Future at Mirra, Bellevue’s newest VR gaming destination

A new true community entertainment venue just opened in Bellevue and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.

Mirra has an upscale casino vibe, but you’ll find a wide variety of games inside. There’s a stylish restaurant and bar surrounded by big screens and an arcade area to spread out while you’re immersed in VR. A pink neon sign begs you to “Get lost.”

Located on the third floor of Lincoln Square South across from Cinemark Reserve, Mirra is elegant and sleek, but not pretentious. It presents all the signs of modernity and the future, while the entertainment itself combines new and exciting options.

The most impressive thing about Mirra, when she looks alone, is the size of the screens. On the night I visited, a floor-to-ceiling LED screen had moving, crystal-clear images of the rainforest. The scenes would change throughout the night, and equally impressive scenes, such as a beach sunset or a waterfall, would also be displayed.

I caught up with Mirra’s founder, Sam Wang, to get the full story. He tells me that Mirra has been a work in progress for the past four years and he has plans to build more. But he also pointed out that this area must be a success first.

“We combine reality and fantasy in Mirra for players and viewers alike,” Wang says. “We want to bring Mirra to the Bellevue community to create a fun, community space where people of all ages can spend quality time with friends and family while enjoying fun games and activities.”

The friendly staff took us to a photo booth where we chose our team name and mascot, as well as our identity for the night. We were then taken to one of the four private areas next to the stadium. Then it was time for the Mirra Party Game Show.

Pictures of tropical forests were successful as a TV game show. A big wheel was lowered with the names of the four games that would be played that night. The wheel spun and landed on “Hyper Rhythm.” Two contestants were chosen from each team and the contestants were taken out of the arena to be fitted with a VR headset and brief instructions. The back wall was also transformed to have real-time game action showing the audience what the contestants saw while playing the game.

For 10 minutes, the players danced to the music while trying to avoid various obstacles while the rest of us cheered them on. Sometimes these players would have to position their body in such a way that it would end up in an upcoming wall with holes shaped like the body. Then, new pairs were chosen for the next game, “Bubble Boom,” which was a larger-than-life Bust-A-Move game using only balloons.

My older son and I were chosen to play the next game, “Laser Room,” where we were placed in a strange laboratory and had to avoid oncoming laser lines. Sometimes, a giant octopus arm would move around the room, pulling people out. I thought I was doing well until I looked at my score. My son thought he was doing better, but I think he was just kidding me.

The last group played what was probably the best game of the night: “Hockey Smash.” The two teams would meet to play the ice hockey match of a lifetime. I think everyone wanted a chance to play that.

While many of the games draw inspiration from mainstream games, each one is unique to Mirra. The instructions were simple and the games were easy to learn. There was really no time to slow down between games. Very well organized. However, the bad thing is that every hour saved includes about 40 minutes of real game time, which means only 10 minutes per player.

While at Mirra, I enjoyed a very tasty mojito. The full bar offers handcrafted cocktails such as the cask-aged Old-Fashioned, the fresh Thai Basil Gimlet, and other creative cocktail/mocktail options.

Mirra’s food is also worth a look. It is inspired by street food found around the world. Most of the menu offers “shareable” items such as Mediterranean lamb skewers, casseroles, a bowl of crispy tofu, a bowl of Shakshuka flatbread, a birria quesadilla, buttermilk fried chicken and hamburger sliders. The menu also offers a variety of plant-based, gluten-free, nut/peed allergy and easy vegan options. You can even order your food while participating in party games.

Mirra is located in Lincoln Square South at 500 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, 98004. We recommend that you gather your friends and pre-register on Mirra’s website before you come out. You will need 4-8 players to play and bay books for $200. Currently, Mirra has daily times at 1:30, 4, 5:30, 7, 8:30 and 10 pm For more information, call 425-459-2324 or visit their website- the color

THE FUN OF THE GAME!

Jeff Totey is a freelance writer for Seattle Refined. Follow more of his work here.