RANKED: THE MOST HAIR-RAISING RIDES IN UNIVERSAL STUDIOS SINGAPORE
Are you ready to scream?
Universal Studios Singapore is perhaps the best-known landmark in Sentosa. This eclectic theme park boasts a total of 28 rides within its seven distinct zones, which are Ancient Egypt (themed on The Mummy franchise), Far Far Away (themed on the Shrek franchise), Hollywood, New York, Sci-Fi City (where you'll find Battlestar Galactica: HUMAN vs. CYLON™ and TRANSFORMERS The Ride) and The Lost World (themed on the Jurassic Park franchise).
Walking into this immense theme park is quite an experience to behold. Great attention has been paid to the construction of all these zones' unique facades, which aren't made of cheap materials. Pore through the park's many gift shops to discover exclusive merchandise from franchises like Hello Kitty and The Secret Life of Pets.
You won't need to worry about backtracking to cafes for food too, as every zone has its own unique eateries. A variety of memorable characters roam these streets at different times too, from the Minions from Despicable Me and the cast of Shrek to the chiselled Egyptian Royalty from The Mummy.
Before you get started, you might want to check all bulky belongings you have into Universal Studios Singapore's lockers. If your goal is to make it aboard as many rides as possible within the day, purchase the express pass, which will zip you past their long queues, some of which can take a very long time. Universal Studios Singapore tickets and express passes vary in price depending on demand and season.
Do note that all guests must wear masks, check in and out via SafeEntry and have your temperature screened before entering the attractions and restaurants. There are plenty of signs and floor markers to guide you along. Find out more about our safe measurement measures here.
Battlestar Galactica: HUMAN vs. CYLON™
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This outdoor ride in the centre of the park flings you around in the air at speeds up to 90 kilometres per hour. Its duelling tracks let you pick from two different experiences. If you choose to be 'Cylon', you'll be suspended from overhanging seats and hurtle through the one-kilometre track with five inversions. The 'Human' variant track is slightly less hair-raising, strapping participants into conventional seats and involving no inversions. Each ride lasts around 90 seconds and has been described by some people as the longest 90 seconds ever, thanks to its sudden fall and accelerations. The park advises: "Guests should be in good physical health to experience the rides."
Option for the faint of heart:
Accelerator™
Located right beside Battlestar Galactica, faint-hearted guests can take on the Accelerator instead, which is essentially a swirling teacup ride.
Universal Studios Singapore
Revenge of the Mummy™
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If you think you can take flying scarab beetles and other supernatural villains, climb aboard a minecart and begin your quest for the Egyptian Book of the Dead. This unpredictable dash hurtles through Ancient Egypt and is cloaked in pitch darkness most of the time. The cart climbs to a top speed of 72 kilometres per hour, complete with goosepimple-inducing sprints and descents.
Option for the faint of heart:
Treasure Hunters
If the thrills and spills of Revenge of the Mummy are too much for your party to take, embark on this expedition that lets kids drive a vintage motorcar through the Egyptian desert and into a picturesque excavation site.
Universal Studios Singapore
TRANSFORMERS The Ride: The Ultimate 3D Battle
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When you battle the conniving Decepticons for the Allspark alongside the heroic Autobots, you actual remain the same location. However, its hyper-realistic special effects make this virtual reality ride the favourite ride of many park-goers. This ride has also been affectionately coined 'the Michael Bay ride', due to its true-to-movie explosions, CGI effects and nonstop action.
Option for the faint of heart:
Lights, Camera, Action
Located within the New York zone nearby, this walk-through attraction showcases how an empty soundstage can be used to simulate the arrival of a devastating hurricane, Steven Spielberg-style.
Universal Studios Singapore
Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure™
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Check your fragile belongings into a locker or keep them safe in a waterproof bag before visiting Jurassic Park. Humans have learned how to clone dinosaurs and keep them in captivity, but true to the recurring narrative of this franchise, this dinosaur park has a design flaw that forces you to evacuate in a nine-seater white-water raft. The only way to escape from being dinosaur chow tosses you like laundry in a washing machine. This spiralling raft will be tossed down rapids and dropped down waterfalls with you in the middle of it.
Option for the faint of heart:
Canopy Flyer
If the queues for other rides stretch too long, hop aboard this aerial adventure, which soars through the trees of The Lost World. The Canopy Flyer's seats hang from below the track, and it moves a fast but not terrifying speed.
Dino-Soarin'
Don't want to get soaked aboard the Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure? Enjoy an aerial view of The Lost World from the seats of this centrifugal ride.
Universal Studios Singapore
Shrek 4-D Adventure
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Help Shrek and Donkey rescue Princess Fiona. This gentle four-dimensional ride includes the sensation of galloping through Far Far Away, making your way through creepy-crawlies and enduring insufferable Donkey's wet sneezes. This ride is suitable for young children and even elderly, injured or pregnant riders, who can request for a non-moving seat.
Option for the faint of heart:
Puss in Boots Giant Journey
This suspended rollercoaster follows a giant beanstalk to the Giant's castle. Puss In Boots and Kitty Softpaws want to steal the precious golden eggs to save San Ricardo's Orphanage, and you'll be experiencing this odyssey from a cart suspended from an emerald track.
Enchanted Airways
A fun but family-friendly rollercoaster, Enchanted Airways welcomes you aboard the Dragon from Shrek, who will take to the skies and bring you to meet the Three Little Pigs, the Big Bad Wolf, Pinocchio and the other colourful characters from this popular series.
Universal Studios Singapore
By Andre Frois (@drefrois)
Andre Frois is a Singapore-based journalist who has written for the likes of Channel NewsAsia, the Straits Times, Vice and the South China Morning Post. He has also published city guides for Monocle, Prestige and the Singapore Tourism Board. In his free time, he enjoys making short films, teaching self defense, and composing music.
