By Katia Hetter CNN

(CNN) -- Want to play Superman or Wonder Woman and save the world? Or fight off an alien invasion as part of an intergalactic air force?

Get ready to ride.

Virtual reality roller coasters, 3-D and 4-D attractions and immersive "dark" rides that bring visitors into the storyline -- and sometimes even influence it -- will be heating up theme parks across the United States this summer.

"The virtual reality roller coaster experience is a new hot trend that hit the market this year and has the potential to be game changing," says Colleen Mangone, spokeswoman for the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions.

"The physical sensations of the roller coaster remain the same, but now they're immersed in the story," Mangone says."Guests see the superhero they're flying next to and their bodies are experiencing the flight through the sensation of the roller coaster."

The 3-D and 4-D attractions put riders in a make-believe world with the use of headsets, sounds, movable seats, sound, 3-D glasses and the 4-D effects of real wind, water and heat.

Many are "dark" rides, located entirely inside a structure, where the riders can only see the ride elements.

Interactive rides allow guests to fight for justice or another cause using specially designed laser guns or even just their hands -- and their experiences can change every time they get on board.

Keeping customers engaged is big business.

This year, theme parks in the United States and Canada are expected to attract more than 390 million people and generate $22 billion in revenue, according to the IAAPA Global Theme and Amusement Park Outlook 2015-2019 report.

The competition to keep fans coming back is intense.

Six Flags is opening more than 30 new rides across the country this year, a company spokeswoman confirmed. There are more than 100 rides and attractions opening this year in the United States alone, says Mangone.

Here are some of our picks for the summer season.

"Valravn," Cedar Point, Ohio

Standing 223 feet tall, "Valravn" is the 18th roller coaster to open at Cedar Point, "the roller coaster capital of the world," in Sandusky, Ohio.

Open in early May, Valravn claims to be the world's tallest dive coaster (223 feet), fastest dive coaster (75 mph) and the longest dive coaster (3,415 feet), with most inversions on a dive coaster (3) and the longest drop on a dive coaster (214 feet).

Leave your lunch behind.

"Skull Island: Reign of Kong," Universal's Islands of Adventure, Florida

King Kong comes back for a new adventure in "Skull Island: Reign of Kong," an immersive dark ride featuring animatronic figures and 3-D screens.

Riders on a mission end up fighting for their survival traveling through an ancient temple, a prehistoric jungle and underworld caves, all to face the king himself.

"King Kong" movie director Peter Jackson is consulting on the project, which is likely to open after a June 23 press preview day.

"Justice League: Battle for Metropolis," Six Flags Great America, Illinois

Opening Memorial Day weekend, riders will get to join forces with Batman, Wonder Woman and other Justice League members to do battle with the Joker and Lex Luthor in Six Flag's "Justice League: Battle for Metropolis" 4-D dark ride.

As members of the Justice League Reserve Team, riders get to shoot at targets along the way.

"The Monster," Adventureland, Iowa

Adventureland waited a long time to debut a new ride -- more than 20 years -- but the theme park went all out with "The Monster" steel roller coaster.

The ride, which opens in June, will feature a 2,500-foot long track with a 133-foot vertical lift hill, a 101 degree drop and a negative-G stall loop.

That's a slow loop that creates a sensation of falling out of the roller coaster.

"Storm Chaser," Kentucky Kingdom

"Storm Chaser," the park's second roller coaster in three years and fifth roller coaster overall, is a special 100-foot-tall wooden/steel hybrid ride that will reach maximum speeds of 52 mph.

It features 12 airtime moments and multiple inversions -- including a corkscrew and 10-story barrel-roll drop from the first lift hill.

"Superman the Ride," Six Flags New England, Massachusetts

Even shorter: Superman takes over a traditional steel coaster, "Bizarro," and transforms it into a virtual reality ride.

"Superman the Ride" draws guests to Superman's war against evil in the fictional world of Metropolis and follow Superman as he battles evil.

Opening in June, the ride will reach speeds of 77 mph along a mile-long track.

Can't get to New England to meet your favorite superhero?

"Superman Ride of Steel" also goes VR at Six Flags America in Largo, Maryland.

And Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio is adding virtual reality to its "Superman Krypton Coaster."

"GaleForce," Playland's Castaway Cove, New Jersey

Heading to the boardwalk in Ocean City, New Jersey, can be a trip back in time.

But the beachside Castaway Cove theme park also has rides to knock that cotton candy out of your hand.

This summer, the park will open the 125-foot-tall "GaleForce" three-launch roller coaster, reaching speeds up to 64 mph, a 90-degree drop and multiple inversions.

"Mako," SeaWorld Orlando, Florida

Named for one of the ocean's fastest-known sharks, the "Mako" roller coaster opens June 10 at SeaWorld Orlando, anchoring a new shark-themed realm called Shark Wreck Reef.

"Mako" is a 200-foot-tall steel roller coaster making tight turns and steep drops, reaching speeds of up to 73 mph during the three-minute ride.

Steamin' Demon's New Revolution Virtual Reality Coaster, Six Flags Great Escape, New York

Traditionalists can ride the "Steamin' Demon," which has three inversions, a loop coaster and double corkscrew, as it was introduced in 1984.

It's still awesome.

But starting June 25, riders can wear a Samsung Gear Virtual Reality headset and be transported into a realistic 360-degree virtual world where riders are fighter jet co-pilots trying to save the planet from an alien invasion.

The air-to-air combat is synced with twists and turns of the coaster.

"Massiv," Schlitterbahn Waterpark, Texas

When the new "Massiv" ride at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Galveston, Texas, opens in mid-June, weather permitting, it'll be the tallest water coaster in the world, the park says.

Exactly how tall, park officials will not yet say.

Guests must hike up 123 steps carrying a tube to reach the top of the slide. The ride, including four uphill sections with six blaster jets, is 926 feet long (longer than two football fields).

It includes a triple-drop ending into a landing pool.

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