The PlayStation blog announced the PlayStation Store’s most download games of 2020, including the top 10 downloaded PSVR games of the year in the US and Europe.
Sadly, the list is not nearly as interesting as you might hope. In both the US and Europe, Beat Saber unsurprisingly took out the number 1 spot for all of 2020, with PSVR launch game Job Simulator coming in second. Here’s the full lists for the US and Europe:
US
1. Beat Saber
2. Job Simulator
3. Superhot VR
4. The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
5. Gorn
6. Creed Rise to Glory
7. Arizona Sunshine
8. Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series
9. Astro Bot Rescue Mission
10. Marvel’s Iron Man VR
Europe
1. Beat Saber
2. Job Simulator
3. Blood & Truth
4. Superhot VR
5. The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
6. Creed Rise to Glory
7. Astro Bot Rescue Mission
8. Gorn
9. Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series
10. Arizona Sunshine
As you can see, the lists are mostly the same with some small notable differences. Blood & Truth takes out the third position in Europe, yet doesn’t appear at all on the US list. Similarly, Iron Man VR got in at number 10 on the US list but failed to make the cut in Europe.
A lot of the games on the list were also released well before 2020, especially towards the top. Nonetheless, it’s nice to see some new titles from last year like make it into the top ten, such as Saints & Sinners, Iron Man VR and Vader Immortal.
Steam has just released its 2020 review showcasing the growth virtual reality (VR) gaming has seen on the platform. Over on the console front, the top downloads for PlayStation VR during the past year have been released with Beat Saber still the number one title.
PlayStation Blog has released the top ten PlayStation VR videogames for North America and Europe, with a few similarities as well as both regions having their own particular preferences.
Thankfully, 2020 newcomers did get a look in with Skydance Interactive’s The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners the highest-ranking across both regions. Gorn and Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series also made both lists but surprisingly the Europeans weren’t as fond of Marvel’s Iron Man VR, the title only managing to squeeze into tenth place in North America.
Top PlayStation VR Downloads of 2020
US/Canada
Europe
1
Beat Saber
Beat Saber
2
Job Simulator
Job Simulator
3
Superhot VR
Blood & Truth
4
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
Superhot VR
5
Gorn
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
6
Creed: Rise to Glory
Creed: Rise to Glory
7
Arizona Sunshine
Astro Bot Rescue Mission
8
Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series
Gorn
9
Astro Bot Rescue Mission
Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series
10
Marvel’s Iron Man VR
Arizona Sunshine
PlayStation VR hasn’t seen the deluge of exclusive content in 2020, something the platform was known for in previous years. That being said, 2021 starts strong with Hitman 3 on its way next week. For further PlayStation VR updates, keep reading VRFocus.
A new teaser video suggests that hand tracking support could be added to Vacation Simulator on Oculus Quest.
Devin Reimer, CEO of Google-owned developer Owlchemy Labs, posted a video to Twitter showing a scene from Vacation Simulator, except with the player using hand tracking to make a peace and thumbs up sign. In a reply, Reimer mentioned that this was definitely not the Valve Index hand tracking at work. While there’s no indication of any release date, overall this looks like a pretty strong indication that Vacation Simulator on Quest and Quest 2 might receive an update that adds in hand tracking as an input method.
We’ll of course need to see details on exactly how much of the game is transferable to controller-free hand tracking. Owlchemy’s games are so familiar and any quality loss to the stability of gesture recognition would likely be instantly recognizable. Not a lot of games have added hand tracking support since the feature’s launch, with Richie’s Plank Experience, Waltz of the Wizard, Virtual Desktop and others being some of the exceptions.
Both of Owlchemy’s ‘Simulator’ games are now available on Oculus Quest and they were recently enhanced for Oculus Quest 2. Improvements for both titles include some visual upgrades, removing foveated rendering and support for 90Hz on Quest 2, which is rolling out now as part of the v23 update.
Vacation Simulator also recently received the free Back to Job expansion, which adds in several mechanics from the original Job Simulator game into Vacation Simulator.
Tomorrow House Flipper VR releases on Steam to bring the oddly addictive and strangle therapeutic experience of renovating and decorating a house to VR headsets. This time, without the mess and physical labor.
Outside of VR, House Flipper is one of the most popular “menial task, but addictive in a video game” simulators out there with over 28,000 user reviews on Steam granting a ‘Very Positive’ consensus. Joining the ranks of titles like VRKShop and, to a lesser degree, Job Simulator, House Flipper VR looks quite peaceful and satisfying.
Interestingly, ‘HouseFlipper VR’ is already on the Oculus Quest from the same publisher, but it looks like a dramatically lower quality version based on the screenshots. The PC version appears to be closer to its non-VR counterpart.
The biggest differences between the VR and non-VR version are how much more interactive it is in VR. Instead of clicking objects to clean them you’ll have to actually move your hand and arms more realistically. It should still be a lot less work than actually renovating a real house, though.
Personally, my wife and I just sold our home. It didn’t involve any renovating or flipping, just packing and moving, but we’ve always enjoyed watching house flipper shows on HGTV and other channels. There’s an odd burst of dopamine when you watch other people do all the hard work while you sit back, relax, and watch the before and after shots. The drama in between is just an added bonus.
House Flipper VR is coming to Steam with support for Rift, Vive, and Valve Index. We’re not sure of the price, but we’d expect $19.99 just like the non-VR version. Let us know if you have any questions or thoughts on House Flipper VR down in the comments below!
Two more enhanced Oculus Quest 2 games to add to the list – Owlchemy Labs’ Vacation Simulator and Job Simulator now run better on the headset.
The developer confirmed on its blog that both titles are now updated to take advantage of the standalone headset’s new features. Improvements include some visual upgrades, removing foveated rendering and support for 90Hz once Facebook finally enables the feature. We haven’t been able to dive in and see the differences for ourselves yet, but the lack of FFR is always an appreciated bonus.
Vacation Simulator and Job Simulator are two of VR’s most popular titles. The latter launched alongside the HTC Vive back in 2016 before following on on Oculus Rift once Touch arrived and then PSVR and, last year, Oculus Quest. The game envisions a future in which human jobs have been rendered obsolete, but robots recreate mundane versions of them for recreational purposes. It was a landmark title, focusing heavily on interactivity and immersion and has been a consistent top seller on PSVR.
Its sequel, Vacation Simulator expanded on the concept. The game also got some DLC a month back that brought the worlds of the first and second titles together somewhat.
Quest 2, meanwhile, offers more powerful hardware than its predecessor and a better display, too. Plenty of games are being updated to take advantage of the new specs – we’ve been compiling a list of them right here.
Will you be checking out the Vacation Simulator and Job Simulator Quest 2 enhancements? Let us know in the comments below!
Family game night? We’ve got you covered with our list of the best family VR games.
We wanted to make this a varied list to give you a lot of choice. As such, when we say a family VR game, we don’t necessarily mean just multiplayer titles and, while we’ve kept violent games off of the list, some of the games do have action elements and mechanics you might deem unsuitable for the youngest audiences. We’ll point those out where applicable.
Dreams is a glorious VR playroom, a sort of do-it-yourself creation platform where, after a bit of onboarding, you can make your own content and share it with others. You’ll be amazed at the scale of the creations possible in Dreams. It’s easy to lose hours with others hopping from one bright idea to the next.
We’ve put Dreams higher in the list for two reasons. Firstly, it takes a bit of dedication to get to grips with, which will make the creative aspect too mature for some younger audiences. Plus, this is an online hub of user-made content, which comes with the usual caveats. If you want to show younger audiences, it might be an idea to curate a list of levels beforehand.
9. Puppet Fever
Type: Local multiplayer Platforms: Quest, PC VR
This ingenious family VR game needs just one headset to be enjoyed by anyone in the room. The VR player uses a huge range of 2D props to put on their own puppet show. They find themselves behind a stage, while on a connected screen you can view their show from the front. Different game modes can give you the freedom to make up your own stories, or you can generate word cards for a virtual game of charades. A brilliant little idea, and free to play on Quest (with in-app purchases, mind you).
8. Racoon Lagoon
Type: Single or online multiplayer Platforms: Quest, Rift
A cutesy little island lifestyle game – perhaps the closest VR has yet gotten to its own Animal Crossing. You explore a tropical destination, meeting a friendly cast of critters that you can carry out tasks for. Earn more hearts, make more friends and unlock new areas. The game has multiplayer and cross-play between Rift and Quest so, if you have another headset handy, you can adventure together.
7. A Fisherman’s Tale
Type: Single-player Platforms: PSVR, Quest, PC VR
VR gaming doesn’t get much more wholesome than A Fisherman’s Tale, a puzzle game that’s equal parts charming and brain-bending. You take on the role of the titular fisherman, awakening one day to find themselves living in his own model replica of his lighthouse. But, get this, that same model sits in the middle of the room, and you can take the roof off to interact with a tiny version of yourself, or open the window to see a larger version too. It’s incredibly clever but still very approachable, and a VR must-play.
6. Fuji
Type: Single-player Platforms: PSVR, Quest, PC VR
There’s a lot of great VR meditation apps out there but, for our money, you won’t find many virtual destinations more tranquil or more soothing than Fuji’s vibrant fields of alien vegetation. In this relaxing trip, you reawaken wildlife and can also grow your own virtual garden. It’s the perfect choice for those looking for a less demanding VR experience.
5. Spaceteam VR
Type: Local and online multiplayer Platforms: Quest, PC VR
If you’re looking for a bit of a team-building exercise with the family, then you can consider Spaceteam VR a one-stop-shop. In this adaptation of a mobile classic, you work together with friends to fix a spaceship, shouting out ridiculous orders to each other while making sure to listen out for your own.
4. Cook-Out: A Sandwich Tale
Type: Online multiplayer Platforms: Quest, Rift
VR tries its hand at Overcooked with Michellin Star results. Cook-Out has you cooking for a fairytale cast in a full campaign for up to four players (with cross-play!). You’ll need to work with each other to slice up ingredients, clean dishes and cook up tasty treats before customers get too inpatient.
3. Curious Tale Of The Stolen Pets
Type: Single-player Platforms: PSVR, Quest, PC VR
Curious Tale makes for a whistful story of summers spent away and sibling rivalries. It’s an adorable puzzler ideal for casting to a screen and collaborating on, and the stop-motion art style is something to really behold inside a headset. Curious Tale is a perfect first destination for getting to grips with VR, too.
2. Vacation Simulator/Job Simulator
Type: Single-Player Platforms: PSVR, Quest, PC VR
Job Simulator and Vacation Simulator remain hallmarks for the VR industry because they prioritize unique interactions only possible inside VR alongside user comfort first and foremost. They’re chock full of engaging activities that really take advantage of the platform. For many people, this should be your first stop when picking up a VR headset.
1. Astro Bot/Playroom VR
Type: Single-player (Astrobot) Local multiplayer (Playroom VR) Platforms: PSVR
Astro Bot was born out of the Playroom VR, which is available for free, so we thought it only fair we bundled the two together. The latter includes some of the best local multiplayer in VR, with other players joining in on a TV screen to play family-friendly games of cat and mouse and more. Astro Bot, meanwhile, is a genuinely Mario-level platform bursting with fresh ideas that will constantly delight. It remains our top ranking for the best PSVR games and now we crown it one of the best family VR games too.
Vacation Simulator will see its free Back To Job expansion arrive on September 10th on SteamVR and Oculus Quest. The update is scheduled to launch on PlayStation VR in October.
The new update merges some of the game mechanics from the original Job Simulator with the expanded world of Vacation Simulator. The VR games from Google-owned Owlchemy Labs are among the most well known VR titles because they serve as fairly straight-forward playgrounds to introduce people to the mechanics of VR headsets with tracked hand controllers. Vacation Simulator features a range of activities divided into zones you can visit centered in beach, mountain, and forest environments. The original Job Simulator featured four jobs including office worker, auto mechanic, chef, and convenience store clerk with a number of activities and challenges faced within each job. With Back To Job, the “gig economy” has now made its way to Vacation Simulator because “all bots have gone on vacation and no one is left to job, so it’s time for the human to enter the on-demand workforce to make the perfect vacation for bots. Time to job, again.”
We’re looking forward to seeing what Back To Job brings to Vacation Simulator. We’ll have gameplay and impressions for you soon so check back on UploadVR.com for the latest. Also, if you haven’t played Owlchemy’s VR games yet, Job Simulator and Vacation Simulator are bundled together in a sale on Oculus Quest through September 11th. The pack discounts the games by 30%.
This year’s Oculus Summer Sale is now live with alluring discounts on some of the best VR games for the Oculus Rift and Oculus Quest headsets. The sale lasts until August 9th at 11:59PM PT.
Do you plan on getting anything in particular during this year’s Oculus Summer Sale? Let us know if anything stands out to you down in the comments below!
Vacation Simulator (2019), Owlchemy Labs’ laid back sequel to the madcap VR hit Job Simulator (2016), is getting its first big DLC drop today on SteamVR headsets and Oculus Quest.
Update (September 10th, 2020): Vacation Simulator: Back to Job is now live on SteamVR headsets and Oculus Quest, a free update that brings a load of new gig-style jobs to the game’s holiday hotspots. Owlchemy Labs says the update will arrive on PSVR in October.
The original article follows below:
Original Article (June 19th, 2020): Called ‘Back to JOB’, the free DLC update is slated to satire the gig economy where it seems like you’ll take on all manner of entitled customer.
Everyone (or every-bot) on Vacation Island has decided to join in the fun and quit their steady jobs in favor of fun in the virtual sun, leaving you to pick up the slack.
This is how Owlchemy describes it:
As a gig associate, players will man the Vacation Simulator poolside Cantina with their trusty partner GigBot at their side to assist them through their journey. In this new position players will meet an exciting cast of Bots, all who expect 5-star service. Get ready to cook, entertain, advise, and do whatever it takes for Bots to experience [MAXIMUM RELAXATION].
Vacation Simulator’s Back to JOB update will arrive for free on all supported headsets this fall, which includes SteamVR headsets, Oculus Quest, and PSVR (see update).
Owlchemy Labs is planning a free downloadable content update for Vacation Simulator later this year that expands the game by bringing forward some familiar experiences from Job Simulator.
Google-owned Owlchemy teased the update in its UploadVR Showcase segment.
Check out the trailer here:
Job Simulator and its sequel Vacation Simulator are among the more popular and widely known VR titles in existence. While both games are similar in tone and general mechanics, Vacation Simulator features a range of widely varying activities divided into a number of zones you can visit centered at three vacation-themed environments — beach, mountain, and forest. The original Job Simulator featured four jobs including office worker, auto mechanic, chef, and convenience store clerk with a number of activities and challenges faced within each job.
So with the Back To Job downloadable content update Owlchemy is teasing that the gig economy made its way to the world of Vacation Simulator and “all bots have gone on vacation and no one is left to job, so it’s time for the human to enter the on-demand workforce to make the perfect vacation for bots. Time to job, again.”
“It’s kinda bringing two worlds together,” explains Owlchemy’s Devin Reimer. Taking “some of the cool things from both and kinda mash them together.”
Back To Job will come to all platforms with Vacation Simulator, so that means PSVR, Quest and PC VR systems will all get the update. They’re still working on the update so it’s unclear how much added content it will bring and the exact timeline for launch on each system. We’ll bring you updates about the new DLC as soon as we have them.
Personally, my wife and I just sold our home. It didn’t involve any renovating or flipping, just packing and moving, but we’ve always enjoyed watching house flipper shows on HGTV and other channels. There’s an odd burst of dopamine when you watch other people do all the hard work while you sit back, relax, and watch the before and after shots. The drama in between is just an added bonus.
