There’s a new way to have fun in Oakville.
STL Virtual Reality (5626 Telegraph), a locally-owned entertainment center, opened its doors to guests of all ages on August 25. Here’s what to know before you go.
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The Space
The virtual reality gaming arena is equipped with 10 Oculus Quest 2 headsets and controllers, full-body VR motion tracking, and enough space for players to move around and immerse themselves in the game they’re playing.
STL VR features a large room for gameplay, and can be separated with a curtain to run two games at a time. Owners Rachel Bond and Nicholas Patterson created STL VR with the aim of providing a unique entertainment option for young people in the area.
“It is a truly unique and different experience from anything, especially if you’ve never used virtual reality before,” Patterson says.
Since opening a month ago, Patterson and Bond have welcomed more adults than they anticipated into the gaming arena, including couples, families, and groups of friends. “It’s nice to see [people playing the games] because it brings people together and is also just something fun and unique to do,” Bond says.
Each experience costs $35 and lasts for 45 minutes, with 15 minutes to set up and 30 minutes of game play. STL VR offers guests half-priced second games if they choose to stay and play again. Walk-ins are welcome, but STL VR recommended booking experiences in advance.
The Games
STL VR currently has 12 games, including Safe Night, Island Assault, and Ghost Mansion. Depending on the game, customers can play in groups of two to eight people.
“The system we use tracks your entire body,” Bond says. “So you’re able to run around. You can see your legs, your hands. You can see other players. We have a couple of interactive games where you can [play] against each other, but we also have some co-op games [where] you can work together.”
The available games cater to different age groups and offer a variety of gaming experiences. Ghost Mansion, for example, is recommended for kids between 5–8 years old and requires the group to work together to capture the cartoonish ghosts that have taken control of the mansion. Older kids and adults can decide whether they want to immerse themselves into outer space, an escape room, a fast-paced kitchen environment, a world of zombies, team-based shooter games, and other exciting settings.
“We’re trying to hit every category indicator because everybody has different tastes when it comes to gaming,” Patterson says.
St. Louis Virtual Reality is open Monday-Thursday from 2–9 p.m., Friday from 2–10 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Sunday sessions are by appointment only.
