10 Great Introductory VR Experiences
SO, YOU’VE BEEN looking into virtual reality and want to know how to get into it, what’s on the market, or what could entice you into this new dimension. Because VR is a fairly new technology compared to regular monitors, the market is nowhere near as deep as the traditional gaming one, of course. However, VR is used in other sectors of technology, too. As much as we love gaming, VR can be used for educational purposes, medical advancements, virtual tours, and experiences exploring fashion, and so on—it can be a great form of escapism. Of course, it’s exciting to head straight for your intended titles, but sometimes it pays to have a look around at other alternatives or new options, so we’ve come up with 10 apps and games that will give you a varied VR experience when starting out.
All of these apps and games can help new or existing VR users experience something new and worthwhile to improve their virtual-reality immersion. With the progression of VR support, developers are hopefully going to start creating more rich and immersive content to help grow the industry, because the technology is certainly there to handle such projects.
BEAT SABER
This one was bound to feature in our round-up. We know it’s been plastered everywhere, but BeatSaber is just so darn addictive. Rather like a futuristic electric twist on GuitarHero (and we mean no offense to the latter), BeatSaber is very simple in concept: Slice blocks in two following the arrows shown. But when paired with music and a lot of action, it combines a little fitness and entertainment to get your day started.
• $29.99, www.steam.com
HALF-LIFE: ALYX
This one is for the gamers out there. Valve took no shortcuts when it came to bringing the world of Half-Life into the VR limelight. It won VR Game of the Year in 2020, so it’s obviously something special. Its super-rich immersion makes up hopeful that more games of this caliber will emerge. Plenty of shooting, a very detailed environment, and loads of interaction—what’s not to like? This game certainly gets us excited.
• $59.99, www.steam.com
THE LAB
This free-to-play experience is a collection of fun mini-games from Valve—it sure has a good foothold in the VR market. It’s quite varied, with fun and playful aspects, and also involves some realistic physics, with vivid graphics. The games include
Longbow, Slingshot,Postcards,
and more. One of our favorite activities is Solar System, in which you get to jump into space and experience educational space fun. This app is a good introduction to different aspects of VR and is well worth checking out.
• $Free, www.steam.com
TILT BRUSH BY GOOGLE
In Tilt Brush, the world is your palette. This clever app enables you to paint in
3D, which if you haven’t tried before, is a very entertaining way to release your artistic side, without all the practical issues involved with more traditional artistic pursuits. You can paint with 3D brush strokes, light, and fire. Having your workspace float around you really takes you away from any external distractions, enabling you to completely focus on your art. It’s a great app for experimenting with your creativity.
• $19.99, www.steam.com
WEVR BLU
Ever wanted to plunge into the depths of the ocean without any of the many consequences you might encounter in the real world? Well, Wevr Blu is a great way to experience what it’s like down there. With this simulation-like viewing, you can get face to face with some of the planet’s most amazing species. You can watch a whale swim past you or even get right down to the depths and experience the alien fish that lurk down there. It’s an engrossing way to see the potential of VR and what it has to offer.
• $Free, www.microsoft.com
JOB SIMULATOR
This is a tongue-in-cheek way to get used to the physics of VR. Its vibrant cartoon-like world is one in which robots have replaced all human jobs, and you experience what it used to be like to work. Jobs include office worker, store clerk, mechanic, and gourmet chef. It’s great for getting to grips with the headset and controllers. It’s also perfect for any younger family members who want to try VR for fun or educational purposes.
• $19.99, www.steam.com
GOOGLE EARTH VR
Everyone knows what a great tool Google Earth is. It’s a perfect way to plan trips, explore your surroundings, or virtually travel to seek out new adventures anywhere in the world. Of course, if you pair this incredible app with virtual reality, you have a much more immersive experience. You can fly over any city you choose, travel to the highest peaks on Earth, and even venture out into space. Sounds good to us.
• $Free, www.steam.com
ARKIO: EARLY ACCESS SOFTWARE
An architect’s playground for VR, Arkio combines users to collaboratively create buildings and interiors, and sketch urban plans. You can start fresh or import 3D models. You also get to export your design to other 3D design tools, including Revit, as native Revit geometry. For creatives, this an entertaining way to bring your flare to a fun architectural tool. It’s a similar concept to SketchUp, but adds 3D to fully realize your designs virtually.
• $Free, www.steam.com
NVIDIA VR FUNHOUSE
Another great collection of mini-games to bring some fun to your VR immersion. It’s super-simple to play and a great throwback to all your favorite carnival games in one small package. Intuitive and graphically impressive, the games include a shooting gallery, balloon popper, flaming archery, basketball, and more. The games are quick and exciting, you complete them in order, and you can view your scores all at the end—a good group game to pass the VR headset around with.
• $Free, www.steam.com
WITHIN VR
For those who aren’t particularly big fans of playing videogames, another impressive use of virtual reality is watching 3D content. It adds a whole new level of enjoyment to content, helping you to feel as though you are genuinely there, experiencing scenarios for real. Within enables you to explore and participate in a vast library of stories, award-winning VR documentaries, animation, music videos, horror, and more. It’s a great hub for high-quality VR goodness.
• $Free, www.steam.com