La Experiencia is an immersive route through the Madrid in Game video game campus, split into two connected parts: MIG Station, an indoor journey through six rooms, and the Senda Estelar, an outdoor trail of five augmented reality stops. Together they show how game technology is used beyond entertainment, from education and health to urban planning and science.
What it is
The route starts outdoors at the Experience Center with the Senda Estelar, a self-guided trail of five stops. Visitors scan a QR code at the entrance and follow augmented reality scenes on their phone: an introduction from a doctor character, a speed challenge at the Esports Center, a mixing lab at the Development Center and a final walk through the Discovery Center.
MIG Station sits inside the Discovery Center, in the Pabellón de Valencia built for the 1959 Feria Internacional del Campo. Its six rooms run from a welcome room with Mayritt to three minigames that assign each visitor an avatar, a Zona Beta with games from Start IN Up Program startups, an area on the Madrid video game cluster, Virtualab and a closing photo space, the Constelarium.
Virtualab, the virtual reality room, puts the visitor in the role of protagonist of a video game and explains how game technology shows up in everyday life, whether or not the visitor plays.
Why it's worth a visit
The route is aimed at all audiences and puts the local video game industry on display: the Área Clúster room explains the work of the Madrid video game cluster, and the Zona Beta room hosts games from the Start IN Up Program, Madrid in Game's municipal accelerator with more than 50 startups. Visitors play projects that are still in development on the same campus. The two parts are complementary, so the full route runs from the Experience Center to the Discovery Center in a single outing.
Practical info
MIG Station needs a free ticket booked in advance on madridingame.es or through the Madrid in Game app. The Senda Estelar starts at the Campus del Videojuego on Avenida Principal, 3, needs no booking and works in daylight and fair weather. Bring a phone with enough battery for the augmented reality stops. Visitors with reduced mobility should contact the organiser before visiting.
FAQ
How long does La Experiencia at Madrid in Game take?
MIG Station takes about 60 minutes. The Senda Estelar is self-guided with five augmented reality stops, so visitors set their own pace. The trail ends with a walk through the Discovery Center, where MIG Station is located, so both parts can be done in one outing.
Is La Experiencia at Madrid in Game suitable for children?
The organiser recommends MIG Station for visitors aged 10 and over and describes the whole route as suitable for all audiences. The Senda Estelar is self-guided from a phone, so each visitor sets their own pace, and it needs no booking.
How do you get to the Madrid in Game campus by metro or bus?
The nearest metro stations are Alto de Extremadura (line 6) and Lago (line 10). Buses 31, 33, 36, 39, 65 and N19 also serve the area, according to Madrid's official tourism site. BiciMAD docking stations are at Paseo de Puerta del Ángel, 10 and Calle Francisco de Tejada, 1.
What is Madrid in Game?
Madrid in Game is a Madrid City Council initiative, run by its Innovation and Entrepreneurship area, to make the city an international hub for video games. Its campus in Casa de Campo opened in December 2022, covers 4,500 square metres and received 25 million euros of investment.
What is the difference between the Discovery Center, MIG Station and the Senda Estelar?
The Discovery Center is the building, MIG Station is the six-room indoor experience inside it, and the Senda Estelar is the outdoor trail. The Discovery Center is one of four pavilions on the campus, alongside the Development, Esports and Experience Centers, and the five stops of the trail pass through all four.
