There may not be any major new AAA releases for the HTC Vive this week, but if it’s the only VR headset you’ve got then there are plenty of good things worth picking up. AirMech Command is one of VR’s best strategy games and it finally makes its way over to the Vive, as well as the suspenseful horror thriller, Dreadhalls.
In the meantime, if you missed last week, you can see those new releases here. And don’t forget that UploadVR has a Steam community group, complete with a curated list of recommendations so that you don’t have to waste any money finding out what’s good in the world of VR.
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.
New HTC Vive Releases on Steam
Jupiteration VR, from Bartoš Studio
Price: $3.99 (Currently Discounted)
Jupiteration is a shooter where you take on the role of a stranded space craft pilot that has to shoot his way through enemy UFOs from small enemies to large boss ships.
Recommendation: Maybe grab this wave shooter on a big sale if you’re bored. Otherwise, we’d just pass.
SoundStage, from Hard Light Labs
Price: $9.99
SoundStage is a music sandbox that can serve as your room scale audio canvas. From drums to synthesizers, this app gives you a ton of ways to create the sound you desire as a professional DJ or just a hobbyist.
Recommendation: Very robust program. If music is your thing, grab it.
Discovery Space 2, from Discovering VR
Price: $9.99
Discovering Space 2 is a visually engaging exploration experience that simply wants you to take in all of the sights space offers. You can either follow a tour or take control of a vessel so that you can explore the solar system.
Recommendation: Of the space exploration titles released this week for roughly the same price, this one really makes you feel like a pilot exploring the solar system.
Paper Toss VR, from zhangwenlu
Price: $0.99
Paper Toss VR brings a timeless working-on-the-clock-but-not-actually-working pastime to virtual spaces as you attempt to drop some rolls of paper into a small trash can.
Recommendation: Simple premise with a low price and it’s actually pretty fun. Get this one.
Rota Craze, from GS
Price: $2.99
Rota Craze is some out of this world casual fun where players must think outside of the box to complete what’s essentially a new age match game. Figure out how to get by the barriers, time your shot, and look out for extra points to earn while your target rotates.
Recommendation: Neat idea, but production values are quite poor. Worth it if you love matching puzzle games, otherwise pass.
Dreadhalls, from White Door Games
Price: $8.49 (Currently Discounted)
In Dreadhalls, you’re trapped inside of a massive dungeon you must explore to escape. You’ll also have to survive the creatures that seek you out and the hazardous environment. The levels are procedurally generated so you’ll never know what’s around the corner.
Recommendation: A solid fright-fest from that’s absolutely worth your cash.
Rubber Ball VR, from Viraug
Price: Free To Play
Rubber Ball VR gives you a virtual space where you can practice your trick shots so you can absolutely ‘wow’ people at parties. There are multiple levels with different layouts and obstacles, so think carefully as you attempt each shot.
Recommendation: There are 3 ball types and 50 maps to bolster this fun experience all for free. Nothing to lose grabbing it.
SHOW MUST GO ON, from NiVision
Price: $7.49 (Currently Discounted)
This exciting jam of an experience is a rhythm game where you fill the stage with colors and lights as you successfully play to the music. You’ll also inspire the virtual dancers to start moving as well.
Recommendation: Only includes 8 songs currently, but it’s a fun game. Keep an eye on it as it grows throughout Early Access and maybe wait on a bigger sale.
GIPHY Museum of GIF Art, from OONI
Price: Free
GIFs continue to grow as an art form in today’s highly social digital age and this museum is the first ever to bring the format into an organized setting such as this. There’s art by 20 different artists on display. Explore to your heart’s content.
Recommendation: Free art? Support it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyRlebtV7Jg
All Alone: VR, from 8bit
Price: $3.19 (Currently Discounted)
In All Alone, you’re…all alone in a forgotten town and you have to find your way out. All you have is a flashlight and a few voices to follow. Choose wisely.
Recommendation: Kind of an iteration on the escape the room experience, but we’d probably pass on this one. Tired genre.
AirMech Command, from Carbon Games
Price: $19.99 (Currently Discounted)
AirMech Command aims to provide players with a definitive action/RTS experience on virtual platforms with tactical room scale control and up close flight controls if you need to jump into the fight yourself. The game includes a solo, co-op, and pvp mode.
Recommendation: We reviewed this game on UploadVR previously, giving it an 8 out of 10. Definitely worth your purchase.
Exterminator, from PRIME WORKS Co., Ltd.
Price: $9.99 (Currently Discounted)
Exterminator drops you into the world of a Japanese game show where you punch a mouse that comes out of a hole in order to score points. This arcade experience will give you quite a workout.
Recommendation: Pass on this one. You’ll find similar experiences with a bit more depth around this price or cheaper.
Pinball Inside: A VR Arcade Game, from Reality Reflection
Price: Free
Pinball Inside wants to give you the timeless classic experience the pinball machine provides with crisp visuals and an awesome machine.
Recommendation: Free and solid. Give it a go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbiJMPCsPaw
Spacetours VR – Ep1 The Solar System, from Vibrant Visuals – Christian Klötzel
Price: $9.59 (Currently Discounted)
Spacetours VR lives up to its name, taking you around our solar system and giving you a visually stimulating look at outer space. Asteroids and satellites will pass by as you take in the sights and sounds of the greatest mystery our solar system holds.
Recommendation: Pricey but certainly beautiful. If you’re enamored with space, it’s worth checking out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A53tDzvWiwI
Freedom Locomotion VR, from Huge Robot
Price: Free
Freedom Locomotion is essentially a movement tech demo with visually diverse and impactful settings for you to walk, jog, run, climb, and crawl across. The system gives you many choices for how you traverse, but isn’t really a proper “game” in the traditional sense.
Recommendation: Try it out for sure. Your feedback could be instrumental for VR devs solving many of the concerns with VR locomotion.
Plevr, from Fervr Labs
Price: $7.99 (Currently Discounted)
Plevr is like the Matrix stockroom scene for your movies, TV shows, and music. Get comfortable and use this application to reach out and touch your media content as you decide what you want to watch or listen to in your private VR space.
Recommendation: Steep price for something that’s just an integrated local browser. It’s definitely cool, though. Something like this will likely be standard in the future.
NIGHTSTAR, from SOLIDMESH
Price: $8.99 (Currently Discounted)
In NIGHTSTAR‘s world, you’ve been selected from millions of gamers to pilot the world’s most powerful weapon and defend your planet. Pilot the ship, dodge obstacles, and shoot down enemies through 8 levels of intense action.
Recommendation: It’s 3rd person but still takes advantage of the virtual space well. Grab it.
Mountain Mind, from Nebuch, Arligan
Price: $9.99
Mountain Mind turns the “stoner rock music” and abstract weirdness up to 11 and has you headbanging like never before. When you play, just be mindful of your actual surroundings as well.
Recommendation: An incredibly niche experience. No matter what we say, you’ll get it if you want it and you won’t if you have zero interest.
LightStrike, from Groove Jones LLC
Price: $3.99
Lightstrike drops you into a Tron-like VR arena where you stand on a floating pad while using a shield to defend yourself or a disc to inflict damage.
Recommendation: A cool spin on Tron-influenced VR experiences. Give this one a shot while you keep waiting for Sparc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMlos-EAAwU
Dark Legion VR, from Ice World
Price: $16.99 (Currently Discounted)
Dark Legion VR is a first-person shooter with a science fiction environment that’s open to free exploration via teleportation (with full locomotion coming later). There’s advanced level design and structure, realistic weapon physics, and more in this robust VR shooter.
Recommendation: Very robust sci-fi shooter. Definitely play this one if you like shooting aliens.
Violet’s Dream VR, from Chinese Animation
Price: $4.24 (Currently Discounted)
Violet’s Dream is an action game with highly intense locomotion and shooting mechanics. Also includes some quick time events to keep things interesting as you traverse the post-apocalyptic world.
Recommendation: Unique concepts here, but it’s a pass for now.
Vektron Revenge, from Ludovic Texier
Price: $8.99 (Currently Discounted)
Vektron Revenge is a call back to the old school shooter with an all new VR flavor. The constantly changing playfield morphs into set ups that emulate different types of classic shooters. Destroy your geometric enemies and last as long as you can.
Recommendation: An arcade experience sure to make older players reminisce. Grab it.
New HTC Vive Releases on Viveport
USAA Immersive Experience, from USAA
Price: Free
This experience is a means for USAA to learn how they can use virtual reality to improve their connections with their clients. There’s a virtual bank vault, VR assistant, and military simulator for you to experience.
Recommendation: A little unclear who the targeted end user is here, but give it a look since it’s free.
Typography Insight, from BRDY Studios, LLC
Price: $1.99
Experiment with a collection of typefaces and layouts in a 3D space, immersing yourself in a typography playground. There are even historic typefaces to play around with. This VR version is based on an app that’s a favorite across industries.
Recommendation: Really neat visualization tool for designers.
Unknown Pharaoh, from 4 Fun Studio Inc.
Price: $5.99
In Unkown Pharaoh, you take on the role of an archaeologist while he explores an ancient pyramid. You’ll journey through various chambers, solve puzzles, and seek out artifacts while avoiding spiders, scorpions, mummies, and more.
Recommendation: If you need another tense exploration experience added to your collection, take a look at this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUAUtPqk_eg
Boofle’s Home, from Eden Agency
Price: Free
Boofle’s Home is a neat, casual sim where you explore a space, interact with Boofle himself, get into other activities like watering flowers, and catching butterflies, and just have a charming good time.
Recommendation: A free and relaxing experience. Grab it.
