Family fun: Try this new free roam Virtual Reality experience in Leeds – perfect for an Easter holiday treat

If you’re looking for something fun and adventurous to do with the whole family, then this new venue in Leeds is the place to be. The Park Playground is a free roam virtual reality experience which puts you right in the game!

It’s suitable for all ages – adults, couples, teenagers and pensioners – but its specially created children’s game Mask of the Pharaoh has proved to be a hit with all generations.

Get one player free at Easter

With Easter holidays upon us, and cheaper tickets available on certain weekdays, there’s no better time to give it a go. Book by 22nd April for games played by 8th May and receive 1 free player on groups of 4 or more using code EASTERUK

The easily accessible venue at Kirkstall Road also caters for groups and parties. It is proving a winner for kids’ birthday celebrations and with catering options and a private party room to enjoy the food, parents can just relax and enjoy the fun and games!

What is The Park Playground

The Park Playground began in Belgium in 2018. It has 12 venues across Europe but the new Kirkstall Road attraction, is its first in the UK.

Unlike many VR gaming experiences, this one allows you to move around freely. The open-plan playing arena is a 9m by 9m space which allows players to roam around using wireless headsets.

And you won’t have come across the games before, as the experiences are all designed exclusively for Park Playground. Suitable for couples or groups you can test your wits against each other, or work as teams and will be set various tasks, puzzles to solve or villains to vanquish.

Find out more by visiting their website.

The experience is all designed with fun in mind and is suitable for a range of levels of skill and experience – whether you’ve never put on a VR headset before, or are an experienced gamer, you’ll find something to suit you and your friends or occasion – be it a stag night, birthday bash, family fun day or a corporate event.

We asked the people behind The Park Playground to tell us more about the specially devised children’s game Mask of the Pharaoh.

Mask of the Pharaoh – perfect Easter holiday fun

James Nye, of Park Playground, said the game was proving a hit with everyone. “It’s something different, and we’ve had three generations of the same family playing it,” he said. “The kids think it’s the coolest thing when they come into the venue.”

Mask of the Pharaoh can be played by kids aged seven and up. It’s all about fun and adventure –with an historical twist. Set in Egypt the story centres on a professor trapped by a curse – a curse put on him by the Pharaoh. It’s your task to solve the puzzles, make your way over obstacles and finally win the fight to lift the curse and save the prof. But will your skills be up to it?

Along the way you’ll have to walk over lava, solve a rhythm puzzle – similar to Beat Sabre for those in the know – and have a bow and arrow fight to win the day.

James explained that players use their controllers for the bow and arrow – but it feels like the real thing as you pull back your arm and let your arrow go.

The game can be played by two to six players and lasts 30 minutes. But the whole experience will take about an hour – including getting set up and the initial introduction which involves walking the plank!

You could also book it for a kids party – The Park Playground can organise catering, such as pizzas, and a private function room for the celebrations.

Are you ready to walk the plank?

As an ice-breaker and a way to get you used to the VR headsets, The Park Playground has an introduction game so that you can see how everything feels. Once you put on your headset you will enter a virtual lift which transports you to the top of a skyscraper. That’s where you’ll both ‘see’ and ‘feel’ the plank beneath your feet – you’ll need all your courage to step out but how many will dare to look down?

What if there’s more than six of us?

Most groups are between four and six people – if there are more than groups can be split because the venue has two playing fields. It’s possible to accommodate groups of up to 100.

I’m worried about crashing into people?

There’s no need to worry. Once you’re in the game you can clearly see all the others that are playing – you can even reach out and touch them and you’ll see your arm as a ‘virtual’ arm in your headset.

What other games are there?

There is a wide range of experiences, some have a recommendation for over 12s if they are a little scarier.

You’ll always be working with others as the games are team-focussed but some concentrate more on shooting – guns and rossbows – such as The Hallow, a zombie-hunting game set in the 19th Century. Others are escape-room style games – along the lines of The Crystal Maze. And others need a bit of detective work, like The Snitch which is similar to the popular The Traitors show.

What about refreshments?

Snacks and crisps are available and there’s a fully-licenced bar. Catering is available so just ask about it when you book. It’s a great place to meet friends before your session or stay on afterwards in the bar – and also great fun, watching other VR competitors get lost in their experience!

Find out more

It’s open every day, from 10am to 10pm.

Check the website to read more about the different experiences, find out about any special offers, and to make a booking.