Update: After publication we also added PokerStars VR to this list.
Just forked over $399 for an Oculus Quest? Congratulations! You’re ready to jump into a bunch of amazing VR experiences. But, unless you’ve already bought a lot of these on Rift with cross-buy support, you’re probably about to shell out even more for a bunch of games and apps.
We might be able to help you with that.
True, most of Quest’s more robust content has a price attached to it. But there are a few worthwhile apps that don’t require you to get your wallet out. Let’s run down those for you.
Games/Experiences
Bait!
Resolution Games’ VR fishing game first proved popular on Gear VR and has since amassed more than two million players around the world. The Quest version is the first to bring six degrees of freedom (6DOF) tracking to the game, making the hours of content more immersive than ever. Note that there are in-app purchases, though this is mainly for buying equipment that you can also get with in-game currency.
First Contact/First Steps
You’re likely already familiar with First Steps; it’s the VR showcase you first experience when you boot up Quest. It’s a great way to show Quest’s 6DOF tracking and the power of VR. But you can also get First Contact. This was essentially the original Oculus Rift’s answer to First Steps, with its own array of minigames to try out. Neither will take you very long to see through, but both are great for introducing others to VR.
Bogo
If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a virtual alien (who hasn’t?) then Bogo is for you. It’s like a Tamagotchi come to life, letting you feed and play with an adorable little critter. Again, this was a demo first intended to showcase the power of Quest to those that hadn’t yet tried it. It might be small, but it’s still worth checking out, especially if you want to introduce any kids to the magic of VR.
PokerStars VR
Even if you don’t like Poker, PokerStars VR is a fun social experience to sit around and hang out with people. It uses your Oculus Avatar as your character and the interactions are excellent. The Touch controller support is very appreciated and does a great job of affording interactivity. Plus, if you do like Poker, then it will likely end up being one of your go-to apps to unwind at the end of a day.
Social VR
Rec Room
You could just as easily file Rec Room under games and experiences, but it’s a social VR platform first and foremost. In fact, it’s probably the best place to meet with friends online. A massive array of games awaits you here, from dodgeball to coop questing. Better yet, you can create your own games and rooms to show your friends. Extensive cross-play support also means you can join friends on PC and PSVR.
VR Chat
VR Chat is probably one of VR’s best-known apps, giving players a huge degree of autonomy. Again, it’s a space to hang out and catch up with friends, but extensive avatar support allows you to embody anyone from Bart Simpson to Batman.
BigScreen
BigScreen is unique among social VR apps in that it’s centered around flatscreen content. Crucially, you can project this content onto a giant screen and share it with your friends. It’s a great way to, say, watch a movie with people across the globe, or give online gaming sessions a local multiplayer vibe. Different events keep giving you a reason to come back, too.
Video
YouTube
Over the past few years there’s been a huge influx of 360 video content. It might not be ‘true’ VR, but lots of it can be compelling. There’s no place better to try the format out for yourself than YouTube. With the largest collection of free 360 degree content, you can spend hours getting lost in other locations here.
