While it might be slim pickings for Gear VR this week (as in, nothing very interesting), the Oculus Rift fights back with a vengeance. There are three new Rift games on Home this week and each is worth checking out in their own right, as well as the usual crop of new Steam titles.
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.
Plus — check out our list of the best Oculus Rift games and best Gear VR games for more suggestions!
Tilt Brush, from Google
Price: $29.99 (Rift)
One of the most popular, iconic, and transformative VR apps out there finally makes its official debut on the Oculus Rift. Tilt Brush is a 3D painting app that lets you create wondrous works of art that surround you.
Recommendation: It’s a must-buy for anyone with a creative bone in their body.
American Experience by Boulevard, from WoofbertVR
Price: Free (Gear)
VR is poised to make cultural and artistic education, such as visiting museums, more accessible than ever. With this app, you can visit some of the most iconic buildings in America.
Recommendation: You already know if this sounds interesting or not.
Landfall, from Force Field
Price: $29.99 (Rift)
Take the mechanics of a twin-stick shooter like Halo Spartan Assault (which these developers worked on), marry that with the top-down camera angle of AirMech Command, and throw in a little bit of cooperative and competitive tactical flavor, and that’s what you get with Landfall. It’s a ton of fun to play online.
Recommendation: Buy it for the multiplayer. The campaign offers 4+ solid hours of good times, but the online is what keeps you coming back. Our review.
Ultrawings, from Bit Planet Games
Price: $24.99 (Rift)
Remember Pilotwings on the SNES and N64? Ultrawings is that, but in VR, and with motion controller support. You’ll fly a variety of aircraft as you complete missions, fly through rings, and explore whimsical islands. The flight mechanics require you to actually reach out and touch buttons and knobs if you’re using the Touch controllers.
Recommendation: Lots of fun to be had for flight fans, just don’t go in expecting anything too realistic or deep. Our review.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZvcCSq3qFA
Nature Treks VR, from John Carline
Price: $8.49 (Rift, Currently Discounted)
Nature Treks is an experience that is making a transition into VR as it was originally intended. Choose from a collection of 8 peaceful environments with over 250 points of interest as you escape the real world. The game is designed to elicit specific emotional responses and states in each area through immersive audio and visuals.
Recommendation: It’s a peaceful and visually impressive escape but not much else.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouFZIgVq-eI
Seabed Prelude, from MythicOwl
Price: $6.39 (Rift, Currently Discounted)
Seabed Prelude introduces players to a post-apocalyptic underwater steampunk world where you discover the mystery behind the dwelling through a collection of mini-games and puzzles.
Recommendation: Very interesting idea with some low-production value Bioshock vibes.
Inception VR, from Inception
Price: Free To Play (Rift)
Inception VR is an application that takes you to a ton of exotic and exciting locales via 360-degree media. This is ultimately a collection of content from some of the best VR creatives.
Recommendation: A free collection of artistic 360-degree content. Grab it.
Stolen Steel VR, from Impromptu Games
Price: $7.99 (Currently Discounted)
Stolen Steel is a room scale combat game that recreates vicious one-on-one fencing. Steal yourself a blade and take on increasingly stronger AI opponents as your increase your bounty.
Recommendation: Great feeling combat that will hopefully evolve into a grander experience. Grab it.
MixCast VR Studio, from Blueprint Reality Inc.
Price: $9.99 (Rift)
MixCast VR Studio is an attempt to bring simple functionality while streaming or broadcasting your VR gameplay in mixed reality. Can be used with any application or game that has integrated with the MixCast VR SDK.
Recommendation: Developers will eventually be able to get this for free on the Unity store. Otherwise, only purchase if you really know what you’re getting.
Journey: Benjamin’s Adventures, from
Price: $3.99 (Rift)
Journey: Benjamin’s Adventures is a 3rd person jaunt where you’ll tackle a challenging combination of rhythm gameplay and puzzles. You control the character by hitting one of three drums through the game’s two chapters.
Recommendation: Casual gameplay with a cool input style. Catch this one on a sale.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yh13A4Rhh0
CYBER JOLT, from
Price: $0.89 (Currently Discounted)
CYBER JOLT is an 80s inspired endless flight title where you avoid the retro cyber structures and hit markers to raise your score.
Recommendation: Cheap shot at a high score your friends can’t top. Grab it.
Housekeeping VR, from Peach Pie Productions
Price: $10.49 (Currently Discounted)
There are a handful of VR escapist experiences where you can inhabit a virtual home, but what about the cleanup? Housekeeping VR is a physics-based action title where you demolish luxurious apartments with 70s futurist style.
Recommendation: Reckless arcade fun with the heart of classic casual games. Get it if you want some stress relief.
Neon Arena, from Axyos Games
Price: $5.99 (Currently Discounted)
Neon Arena is a top-down, twin-stick shooter with a futuristic aesthetic. Taking place in 2243, World War 3 has dividing the world into factions and every conflict is resolved within the arena.
Recommendation: Casual fun with VR as a loosely supplemental feature. Not a bad grab at the price.