Virtual reality (VR) is an awesome entertainment medium which has dramatically improved over the last few years. While the original entry point wasn’t exactly cheap or necessarily practical for a lot of people the launch of Oculus Quest has opened up the technology to a much wider user base. Its portability, inside-out tracking and 6DoF controllers allow for instantly immersive gameplay, but for those fresh to VR choosing the right experience can mean the difference between a lifelong passion or instant nausea and dislike. Which is why VRFocus has chosen the following selection to start newbies off.
The important variables to consider are whether the title offers enough of that VR spark without causing any discomfort. So that pretty much means no locomotion to begin with or maybe some light teleportation, coupled with lots of interactive elements. Below are ten videogames which not only fit the bill but also happen to be some of VRFocus’ favourites.
Pinball FX2 VR
Released only a few short weeks ago, Zen Studios’ Pinball FX2 VR offers a beautiful mix of graphics, gameplay and an easy difficulty curve when it comes to controls. With highly detailed tables that you can peer into and explore their complex mechanisms, the simple gameplay is highly addictive with that old-fashioned highscore goal great to challenge friends with. Given a full five-star rating in VRFocus’ original review, Pinball FX2 VR retails on Oculus Store for £10.99 GBP.
Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs
Rovio Entertainment’s classic mobile title got a revamp this year by Resolution Games, Creating Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs in the process. Featuring over 50 levels, the experience allows you to teleport around the 3D buildings to fixed locations to unleash those destructive birds. Another simple yet very engaging videogame Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs can be found on Oculus Store for £10.99.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes by Steel Crate Games was one of the earliest examples of local social VR multiplayer, highlighting the fact that VR doesn’t have to be a solitary experience. The VR player has to diffuse a bomb, unfortunately, they have no idea how to as each bomb is made up of different modules that have to be solved individually. To do this all the non-VR players have a bomb manual and must guide the person in VR to the correct solution. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes can be found on Oculus Store for £10.99.
Racket: Nx
Racket: Nx takes the classic contained sport of squash and gives it a futuristic twist. Players find themselves inside a giant dome with hexagonal wall panels which light up according to the mode and difficulty. Great for those who wish to extert some energy without the worry of nausea thanks to staying on the spot, Racket: Nx can be found on Oculus Store for £14.99.
Electronauts
Developed by VR powerhouse Survios, Electronauts allows you to unleash your inner musician even if you’re tone-deaf. With two sticks in hand like a composer, the title gives players a massive array of sound-altering options to choose from. Record loops, sequences, layer filters and more (there are even musical grenades), to twist and distort a variety of songs across genres such as EDM, hip hop and dubstep. Achieving a five-star review, Electronauts can be found on Oculus Store for £14.99.
Bait!
Another Resolution Games title, this was the studio’s first big success. A casual fishing videogame with a basic storyline to keep you catching fish, there are a selection of lakes each with their own particular fish to hook. What makes Bait! an instant purchase on Oculus Store is the fact it’s free.
Space Pirate Trainer
Originally released for PC VR headsets back in 2016, Space Pirate Trainer the only first-person shooter (FPS) on this list offering a range of modes and gameplay options. With a selection of weapon loadouts from shotguns to lazer beams, the title is another one to get you moving dodging energy bolts from the flying robot enemies. For those that like shooting stuff Space Pirate Trainer can be found on Oculus Store for £10.99.
Moss
The most expensive title on VRFocus’ list, Polyarc’s Moss is a single-player, third-person puzzle adventure involving pint-sized heroine Quill. A great evil once befell her land and so all the mice now live deep in the forest, hidden away from danger. Of course, the situation arises where Quill finds herself chosen to go on a quest to help save her family and everyone else. You play a benevolent being that not only controls Quill and her actions but the environment as well. This adorable little puzzle solver can be found on Oculus Store for £22.99.
Beat Saber
One of the most popular VR videogames of the moment, Beat Saber is a rhythm action title where you slice cubes with light sabers. Fast, frantic and great for burning a few calories is one of those videogames where you instantly have to have ‘one more go’ to either try a new song, to beat your previous score or challenge yourself to a higher difficulty level. Another title which has received a five-star review Beat Saber can be found on Oculus Store for £22.99.
Acron: Attack of the Squirrels
The newest videogame on this list, Acron: Attack of the Squirrels is a purely multiplayer experience, great for when friends and family are round. The VR player takes the role of a tree trying to protect its acorns from hungry squirrels. Up to eight players can then join in on mobile devices trying to steal those acorns and get them back to base. A really fun and exciting local gameplay experience where you can swap between VR and mobile, Acron: Attack of the Squirrels can be found on Oculus Store for £14.99 (the iOS and Android part is free to download from their stores).
