VR escape room: what it is and how it differs from a regular escape room

A VR escape room is an escape game you play wearing a VR headset, in a virtual world instead of a real room. At VR Zone Grimbergen, a free-roam VR arena at the Hi! Site just north of Brussels, 2 to 6 players team up for the VR escape rooms The Break-In and Mask of the Pharaoh. Each mission lasts 30 minutes.

If you like escape rooms, you know the feeling: the clock is ticking, everyone talks at once and the last digit of the code clicks into place just in time. A VR escape room gives you that same rush, in places you could never walk into in real life. Below, you’ll find out how it works, how it differs from a classic escape room and when to pick one or the other.

What exactly is a VR escape room?

A VR escape room is a team game where you solve puzzles and crack codes against the clock while wearing a VR headset. In free-roam VR, you walk freely through an empty arena without cables. You see your teammates as avatars and work on the same mission, in the same virtual world.

The idea is the same as a regular escape room: find clues, work together and solve it before time runs out. The difference is the setting. It’s made entirely of images and sound, so the designers aren’t limited by walls, set building or the laws of physics. You find yourself in a bank vault full of digital traces or in a pyramid full of traps, and you actually move through it.

How is a VR escape room different from a regular escape room?

A regular escape room takes place in a real room with locks, objects and hidden corners. In a VR escape room everything is virtual, so the setting can be bigger and more spectacular, and there can be action in the game too. A VR mission is usually shorter, and you don’t hold anything physical except your controller.

Side by side:

• Setting: a regular escape room is a built set. A VR escape room can take you anywhere, from a bank vault to an Egyptian tunnel.
• Movement: in a classic room you mostly search and think. In free-roam VR you walk, duck and react to what happens around you.
• Action: a regular escape room is mostly puzzles. In The Break-In the gang is armed, so besides cracking codes you sometimes need to take cover.
• Length: a classic escape room often takes around an hour. At VR Zone, a VR mission lasts 30 minutes, and you can combine two games.
• Touch: in a regular escape room you handle real keys and objects. In VR, everything happens with your hands and controllers in the virtual world.
• Language: the VR games come in several languages, so multilingual groups and international teams can play together.

When is a classic escape room the better choice?

Pick a classic escape room if your group mainly wants to handle real objects, enjoys a full hour of hunting for hidden locks or would rather not wear a headset. If you want action, movement and a setting that couldn’t exist in real life, a VR escape room is the better fit. Plenty of groups do both, on different occasions.

A few situations where VR clearly comes out ahead:

1. Your group speaks different languages.
2. There are children aged 7 or older: Mask of the Pharaoh is made for them.
3. You want puzzles and action in a single visit.
4. You only have an hour or less, for an afterwork or a birthday for example.

If you’d rather play without a screen, or VR isn’t recommended for someone in your group (with epilepsy, for example), a classic escape room is the better choice.

Which VR escape rooms can you play at VR Zone?

At VR Zone Grimbergen you can play two VR escape rooms: The Break-In, a mission in a robbed bank vault for ages 12 and up, and Mask of the Pharaoh, an adventure in an Egyptian tunnel from age 7. Both are for 2 to 6 players and last 30 minutes. You choose the game on site.

The Break-In

In the middle of the night, a heavily armed gang broke into the vault of Crompton Bank and vanished. You’re a Special Forces team. You investigate the crime scene, follow digital traces, crack codes and figure out what the gang is planning before they strike again.

The Break-In is for 2 to 6 players aged 12 and up, and you can play it in English, Dutch, French, German, Spanish or Portuguese. The pace and the teamwork under pressure also make it a strong choice for team building.

Mask of the Pharaoh

A museum visit gets out of hand. Professor Tobias Kipling is trapped in a network of ancient tunnels, and your team has to find him in time. Along the way you solve puzzles, dodge traps and uncover the secrets of the curse.

Mask of the Pharaoh is suitable from age 7, which makes it the natural choice for a kids’ birthday party or a family outing. Under 16, an adult is always present. They don’t have to play, but we recommend it.

How much does a VR escape room cost at VR Zone?

You pay per person and choose a package online. Explorer costs €29.99 for one 30-minute VR game. Hero costs €34.99 and adds the Carnival Showdown mini-games. Legend costs €59.99 for two full games plus mini-games, for example The Break-In and a second mission. Bookings start at 2 people.

For example: playing a VR escape room with four friends on the Explorer package costs €119.96 in total. You pay online when you book. Bookings are non-refundable, but you can move yours to another date.

For team building and groups of up to 24 people, VR Zone prepares a custom quote, and companies can pay by invoice.

Where can you play a VR escape room near Brussels?

VR Zone is at the Hi! Site, Antwerpselaan 6 in Grimbergen, on the A12 and close to the Brussels Ring. The site has 250 free parking spaces. It’s an easy drive from Brussels, Vilvoorde, Mechelen and Antwerp, and close by for groups from the north of Brussels.

VR Zone sits in a former Douwe Egberts factory hall, with two arenas of about 120 m² in total. A trampoline park and padel courts share the same site. The games come from The Park Playground, and VR Zone takes care of the arena and the guidance.

Frequently asked questions about VR escape rooms

How long does a VR escape room take?

A VR escape room mission lasts 30 minutes. With the Explorer package you’re on site for 45 minutes in total, including the briefing and setup. With Legend you play two full games.

How many players can do a VR escape room?

Each arena holds 2 to 6 players. VR Zone has two arenas, so a larger group splits across both, with up to 12 players at the same time.

Do you need gaming or escape room experience?

No. The controls are simple: you walk, look around and use your hands or a controller. The game master explains everything beforehand. Teamwork and listening to each other matter more than experience.

Is a VR escape room suitable for children?

Mask of the Pharaoh is suitable from age 7, The Break-In from age 12. Under 16, an adult is always present. They don’t have to play, but we recommend it.

Can you play a VR escape room with glasses?

Yes. Most glasses fit under the VR headset, as long as the frame is no wider than 14.2 cm and no taller than 5 cm. Contact lenses are the most comfortable, but not required.

Will a VR escape room make me feel sick?

Usually not. In free-roam VR you actually walk, so what you see matches what your body feels. If you don’t feel well, tell the game master straight away.

Can you do a VR escape room as team building?

Yes. The Break-In works well for team building, because your team has to communicate and split tasks under time pressure. For groups of up to 24 people, VR Zone prepares a custom quote.

Ready to break out?

A VR escape room combines what you love about a regular escape room, cracking codes and working together against the clock, with settings and action that a real room can’t offer. At VR Zone Grimbergen you choose between The Break-In for ages 12 and up and Mask of the Pharaoh from age 7, for 2 to 6 players. A great pick for a night out with friends, a bachelor or hen party, or team building. Book your session online, or request a quote if you’re coming with a company or a large group.