission price is around $40 per person, which is an amazing bargain considering most VR arcades charge triple for a fraction of the content and realism.
Whether you think VR still seems too gimmicky or played some underwhelming demos in the past, Xworld360’s cutting-edge tech and immersive worlds will make you an instant believer like my formerly skeptical family. Trust me, you’ll be itching to venture back the moment those headsets come off!