PHILADELPHIA, August 11, 2025 – Philadelphia is now home to at least 12 new (or slightly new) sensory-igniting immersive experience venues that tap into a national trend as a digitally-informed travel audience seeks outside-the-box ways to have fun. Think immersive, interactive activities, with the only ceiling being the limits of imagination.
Those are places like the forthcoming Time Mission, set to open in Center City this summer, where players fix a broken “time machine” before it sends them off into a parallel universe, criss-crossing 25 mind-bending portals in a singular timed mission.
Sandbox VR, which opened earlier this year in Rittenhouse Square, offers a socially immersive gaming experience that allows players’ forms to physically interact with each other inside a virtual world. Think zombies or exploring a pirate ship while wearing a haptic vest that simulates physical sensations.
Read on for more can’t-miss immersive experiences in Philadelphia, taking people out of their day-to-day routines and into a fun virtual reality.
Virtual Reality
(Opened in 2025) F1 Arcade Philadelphia (1330 Chestnut Street) – F1 Arcade opened its 19,200-square-foot location in the heart of Center City in May 2025. Featuring 80 F1 racing simulators, it combines high-speed thrills with incredible food and drinks, offering a vibrant atmosphere perfect for competitive fun and socializing. Whether you’re racing against friends or immersing yourself in the energy of Formula 1® culture, F1 Arcade is the perfect spot for birthdays, corporate events and more.
(Opened in 2025) Sandbox VR (1712 Walnut Street) – This national chain of gaming centers opened its 60th location near Rittenhouse Square in April 2025. Sandbox VR offers a full-body virtual reality experience, strapping players with VR headsets, wrist trackers, ankle trackers and haptic vests. The venue has five interactive rooms called “holodecks,” where 3D motion capture cameras line the ceilings and two to six players can team up to fend off digital zombies or survive Squid Game.
Hollywood Happenings
(Opening in 2025) Netflix House (180 N Gulph Road) – Netflix House, set to open on November 12, will take visitors through more than 100,000 square feet of “first-of-their-kind immersive story-driven experiences” exploring the streaming platform’s hit shows and movies like Squid Games, Stranger Things, Wednesday and Bridgerton. Located inside the King of Prussia Mall, Netflix House will offer a permanent, year-round home for insatiable fans of the subscription-based service’s many stories. Bonus: Make a pitstop at Netflix Bites to grab a themed snack or drink during your visit.
The Universal Sphere (1800 Arch Street) – Located in the upper lobby of the Comcast Technology Center, The Universal Sphere brings the cinematic vision of Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks Animation to life in a dome theatre experience, with shows updated seasonally. Expect mild movement, lights and sound during the 15-minute timed show. Tickets are free; reservations are available online.
Timed Adventures
(Opening in 2025) Time Mission (1530 Chestnut Street) – Travel through the space-time continuum to complete a team-based adventure that takes you back in time to save the future. Teams of two to five players will climb castles, dodge lasers, find tunnels, crack codes and solve riddles while racing across 25 inventive portals. Time Mission will open later this summer.
Beat the Bomb (1218 Chestnut Street) – Beat the Bomb is perfect for adventurous adults or teens looking for a thrilling and interactive experience. Step into a real-life video game with immersive, high-energy games where teams race against the clock to solve puzzles and escape before the “bomb” goes off. The challenging missions offer plenty of excitement and the chance to work together with a team.
Non-Digital Experiences
(Opened in 2025) Alloy Atelier (821 Dudley Street, Suite 107A) – This jewelry and metalworking studio recently opened on the ground floor of South Philadelphia’s Bok Building. Alloy Atelier offers one-day workshops and weeks-long classes, allowing you to try your hand at making earrings, bracelets, rings and more – all with hands-on, step-by-step guidance from experienced artists. Don’t miss their special-edition charms workshop where you can craft a one-of-a-kind pendant inspired by the Phillies’ iconic “P” design.
Five Iron Golf (1717 Arch Street) – Indoor golf simulators are having a moment around the country. At Five Iron Golf’s third and newest Philadelphia location, golf enthusiasts can work out kinks and flaws in their swing by using Trackman simulators and best-in-class golf technology, including custom golf club fittings via Callaway Tour Fitting. The immersive indoor playground also features a full bar and restaurant and big-screen TVs.
Dining in the Dark (1735 Market Street) – Enjoy a three-course dinner menu while blindfolded in this sensory delight that fully tests even the most refined palates, encouraging guests to fully tap into their senses of taste and smell. The swanky 52nd Floor of the Pyramid Club gets transformed into an upscale restaurant, featuring three curated menu options: Red (meat), Blue (seafood) and Green (vegan).
Sensory Art Exhibits
Museum of Illusions Philadelphia (401 Market Street) – The Museum of Illusions Philadelphia offers an exciting and unique experience where visitors can explore the boundaries between reality and perception. This immersive museum features a wide array of optical illusions, holograms and interactive exhibits designed to challenge your senses and spark curiosity.
Otherworld Philadelphia (2500 Grant Avenue #1) – Otherworld Philadelphia blends the science fiction and fantasy worlds into one immersive art experience. Spanning 40,000 square feet, you can explore 55 magical rooms and uncover ancient secrets in the fabled “City of Atam” where nothing is ever as it seems, with galleries and hallways paved with assemblage art and mixed media from top immersive artists like Jennifer Burns, Charlie Lynch, Oleksandra, Julia Kim, Justin Geller and Jadon George. Organizers call Otherworld Philadelphia, which opened in 2023, a mixed-reality playground.
Wonderspaces Philadelphia (27 N. 11th Street) – Wonderspaces Philadelphia is a dynamic, immersive art exhibition showcasing a curated collection of interactive and visually captivating installations. This appointment-only learning adventure offers visitors a rare opportunity to engage with cutting-edge art across multiple mediums, blending technology, creativity and storytelling.
About Visit Philadelphia:
VISIT PHILADELPHIA® is our name and our mission. As the region’s official tourism marketing agency, we build Greater Philadelphia’s image, drive visitation and boost the economy. On Greater Philadelphia’s official visitor website, visitphilly.com, visitors can explore things to do, upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages.
Compelling photography and videos, interactive maps and detailed visitor information make the site an effective trip-planning tool. Visitors can also find loads of inspiration on Visit Philly’s social media Channels.
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