Airbnb’s new X-Men mansion feels like we’re staying inside a video game
Those of a certain age might remember when someone won a real-life replica of The Simpsons house. It was a pastel nightmare, and while the house still stands with only a handful of nods to the way it used to look, the idea went viral back in the day.
Now, Airbnb is trying to cash in on similar nostalgia with its new Icon series. 11 unique stays are offering you the experience of a lifetime, with the ability to spend an evening with Kevin Hart, stay at Italy's Ferrari Museum, and soar high in a house inspired by the one from Up. However, there's one that stands out from the crowd.
X marks the spot
Click to enlargeIf you truly want the stay of a lifetime, the iconic Xavier mansion from X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men '97 is now on Airbnb. Although it looks a bit like an explosion in a paint factory, this 2D animated re-creation brings the iconic X-Mansion to life like never before.
It feels like you're transported into the acclaimed animation and Konami's side-scrolling beat 'em up from 1992. Alongside Beast's lab and Cerebro, step inside the Danger Room and try out your newfound mutant powers. Unfortunately, we don't see any sign of the Konami arcade machine - a shame as X-Men '97 recently honoured it.
Most of the Icon stays are free, although all are priced at under $100 per person. If you want to stay at the X-Mansion, you have to request a stay by May 14 and give a reason why you want to book. A group of random guests will be selected and screened based on their answers, and then voila, you can squeeze into your spandex.
Airbnb's Icon stays could be a video game dream
Click to enlarge"Icons take you inside worlds that only existed in your imagination—until now," said Brian Chesky, Airbnb co-founder and CEO. "As life becomes increasingly digital, we’re focused on bringing more magic into the real world. With Icons, we’ve created the most extraordinary experiences on Earth."
Airbnb has us questioning what other Icon stays we'd like to see, with the whole premise being to honour "music, film, television, art, sports, and more." In terms of gaming, imagine spending a night fending off zombies at the Spencer Mansion, or what about tucking into a slice of Princess Peach's cake in her castle?
The world is our gaming oyster, and if the Icon series is a success, we could easily see Donkey Kong's treehouse, Hyrule Castle, or a Pokemon gym being added to the roster. We're just not sure we'd fancy a night locked up in a Vault-Tec vault as one of its twisted experiments.
