The Realm VR Gaming
BEST FOR
Ages 8+
WHERE
Edinburgh
What it’s like
Free-roaming VR with up to four players, plus haptic racing sims and retro arcade machines on Edinburgh's first floor.
The big draw here is the free-roaming VR, up to four players loose in the same shared virtual world at once, which is a different thing entirely from strapping a headset on and standing still. There are also 5D racing sims with full haptic motion platforms if your kid wants to feel every corner, and a bank of retro arcade games for when someone needs a breather from the headset. Save the racers for last, they seem to be the bit that gets talked about on the way home.
Worth knowing before you get carried away booking: the portals only take one player at a time per headset, so with three friends sharing a portal, someone's always waiting their turn outside the game while the others go in. Minimum age for the VR portals is 8, but the racing sims step that up to 12, with a 5ft 3in height minimum and a 102kg weight limit, so it's not a straightforward one for the whole group if ages and sizes vary.
Weekends are the normal opening slots, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 8pm, Friday from 2pm. Monday to Thursday the place is parties and group bookings only, which is a faff if you fancied a random Tuesday session, but it does mean birthday do's get the run of the place on quieter days. Booking is required across the board, there's no just turning up.
It's upstairs with one flight of stairs and no lift, and the toilets aren't accessible either, so that's a real consideration if anyone in your group uses a wheelchair or has mobility needs. They say they'll accommodate balance or mobility needs where they can with the seated games, which is something, but it doesn't change the stairs.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 8 and up; racing sims need 12 and a taller kid
- Food
- Party food options available for £6.50 per person including pizza, hot dogs and chicken nuggets
- Wheelchairs
- Not wheelchair accessible. Venue on first floor with one flight of stairs and no lift
- Parties
- Birthday parties from £125 (VR Mini Party), with packages up to £350 (Portals & Seated Bundle), supporting up to 18 players
- Weekend opening is Fri 2pm-8pm, Sat-Sun 10am-8pm; weekdays are parties and groups only
- Party packages run from £125 up to £350 and take up to 18 players, with a dedicated host and exclusive room
- Racing sims have a stricter age, height and weight limit than the VR portals, check who's coming before you book
- Seated VR games are offered for anyone with mobility or balance needs, even though the building itself isn't wheelchair accessible
Plan your visit
What ages can actually play?
VR portals start at 8 years old with a 4 foot height minimum. The racing sims need you to be 12, 5ft 3in tall, and under 102kg.
Do we need to book ahead?
Booking is required, you can't just turn up. Monday to Thursday it's parties and group bookings only, though Friday to Sunday sessions can sometimes be arranged in advance too.
Can my child wear glasses with the headset?
Yes, glasses are fine under the VR headsets.
How does the free-roam VR work with a group?
Up to 3 players can share a portal, but each portal only runs one player at a time, so someone comes out while the next goes in.
Is there food?
Party food is available at £6.50 a head, pizza, hot dogs and chicken nuggets. Vegetarian options come at no extra cost, gluten-free is £1.50 more.
Can we get up there with a wheelchair or pushchair?
It's first floor access only with one flight of stairs and no lift, and the toilets aren't accessible either.
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