GAMERS can have their on-screen worlds brought to life at a new escape room in Southampton.

Players can work as a team to climb up pyramids and complete missions to find a lost ship at Sneaky Dog Escapes, Victoria Road, which opened their doors to the public this month.

The two games, named Beyond Medusa's Gate and Escape the Lost Pyramid, were created by producers of popular action-adventure game Assassin's Creed, but without the elements of shooting or killing involved.

Teams can work together in separate specially-designed pods, with players given the ability to control the actions taking place within a lifelike screen.

It was opened by Alex Pickett and her partner Adam Mager, who are parents to two girls and one boy, and they decided to name the VR centre after their dog Ziggy.

Alex, 41, said: "She was our first sneaky dog and she would always disappear and go missing. When we decided to open the VR centre, we thought we had to name it after her as she is the master of our household.

"The whole point of Sneaky Dog Escapes is having a team adventure, rather than just one person at home playing a solo game, like driving a car. It is designed for two or four people in a team, and it is a cooperative game that needs team work - you cannot complete the mission unless you work together."

According to Alex, the game can only be played at three destinations in the UK, including Southampton, Devon and London, for players aged ten and above.

She added: "The real truth of it is that my husband had always been keen on VR. I'd always been hesitant and he nagged me to try it. I tried it as a non-believer and left as a total convert. Now I'm the biggest advocate. It is really good fun.

"Me and Adam love escape rooms as it's something different you can do other than bowling, the cinema, or going for an expensive meal. What I love is that it's a form of escapism where you don't worry about work or your washing for an hour of your life. You get fully immersed in the story. It's been really popular - we are really pleased. Everyone who comes has been blown away and it's so heart-warming when people give us five star reviews."

Online bookings are required, with tickets costing £26 for each player.

Sneaky Dog Escapes is open every day, from 12pm to 11pm.

For more information, visit the Sneaky Dog website.