now, i'm sure you are thinking that a blog post on noobs VR's website will tell you that you should choose noobs! well, i mean - we'd absolutely love to have you! but don't worry, we'll give you our honest opinion for our 'winning' choice!
(drumroll please.......)
all 3 options are awesome! (what!!? noobs' says the competition is great?!?") yeah - we'll give credit where credit's due.
looking for something fun to do!? book with sandbox VR in CERRITOS, book with zero latency VR in RANCHO CUCAMONGA, book with noobs VR in REDLANDS - wherever you choose, you'll have a good time!
there are some similarities between these venues, some differences, some pros, some cons (though not many) and so we want to give you that info so you are an educated consumer and can feel great about which immersive virtual reality experience to try... first! :-)
noobs VR, Sandbox VR & Zero Latency VR all sport a 'free-roam VR' gaming experience. you snap into your virtual reality headset & walk around a shared space - all while seeing each other in-game while you experience a completely different reality! some locations host public sessions (with an option to upgrade to a private session), some offer private sessions at no additional cost.
all 3 venues use the industry standard VR headsets - the htc vive focus - that gives pinpoint accuracy so you can enjoy the games together with friends - without worrying about crashing into them! also - as these are capable of high-res wireless streams via 6ghz wifi, no more backpack computers need to be worn!
Sandbox VR also offers full-body tracking via trackers worn at your wrists and feet (though it does come at a premium)
side-by-side comparison of Sandbox VR, Zero Latency VR, and noobs VR:
noobs VR | |||
player count | 1-6 | 1-8 | 2-12* (player count varies by experience) |
minimum age to play (note: minors do always need parent/guardian consent and be accompanied by adult) | 10 | 13 | 6
|
private game sessions | $$ must book all available spots to guarantee private session | $$ must book all available spots to guarantee private session | yes! |
public game sessions | yes! | yes! | no |
VR headset used | htc vive focus 3 (wireless) | htc vive focus 3 (wireless) | htc vive focus 3 (wireless) |
full-body tracking | yes! | no | no |
gaming accessories | physical 'gun' controller haptic vests hand tracking arm/leg trackers | physical 'gun' controller hand tracking (select titles) | standard VR controllers haptic vests hand tracking (select titles) |
experience length | 30 min | 30 min | 50-60 min |
well-known licensed IP ('branded') experiences | yes! (Netflix partnership: Squid Game, Rebel Moon) | yes! (Far Cry, Space Marine - Warhammer 40,000) | no (family-friendly game featuring "The Smurf's" coming soon!) |
cost per player | $50 - $60 (no add'l fees) | $42 (+tax +processing fee) (est. $42 +$3.26 +$1.31 = $46.57) (*$19 specials available for 15 minute sessions for specific games/times) | $30 - $38 (no add'l fees) (*6th player free on many game options, discounts for groups of 8+ and multi-hour packages) |
experience types available | shooter games, puzzle games, fantasy games, adventure games | shooter games, adventure games | shooter games, adventure games, escape room games |
hours of operation (contact venue for up to date info) | 7 days a week reservations recommended usually 10am-10pm or later | wed-sun reservations recommended usually 3pm-8:30pm wed-thur 12pm-9:30pm fri-sat 12pm-6:30pm sun | tue-sun reservations required usually 2:30-9pm weekdays 10am-10pm sat 11:30-8pm sun |
business structure | national franchise incorporated in Delaware | locally owned franchise | locally owned independent |
data is presented in good faith and considered accurate as of 1/2/2025, but is subject to change and not guaranteed. please visit www.sandboxvr.com and www.zerolatencyvr.com for more information and updated policies and availability for their venues!
*noobs LLC has no affiliation with Sandbox VR, Zero Latency VR, or Netflix. Far Cry, Squid Game, Warhammer 40,000, Rebel Moon, Space Marine, Netflix, Sandbox, Zero Latency are all intellectual property of their respective owners, and are presented here only as recommended options for other great VR experiences in southern california - outside of our offerings. noobs LLC receives no compensation for linking to their facilities' websites and do so simply to spread knowledge about cool stuff in our industry. "The Smurfs" is an intellectual property owned by Studio Peyo SA, and International Merchandising, Promotion and Services SA (IMPS) and is used under license by Vigo Creative. noobs LLC offers "The Smurfs" VR experience by Vigo Creative under commercial licensing agreement.
so... which one wins?
when we say that you'll have a great time at any of the 3 locations, we mean it! but, some things to consider:
full-body tracking. if you want to kick your foot out and see your character's foot move in the game - the only spot (that we know of) that currently offers this in the Southern California area is Sandbox VR. it's a trip, you should try it! noobs VR did offer an experience that featured this in the past, and while it rocked, it has since been discontinued (sad, i know. we are always actively testing new tech and pursuing future partnerships with other software developers - so likely we will have it again some day!)
do i need full-body tracking? short answer is 'no' you don't 'need' it... you can still have an amazing time without seeing your feet synchronized. but, it is cool. this tech enables some really fun challenges in Sandbox's "Squid Game" like when you have to step on glass panels and hope they don't bust! :-) they also sport a fantasy style games that allows you to shoot out magic spells just by jetting out your hand!
for most shooter games - while it definitely adds another cool effect to the experience, the presence alone of full body tracking does not make it a better game... Zero Latency and noobs VR both have great titles that utilize the physical space very well and the games are well-designed and pull your attention in ways that don't leave you missing your 'feet.' is the premium price of Sandbox VR worth the added tech? players differ in opinion here, but i'd say that for most folks who have never tried it - maybe? for well-made challenges like Squid Game, yes. for other 'shooters'... 'meh' - not really. i can tell you that 95% of folks who played our older game, 'extraction point' (that used full body trackers) and our current zombie game, 'rotten apple' (that doesn't) have said they actually had more fun on 'rotten apple!' do you miss kicking zombies? a little. but the engagement and environment of the new york themed zombie game more than makes up for it! so, unless you are wanting to try out Sanbox's more unique game choices, like their fantasy-themed game or Squid Game experiences - you likely won't care about the hand/foot tracking after the initial 'wow' moments of it and will have just as much (or maybe even more?) fun at Zero Latency or noobs.
so, is Sandbox VR the winner in 2025 for best multiplayer VR experience? overall, because of their unique offerings and great use of tech, yes.
but, which one is the most fun!?
fun is harder to measure objectively - and really comes down to personal opinions based on experience. and come on... obviously, we think we have the most fun games. :-) we take pride in the countless smiles we've seen plastered over our guests' faces - and we work tirelessly to make that magic happen every time!
but, like i said before - we will give credit where it is due! Sandbox VR has a unique offering & we do really like their Squid Game experience! Zero Latency has some great high-action games that leave you hollering for backup from your buddies! we've had many many folks that have played at all three tell us that we were their favourite. i guess you'll have to give it a try to see if they were blowing smoke :-)
because our games are private, we also have the ability to switch gears as needed. everyone way too scared of the zombie game you booked now that they are face to face with the undead? well, we can switch you into something more tame! probably won't happen at the other places if you are paired with another group. we want you to have a great time and can tailor your experience. just talk to us!
for sandbox, zero latency, and noobs VR - what's the best value?
the total on the receipt is evidence enough. hands down, you'll get more time for less money at noobs VR! ~1 hr vs. 30 minutes AND $8-$25 less! looking for a private game? you'll save even more. why? well, there are a couple factors.
we are independent. we don't pay hefty franchise fees to a 'mother company.' we partner with other small independent companies that develop the software. sure, we still pay commercial licensing fees (these games aren't free :-) - just not all the added expense that corporate franchising comes with. we simply pass those savings off to you! using this direct approach is a win-win-win for all involved. and because we work with multiple development studios - we can be choosy & hand select only games that leave our guests raving!!
we are family owned & operated... and also tech nerds. we can keep our costs down by not having to outsource equipment maintenance, facility maintenance, etc... we do it all!
we operate by reservation only. you have to reserve your spot ahead of time. this helps us maximize and flex our operating hours to meet demand. this is also how we are also able to do private games at no additional cost, and offer games to kids as young as 6 (since you aren't mixed in a game with strangers that won't look out for the littles, we can allow parental discretion to bring their youngins!)
we are located in an industrial center.  we aren't trying to pack in walk-ins and combine groups together - we want to deliver your catered experience to just you and those you bring. not having to pay the huge lease $$ that come with prime real estate, we can keep our static costs down - and again, those savings are reflected in your ticket price!
we flippin' love what we do! we started this business to provide fun group experiences to our community, and offer a place to host awesome parties that caters to groups in the way we wish we could have found for our own celebrations! we host all of our groups - both big and small - in a way that would make our grandma's proud. (well, tbh they prolly wouldn't like the zombies... but i digress.) and we literally get excited every. single. time. that we get to be a part of connecting people together through some awesome group fun!!!
what if i don't live close to noobs VR!?
well, board a plane. rent a car. hitch-hike :-) haha!
if you aren't in southern california, the nice thing about chains is they are all over - so there are Zero Latency and Sandbox VR locations throughout the world- not just in southern california. plus, we have friends in the biz - so it's possible that we know of a cool independent VR place near you! google "VR near me" or shoot us a DM and we'll see if we know anyone! maybe some day we'll put together a directory of VR gaming places! someday :-)
cheers!