2020’s Humble Bundle Fall virtual reality (VR) offer arrived a little late in the season but that’s not the case in 2021, a little early in fact. The Fall VR Emporium Bundle has just gone live where you can get up to seven titles for an incredibly low price for a limited time.
This year’s VR bundle features quite the crop of VR videogames with Arizona Sunshine, House Flipper VR, Until You Fall, Zero Caliber VR, A Fisherman’s Tale, Paper Beast and Wands all featuring. As always there are various options depending on how much you want to spend and which titles take your fancy, it isn’t quite pick ‘n’ mix but it is close.
You can go for the one item bundle which is Wands, where you have to pay at least £0.72 GBP. Then there’s the four-item bundle with Zero Caliber VR, A Fisherman’s Tale, Paper Beast and Wands for a minimum of £10.64, But is you don’t have any of these titles then you may as well go for all seven at the minimum purchase price of £10.83.
If you’re new to Humble Bundle the whole point is that this is a charitable offer, encouraging you to pay a little more – why not round up to £20 for example? – for a good cause. It’s not a solitary cause you might not be interested in either, you can select which organisation receives your funds (there’s GamesAid, Women in Games International and many more) and how much is split between the publisher, Humble Bundle and the charity.
There are definitely some choice titles in the selection such as Schell Games’ roguelike sword fighter Until You Fall and Pixel Reef’s delightfully out there puzzler Paper Beast. Both are VR experiences everyone should have a go at.
The next wave of Sony’s Play at Home promotion has just launched, meaning five of PSVR’s best games are now free – and you don’t need need Move controllers to play them. See where to start with our best free PSVR games choices.
This is a no strings attached deal; you don’t need to be a PlayStation Plus or Now subscriber, nor enter any extra information beyond what you’ve already provided for your PlayStation account. Head to the PlayStation Store between now and April 23rd and you can download them to keep. Don’t have a PSVR? Grab them anyway and then keep those fingers crossed at the upcoming PS5 VR headset supports backwards compatibility!
So, what should you play? Well they’re all great, but here’s our list in ascending order, starting with the game we feel everyone should try first and then moving down to what to explore afterward. There’s definitely something for everyone here, though.
The Best Free PSVR Games For Play At Home
Astro Bot Rescue Mission – PSVR’s Best Game Is Now Free
If you’re going to start somewhere, it should probably be with our old pal Astro. Rescue Mission has long claimed the top spot on our regularly updated list of the best PSVR games, and there’s no signs of that changing anytime soon. Sony Japan’s brilliant platformer features smart twists on the genre with fantastic immersion and — we’ll just keep saying it — Mario-tier innovation. If you’ve played Astro’s Playroom on PS5 and want more, trust us, you need to play Rescue Mission.
Get Out There With Paper Beast
Or maybe you’re someone that likes their VR a little more experiential? On PSVR, the dreamy world of Paper Beast is a tough pitch with its lack of challenge and focus on abstract interactions. But, trust me when I say, you have to give a try now that it’s free. This is a game about building a connection with a living, breathing ecosystem and coming to an understanding and appreciation of its sometimes cruel set of rules. It might well not be for you, but give it even 10 minutes and if you haven’t fallen in love with its fascinating array of digital animals then, well, at least you gave it a fair shot.
Moss – A Perfect Companion For Astro
Astro might be the best third-person platformer in VR but Moss is a very close second and it’s got a few tricks of its own to make the PSVR mascot jealous. Polyarc’s VR debut remains an enduring hit, with incredible diorama-sized worlds and a close connection to foster between you and Quill, the adorable protagonist. Again, there’s smart use of motion controls but Moss will also appeal to people looking for a little more combat than Astro’s breezy challenges.
Feel The Challenge With Thumper
Moss and Astro not hard enough for you? Thumper is arguably VR’s most intense and anxiety-inducing game. You have to keep your nerve as you control a shiny space beetle (don’t ask) that speeds down a set track. Remain calm and keep yourself from slamming into the sides of walls and you’ll survive. But, with a soundtrack designed to make you sweat, that’s easier said than done. Also available on a flat screen if you want to test it out quickly!
Revisit A Classic With Rez Infinite
Another game with optional PSVR support, Rez Infinite has lived long in the hearts of many a fan. Again, this isn’t one that will be for everyone, but with Play At Home you can give it a fair shake at no extra cost. Essentially an on-rails shooter, Rez quickly establishes a hypnotic atmosphere through synthy sounds and visuals that are utterly arresting to take in.
What do you think are the best free PSVR games from Play At Home? Let us know in the comments below!
As there isn’t a massive selection of new virtual reality (VR) titles to chose from next week – unless they suddenly drop, for today’s roundup VRFocus has split the selection. There’s a couple of new ones including the next project from the developer behind Dreadhalls, and as PlayStation VR players are getting five free videogames next week they’ve been included as well.
Cosmodread – White Door Games
The next project from Spanish VR horror specialist White Door Games, Cosmodread tasks you with surviving on board a derelict spaceship. Hunt for resources and craft weapons as you explore, with the eventual goal being to find a way back to Earth.
“Unbinary is a VR hand-painted puzzle adventure that will immerse you in an unusual moment in human history. Webby, the super AI that was elected to rule planet Earth, needs to be audited, and it is your role to assure she is ready for her duty.”
This month saw Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) launch its Play at Home programme and next week is going to provide a bumper crop of VR titles for PlayStation VR owners. They all free to download and keep, available from 25th March 8:00 pm PT / March 26 03:00 GMT to 22nd April 8:00 pm PT / April 23 04:00 BST.
After four years the PlayStation VR is still going which is an accomplishment considering the lifespan of most virtual reality (VR) headsets. Even with PlayStation 5 now available, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has ensured continued compatibility whether you’re new to VR or not. For PlayStation VR owners there’s been plenty of content to choose from in 2020, so here’s 10 of the best.
Unlike previous years, PlayStation VR’s dominance has wained and with it, all the exclusives the platform was known for. There are still a couple on the list below, but most of the titles now tend to be multi-platform. That’s no bad thing as there are some great videogames on offer.
The Best PSVR Games of 2020
Marvel’s Iron Man VR
Let’s start with an exclusive though, in fact, PlayStation VR’s biggest exclusive of the year, Marvel’s Iron Man VR. After a series of delays developer Camouflaj released the highly anticipated title during the summer, providing players with the first proper chance to don the famous suit.
With a pair of PlayStation Move controllers you can take to the skies to battle new enemies, learning how to use the Repulsor Jets to dodge enemy attacks as well as shoot them. As the campaign progresses you can customise the suit with various offensive and defensive capabilities to suit the missions. This is the closest to being Iron Man you’ll ever get.
Paper Beast
One of the more unusual VR experience to arrive this year, Pixel Reef’s Paper Beastis a surreal puzzle adventure inside a world created from big data. In this simulated ecosystem, bizarre creatures have come to life, exhibiting similar characteristics to real-world animals.
The main campaign revolves around interacting with the creatures and environment to solve the various challenges, providing some awe-inspiring visuals along the way. In addition to the campaign, there’s a sandbox mode where you can build your own worlds. One of those videogames which showcase how unique VR can be.
Final Assault
Originally released last year for PC VR headsets, after much work Phaser Lock Interactive managed to bring WWII strategy game Final Assault to PlayStation VR.
With a single-player campaign as well as cross-platform multiplayer, Final Assault is fully featured when it comes to content. You command ground and aerial troops like a table-top boardgame, dropping them in to lead an attack or setup defensive positions before pushing forward. The aim being to destroy your opponents base. Lots of fun if you like real-time strategy (RTS) titles.
Pixel Ripped 1995
When it comes to retro nostalgia in VR ARVORE’s Pixel Ripped series has got you covered. The latest is Pixel Ripped 1995, taking you back 25 years to a time where sprites were transitioning into 3D graphics.
Considered a golden era for videogames, Pixel Ripped 1995 features six levels containing nods to titles such as Streets of Rage, Mortal Kombat, Road Rash, Star Fox, Sonic the Hedgehog, Castlevania and many more. You play as Dot who needs to vanquish her arch enemy the evil Cyblin Lord, aided by a 9-year-old videogame fan called David. Gameplay jumps between 2D and 3D, where you have to deal with challenges both onscreen and off. Certain to put a smile on any players face.
Gorn
Not one for younger players unless you go straight into the settings to switch the gore off, Gorn is pure over-the-top violence in a comedic, cartoon style. You’re a gladiator and the aim here is to survive brutal arena fights using whatever weapons come to hand (or just use your hands).
No crimson paint is spared as you break bones and dismember opponents with knives, axes, maces, bows and even environmental obstacles. Everything has a bouncy, ragdoll effect, so enemies can be flung around whilst the weapons wobble around like giant sponges. Addictive in its simplicity, Gorn is also quite the workout due to the physical exertion of beating cartoon gladiators senseless.
Dreams
One for those who love to be creative as well as play videogames, Dreams was a major launch for PlayStation 4 early in the year, with VR support added a few months later.
Developer Media Molecule has created a title where you can play its own single-player experience as well as those from the rest of the Dreams community. If you want to delve deeper then there’s a massive selection of tools to build whatever you want, from a simple art piece to a videogame which can be shared with the world. A videogame with limitless possibilities.
Pistol Whip
Another 2019 title which finally made it to PlayStation VR, Cloudhead Games’ Pistol Whip is a rhythm-action videogame like no other. Evoking films like John Wick you can become an action-movie badass, shooting enemies and dodging to a thumping soundtrack.
With 15 on-rail ‘Scenes’, the gameplay is intense and physical, encouraging you to move out the way of bullets whilst firing off as many of your own. The visuals are just as dramatic, creating an all-encompassing experience which will make you sweat. Plus there are plenty of modifiers to make things harder whilst upping that score for top leaderboard positions. Then early next year PlayStation VR owners will be treated to free DLC Pistol Whip 2089.
It’s all about melee combat, fighting through the procedural world of Rokar where each run-through isn’t quite the same but you can become stronger in the process. Attack, block and parry relentless foes. Should you fail then returning to the hub means you can upgrade weapons or select new ones to change your strategy. Energetic like Gorn, however, Until You Fall requires far more precision.
Star Wars: Squadrons
This videogame needs little introduction as it was the major release in October, strapping pilots into either Rebel or Imperial ships to battle in that far off galaxy. While you don’t necessarily need to be a fan of the franchise, it certainly helps when playing Star Wars Squadrons.
With single-player and multiplayer modes, in the story-driven campaign, you swap between the two opposing faction’s narratives, jumping into a selection of craft like the X-Wing or Tie Fighter. Over in multiplayer you have those same options, teaming up in a crew to take down Capital ships or engage in online dogfights. Great if you’re after a more comfortable, sat down VR experience.
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
As the chaos of 2020 has managed to avoid a zombie apocalypse why not put yourself into one voluntarily with The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners. A survival game set within a partially flooded New Orleans, make new friends, enemies and take down a few walkers along the way.
As a drifter you encounter warring factions vying for the few resources which remain whilst trying to scavenge your own in the derelict buildings and streets. Craft useful items and new weapons, blades are silent but will tire you out where guns have great stopping power as well as attracting attention. Outside of the main campaign, there’s The Trial horde mode if you just want some arcade action, killing waves of walkers. Plenty to keep you entertained and for practising those survival skills.
Eric Chahi’s sensational VR safari, Paper Beast, is finally out on PC VR headsets. How does this version stack up next to the PSVR original? Find out in our Paper Beast graphic comparison.
Stacking up this week’s new PC edition of Paper Beast with the existing PSVR version is a funny one. If anything, it’s a fantastic showcase of what a great job Pixel Reef did with the original console iteration. Running on a standard PS4 in the video below, Paper Beast looks practically identical placed next to PC.
You’ll probably notice that the console version does appear a little blurrier (again, this is on a base PS4, and not the PS4 Pro).
Primarily, though, this is one of those times that the differences don’t really start to show themselves until you get into the headset. The reduced screen-door effect from 2019-era headsets really helps bring this incredible virtual ecosystem into greater focus. Animals are more convincing and vivid, and it’s easier to spot the impressive environmental effects littered throughout. I loved watching the already-incredible land deformation at work in PC VR, where it felt smoother.
That said, the major difference here is the addition of smooth locomotion for the PC VR version. Pixel Reef says the PSVR version of the game won’t be getting this support and it feels like a shame; teleport is still a great way to experience Paper Beast, but the subtle movements afforded by smooth locomotion are an added bonus.
If you have access to PSVR and a PC headset, then, the PC iteration of Paper Beast is definitely way to go. That said, you won’t really be missing much on PSVR and, given that this is still one of the best VR games of the year, we’d implore you to seek it out.
Some weeks there’s a real dearth of virtual reality (VR) titles and then others they arrive in abundance. Next week is definitely the latter with a whole host of premium and indie videogames due to arrive for various platforms. As VRFocus likes to do every Friday, there’s our roundup of what’s to come.
Into The Radius – CM Games
This single-player survival adventure arrived in Early Access late 2019 and now is the time for its official launch. With a story set in Russia where an event in the ’80s created an area filled with strange anomalies, you’re sent in to investigate, locating supplies and trying to make it out alive.
A story-driven shooter: “Vertigo Remastered is a complete overhaul and occasional reimagining of the 2016 original, bringing modern VR gameplay, new content, and countless fixes/improvements to the table.”
A PlayStation 4 exclusive which launched earlier this year, Dreams contains a single-player campaign but its main feature is the Create Mode so you can build your own videogame. Finally, next week that can all be done in VR!
Supported platforms: PlayStation VR
Release date: 22nd July
In Death: Unchained – Superbright
The original In Death was a procedurally generated rogue-lite for PC VR and now its coming to Oculus Quest in an exclusive format, with new enemies and features for the standalone headset.
Whispers from Within: Moving On – Think Ten Media Group
A Twilight Zone-inspired VR title, Whispers from Within: Moving On is the first episode of a narrative-based gaming experience where you need to unlock your memories in a bid to free yourself from the past.
Originally released for PlayStation VR earlier this year, the PC VR edition of this surreal and unique experience will feature new additions such as continuous locomotion as well as a host of visual improvements.
The PC VR version of one of our favorite VR games of the year, Paper Beast, arrives in the very near future.
Pixel Reef’s gorgeous virtual safari lands on PC VR headsets on July 24th. The game was confirmed to be coming to the platform last month and a demo was released as part of June’s Steam Summer Games Festival. The game will arrive on Steam, the Oculus Store and Viveport with support for basically any VR headset you can plug into a PC. This version of the game will also include upgraded visuals, some gameplay tweaks and an expanded sandbox mode.
More interestingly, there will be new animals, plants and even a continuous movement system, too. The PSVR version of the game was a teleport-only affair. We asked developer Pixel Reef if the PSVR version could see these improvements, but the team said it had no plans for that. Check out the release date trailer above.
We thought Paper Beast was a stunning work from the mind of Another World creator, Eric Chahi. “It is a game not content with just one miracle, be it the authentic, almost documentarian approach to a virtual ecosystem, nor the technical milestones such a feat requires,” we said in our 4/5 review. “Even its set of puzzles somehow emerge as a remarkably natural extension of its core themes and systems, creating a cohesive and curiously precious VR game to be preserved and savoured.”
Paper Beast provided PlayStation VR owners one of the most unique gameplay experiences to arrive for the headset earlier this year, with developer Pixel Reef confirming last month a PC VR version was on the way. Today, the studio has confirmed the date, and there’s not long to wait.
The PC version won’t be a straight port of the original as the team has used the extra time to further enhance the surreal experience. That means PC players will be able to enjoy continuous locomotion – not just teleportation – as well as upgraded visuals for more precise textures and shadows plus improved water and sand rendering.
The creative sandbox mode will also gain a few extra tweaks such as a bigger sandbox area, an expanded ecosystem with evolved vegetation; a new animal species and the ability to add more creatures in the area.
“The PC version represents a more polished version of the game in almost all aspects but also offers continuous move support, which we are very proud of because we handled it without compromise,” says Eric Chahi, founder of Pixel Reef in a statement. “Special care was also given to the rendering of water and sand. You will be able to see the turmoil at the surface of the water, and the delicate flow of the sand. You’ll be able to dive even deeper into the fantastic world of Paper Beast.”
VRFocus really enjoyed playing the PlayStation VR version, saying in its review of Paper Beast that: “Paper Beast offers PlayStation VR an exclusive experience like no other, a beautiful statement on the natural world and the influence technology can have on it.”
The colourful world formed from decades of lost code and algorithms inside the vast memory of a data server, creating a digital ecosystem of vegetation and creatures. Gameplay revolves around solving environmental puzzles but there are no text or verbal hints to help.
Paper Beast will support Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index and Windows Mixed Reality headsets, launching via Steam on 24th July 2020; retailing for $19.99 USD/€19.99 EUR. While you wait why not sample the videogame by downloading the free demo from the store. For further updates on Paper Beast, keep reading VRFocus.
The 17th annual Games For Change (G4C) festival takes place next month and like many others, it’ll be a digital-only event. Today, the 22 finalists for the Games For Change Awards have been announced with virtual reality (VR) titles including Bonfire and Paper Beast selected for the XR category.
The Games For Change festival as well as the awards advocate the power of videogames as drivers to impact society in meaningful ways. This year’s awards were highly competitive, seeing over 200 game submissions across the six categories.
Nominated in the Best XR for Change category are:
Bonfire from Baobab Studios (Oculus Rift, Oculus Rift S, Oculus Quest, HTC Vive, PlayStation VR)
Escape to the Future from Open Lab, Newcastle University (Digital Immersive Escape Game, 360 Projection)
The Holy City from Nimrod Shanit (Oculus Rift, Oculus Rift S, HTC Vive)
Paper Beast is probably the best known out of all those selected and the only videogame. Currently available for PlayStation VR – with a PC version on the way – its a puzzle-adventure set in a surreal world of paper creatures which can manipulate the landscape.
Bonfire, on the other hand, is more of an interactive experience, where you’re tasked with finding humanity a new home, landing on a planet filled with strange but friendly creatures.
As for the other categories they look like this:
Best Gameplay
Arise: A Simple Story from Piccolo Studio (PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4)
Dear Reader from Local No. 12 (iOS, Mac, Apple TV)
Mosaic from Krillbite Studio (PC, Mac, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, iOS)
Sky: Children of the Light from thatgamecompany (iOS)
Most Innovative
Concrete Genie from Pixelopus (PlayStation 4)
Dreams from Media Molecule (PlayStation 4)
Sea of Solitude from Jo-Mei (PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4)
Sky: Children of the Light from thatgamecompany (iOS)
Most Significant Impact
Eliza from Zachtronics (PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch)
Life is Strange 2 from DONTNOD Entertainment (PC, Mac, Xbox One, PlayStation 4)
Sea of Solitude from Jo-Mei (PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4)
SweetXheart from Catt Small (Web/Online)
Best Learning Game
Funexpected Math from Funexpected LTD (iOS)
Mightier from Mightier (Android, iOS)
Rabbids Coding from Ubisoft (PC)
Sci-Ops: Global Defense from Plasma Games (Web/Online)
Best Student Game
Apollo from Team Apollo, University of Southern California (PC, Mac, Live Action)
Gamer Girl from RIT’s School of Interactive Games and Media (Web/Online)
Plasticity from Plasticity Games, University of Southern California (PC)
Resilience from Sungrazer Studio, Drexel University (PC, Mac, Linux)
The Best Gameplay, Most Innovative, Most Significant Impact and Best Learning Game are all eligible for the “G4C People’s Choice” award which you can vote here for. Plus, all the finalists are eligible for the Game of the Year award.
The Games For Change Festival takes place between 14th – 16th July, with the Games For Change Awards streamed at 7:30 pm EDT on 14th. For further updates, keep reading VRFocus.
One of our favorite PSVR releases in recent memory, Paper Beast, is coming to PC VR this summer.
A free demo for the game will be available as part of the Steam Summer Festival running from June 16 to June 22. It is officially coming to SteamVR and Oculus Rift.
Here’s what Jamie Feltham said about it in his review:
“Paper Beast is, for all intents and purposes, a strange beast. It is a game that is always fascinating to behold, a 3+ hour exploration of virtual wildlife realized with compelling authenticity. Largely set within a vast desert, its creatures, ranging from the majestic to the more unsightly, are undoubtedly the star of the show. But, as much as you might expect otherwise, it is very much a game, with its underlying systems propping up some of the most organic (literally) problem-solving I’ve yet seen in VR.”
The game started in the mind of Pixel Reef’s Eric Chahi, who previously made Another World and From Dust, and the PC VR release will include “new features such as continuous move support, upgraded visuals, further creatures and more.”
You can check out the latest trailer here:
I haven’t played it yet and, based on Jamie’s review, I cannot wait to explore that world with the increased fidelity and freedom of movement with a Valve Index. Here’s Jamie’s video review of the PSVR version if you weren’t already sold on the game’s whimsical world just yet:
Are you looking forward to playing Paper Beast? Let us know in the comments below.
