The end of a year is a good point to take a look back and see what worthy contenders have emerged from the world of virtual reality (VR) to impress the world, which is what VRFocus have been doing with its features on Best PlayStation VR titles as well as the Best Games you’ve Never Played series. With 2018 just begun, though, it’s time to look forward and see what exciting properties are due to appear.
The Oculus Rift was arguably the device that kicked off the entire modern era of VR, and as such has its own dedicated fans as well as some new owners who might have picked one up over the holidays. So here are some upcoming experiences that Oculus Rift users can look forward to.
Megaton Rainfall – Pentadimensional Games
Previously released on PlayStation VR, Megaton Rainfall lets the player take the role of a superhero trying to save the city from an alien invasion. As any comic reader knows, however, with great power comes great responsibility, and you need to ensure you don’t inadvertently destroy the city you are trying to save.
Megaton Rainfall is already on Steam, with Oculus Rift support expected to arrive sometime in 2018.
Brass Tactics – Hidden Path Entertainment
Using a range of inspiration including classic table-top wargames and the clockwork opening credits to Game of Thrones, Brass Tactics wears its love of the clockpunk and steampunk aesthetic on its sleeve as it allows players to control toy soldiers, multi-legged tanks and clockwork wasps in fast-paces RTS gameplay
Brass Tactics is due to launch as an Oculus Rift exclusive on February 28th, 2018.
ARK Park – Snail Games
ARK Park is a VR spin-off of the successful ARK: Survival Evolved. The title puts the player on a lost island full of dinosaurs. Players will need to create a home base, gather resources and learn how to tame the dinosaurs and co-operate with them in order to survive. The experience is designed to combine education about dinosaurs with the action-based gameplay.
ARK Park will be heading to Oculus Rift along with HTC Vive and Playstation VR in Spring 2018.
Stifled – Gattai Games
Stifled offers a truly unique gameplay experience. Trapped in the dark with dangerous creatures all around you, the only way to find your way is trough sound. Utilising a microphone, Stifled picks up the sounds you make and uses an ‘echolocation’ effect to show your surroundings – but beware, for enough sound can also draw the enemies towards you.
Stifled will be available on Oculus Rift sometime 2018.
Pixel Ripped 1989 – Pixel Ripped Inc.
This title has a troubled history, failing a Kickstarter back in 2015 before re-surfacing with a new publisher in ARVORE Immersive. 80’s nostalgia and its distinctive retro stylings make it compelling, as players are cast in the role of a vidoegame-obsessed girl who must try and complete a game on her handheld without getting caught.
A firm release date for Pixel Ripped 1989 has not been set, but it is expected sometime in 2018.
Beat Saber – Hyperbolic Magnestism
While there are a few rhythm-based titles in VR, there are few that really stand out. The developer behind Beat Saber is trying to change that, by offering a style of gameplay that has been described as ‘Fruit Ninja meets Guitar Hero‘. Users need to slash the music beats, represented by cubes, in time to the music, whilst simultaneously dodging obstacles.
Beat Saber is expected to launch on Oculus Rift in Q1 of 2018.
Transference – Ubisoft
Transference aims to explore the depths of the human experience in a dark psychological thriller that lets the player look into the minds of the members of a broken family. Players can wander around a dream-like representation of the family home to collect secrets, and see if it is possible to repair the damage that separates them.
Transference will be heading to Oculus Rift in Spring 2018.
Marvel Powers United VR – Sanzaru Games
The successful Marvel cinematic universe has meant a big boom in interest in superheroes, and Marvel are keen to take advantage of it by offering players the chance to step into the shoes of Marvel heroes like Rocket Racoon, Thor and The Hulk. Several characters from the Marvel comics stable heave been revealed, including lesser-known figures such as Black Bolt and Crystal, with more yet to come.
Marvel Powers United VR is due to launch on Oculus Rift sometime in 2018.