The White Rabbit VR Arcade

The White Rabbit VR Arcade

Reviews Summary

The consensus highlights an exceptional VR experience with overwhelmingly positive feedback. Customers consistently praise the friendly, knowledgeable staff (especially the owner Ben) for their patience and helpful guidance. The venue is great for all ages, with many noting it's perfect for birthday parties and family outings. Reviewers love the high-quality equipment, diverse game selection, and immersive Arena setup. Multiple mentions of first-time VR users being blown away by the experience. Clean facilities, reasonable pricing, and excellent customer service are recurring themes. Nearly all reviews emphasize they'll return and highly recommend the venue.

About This Listing

Good for kids
Has Virtual Reality
Wheelchair Accessible

Who Can Play?

Most arcades welcome all ages (some may have age restrictions for certain games)
Minors may need parent/guardian supervision (policies vary by location)
No gaming experience required - games range from beginner to expert level
Comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes recommended for safety
Valid ID may be required for certain attractions or age verification
Groups and parties welcome (advance booking may be required)

*Note: Age restrictions and policies may vary by arcade. Check with your local facility for specifics.*

First-Time Visitors

First-time visitors may need to sign a waiver or register for a game card. Staff are typically available to help explain games and provide tutorials. Some arcades offer newcomer specials or free play sessions to help you get started.

Common Restrictions:

Age-Based Some games may have height or age requirements for safety reasons
Capacity Popular games may have wait times during peak hours

*Note: Policies vary by arcade. Confirm with your local facility.*

What to Bring

Cash or card for tokens/credits (some arcades are cashless)
Valid ID for age verification or membership signup
Phone to capture high scores and memories (check photo policies)

*Note: Payment methods and requirements may differ by arcade.*

Preparing for Your Visit

Check arcade hours and peak times online before visiting
Eat beforehand or check if the arcade has food options
Bring friends for multiplayer games and competitions
Wear comfortable clothes you can move freely in
Avoid bringing valuable items that could be lost or damaged
Check for special events, tournaments, or discount days
Set a budget for games and stick to it
Stay hydrated, especially during long gaming sessions

*Note: Tips may vary by arcade type and location.*

How to Get Started

Most arcades accept walk-ins, but call ahead during busy periods or for large groups. Check for membership deals!

Other Helpful Info

Most visits last 1-3 hours depending on games and group size
Popular games may have longer wait times during weekends and evenings
Many arcades offer unlimited play packages or time-based pricing
Some locations host tournaments and special events regularly
Prize redemption available at many arcades - save your tickets!

*Note: Policies, pricing, and features differ by arcade. Contact your local facility for details.*

What to Expect from Virtual Reality in Arcades

Step into virtual reality for a breathtaking adventure! Arcade VR stations boast advanced headsets (like Oculus or HTC Vive), motion controllers, and sometimes full-body tracking or treadmills. You’ll dive into games like Beat Saber or VR shooters, swinging, dodging, or aiming in 360-degree worlds with vivid visuals and immersive sound. Gameplay spans solo quests to multiplayer battles, with intuitive controls for all levels. Arcades offer vibrant, social VR zones, delivering a thrilling, cutting-edge experience in 2025.

Features

Good for kids
Has Virtual Reality
Wheelchair Accessible

Contact Information

Address

3800 Merle Hay Rd

Des Moines, Iowa 50310

Hours

Monday Closed
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 12-8PM
Thursday 12-8PM
Friday 12-8PM
Saturday 12-8PM
Sunday 12-5PM

Customer Reviews

The owner is amazing! Walked us through everything. Very helpful. Just an amazing experience!

I didn't know this arcade existed until I saw a Facebook post recently (I need to get out more lol) and I am so glad we tried it. My daughter had done a regular escape room recently and when I realized that white rabbit offers virtual escape rooms, I knew we should try it together! We played as a group of 4, all of us were wildly inexperienced with VR, which was no issue the young lady working was helpful and there were tutorials before playing time started so we could get ready. With that being said, our c

Awesome Games! My kiddos absolutely love it! Owner & operator is nothing but kind and helpful! Would recommend to anyone, anytime! 5 stars every time I go in!

The owner is so friendly. We've had a great experience playing VR but also decided to come back for my child's birthday. Unfortunately, I ended up making the reservation with the wrong email, which the owner graciously assisted with, then my kiddo got sick and we had to postpone. The owner has been quick to respond, moved our reservations without a fee, and explained the packages to me. Highly recommend making a reservation online, but if there's availability and you're in the area, I can't think of a bette

We've been several times but most recently we reserved the space for our child's birthday party. Definitely consider White Rabbit VR for your kiddos next bday party if you can!! It was a blast and the owner is an incredible host. It was an experience our extended family won't forget!

I took a group of 4 11 year old boys for 1 hour of regular VR. Only 1 child had previous experience. Ben, the owner, was patient with the boys, explaining everything. One child in our group was very nervous and didn't want to do it. Ben suggested a game that made the child feel very comfortable. When one of the boys would switch a game, Ben would explain how the controls did what. Equipment worked well. It was a wonderful experience. We will definitely be back.

Had a great time with my son. We spent our time in the multiplayer arena taking on bad guys with bows and arrows, and then on to laser tag. Was fun and kept us both moving the entire time. We will definitely be returning!

We tried this out just for fun and then scheduled our 12 year olds birthday party. We had so much fun! The equipment is very easy to start using in minutes and the staff are pros at getting you started.

This was such a fun experience! I was eager to get out of the house but didn't know what to do, I was looking at some fun things and saw this amazing place, and I was immediately intrigued! We came from about 3 hours to do this, and it was worth it! After realizing it was in a mall, we not only got a great experience but also some shopping in! The owner Ben was working there and he was beyond helpful and kind, we bought a T-shirt and I will definitely return with more friends wearing my new T-shirt! Thank y

The staff at White Rabbit were the epitome of great customer service, I brought 3 12 year old boys here to learn VR only one had experience. They showed extreme patcience teaching them the ropes knowing full well they were not listening. Through the two hours they were consistently giving feedback and assist in the journey. Great time had for all. The owner Ben is one of the nicest people I've met in a long time. Truly the epitome of customer service first mantra!

Such a great experience! Brought my daughter and a friend, walked in to check it out, stayed for an hour! Extremely comical to watch them play. I will def be coming back with my own friends to play the lazer tag/ zombie games! Super affordable also! Will def be back!!

Took my daughter & her friends for her birthday. They all had a great time. Lots of game choices & everything was explained well before starting. Great value for the money spent. Would highly recommend & look forward to going again.

I'll describe the experience below, but TLDR it was an affordable price for an awesome experience! Will be coming back for the Arena, but wearing contacts next time. We were a walk-in of 2, had a pleasant and informative conversation with the owner and reserved the next available slot for the Arena. If you can, I recommend it -- it's a step up from vr "stand in a small box" set up. You get to use the entire padded space in the back of the store. There were 3 games running for the arena, a team shooter, a

Very nice staff, the games were great, they were very helpful in getting you set up with the headset. Prices were great. Headset: HTC Vive Pro Prices: $10 for 10 minutes $15 for 25 minutes $30 for 55 minutes Comfortable headsets, enjoyable to watch your friends on the TV, and very kind staff. Overall a great place! Five Stars.

I have went a couple of times with my son. The staff is really helpful with game suggestions and how to use the controllers. They have new haptic vests which for a small additional fee you can play your game wearing. A lot of fun playing multi player... we will be back!

Always a great experience at White Rabbit VR! My son loves going to hang out. Ben is great and is always on top of it making sure everyone is having a great time.

This is an awesome concept. I've always wanted to try it VR and play some awesome games. Well a visit to White Rabbit will get you just that. With the 4 play areas you have enough room to move and really experience your virtual reality space. They have several games you can play with others or play solo. The location is great in the mall and pricing is really reasonable, whether you are trying to kill 15 min before your movie upstairs or planned to come in for hours of entertainment this is a great place to

Fun, but the two people working didn't seem to care about us as customers at all.

Had a blast playing the Cops and Robbers game! 10/10 would recommend.

It was the Best ?? ??

Went to The White Rabbit Vr arcade yesterday it was a great experience the owner was kind and helpful the establishment was very clean first time with virtual reality and me and my girlfriend had a blast definitely recommend and I will be returning

It was my first time ever doing virtual reality, and it's was the absolute funnest experience! Ben was so kind and helpful throughout the whole process. I can't wait to go back :)

Great for all ages, excellent staff, and overall great experience

I'm not usually much of a gamer, but I had been wanting to try VR for a while. Whi can afford to own the headsets themselves, though? This experience was mindblowing! I played a robot attack game and found myself ducking and moving out of the way...it's crazy how much fun it was. The staff were courteous and patient in explaining what games they recommended and how to get started. I'll be back!

Thanks to this place, I found my love for Pistol Whip, and bought it for myself on my Oculus Rift at home. Apart from not having Beat Saber available, I'd definetly recommend this place for someone that has never played VR before, or for someone who has a headset at home, but wants to try a game out before buying.

Friendly, knowledgeable and easy to book!

I say this arcade is one of the best ones ever because with it being virtual reality it makes you feel like you're really in the game and the action from the game can feel so real that it's almost like having exercise. And the staff are very kind which makes the place more enjoyable.

It's always a lot of fun to stop by and play VR. Definitely recommend if you're in the area.

If you want to try virtual reality games this was a great experience. Fun time. Nice store. Friendly owner. Will probably be coming again.

Great place! Lots of fun for kids and adults. Owner is super cool and makes sure everyone has a great time!

Went there with my brother I thought it was going to be expensive and wlan waste of time. I had a blast very kind employee's, great prices and I had no issues with the system. Plan on going back there with friends whenever I have a chance

Very helpful and friendly staff and the VR experience was a lot of fun. The price and play time is very fair.

Super cool experience. Good assortment of games, high end equipment, knowledgeable manager. Good time for any age to experience.

Great place. We reserved our time. Helpful people. Fun for the whole family

Had a party their and the owner was so helpful!! The kids loved it. Will be back again!!

It was an amazing experience especially for someone still getting into VR

The woman at the desk was very helpful. Had a lot of fun with my daughter!

Totally awesome place had alot of fun

What a blast!! Ben was awesome!! Highly recommended!!!

Great place for birthdays!

Great place for VR gaming. Clean place and great customer service!

Son had a blast and staff was very friendly.

Amazing experience, great staff

Good time everytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s it like visiting an arcade today?

It’s a mix of nostalgia and high-energy fun! Many arcades blend retro classics like Pac-Man and pinball with modern VR games, racing simulators, and rhythm challenges — often with music, lights, and a social vibe.

Is it better to go alone or with friends?

Both can be great! Solo visits let you focus on your favorite games, while going with friends adds competition, teamwork, and laughs. Many people plan arcade meetups as a casual hangout or even date spot.

What should I bring to an arcade?

Usually just yourself and a way to pay (some arcades still use coins, others use cards or apps). If you're competitive, bring your A-game. If you're social, bring friends or meet new ones over multiplayer games.

What’s the best time to visit an arcade?

Weekdays or early afternoons are usually less crowded — perfect for focused play. Evenings and weekends bring the buzz, especially at barcades or venues with DJs, tournaments, or themed nights.

Can I meet new people at arcades?

Absolutely! Arcades attract a mix of casual players and serious gamers. Whether you're jumping into a four-player co-op or chatting between rounds, it's a fun, low-pressure way to connect over shared interests.

Are arcades still just for kids?

Not at all. While many arcades are family-friendly, there are also adult-oriented ones with full bars, 18+ nights, or vintage nostalgia themes. Arcades today cater to everyone — from first-timers to lifelong gamers.

Are there events or tournaments I can join?

Yes! Many arcades host regular competitions, retro nights, cosplay parties, and more. Whether you're into high scores or just want to watch and vibe, events add an extra layer to the experience.

What if I’m not great at arcade games?

No worries — arcades are about having fun, not being perfect. Try a variety of games, ask others for tips, and remember: the vibe is more “let’s play” than “let’s win.”

Are virtual reality games in arcades worth playing?

Yes, virtual reality (VR) games in arcades are a top attraction in 2025! Titles like Beat Saber and Half-Life: Alyx deliver immersive thrills with cutting-edge headsets, motion tracking, and responsive controllers. High-resolution displays and spatial audio create heart-pounding experiences, from slashing rhythms to battling zombies. Arcades feature multiplayer VR zones and tournaments, fostering lively communities. VR booths are regularly packed, proving their captivating, next-level gameplay makes them a must-try arcade experience.