Escape Virtuality

Name: Escape Virtuality
Address: 130 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001, USA, New York, NY, US
Telephone: (212) 300-1075
Price range: $$
Rating: 4.5

130 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001, USA

Overview

Category:Arcades

Location:New York, NY

Expert Summary

Detailed Insights

Escape Virtuality offers a range of immersive VR experiences, from active simulations like skiing, racing, and river rafting to engaging shooting games against zombies or cowboys. Its standout feature is the exceptionally helpful, patient, and friendly staff who ensure a smooth and enjoyable visit, often assisting with setup and even recording gameplay. It's a particularly good value for tourists leveraging the New York Pass.

Key Highlights

✓Wide variety of single-player immersive VR experiences: Skiing, Walk the Plank, Shoot Zombies, Racing, Jumping off a Building, River Rafting, Shoot Cowboys.
✓Accepts the New York Pass, providing 3 experiences which offers good value for tourists.
✓Staff (e.g., Janz, Marco) are consistently praised for being exceptionally friendly, helpful, patient, and willing to assist with game setup and even record gameplay.
✓Staff are efficient and try to attend to everyone quickly, even when the venue is crowded.

Standout Features

⭐Highly praised, friendly, and patient staff who actively enhance the customer experience.
⭐Diverse selection of engaging single-player VR simulations.
⭐Acceptance of the New York Pass for discounted access to multiple experiences.
⭐Staff are reported to record segments of gameplay for visitors.

Perfect For

Likely suitable for pre-teens (10+), teenagers, and adults due to the nature of the VR experiences (shooting, racing, simulated jumps).

Not explicitly mentioned for younger children, but the active VR games suggest an older, more mature audience.

Ideal For

Families with pre-teens or teenagers seeking immersive virtual reality adventures.

Tourists looking to maximize value with the New York Pass.

Individuals or small groups (1-2 players) wanting a variety of VR simulations.

First-time VR users who will benefit from the patient and helpful staff.

💡Pro Tips from Reviews

→Consider purchasing a New York Pass if visiting as a tourist to get 3 experiences for better value.
→If planning to visit with more than 2 players for multiplayer games, be aware that choices are extremely limited (only two shooting games available in one section).
→Be prepared for the possibility that game selection might feel limited for the price, especially for group play.
→Parents should be aware of the serious managerial conduct allegation and may wish to inquire or exercise caution.

Things to Consider

⚠**EXTREMELY SERIOUS ALLEGATION:** A manager named 'Neil' is accused of being racist, rude, and unprofessional, with a strong warning issued for people of color to avoid the establishment entirely.
⚠Perceived as 'a bit pricy' for the number of game choices available.
⚠Very limited multiplayer game options: only one section (shooting games) allows more than 2 players, and that section only offers two game choices.

Price & Value

Generally perceived as 'a bit pricy' given the limited number of game choices, particularly for multiplayer. However, it offers good value if utilizing the New York Pass, which includes 3 experiences. No specific individual game prices were mentioned.

♿Accessibility & Special Needs

•No specific accessibility accommodations were mentioned in the reviews. The nature of VR experiences typically involves wearing headsets and some degree of physical interaction, which might have inherent limitations.

🍎Food & Drink Policy

•Not mentioned in reviews.

🚗Parking Info

•Not mentioned in reviews.

👥Crowd Levels

•Can get crowded at times, but staff are noted for being efficient and attending to customers quickly even during busy periods.

🛡️Safety Features

•No specific safety features beyond staff assistance during VR setup were mentioned.

⏰When to Avoid

• Families or groups specifically looking for extensive multiplayer VR gaming options for more than 2 players, as choices are very limited.
• Anyone highly sensitive to customer service issues, especially given the serious allegations against management.
• If diverse game selection for the price is a top priority.

Pricing/Package/Events

What People Say

What's Great

Friendly and helpful staff (mentioned in 5 reviews)
Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 2 reviews)

Recent Reviews

Michael Donaghy

2 weeks ago

Really enjoyed my time here with my partner! Did three games, Skiing, walk the plank and shoot the zombies. Shoutout Janz! Really lovely staff who helped us get set up, recorded for us and made sure we had a great time!

janz jaro

a month ago

she had the new york pass and she said she enjoyed it, she got to do 3 experiences, 2 blue tickets for the back where you can do racing, jumping off a building, skiing, river rafting, and more!! then for the pink tickets she used it for the front, you can shoot zombies or shoot cowboys very fun experience

Raenita Spriggs

in the last week

The manager at this place, Neil, is extremely racist, rude, and unprofessional. I have never received worse customer service than my experience talking to him. I will never again spend my money here. If you are a person of color, I advise you to stay very far away. To be safe, don't even walk on that side of the street...

Christopher Montes

2 months ago

Great experience, first timer here. Marco was great and super helpful. really appreciated the employees patience and willingness to help.

Nats

5 months ago

Amazing experience and great place. Staff is very friendly and tries to attend everyone asap even when the place is crowded. Only thing I would say is for the price, there aren’t many game choices. Specially if you looking to play multiplayer games. There is only one section(shooting game) where u can play with more than 2 players but they only have choice of 2 games.. for this reason I would say it Is bit pricy..