This week marks the arrival of one of the pivotal VR gaming experiences, EVE: Valkyrie, on HTC Vive. Valkyrie is an immersive, visual feast with intense combat that you shouldn’t miss out on, despite the high price tag. We have a couple soccer games that mix up the formula a bit as well with Header Goal adding a curious narrative to the arcade soccer genre and Final Goalie putting you on the defensive. And Google Earth VR released — for free — to essentially blow everyone’s collective minds.
You can watch some footage of some of our favorite recent Vive apps in the video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4CwMqYEwA4
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.
Header Goal VR: Being Axel Rix, from Codemodeon
Price: $8.99 (Currently Discounted)
This physics based sports game takes you through the journey of young soccer player Axel Rix. You complete story based levels with various challenges, all focused on heading the ball into different targets for higher scores.
Recommendation: This is almost directly based on Headmaster for PS VR. It’s uninspired, but not bad.
FIRMA, from Think Heavy Ltd.
Price: $12.99
In FIRMA you pilot a small craft across the Moon and Mars as a courier in this sci-fi future. You’ll deliver supplies through various territories and situations including attempting to land on a speeding train.
Recommendation: Fast paced arcade fun. Grab it.
Google Earth VR, from Google
Price: Free
You can fly around and explore the entire planet. Zoom out to space, go down to another continent, move the sun to change the time of day, and tower over any area on Earth as a giant.
Recommendation: This is one of the best VR applications ever made. Download this right now. More info.
Primitive Road, from MoMo Games
Price: $2.99
Primitive Road is an on-rails shooter that takes you through 9 levels with varying visual styles in each. You shoot objects along the way as you head toward the final stage.
Recommendation: Mellow experience with relaxing music at a low price. Try it out.
Archer Guardian VR: The Chapter Zero, from RedStorm Digital Studio
Price: $14.99 (Currently Discounted)
Raise your bow and arrow to defend your homeland as one of it’s last warriors. Use arrows with different elemental traits to conquer your foes.
Recommendation: One the most visually impress bow shooters. Grab it on sale.
Final Goalie: Football Simulator, from Ivanovich Games
Price: $8.49 (Currently Discounted)
Flipping the script on the typical VR soccer games, this time you’re the goalie. Swat, grab, and throw as you defend your domain through 300 challenges. There’s a simulator mode with realistic physics and an arcade mode that adds effects like giant gloves and slow-motion.
Recommendation: Simple concept with great execution and visuals. Don’t miss this.
Princess Kidnapper VR, from MAGIC ERA
Price: $6.99
In Princess Kidnapper VR, you play as a bully that’s taking his kidnapping to the next level and snatching up princesses. When the King’s army comes to retrieve her, you use your archery skills to fight them off.
Recommendation: Not a bad pickup if you don’t have an archery/wave shooter already.
Arena Master, from Dreamwalk Studios
Price: $13.49 (Currently Discounted)
Grab your weapons and stand your ground in this dark arena/survival game. Take on waves of grotesque enemies with a collection of weapons.
Recommendation: Keep an eye on it as it’s in early access, but pass for now.
Duck Force, from Andreas Aust
Price: $9.99
This flying third-person adventure lets you use your touch controller to guide the Duck Force as they complete challenges, attack enemies, cause destruction, and collect coins.
Recommendation: Controls take some getting use to and you could get a little disoriented with direct control, but the remote flight option helps. It’s a hard sell.
SVRVIVE: The Deus Helix, from SVRVIVE Studios
Price: $22.49 (Currently Discounted)
The Deus Helix is a visually impressive mystery adventure. Search for objects and solve puzzles as you attempt to survive these strange worlds.
Recommendation: Great production values, but it’s a bit monotonous and repetitive. We’ll have a full review soon.
EVE: Valkyrie, from CCP
Price: $59.99
A spin-off from the infamous EVE MMO, Valkyrie drops you right into the space conflict as an elite fighter pilot. Immerse yourself in a collection of training modules, survival conflicts, and more in this visually impressive space shooter, as well as some of the best competitive VR multiplayer around.
Recommendation: In our review, we stated “You won’t find anything as intense and immersive as EVE: Valkyrie anywhere else in the entire game industry”. So yea. Get on that.
Malazard: The Master of Magic, from Invictus Games Ltd.
Price: $6.79 (Currently Discounted)
In Malazard: The Master of Magic you use your motion controls to manipulate dark elements and cast magic to slay your foes. Utilize a collection of spells as you attempt to save the world before it collapses upon itself.
Recommendation: It’s just another wave shooter, but at least it swaps the guns for spells.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYD97_WieAQ
Overkill VR, from Starloop Studios
Price: $19.99
Overkill VR is a cover-based FPS with a deep, customizable arsenal. They’re the Faction, you’re the resistance. Lock, load, and fight for humanity’s future.
Recommendation: Cool customization options, but a bit shallow for the price. Wait for a sale.
VR Laser Harp, from Niki Odolphie
Price: $1.99
With original samples taken from an Elka Synthex, wave your touch controllers and play the laser harp. Includes adjustable octaves and scales to give you a full range of sound.
Recommendation: Pass unless you’re really into the laser harp.
Horizon of History, from Immersion
Price: $9.99
This educational VR experience takes on a journey through time, showing you Poland’s capital city in different key periods.
Recommendation: More involved and focused than your usual educational application. Give it a shot.
0 Day, from Zero Day Games
Price: $4.19 (Currently Discounted)
This low-poly shooter equips you with a jetpack and drops you into a town overrun by terrorists, infected city dwellers, and more. You also have an option to teleport while hunting your enemies down.
Recommendation: Currently in early access, but is quite fun already for the price.
Dante’s Forest, from zale15droid
Price: $3.99 (Currently Discounted)
Dante’s Forest sets you loose in a haunted forest where you must defend yourself against a wave of ghosts with your flashlight’s beam.
Recommendation: Pass. Pretty bland.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRrjYaGrLkE
Lantern, from Storm in a Teacup
Price: $6.99
In Lantern you control the wind as you guide a lantern through scenes, reviving the scenery with depths of color and bring lantern festivals to life.
Recommendation: Reminiscent of Flower on PS4, but perhaps a bit disorienting. Try at your own risk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlpbVWK_ayI
Neptune Flux, from Zoxide Games
Price: $11.99 (Currently Discounted)
This story-driven, open world adventure puts you in control of an underwater colonization specialist as she attempts to discover the cause of underwater surges that are disrupting her work. Use your dive pod to collect items, complete tasks, and unravel the deep-sea mystery.
Recommendation: Engaging, but extremely short. Gauge th value for yourself.
The Martian VR Experience, from The Third Floor Inc
Price: $19.99
Inspired by the film of the same name, The Martian puts you in control of astronaut Mark Watney as he attempts to survive Mars. You’ll also experience key scenes taken from the film.
Recommendation: It’s a 20-minute advertisement for the movie for $20 with little interactivity. Pass. Full review.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jokd75pnzi0
Keep Watching VR, from NinjaDuck24
Price: $2.69 (Currently Discounted)
This escape the room experience puts you in a dark dwelling with few tools at your disposal as you attempt to escape, but you have to keep watching your assailants that only move when your back is turned.
Recommendation: Impressive in its current early access form and at a low price. Give it a shot.
Qantas VR, from Start VR
Price: Free
This application is essentially branded 360-videos for the Qantas airline.
Recommendation: Just check their Youtube for the same content.
Counter Fight, from Tricol Co. Ltd.
Price: $7.19 (Currently Discounted)
In Counter Fight, you run the ramen shop and prepare various dishes for customers. You score points for each positively impacted customer, but you must beware the robber that randomly appears.
Recommendation: Lot’s of fun with occasionally spotty physics that will likely be fixed.
Super Island God VR, Empyrean Interactive
Price: $14.99 (Currently Discounted)
In this god simulator, use your divine presence to manage an island of people and creatures as they experience various seasons. Help them across six islands, each with their own challenges, and cast miracles as you go.
Recommendation: Definite purchase even in early access.
