Valve has announced a new ‘Site Licensing’ model which allows businesses interested in providing VR experiences to customers as an out of home experience. It seems the company have their sights on SteamVR powering a renaissance in VR-enabled Cybercafés.
Lets face it, VR is still expensive pretty much any way you slice it. And whilst the affordability of immersive technology is improving rapidly, other barriers to enjoying premium VR experiences at home – such as having the space to enjoy room-scale – are still very much an issue.
The next best thing to having your own VR setup? Well, Valve seems to think that you might instead want to pop down the road to your local Cybercafé to get your VR on instead. To that end, the company have just introduced a new initiative which is geared towards making it much easier to give commercial operations the ability to entertain punters in VR on site via Steam and SteamVR.
The Site Licensing Program for Steam allows any operation which intends to offer Steam based experiences, including of course HTC Vive VR titles, to visitors. Those operations could be anything from a museum to an arcade, pop-up store, cybercafé or as Valve puts it “any other place you can think of.” The new license allows the proprietor of said operation to obtain (at a cost) commercial subscription subscriptions to content offered via Steam and also access a growing list of free-to-play titles which Valve are making available via their Free Site Subscriptions list – which already includes a number of VR titles such as Valve’s The Lab and Portal Stories: VR.
This all of course ties in very nicely with HTC’s recent investment in public VR entertainment spaces and their announcement of a similar initiative, also aimed at providing VR experiences at what they call “offline experience centers” via their own content portal platform Viveport. The move was announced at the joint Developer Forum of Alibaba Cloud’s annual Computing Conference in October and follows HTC’s push towards opening 100s of VR café in China next year.
It’s an interesting move from both parties, one that should further help allow those not yet able to afford the investment in space or money to own a VR system of their own to get to grips with immersive technology. As we’ve written many times before, VR has to be experienced to be fully understood, and should the idea of out of home VR businesses take off, that barrier of entry for VR experiences might just come down a notch or two.
Valve has announced a new ‘Site Licensing’ model which allows businesses interested in providing VR experiences to customers as an out of home experience. It seems the company have their sights on SteamVR powering a renaissance in VR-enabled Cybercafés.
Lets face it, VR is still expensive pretty much any way you slice it. And whilst the affordability of immersive technology is improving rapidly, other barriers to enjoying premium VR experiences at home – such as having the space to enjoy room-scale – are still very much an issue.
The next best thing to having your own VR setup? Well, Valve seems to think that you might instead want to pop down the road to your local Cybercafé to get your VR on instead. To that end, the company have just introduced a new initiative which is geared towards making it much easier to give commercial operations the ability to entertain punters in VR on site via Steam and SteamVR.
The Site Licensing Program for Steam allows any operation which intends to offer Steam based experiences, including of course HTC Vive VR titles, to visitors. Those operations could be anything from a museum to an arcade, pop-up store, cybercafé or as Valve puts it “any other place you can think of.” The new license allows the proprietor of said operation to obtain (at a cost) commercial subscription subscriptions to content offered via Steam and also access a growing list of free-to-play titles which Valve are making available via their Free Site Subscriptions list – which already includes a number of VR titles such as Valve’s The Lab and Portal Stories: VR.
This all of course ties in very nicely with HTC’s recent investment in public VR entertainment spaces and their announcement of a similar initiative, also aimed at providing VR experiences at what they call “offline experience centers” via their own content portal platform Viveport. The move was announced at the joint Developer Forum of Alibaba Cloud’s annual Computing Conference in October and follows HTC’s push towards opening 100s of VR café in China next year.
It’s an interesting move from both parties, one that should further help allow those not yet able to afford the investment in space or money to own a VR system of their own to get to grips with immersive technology. As we’ve written many times before, VR has to be experienced to be fully understood, and should the idea of out of home VR businesses take off, that barrier of entry for VR experiences might just come down a notch or two.
Though Halloween has passed, the horror games continue to come and will likely continue for a long while on the HTC Vive. We also had an influx of early access tower defense games and the most impressive of them blends the two genres. One of the Last is a zombie-riddled tower defense that shows a lot of promise in its early stages and could be a heavy hitter when it releases in full. Don’t overlook The Diner Duo either. It’s one of the most ilonteresting casual games we’ve seen thus far. This week also includes the release of an intriguing social VR application called VRCapture, an easy way to record your VR gameplay and footage to edit and share with friends.
We also have a top list of the absolute best HTC Vive games — which is updated every few months with the latest and greatest options.
Robosports VR, from Babeltime
Price: Free-to-play
In Robosports, jump into the arena and choose from a collection of events to participate in. The first available (game is currently in early access) is a form of dodgeball that’ll put your cardio to test.
Recommendation: Already looks solid and future updates could be interesting. Plus, it’s free.
Doritos VR Battle, from Capitola VR
Price: $2.99
Doritos VR Battle is a heavily stylized adventure where you glide through a dark world and collect as many Doritos as you can. A simple FPS with leaderboards.
Recommendation: Though it’s easy to write off branded content like this, it actually makes solid use of HTC Vive gear. Grab it.
Lifeliqe VR Museum, from Lifeliqe, Inc.
Price: Free-to-play
This free educational experience allows players to explore the human body, interact with dinosaurs, and explore prehistoric settlements. The UI also offers detailed information on the things you encounter
Recommendation: Definitely give it a go. May learn something new.
MagixHome VR, from SKYOPT
Price: Free-to-play
MagixHome is an interior design experiment that allows you to cycle through furniture, furniture materials, and wall decor while rearranging things to your liking.
Recommendation: Visually striking and could inspire partnerships with furniture companies in the future.
Lord Darydikilkil, from GaelDK, Fabien Spiess, Antoine Rigitano, Serge Sentis, Nicolas Billon
Price: $1.99
This game takes its inspiration from Tim Burton films and the darker humor of video games like MediEvil. There’s a variance of play modes, including endless runner and action adventure, with a narrated story mode connecting them.
Recommendation: Seems incredibly disjointed, but has a unique style and flair. It’s cheap, consider checking it out.
Fancy Tangram VR, from Kazakhstan, AS at The GrandTech
Price: $0.99
Fancy Tangram brings a classic Chinese game to life in VR. Tangram is a geometric puzzle consisting of a square cut into seven pieces and Fancy Tangram has over 40 levels dedicated to the challenge.
Recommendation: Inexpensive and intriguing. Grab it.
MegaRats. From Red Frizbee Studios
Price: $19.99
This title mixes up 3rd-person adventure with 1st-person shooting in an apocalyptic city showdown.
Recommendation: Not much rhyme or reason to the project right now, but multiplayer is planned. Keep an eye on it as it evolves.
Staircase of Darkness: VR, from bcInteractive
Price: $3.74 (Currently Discounted)
You’re dropped at the top of a staircase with no light outside of your own flashlight and no idea how far down the exit is…do you have the guts to make it? Staircase of Darkness is an experimental horror title with a seemingly simple premise.
Recommendation: Inexpensive thrill for you and friends.
VRMark, from Futuremark
Price: $14.99 (Currently Discounted)
Is your PC VR-ready? VRMark is a more rigorous test than the text-based option from Oculus and, even in its free version, can show you how many frames are dropped during tests. The advanced version has a few additional features we covered here.
Recommendation: At the least, grab the free version to test your rig. If you’re shooting for more intense VR play, grab the full version.
VRCapture, from XR Team
Price: Free
With VR becoming more and more popular, users will seek out ways to be social and share their experiences. VRCapture embraces that idea and provides a free tool to record your VR footage, edit them, and share.
Recommendation: You should definitely try it.
One of the Last, from Deep Voodoo Gaming
Price: $12.99
You’re not tired of zombies yet, right? Good. One of the Last drops you into a tower defense experience riddled with puzzles as zombies slowly close in around you. Also has a dedicated story mode and 4-player action.
Recommendation: Has a few issues to work out but, even in early access, it’s impressive.
God of Arrows VR, from Reactor Entertainment
Price: $7.99
In this early access tower defense, you face off against 8 different enemy types with your trusty bow. You’ll have to teleport to different towers as the enemy movement paths vary and utilize 4 different elemental arrows.
Recommendation: Not a bad pickup if you don’t already have a solid bow & arrow or tower defense game you’re in love with.
Willi’s Haunted Hayride, from John Palmer & Jacob Vestergaard
Price: $2.99
Grab your flashlight and hold tight during this haunting hayride through a countryside.
Recommendation: Pass
Warpin: Creation (VR), from Matthew Finitz
Price: $19.99
Recruited by an unknown entity, you’re tossed into the fragmented dimensions between worlds and tasked with purging them of their flaws. You’ll use weapons from different worlds and times, using magic and technology to take on enemies.
Recommendation: Another fairly impressive title that’s still in early access. Grab it.
Siege Hammer, from MyDream Interactive, Inc.
Price: $10.04 (Currently Discounted)
As the tiny, armor-clad protagonist Blip, players engage in an intimate game of tower defense. You’re able to set up your turrets and react as invaders maneuver through a maze you explore on its outer rim. The game is 100% gaze-based gameplay.
Recommendation: It isn’t even the best looking tower defense game of today’s list alone, but is different and casual. On the fence with this one.
VR The Diner Duo, from Whirlybird Games
Price: $11.99 (Currently Discounted)
In VR The Diner Duo, you’re a chef preparing your customer’s orders as quickly as possible. There are 14 recipes to master, 30 levels of difficulty, and asymmetrical multiplayer where a friend can take the food to the patrons as you prepare it.
Recommendation: One of the coolest looking casual experiences in VR thus far.
Whack a Vote: Hammering the Polls, from Subreality Studios LLC.
Price: Free-to-play
Before you turn in your vote this year, jump into the virtual voting booth and exercise your rights. Hit the slot machine to get some funds from the IRS and Federal Reserve to power the Whack-A-Vote machine.
Recommendation: Gotta be more fun than the real thing this year, yeah?
ShotForge, from Alix
Price: Free
Dive into this sandbox, choose from a ton of parts, and create the coolest gun you can come up with in ShotForge.
Recommendation: A wonderful, fun, and free way to burn some time.
3DSunshine, from Vain Media LLC
Price: Free
3DSunshine lets players, utilizing the intuitive and precise controls of VR, create worlds block by block and put them into some of our favorite games.
Recommendation: Currently only Minecraft works with the program but the developers are working on GTAV and more soon. Grab it if you’re into that type of thing.
The Journey, from Mugurel-Adrian Enache & Diana Marin
Price: $7.19 (Currently Discounted)
VR affords us interesting and immersive experiences like no other and The Journey is using the medium to give us an intimate virtual tour of the human body. You’ll search for clues and solve clues as you search throughout of the last known human specimen in that world.
Recommendation: New age Magic School Bus? Sign up.
Project Syria, from Emblematic Group
Price: Free-to-play
Project Syria is a project that was developed back in 2013 and is now being released on consumer VR. Commissioned by the World Economic Forum, this work of immersive journalism aims to inform us about the plight of those living in Syria.
Recommendation: A welcomed change of perspective you can get for free.
Above – VR, from Sachonski, Renato Milanesi, and Sith
Price: $2.59 (Currently discounted)
As an astronaut stranded in space, Above lets us experience the final moments as you look at Earth from this unique perspective and take it all in.
Recommendation: Neat and functional way to demo VR with a cool setting.
House of the Dying Sun, from Marauder Interactive, LLC
Price: $17.99 (Currently discounted)
From the cockpit of your Executor Mk II, take control of this tactical space shooter and hunt the enemies of the Empire. Upgrade your fighter and command other fighters in your fleet as you work toward your goals.
Recommendation: A short experience but a lot of fun. A must have for space shooter fans yearning for single player content.
TheWave, from The Wave VR Inc.
Price: Free-to-play
Turn yourself into a virtual DJ and create music in a digital venue. You manipulate music with the motion controls and perform a full DJ set.
Recommendation: A free game that may legitimately produce a new sub-culture. Check it.
Breakroom, from MURE VR
Price: $7.99 (Currently discounted)
With Breakroom, you can turn your VR headset into a multi-monitor unit. Essentially, use it to multi-task in various applications using Windows.
Recommendation: Only worth it if you need a VR virtual desktop. Has a few bugs to work out over time. Bigscreen is already free, though.
Kitten Cannon, from Chris Gallello & Sasha Alexandra
Price: Free
The official description for this game puts it plainly: “Pick up kitty. Pet kitty. Load kitty into cannon. Fire kitty. Amaze”. Load the cute exploding critters into the cannon and fire them at flying horses.
Recommendation: It’s free, it’s fun, and there are kittens. Come on.
Recommendation: Very pretty endless runner, but only one track. Keep that in mind when buying.
Unforgiven: Missing Memories – Child’s Play, from Default Interactive, Broken Dreams and Webb 3D
Price: $10.99
Wouldn’t be an HTC Vive roundup without an escape the room experience and that’s just what Unforgiven is. This particular one drops you into a setting thick with the a family’s emotional trauma as you search for hidden clues and solve puzzles.
Recommendation: Well designed and very pretty. A must for those into escape the room games, if it’s not outside your budget.
Abode, from Overflow
Price: $8.99 (Currently discounted)
This escape the room experience takes you to a futuristic, sci-fi noir apartment. Engage in the usual inspection and puzzle solving of the genre but in a more interesting setting.
Recommendation: Not overly challenging, but fun and it uses a unique setting.
Grave VR, from Broken Window Studios, LLC
Price: $19.99
GraveVR is a psychological horror title where you must utilize light in different forms to protect yourself against an assortment of monsters.
Recommendation: Grab it on a sale.
Draconic Order VR, from Seek n Destroy Studios
Price: $16.99 (Currently discounted)
This RPG survival game tasks you with gather resources, fighting creatures, and finding tomes written in different languages to learn spells.
Recommendation: Currently only the prologue chapter is available. Intriguing early access game to keep an eye on, but don’t dive in just yet.
Nightfall: Eclipse VR, from Zeenoh, 7 Seals
Price: $6.29 (Currently discounted)
Eclipse in an add-on for Nightfall: Escape, a game that puts you in control of a field journalist who stumbles into a nightmare while researching odd disappearances. Eclipse switches the perspective to a news crew that disappeared, which is one of the events the original journalist was investigating.
Recommendation: Interesting premise at a good price, but be ready for some shoddy voice acting.
Make no mistake: if you have an Oculus Rift, then this is Obduction week. Finally, the VR headset is gaining access to one of this year’s most immersive and perplexing titles — a game that we called a “cinematic VR marvel.” Beyond that are a slew of new games on Steam and some Gear VR titles to round out the selections.
Following a sudden and long delay, the team behind seminal adventure game Myst finally bring their latest project to VR. Obduction is a visually stunning and atmospheric experience in which you explore beautiful worlds and make choices that will affect the overall story.
Recommendation: You shouldn’t definitely give Obduction a go, it’s one of the best games on Rift. Read our review.
Panzer Panic, from Handy Games
Price: $4.99 (Gear)
If you can’t enjoy Battlezone on PlayStation VR, then you might want to consider this colorful little tank battler for Gear VR. With full multiplayer support for up to four players across a range of maps, this is a promising new release for the platform.
Recommendation: For $4.99 this could well be worth it.
Other Worlds, from Turtle Rock Studios
Price: $1.99 (Gear)
With Face Your Fears hitting last week, Left4Dead developer Turtle Rock Studios’ new project, which explores three worlds created by artist Justin Cherry, is now available. There are some truly unique creations here that could be well worth seeing.
Recommendation: For those interested in VR art, this could be great.
Lord Darydikilkil, from GaelDK, Fabien Spiess, Antoine Rigitano, Serge Sentis, Nicolas Billon
Price: $1.99 (Rift)
This game takes its inspiration from Tim Burton films and the darker humor of video games like MediEvil. There’s a variance of play modes, including endless runner and action adventure, with a narrated story mode connecting them.
Recommendation: Seems incredibly disjointed, but has a unique style and flair. It’s cheap, consider checking it out.
MegaRats. From Red Frizbee Studios
Price: $19.99 (Rift)
This title mixes up 3rd-person adventure with 1st-person shooting in an apocalyptic city showdown.
Recommendation: Not much rhyme or reason to the project right now, but multiplayer is planned. Keep an eye on it as it evolves.
Staircase of Darkness: VR, from bcInteractive
Price: $3.74 (Currently Discounted, Rift)
You’re dropped at the top of a staircase with no light outside of your own flashlight and no idea how far down the exit is…do you have the guts to make it? Staircase of Darkness is an experimental horror title with a seemingly simple premise.
Recommendation: Inexpensive thrill for you and friends.
VRMark, from Futuremark
Price: $14.99 (Currently Discounted, Rift)
Is your PC VR-ready? VRMark is a more rigorous test than the text-based option from Oculus and, even in its free version, can show you how many frames are dropped during tests. The advanced version has a few additional features we covered here.
Recommendation: At the least, grab the free version to test your rig. If you’re shooting for more intense VR play, grab the full version.
VRCapture, from XR Team
Price: Free (Rift)
With VR becoming more and more popular, users will seek out ways to be social and share their experiences. VRCapture embraces that idea and provides a free tool to record your VR footage, edit them, and share.
Recommendation: You should definitely try it.
Siege Hammer, from MyDream Interactive, Inc.
Price: $10.04 (Currently Discounted, Rift)
As the tiny, armor-clad protagonist Blip, players engage in an intimate game of tower defense. You’re able to set up your turrets and react as invaders maneuver through a maze you explore on its outer rim. The game is 100% gaze-based gameplay.
Recommendation: It isn’t even the best looking tower defense game of today’s list alone, but is different and casual. On the fence with this one.
The Journey, from Mugurel-Adrian Enache & Diana Marin
Price: $7.19 (Currently Discounted, Rift)
VR affords us interesting and immersive experiences like no other and The Journey is using the medium to give us an intimate virtual tour of the human body. You’ll search for clues and solve clues as you search throughout of the last known human specimen in that world.
Recommendation: New age Magic School Bus? Sign up.
Project Syria, from Emblematic Group
Price: Free-to-play (Rift)
Project Syria is a project that was developed back in 2013 and is now being released on consumer VR. Commissioned by the World Economic Forum, this work of immersive journalism aims to inform us about the plight of those living in Syria.
Recommendation: A welcomed change of perspective you can get for free.
House of the Dying Sun, from Marauder Interactive, LLC
Price: $17.99 (Currently discounted, Rift)
From the cockpit of your Executor Mk II, take control of this tactical space shooter and hunt the enemies of the Empire. Upgrade your fighter and command other fighters in your fleet as you work toward your goals.
Recommendation: A short experience but a lot of fun. A must have for space shooter fans yearning for single player content.
Breakroom, from MURE VR
Price: $7.99 (Currently discounted, Rift)
With Breakroom, you can turn your VR headset into a multi-monitor unit. Essentially, use it to multi-task in various applications using Windows.
Recommendation: Only worth it if you need a VR virtual desktop. Has a few bugs to work out over time. Bigscreen is already free, though.
Recommendation: Very pretty endless runner, but only one track. Keep that in mind when buying.
Nightfall: Eclipse VR, from Zeenoh, 7 Seals
Price: $6.29 (Currently discounted)
Eclipse in an add-on for Nightfall: Escape, a game that puts you in control of a field journalist who stumbles into a nightmare while researching odd disappearances. Eclipse switches the perspective to a news crew that disappeared, which is one of the events the original journalist was investigating.
Recommendation: Interesting premise at a good price, but be ready for some shoddy voice acting.
Valve has uploaded YouTube videos of all talks and panel discussions featured at this year's recently concluded Steam Dev Days conference, offering developer-oriented insight into virtual reality, Early Access, and other emerging technology.
It's been confirmed that the Steam and Windows Store versions of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare and Modern Warfare Remastered are not cross-compatible in terms of online multiplayer.
Back in September, we reported on Epic Games and NVIDIA’s team-up for a VR Funhouse Game Jam and it’s now time to reap the rewards. We’d previously got our hands on the stock of mini-games and were drawn into quite an uncanny valley with its immersive interactions. At the jam, experienced developers were unleashed within a controlled environment to see what they came up with.
The game jam brought select groups from Europe together for 48 hours of creativity on a ship docked in the Hamburg Harbor and now the mods from that jam are being brought to Steam. Seven dev groups participated and created their individual Funhouse VR mods, but also helped each other out during the process.
Waiter Wars – Dreampunks (Netherlands)
Power Tower – Daedalic (Germany)
Wizard’s Funhouse – Carbon Team
Kid In A Candy Store – Team Broad Strokes
The Secret Ingredient – Team Grumpy
Happy Clowns – Pantumaca Barcelona (Spain)
Beer, Beer, Beer & Sausages – Aesir (Germany)
If you follow VR development closely, a few of the names here may seem familiar. Carbon Team recently released their long awaited game Alice VR, which we reviewed just last month, and one of Daedalic’s games was featured on a previous HTC Vive new release round-up. All of the invited groups have a degree of experience so they produced some interesting work in a short window.
Each of the games takes the VR Funhouse setting and turns it on its head in unique ways. For example, Waiter Wars employs you as a waiter amid all of the chaos and equips you with a pistol to defend yourself as you maneuver through the environment and keep your tray upright. The Power Tower mod even throws players into a rollercoaster where you dodge projectiles and defend yourself with a canon.
Waiter Wars and Beer, Beer, Beer & Sausages are both available right now on the Steam workshop page and the other mods will hopefully be available in the near future.
Developers will no longer be able to use concept art or CG stills as "screenshots" on games' Steam pages, Valve has revealed. The company is the subject of an investigation regarding alleged false advertising.
Die Entwickler von Obduction halten ihr Wort und ab sofort steht das Update für die Oculus Rift bereit. Falls ihr die Steam Version besitzt, dann ist das Update für euch kostenlos verfügbar. Wenn ihr das Spiel noch nicht gekauft habt, dann könnt ihr entweder die Version auf Steam kaufen oder die Version auf Oculus Home.
Oculus Rift Support veröffentlicht
Eigentlich war der Support der Oculus Rift bereits zum Release geplant, doch dieses Versprechen konnte leider nicht eingehalten werden. Dafür haben die Entwickler die Zeit genutzt und die Erfahrung so optimiert, dass sie euch maximalen Spielspaß mit einer anständigen Optik in der Oculus Rift liefern kann.
Das Spiel startete ursprünglich als Kickstarter Kampagne und die Entwickler bei Cyan konnten 1,3 Millionen US-Dollar einsammeln. Cyan ist auch das Team, welches hinter dem Titel Myst aus dem Jahr 1993 steckt. Obduction will in die Fußstapfen von Myst treten und eine beeindruckende Welt mit spannenden Rätseln liefern. Die Dichte an Rätseln ist in Obduction aber deutlich geringer als beispielsweise in The Witness. Dennoch ist das Spiel hervorragend inszeniert und bietet eine beeindruckende und surreale Welt.
In den kommenden Tagen werden wir uns intensiv mit dem Oculus Rift Support beschäftigen und ihr werdet schon bald unser Review auf VR-Nerds.de finden.
Halloween is upon us as we’re flooded with horror-themed releases this week. We’re offered a Bloody Mary escape game, Ghost Town shooting gallery, and the dreaded Trump simulator (proceeds go to a good cause). Yore VR, an open-world sandbox title, is the major stand-out from this collection.
We also have a top list of the absolute best HTC Vive games — which is updated every few months with the latest and greatest options.
Project CARS – Pagani Edition, from Slightly Mad Studios
Price: Free
The base Project CARS game is available on Steam for $29.99 and this free update includes 5 Pagani cars like the Zonda Revolucion, three new track including the infamous Nürburgring, and adds in the Quick Race Weekend and Time Trial modes.
Recommendation: Classic cars and meticulously created tracks as a free update? Of course, you should get it.
Ghost Town Mine Ride & Shootin’ Gallery, from Spectral Illusions
Price: $8.99
Fitting right in with the season, enter an abandoned tourist attraction and then descend into a hellish shooting gallery. Use your flashlight and six shooter to make it out of the roughly 25-minute experience alive.
Recommendation: Pretty solid experience that hopefully inspires the developers to make more scenarios of this caliber.
Carnival Games VR, from Cat Daddy Games
Price: $19.99
One of the most popular collections of carnival themed mini-games, Carnival Games finally comes to virtual reality. Test your skills in pop darts, ring toss, and ten other classic carnival experiences.
Recommendation: A decent collection of short and polished fun mini-games via our review.
Killing Zombies, from FRS Game Studio
Price: $2.99 (Currently Discounted)
Take on the undead in this wave shooter that includes online multiplayer. Engage in room scale interaction with 30 weapons to choose from.
Recommendation: Cheap thrill but there are better wave shooters around.
Trump Simulator VR, from Christine Barron
Price: $0.99
In this sim, you’re given 5 minutes to do your best Trump face (and tiny hands) and prepare your speech. The developer, who created the game in under 50 hours, created it with the intention of inspiring outside research and all profits will go to the Migrant Offshore Aid Station.
Recommendation: Funny game for a good cause. Go for it.
ALICE VR, from Carbon Studio
Price: $22.49 (Currently Discounted)
Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, ALICE VR is a single player and story driven experience set on a mysterious planet. Meet sci-fi renditions of the Mad Hatter and Cheshire Cat as you complete puzzles.
Ride atop a giant whale or helicopter platform in this on-rails shooter as you take down evil goblins with a longbow, or while dual wielding crossbows.
Recommendation: Pass for now, but look for interesting developments during Early Access.
The Tower: Last Stand
Price: $15.19 (Currently Discounted)
Inspired by the “Tower” tarot card and the graphic novel “Heavy Metal”, The Tower has you facing off against a wave of enemies, 3 sub-bosses, and a final dragon in this tower defense title. Also, this game is apparently the 2nd of 6 games that will contain clues to win $1,000,000 in bitcoins.
Recommendation: Doesn’t bring a lot of new, interesting ideas…but are you feeling lucky?
ObserVR Beta, from ObserVR Inc
Price: Free
ObserVR is a VR application for viewing multiple live Twitch streams on one screen. You can chat with friends, view up to four streams, and rearrange screens as you wish.
Recommendation: A solid free way to indulge in some streaming.
Hoverboards VR, from Mike Harris
Price: $1.99
Hoverboards VR is a futuristic, 3D, virtual take on the classic Snake game. A unique locomotion technique translates your entire body’s movement as if upon a hoverboard.
Recommendation: An inexpensive and serene experience that gets you moving with unique controls that could inspire other titles. Grab it.
Escape Bloody Mary, Well Told Entertainment
Price: $3.39 (Currently Discounted)
Step into the restroom, cut off the lights, and summon a dark spirit in Escape Bloody Mary. This escape room experience tasks you with getting out of the restroom as Bloody Mary enters your world through the mirror.
Recommendation: A solid addition to your collection of short and sweet horror VR games.
Climbey, from Brian Lindenhof
Price: $8.49 (Currently Discounted)
With 15 levels (including a level editor), Climbey is a physics powered puzzler where players climb different obstacles as quickly as they can in order to reach the goal. Includes multiplayer as well.
Recommendation: A simple, yet fun, experience that could get even better throughout Early Access. Get it.
Boo breakers: The Ghostening, from Rank17
Price: $3.74 (Currently Discounted)
With one hand inspired by Harry Potter and the other inspired by the Ghostbusters, developers Rank17 put you in a control of an ambidextrous mage in this whimsical title. One wand deflects enemy attacks while the other captures spirits as you seek out hidden objects and explore different areas.
Recommendation: Well worth the price, even if not on sale.
Marlene, from Uzi Games
Price: $10.67 (Currently Discounted)
In this psychological horror game, take control of Ewan as he searches for his estranged sister and niece at their island cottage. Physics puzzles and hidden objects are the foundation of this first act in a three part story.
Recommendation: Initially had a couple issues that have been patched. Solid start to an intriguing story.
Mervils: A VR Adventure, from VitruviusVR
Price: $19.99
This RPG platformer has come out of Early Access and added a new world to the full game. Run, jump, and fight your way through as you save the world from Balazar the Evil.
Recommendation: In our preview, we call it a “more open-ended Lucky’s Tale” that’s worth the play.
RuneSage, from George Gilbert
Price: $8.99 (Currently Discounted)
Harness runes of power and cast spells by drawing symbols with your VR controller in this RPG adventure.
Recommendation: Neat spell mechanic but pass for now.
Extreme Skiing VR, from Music Off Games
Price: $7.99
In this extreme sports experience, control your direction with the VR helmet while propelling yourself realistic with the VR controllers being used as ski poles.
Recommendation: Lazy design. One track. Poor collision detection. Skip it.
Yore VR, from Tectonic VR
Price: $14.99 (Currently Discounted)
Yore VR is an open-world sandbox Early Access title with a deep blacksmithing component along with smelting, mining, archery, and tavern mini-games.
Recommendation: Worth the grab even in EA. Future updates could include hunting, herb gathering, alchemy, and melee combat.
Recommendation: Interesting flying mechanic. Keep an eye on it in Early Access.
The Night The Carsons Disappeared, from Stephen Long
Price: $1.79 (Currently Discounted)
In this visual experience, watch as events unfold during The Night The Carsons Disappeared from the perspective of Mr. Carson. TNTCD is a 30-minute non-interactive horror title to be shared with friends.
Recommendation: Solid pick up for less than $2.
Push For Emor, from Lupus Solus Studio
Price: $13.19 (Currently Discounted)
Push For Emor blends RPG gameplay with RTS elements in this open-world sci-fi experience that expands across 5 solar systems and 11 planets. Disable and board enemy ships, engage in space and planet combat, and more.
Recommendation: Despite being developed by one person, it’s a solid grab even in Early Access.
zTime (Danger Noodles!), from Hazardous Software
Price: $4.24 (Currently Discounted)
Take the classic top-down perspective and controls and flip it on its head and you’ve got zTime. Control your icon while maneuvering through obstacles that have a defined path telling of future enemy obstructions.
Recommendation: Fun little title with a small asking price.
