The best virtual reality arcades and game rooms in Shanghai

Photograph: courtesy VR Better

Sometimes, even in a place as awesome as Shanghai, the real world just doesn’t cut it. Thank goodness for virtual reality, then. Getting away from the crowded streets is as easy as slipping on a fancy headset at a virtual reality arcade.

Granted, getting your own VR setup at home is easier than ever before, but maybe the price is still too much of a splurge-spend for you, or your apartment doesn't have enough space to keep you from walking into walls. Maybe you just want to try before you buy. In other words, VR arcades still have a reason to exist.

Around Shanghai are a slew of spare office spaces and apartment blocks converted into game rooms where you can pay by the hour to plug into the Matrix yourself. Since the VR craze has cooled a bit in the last year, these barebones VR arcades have outlasted the fancier joints, like Star Core VR. If you can get past the sometimes dingy or hard-to-find locations, Shanghai’s virtual reality arcades definitely promise an unconventionally fun evening.

Most locations will feature the same software and game selection: an extensive library of English and Chinese games that range from zombie killing to skiing to archery. Standouts included BeatSaber, an addictive rhythm game where we slashed blocks in time to music in a cross between Star Wars and GuitarHero, and Tilt Brush, a trippy art package that allowed us to draw patterns and shapes around the room in 3D space.

Part of the fun is, of course, watching friends stumble through a virtual world from the outside. And with all the action displayed on TV screens, filming each other getting jump-scared by virtual monsters makes for quality video clips.

MacHouse VR Arcade

Photograph: Daniel Wu

Located inside Joy City shopping mall, MacHouse is one of the last mall-based VR arcades still open and offers a glitzy take on a classic video game arcade experience. The arcade has several stations with VR consoles and a selection of around 20 games, including a racing game played on a machine rigged to move and rotate as you drive. They do however charge per round played, which adds up, especially when some games only last around 10 minutes a session.

📍MacHouse VR Arcade, Fifth Floor, Joy City Mall, 166 Xizang Bei Lu, near Qufu Lu. 10am-10pm. 49-99RMB per game.

Chuangyi Zhigu VR

Photograph: Daniel Wu

Chuangyi Zhigu is one of many small apartment-based VR arcades in the city. Although the location is a little drab and hard to find, hidden behind a dusty storefront, the game rooms were comfortable enough and were separated by blinds and sliding doors, affording some welcome privacy we didn’t always have at other locations. Free soft drinks were also available for visitors.

📍Chuangyi Zhigu VR, 19C, 19th Floor Dongming Plaza Building 3, No 628 Zhangchang Lu. 10am - midnight. 98RMB per hour (weekdays), 128RMB per hour (weekends).

VR Better

Photograph: courtesy VR Better

A tidy apartment converted into a popup virtual reality game room, VR Better offers a chance to try out virtual reality experiences and video games with its selection of high-tech virtual reality consoles and headsets. Sci-fi themed paintings and posters spruced up what otherwise would’ve been a plain venue, giving the popup an endearingly geeky feel. Shop staff are friendly and helpful, and soft drinks and snacks were also available for players.

📍VR Better, Room H, 19th Floor, 38 Caoxi Bei Lu, near Hongqiao Lu. 1-9pm. 100RMB per hour (weekdays); 128RMB per hour (weekends).

Qingxing Mengjing VR

Photograph: Daniel Wu

A cosy VR video game arcade based out of a tidily decorated apartment, with new VR headsets and gaming devices and a large selection of games.

📍Qingxing Mengjing VR Room 601, Sixth Floor, Xinhe Shiji Plaza Building A, 2500, Zhenbei Lu, near Taopu Lu. 87 RMB per hour (weekdays); 138RMB per hour (weekends).

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