Hello everyone, it’s Blake again, and I’m here to give you a review of my recent virtual reality experience at the Dave & Buster’s location in Las Vegas. In case you’re not familiar, Dave & Buster’s is a popular US entertainment and restaurant chain that offers arcade games, sports bars, and food and has recently added VR attractions to its offering.
As I mentioned before, I’m a mid-30s tech enthusiast and gaming nerd who runs this website. My wife Patty and I were in Vegas to celebrate our 10th anniversary, and we decided to check out the VR offerings at the massive Dave & Buster’s location near the Cheyenne Air Center hangars.
We’ve played VR at home plenty using my Oculus Rift and HTC Vive rigs, but we were curious to see how Dave & Buster’s implementation compared, especially since they have attractions based on huge franchises like Jurassic Park, Star Trek, and Top Gun Maverick.
Dave & Buster’s VR experiences aren’t traditional “games” per se. Instead, they’re more like immersive 5-minute rides where you sit in a moving simulator rig while wearing a VR headset. Some experiences allow you to shoot at targets for points, but mostly you’re just soaking in the amazing sights and sensations.
After checking out the truly epic game floor with everything from carnival-style games to the latest arcade cabinets, we spotted the neon-glowing VR area and headed over. Keep reading to find out what we thought of the technology and the overall experience!
Living Our Best VR Lives
I’ll say this straight away – Dave & Buster’s VR rides totally lived up to the hype and then some! As soon as we approached the VR zone, I could tell they invested heavily in the whole setup. There were massive simulator rigs decked out with logos from Jurassic World, Star Trek, and other popular franchises.
The rigs could fit 4 players at once, with each seat featuring mounted HTC Vive headsets, haptic vests, and controllers. Around the rigs were themed props like a Jurassic Park jeep covered in scratches and dirt. Posters and monitors played trailers to hype up the rides.
After waiting about 5 minutes in the short line, an attendant helped gear us up in our haptic vests and headsets. We hopped into the Jurassic World-themed ride, strapped ourselves in, and then…hold onto your butts!
As soon as the rig started rumbling and rolling in sync with the VR visuals, I had a huge grin on my face that didn’t go away until the ride ended. I mean it felt like we were legitimately off-roading through the jungles of Isla Nublar! When velociraptors hopped onto our jeep to attack, I instinctively flinched. When our vehicle cruised alongside a towering brachiosaur, I was awestruck.
The little details made all the difference – hot air blowing on us when flames erupted nearby, water spraying when crossing a river. Dave & Buster’s perfectly synced up the 4D physical ride with the VR action in a way that fooled all my senses. Between the intense visuals and sensations, I completely forgot I was sitting in a Las Vegas restaurant.
We definitely screamed our heads off more than a few times! But in a good way.
Afterward, tingling with adrenaline, we decided to be brave and try the space-based Star Trek VR ride. I’ve watched every Trek series but still geeked out when our shuttle glided through a massive Borg cube ship. This ride was even more immersive thanks to cold air gusts and hot flames seemingly bursting against us. Borg drones leaped out from all sides while we blasted them with phasers. So so awesome.
We also managed to fit in one more ride before lunch – the aerial-themed Top Gun VR. I felt like I really was swooping through the sky in an F-18 jet. Between barrel rolls and missiles flying past us, it was absolutely intense! Patty doesn’t have the strongest stomach, so this one pushed her a bit too far. But it was still an unforgettable thrill ride!
Some Technical Hiccups
While 90% of Dave & Buster’s VR experience was mindblowing, we did run into a few technical snags here and there.
As amazing as the rides were, the graphics and playback didn’t always seem perfectly smooth and lag-free. Occasionally objects seemed to skip or stutter a bit as I turned my head. It was likely due to the complex wireless synchronization between four players’ headsets, vests, and ride movements. But it was just enough roughness to sometimes break the spell.
We also noticed some odd overlapping between our perspectives during the Jurassic World ride. Like my wife’s headset would display my arms outstretched in front of her as I aimed my controller. A bit bizarre and intrusive! Thankfully it only seemed to affect that particular ride.
There are also inherent challenges that come with public VR gear instead of my own set at home. Sharing sweaty headsets is not the most hygienic. And some riders don’t follow directions well, which can sabotage the experience a bit. We had one lady spin her chair all around instead of facing forward, which definitely broke some of that immersion!
The Verdict
At the end of the day, Patty and I had an incredible time with the premium VR rides offered at Dave & Buster’s Las Vegas. Despite some mildly annoying tech flubs, the total experience was five stars all around. Getting to blast raptors and battle spaceships back-to-back in just 30 minutes was such a visceral thrill.
I especially appreciated how all the rides really leaned into what makes VR great. The fully synced motion rigs and environmental effects seemed perfectly built around bringing the visuals to life. It’s clear Dave & Buster’s invested in some serious VR talent to develop these beasts.
I also think upgrading the graphics with newer higher-resolution headsets could make things feel smoother and more immersive over time. And ideally add some element of personal profiles so each rider’s experience is perfectly tuned the whole time based on their height and preferences, no matter the rig or seat.
But overall, for just $6 bucks per person, this was an incredible bang for your buck VR extravaganza! If you’re ever near the Las Vegas strip looking for thrills, I cannot recommend Dave & Buster’s VR rides enough. Just make sure you come hungry – you will have earned your hot wings and beers after battling raptors!
Until next time gang, live long and prosper! And don’t forget to comment with your own Vegas VR recommendations!