I visited the famed Dopamine Land in Singapore for a review and had more fun than anticipated.
When the chance to review Dopamine Land Singapore came, I snagged it. This viral interactive exhibit has been making its rounds around the world with mixed reactions, which didn’t surprise me. Major attractions like these tend to overpromise and underdeliver, so as a certified sceptic, I had to pass judgment for myself. I will say, I ended up having more fun than I thought I would once I let myself relax and embrace all the fun and interactive elements.
Dopamine Land Singapore review: Details at a glance
Best for: Couples looking for unique date nights; fans of the teamLab experience at Artscience Museum; families with active and curious kids
Duration: Approximately 45 minutes
Price: Tickets start from $17
Opening hours: Daily, 11am to 9pm; closed on Tuesdays
Address: Dopamine Land Singapore, #02-204/205, Weave, Resorts World Sentosa, 26 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269
First impressions: Expectations, met
Stepping into Dopamine Land Singapore, everything matched what I saw on social media. Pink walls cover the whole space, with fun pops of colour in the form of bean bags, white clouds, and a surprise yellow bathtub filled with blue balls. The Singapore experience mirrors the other global launches, so you’ll get a full dose of what Dopamine Land has to offer.
It was a lot darker than I expected, since the attraction uses ambient lighting as its main sensory trigger. The lobby features a handful of photo spots, a small merchandise booth, and a VR experience that brings the rollercoasters right to you! The VR experience isn’t too extreme and is suitable for children since it doesn’t tilt too far down.
Interactive Insta-worthy rooms
Most of the rooms have some element of interactivity, and you can easily spend five to 10 minutes touching everything. The least interactive zone is Colourtopia, which serves mainly as a photo opportunity with walls covered in splatters of neon paint.
Things got more exciting once I left my scribbled mark in Scribblescape and entered Neon Nebula. A dark room filled with a tornado of glowing balloons, it makes for a great photo op if you turn your flash on. I was busy kicking up balloons and even caved to my intrusive thoughts and ran straight into the eye of the balloon storm.
After all the excitement, I ventured to the Cave of Tactility. The walls are covered in pool noodles, and in the centre is a small foam cube pit. I felt a little claustrophobic since there was little space to manoeuvre, and I left immediately as soon as the crowd came. But not before giving the pool noodles a good squeeze.
Tip: if you have kids or attend Dopamine Land with a group of friends, visit Chromodance and Cushion Clash first. Chromodance features a jukebox with the option to change up the music and the lights in the room at the touch of a button. I didn’t have it in me to dance, but I got a kick out of seeing the kids chase the lights on the dance floor. Cushion Clash is a test of friendship – the cushioned arena is begging you to smack your friends with a pillow fight. Press the button to get your match started, and fight it out in the bouncy ring.
The downsides
While I enjoyed myself more than I had expected, I foresee a handful of pain points that might dampen the dopamine hit.
I visited Dopamine Land Singapore during a media preview with a limited crowd, so I had enough room to myself to explore. But as some rooms are on the smaller side, you might bump elbows with strangers during peak hours. Because of the school holidays and potential crowd control to avoid overcrowding in each zone, you may have to wait a while before you can enter the lobby and your zone of choice.
If you’re a germaphobe, some rooms might give you the ick. For areas like the ball pit in Sunset Lagoon, Cushion Clash’s pillowfight arena, and Euphoria Grove’s forest of bean bags, you’ll have to take off your shoes. It personally squicked me out to think about wading through a ball pit after countless other people. And who knows where the pillows at Cushion Clash have been… That being said, if you’re a braver soul, I still recommend bringing some hand sanitiser.
Dopamine hit or depressing disappointment?
For a little under $20 a ticket, I’d say Dopamine Land Singapore is worth experiencing once with a group of fun-loving friends or with your gaggle of little ones. The attraction is meant for all ages, but you’ll find your inner child exploding at the chance to leap into ball pits and get into pillowfights.
To make the most of your experience, engage with all the interactive elements and take your time to explore, because it’ll only be disappointing if you rush through it. My major tip is not to hold yourself back – maximise the fun and try everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dopamine Land?
Dopamine Land is an immersive, multi-room experience designed to evoke dopamine (our happy hormone!). Each room involves sensory play and movement.
Is Dopamine Land better for kids or adults?
Dopamine Land caters to all ages. Kids will have the most fun as they’ll take every opportunity to play with the interactive elements. As an adult, take a page out of the kids’ playbook and let yourself run wild to maximise your experience!
Is it purely for Instagram, or is it actually immersive?
Dopamine Land is visually striking, but the rooms also have substance. Because of the interactive elements, it encourages active participation, which makes the whole multi-sensorial experience immersive if you interact with it.
Is Dopamine Land suitable if you’re sensitive to noise or bright lights?
Some rooms, like Chromodance, involve flashing lights and loud music, which may feel overstimulating if you’re sensitive to light. Each zone is marked by a sign with light and noise warnings, so you can choose to avoid those.
Is Dopamine Land worth the ticket price?
Yes, if you enjoy interactive experiences and playful installations. The experience is what you make of it – enter without expectations and let yourself embrace the interactive elements to get the most out of your experience. If you rush through it just for the pictures, you may find it disappointing.
