Need to know…

THE BEST VR APS

Travel, horror and sport… recreated in the comfort of your home

01

GOOGLE CARDBOARD

You can’t write about smartphone-based virtual reality and not talk about Google’s very own companion app to its Blue Peter- esque headset. Google Cardboard costs nothing, so don’t expect too many premium features, but do expect a tutorial on how to (quite literally) get your head around virtual reality, not to mention the ability to explore the world via Google Earth and Street View. Free; google.co.uk/get/cardboard

02

WAR OF WORDS VR

Arguably the best – and certainly the most poignant – VR app available for smartphone-based headsets right now, War Of Words VR is bound to bring a tear to those isolated eyes of yours. The app centres around the controversial poem The Kiss by Siegfried Sassoon, who fought on the Western Front during the First World War. Beautifully drawn animations recreate the harsh reality of life in the trenches. Free; bdh.net/work/war-of-words-vr

03

DREADHALLS

Let’s be honest – if there’s one genre (be it in interactive or passive entertainment) that’s perfect for VR, it’s horror. Dreadhalls, for the Samsung Gear VR – it’s also being developed on a grander scale for the Oculus Rift – sees you creeping through dungeons in first-person while something vile hunts you down. If you get scared, you can just take the headset off. £3.99; dreadhalls.com

04

ORBULUS

VR isn’t all about moving images; some of the best fun can be had by exploring 360-degree photos. Orbulus, for smartphone headsets, offers you an abundance from around the world, from mountaintop vistas to the interiors of trendy bars, fireworks displays to lakeside cafés. It’s a great way to check out potential holiday destinations before you commit to travelling there. Free; vrcraftworks.com/orbulus