We have Meow Wolf at home.
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Date Played: March 31, 2024
Team size: we recommend 1-4
Duration: We recommend 60-90 minutes to explore the space, more if you intend to figure out some of the hidden gameplay.
Price: $34.99 per adult
Ticketing: Public
Accessibility Consideration: Most spaces are accessible to strollers and wheelchairs.
Emergency Exit Rating: [A+] No Lock
Physical Restraints: [A+] No Physical Restraints
REA Reaction
We believe in immersive art installations. They are opportunities to put creativity on display on a large scale, from unusual perspectives. Meow Wolf has normalized this style of entertainment, and its becoming more and more popular. We wanted to see another take on the concept. That's why we visited Otherworld.
At Otherworld, we could see a different artistry than we'd found at Meow Wolf. The installations really excelled in some places, specifically with the design of adorable, and also menacing-but-somehow-still-adorable creatures. These were captivating. And when Otherworld nailed a full room of whimsy weirdness, it was absolutely delightful.
Unfortunately, they didn't nail this enough. Otherworld often felt empty. It lacked detail. Bland projection stood in place of fully realized spaces. We couldn't stand in a room and just continually take it in, as a work of art. There wasn't enough there there.
We also believe that there is opportunity for more interactivity and gameplay to be interwoven with this type of art installation. We'd hoped to find that at Otherworld, but if it was there, it wasn't signposted well enough. All interactions felt random and obtuse; there wasn't enough feedback. I wish the lore and the gameplay had been compelling enough that I wanted to spend the time exploring it... but it did feel like someone wrote something. It's just not clear if it all ended up in the final product.
Otherworld didn't live up to my hopes, but the families moving through it on a Sunday afternoon seemed happy. It was broadly accessible. We encountered groups of all sizes, kids of all ages, and guests with limited mobility. Throughout the day, I delighted in kids experiencing wonder. Otherworld might not be best in class, but it was an enjoyable stop on our day trip to Philly. If you're looking for a little slice of fantastical, or a family activity, check out Otherworld. Also, check out its gift shop.
Who is this for?
- Adventure seekers
- Scenery snobs
- Any experience level
- Adults, kids, or families
Why visit?
- Large-scale fantastical creature art
- Whimsical artistic spaces
Story
Otherworld was an immersive art installation. While we believe there was some mystery or story that we could have uncovered with more time and more digging, we experienced it as an art installation. Each new room revealed different surreal wonders to take in, and occasionally interact with.
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