Photo credit: STRANGER THINGS
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Is the finale of Stranger Things leaving demagorgon-sized hole in your life? Never fear, for soon you’ll be able to extend the experience with the debut of Sandbox VR in Houston. Opening this coming January, Sandbox VR is a cutting-edge VR facility that’s set to offer 10 distinct experiences including Stranger Things: Catalyst, where Houstonians can immerse themselves in the heart of Hawkins.
Opening in CityCentre on Friday, January 23, 2026, Sandbox VR is a San Francisco-based, cutting-edge immersion facility with over 65 locations across the globe. Built in collaboration between Ubisoft, EA, and Sony developers, Sandbox VR offers exhilarating adventures (original and licensed) through full-body motion capture and advanced haptics that blur the line between game and reality.
Photo credit: Sandbox VR
Upon its Houston debut, Sandbox VR will offer 10 distinct VR experiences, notably Stranger Things: Catalyst. Created in official partnership with Netflix, Sandbox VR allows for fans to enter the world of Stranger Things in a cully cinematic expansion of the universe.
The experience utilizes immersive haptics to transport players into iconic locales like Mirkwood and the Hawkins Lab. The gameplay centers on empowerment, allowing users to manifest Eleven’s psychic abilities to combat a gauntlet of supernatural threats, culminating in a high-stakes showdown with the franchise’s most infamous monsters.
“Houston’s reputation as a hub for innovation and technology makes it a perfect fit for Sandbox VR,” said Steve Zhao, CEO and Founder of Sandbox VR in a press release.
“The city’s diverse, tech-savvy population and strong entertainment culture create an ideal environment for our immersive VR experiences. LOL Entertainment continues to exceed our expectations as a partner, and we’re excited to bring our cutting-edge virtual reality gaming to Texas’s largest city.”
Photo credit: STRANGER THINGS
In addition to Stranger Things: Catalyst, Sandbox VR will also feature its blockbuster Rebel Moon: The Descent and Deadwood PHOBIA experiences among 10 in total.
Sandbox VR opens at 797 Sorella Court at CityCentre in Houston on Friday, January 23, 2026. Tickets are now on sale, offering a special 30% off promotion through January 22 with the code OPEN30. On January 23, prices will return to $55 – $65 per individual.