VR, drones & action cams, tech toys
All the fun stuff you don’t actually need
Half-life: Alyx from £46 / Oculus, Vive, Valve Index
Announcing Alyx as not only a ‘midquel’ but a VR exclusive got some Half-life diehards riled up… but in classic Valve fashion, the end result is utterly brilliant. Alyx succeeds because its universe just happens to be a perfect fit for the format. It’s also larger and much more robust than most VR games, at a meaty 12-15 hours. And though it unfolds at a different kind of cadence to past Half-life games, it feels like a fully fledged solo campaign and a key part of the franchise narrative.
Stuff says ★★★★★
Valve’s beloved series returns… and offers one of the strongest arguments to date for VR gaming
Beat Saber from £23 / Oculus, Vive, PSVR
Gleefully swing your twin lightsabers to chop blocks that are flung your way to the thumping beat of a song. This game has reinvented the rhythm genre for VR and it’s glorious, especially on the cable-free Quest.
Stuff says ★★★★★
A mesmerising musical melee
Superhot VR from £19 / Oculus, Vive, PSVR
There’s something really cool about hiding behind a desk before blitzing your opponents with streams of bullets as if you were starring in your very own Matrix movie. A wonderfully action-packed title.
Stuff says ★★★★★
A superb 2-in-1 VR puzzler and shooter Astro Bot: Rescue Mission ★★★★★ £18 / PSVR
This 3D platformer serves up a heaped helping of Mario-esque magic. Blood & Truth ★★★★★ £20 / PSVR
A rollicking Psvr-exclusive action thriller with brilliant set-pieces and terrific gunplay.