When I put on the “S” on Monday morning, I wasn’t planning on saving the world from Darkseid, but at least I was dressed for the part.
The Superman Experience that has taken up residence in one of the sound stages at Warner Bros. in Burbank is a good — in all senses of the word — example of the running trend of quasi-promotional immersive experiences pioneered by Netflix and slowly but surely catching on with the rest of the entertainment industry.
The formula is straightforward: an in world interactive experience — in this case it takes the form of a video game for up to five participants at a time — followed by a themed lounge/playground.
Things start with a setup scene that explains the core premise that strange portals are appearing all over the world and that Superman has recruited us to help because he has something that can magnify the good in us and give us superpowers, all of which — including Kal-El — is rendered in game engine. With character designs drawn from James Gunn’s 2025 movie, it gives the effect of being inside the arcade tie-in game. Which isn’t a bad thing, mind, but is what I thought of as the game unfolded.
Said game involves playing a motion activated shooting gallery, here a punching gallery since that’s most of what we are doing, in front of three screens arranged like an open box with no lid and no backside. We start by choosing our supersuits in an avatar selection screen. These only appear onscreen to remind us where to stand, as our position will shift from room to room. Yes, despite the fact that the gameplay is delivered by screen there are different rooms. I can think of a few reasons why, but I didn’t mind going from room to room as it created at least a basic sense of traversing the scenario. Also I might have pretended to fly as I walked from room to room. Maybe.
To be fair, it’s because the game encourages us to do so.
Every level ends with Superman telling us to raise our fists to the sky and take off, the screen showing the scene racing away as we take to the clouds and wind blowing in our faces from fans mounted above us on the soundstage. Every level starts with us landing, a rumble under our feet as we slam down as superheroes do. It’s not a huge effect, but it’s dialed in just enough to be playful. To get you into the role.
The core gameplay is punching things. Sometimes pretending to fly. Occasionally throwing chickens. It won’t win any innovation awards but it is tuned to be fun for a group of five. Even if said group of five is a family of four (three of whom wore the “S”) and a random bearded stranger who wandered in off the street after remembering this whole thing was a half mile from his favorite cafe on a holiday Monday. (Sorry, random family, that they made me photobomb your pictures.)
Oh right, Darkseid: so it turns out that Darkseid is the big bad. Why? Darkseid is, that’s why. He shows up as the comic book version of himself, which aids in the whole “feels like the arcade tie-in” thing. They get in some good lines about Darkseid despising hope and being determined to impose order. Somebody on the creative team gets the characters.
The main game is fun enough, but it’s what comes after that is the real treat for any Superman fans: the Fortress of Solitude.
Here they’ve taken a large chunk of the sound stage and built out a series of interactive stations and photo ops. Woven a little QR code game that activates a physical version of the game’s Macguffin that sits near the middle of the room. Carved out space for a bar with snacks that doubles as a soda fountain. One with menus that light up when you open them. I’ve never felt more like a rube than I did opening and closing that menu just to be wowed by such a simple effect. Dork.
Inside this part is the really reason I came: Gary. A full animatronic version of one of the Superman robots from the movie. He’s one of the photo stations. (You are given a photo pass card at the start. Electronic versions of the photos are free, but they are more than willing to sell you a printed version. Just like theme parks. How this is still a viable business model I have no idea.)
The Fortress is pretty darn cool. Made all the moreso as I found Superman and Lois Lane at the bar. These were not employees, but rather skillful cosplayers whom the staff were excited to take pictures with. Superman was gracious, not there to just get content for his socials, and was happy to interact with adults and kids and really channel the character for a moment. A reminder that fandom can be a force for good.
I dug the Fortress enough that I sprung for a milkshake — I’d been craving one all weekend — and for $12 I got a tasty enough shake. Theme park prices for sure, but I was paying for the ambiance. There were elaborate cocktails as well, but I’ve done my cocktail duty that weekend.
On the way out Superman and Lois joined us on the tram back — the experience has its own themed tram cars to cross the lot. We’re dropped off at the end of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour where they keep a bunch of costumes and Batmobiles. (There is also the Wizarding World stuff, if you care for that. I don’t and was thankful that I didn’t have to walk through it to get anywhere.) This is the part of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour that I always wanted to see, so I was pleasantly surprised that this was included by default. It makes the price tag very palatable when broken up into game, installation, and costume museum.
This one is definitely for the fans, but that’s not a bad thing at all. In fact if there was a non-game ticket I could imagine myself going to just hang out at the Fortress again, but that wouldn’t make sense from a business perspective. According to the gift shop staff at the sound stage, the experience is running for as long as corporate will let them. Which comes down to “so long as they are making money.” So if you’re curious, head on down to the lot this summer.
Superman Experience: Defenders Unite is now saving the day at the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, CA. Tickets are $29 for kids and $39 for adults. Parties of up to five play together.
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