VR Coaster

A VR coaster equips riders with virtual reality headsets — typically Samsung Gear VR or purpose-built devices — that display a synchronised virtual environment matching the physical movements of the coaster. As the train pulls Gs through a loop, the virtual world mirrors the sensation; as it drops, the virtual world plunges. The physical ride becomes the motion platform for an immersive animated or gaming experience.

VR coasters became popular between approximately 2015 and 2019, with many parks retrofitting existing coasters. Reception has been mixed: some guests love the immersive overlay; others find the headsets uncomfortable, claustrophobic, unsanitary, or motion-sickness-inducing, and criticise the added loading time that reduces throughput and lengthens queues. Many parks that introduced VR have since removed it. A small number of dedicated VR coaster experiences — notably products from Mack Rides — have achieved better reception by designing the physical and virtual elements together from the start.