Minecraft fans, get ready to step inside the Overworld. EXP Rosemont is bringing the Midwest debut of Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue, an interactive and immersive adventure that turns the world’s best-selling video game into a real-life family experience.
Designed for longtime Minecraft players and families who are completely new to the game, this immersive experience combines storytelling, hands-on challenges, advanced technology, and iconic Minecraft environments into one action-packed mission.
What is Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue?
Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue is a walk-through interactive adventure where guests journey through seven Minecraft-inspired realms to help save villagers under attack by zombies.
Along the way, families will:
- Explore immersive Minecraft biomes
- Collect resources
- Interact with familiar mobs and creatures
- Complete challenges together
- Craft a life-saving potion to rescue the villagers
Each guest receives an Orb of Interaction, a glowing handheld device that guides players through the mission and activates different parts of the experience.
Our group was paired with another family to create a team that ventured through the realms together gathering resources, crafting, battling mobs, building a portal, and rescuing villagers. My kids (ages 9, 8, and 5) are big Minecraft players and were absolutely thrilled to be inside their favorite game. Every realm was interactive and physically appropriate for their ages.
Although the experience is ideal for ages 7 and up, my 5 year old enjoyed being inside her favorite game as much as her older brothers. The realms were thoughtfully created, with activities that logically followed the story. The EXP staff was very helpful and made sure we understood the activity in each realm.
What You’ll See Inside
Families will move through a series of themed environments inspired by the Minecraft universe. Expect larger-than-life visuals, lighting effects, sound design, and interactive moments around every corner.
Minecraft fans will recognize favorite mobs and creatures including:
- Pandas
- Piglins
- Dolphins
- Skeletons
- Spiders
- Creepers
- Bees
Favorite Rooms & Interactive Moments
We had such a great time at the Minecraft Experience. I would highly recommend for any family that has a Minecraft-loving kid. My kids loved all the attention to detail this interactive activity contained. It was a physical experience with the different challenges in each realm varying slightly in physical demand, we were even sweating at one point! The activities were appropriate for everyone, from smaller school aged kids up through adults.
While we enjoyed all the realms, our favorite was the Battle for Blaze rods where we worked as a group in a Snow Fight to knock mobs into lava. Think of a carnival game where you throw balls to hit a target. Except there are hundreds of balls and the screen is massive. We were all laughing by the end and everyone had a blast.
Is it Scary?
There are moments inside the experience where there are dark, have flashing lights, louder sounds, or the entire room seems to be moving. The staff helped out when they knew these sensory triggers were present and instructed us on ways to help if we were feeling the experiences effects. My youngest was not scared at all, as she was familiar with the game, so I would also take this into account when deciding if this experience is age appropriate for your little one.
Do You Need to Play Minecraft to Enjoy It?
Nope! One of the biggest highlights is that the experience was intentionally designed for both Minecraft players and complete beginners.
Parents who don’t know much about Minecraft can still participate in the adventure and enjoy the interactive storytelling alongside their kids.
Good to Know for Non-Gamers
Even though my children are Minecraft enthusiasts, my husband and I are not. Although we do not have nearly the knowledge base as my children, we were able to easily understand what was going on in the experience. The kids on our team all enjoyed being able to tell the adults what to be on the look out for as we worked through the experience together.
Recommended Ages
While Minecraft fans will probably get the most excitement out of spotting familiar characters and references, this experience appears designed for a wide range of ages.
According the the Minecraft Experience, it is designed for ages 7 and up to fully enjoy the experience.
Tips for Families with Younger Kids
- Strollers are not permitted inside the experience. There are lockers inside EXP, however I would recommend traveling as lightly as possible and leaving bags and coats when possible.
- Use the restrooms before entering the experience, because once you are in-you are in!
- There are no concessions at this experience. We were glad we had our water bottles in the car afterwards because of how physical the experience was!
Trading Post & Merchandise
After completing the mission, guests can stop by the Trading Post for Minecraft-themed merchandise and souvenirs. Visitors also receive access to a commemorative in-game cape after attending the experience. The merchandise prices were in line with Disney, and any other specialty immersive experience in the area. My kids were most excited about the stuffies of their favorite Minecraft characters.
Tips Before You Go
Parking
Parking was very simple, as the free parking garage for the Pearl Entertainment District is very close to EXP. Definitely allow extra time on weekends and prime times-as the lot is shared with Dave and Busters and Carmines.
Experience Length
The experience itself was about 55 minutes, however allow about 80 minutes for the entire experience-more on weekends and prime times. We were able to use the restroom before our experience, and then spent some time in the Trading Post gift shop afterwards.
What to Wear
Wear comfy clothes, and your gym shoes-as you the activities in each realm are physical and you will want to be able to move easily.
Food Nearby
The Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue is located in the Pearl District within Rosemont’s Entertainment District. EXP shares a parking garage with some higher end restaurants like Carmine’s, Truluck and even Dave & Busters.
If you are looking to grab a more family-friendly dinner before your Minecraft Experience, head across the way to the Parkway Bank Park Entertainment District and check out the Sugar Factory, Fat Rosies or Crust Brewing. Be sure to allow time for parking for dinner, and then time to find parking at EXP-as they are located across the expressway from each other.
Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue Information
Location
EXP Rosemont
9900 Berwyn Avenue
Rosemont, IL 60018
Dates
Opening Friday, May 8 through July 4, 2026.
Tickets
Tickets start at $28 with multi-pack and group ticket options available.
Website
For tickets and details, visit the official Minecraft Experience website.
Final Thoughts
If you have a Minecraft lover in your house- I would highly recommend you check out the Minecraft Experience, it was such a fun time for all of our family. For my kids, it was like stepping into their favorite game, but in real life. As a parent, I loved watching them get so into each realm, and teach the adults on our team about what was going on around us. My kids are already asking when we can go back!
