We had high hopes for at least one exciting new release this week but, sadly, even Insomniac Games’ Feral Rites is a bit of a letdown in our book. Once again there’s plenty of new content for Rift and Gear, but none of it looks especially compelling this time around.
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 best Rift games and best Gear VR games— both of which are updated every few months with the latest and greatest options.
Feral Rites, from Insomniac Games
Price: $49.99 (Rift)
Insomniac’s second VR effort is a third-person brawler in which you explore a tropical island, beating up monsters and occasionally turning into one yourself as you seek vengeance for the death of your father.
Recommendation: Sadly, Feral Rites is no Edge of Nowhere.
Free Flighter, from FancyTechVR
Price: Free (Gear)
Navigate canyons and destroy enemy ships in this free new experience. It looks like a pretty simple take on a genre that’s been put into VR many times now. It may be free, but games like Anshar Wars 2 are better options.
Recommendation: Nothing you haven’t already played on Gear VR.
One-Man VurgeR, from Dazzle
Price: Free (Gear)
Juggle cooking for demanding customers before they get too grumpy. This is a take on a classic genre that we haven’t really seen done in VR just yet, and it looks like it’s been done pretty well. Better yet, it’s completely free.
Recommendation: Serve this one up (sorry).
Street Champ, from Zynk Software Srl
Price: $1.99 (Gear)
You’re essentially Frogger; you have to get across the road without being hit by a car. Why someone thought that might make a fun VR experience is a bit beyond us but it’ll give your heart a workout for sure.
Recommendation: Pass.
UNVR, from Triggar VR
Price: Free (Gear)
We usually skip over new 360 degree experiences but this is an important one to point out. It collects the United Nations’ series of a short VR films that bring attention to some alarming world issues. Essential viewing.
Recommendation: You should definitely be giving this a try.
Return Zero VR, from Ground Control Studios
Price: $5.99 (Rift)
This is a rather trippy-looking tunnel racer that takes inspiration from the likes of Tron. Shoot down procedural tracks while avoiding some gates that will slow you down and hitting others that will speed you up.
Recommendation: The developer’s given it their all, but it’s not the most exciting thing to do with your headset.
Don’t Let Go, from Skydome Studios
Price: $2.99 (Rift)
A VR scare simulator. You hold a keyboard in both the real and virtual world while things shock and scare you in an attempt to make you let go. It does feel like this concept could be taken much further with position-tracked controls but, alas, no such support.
Recommendation: Cheap, but passable.
Reverence: The Ultimate Combat Experience, from Mantis Studio
Price: $14.99 (Rift)
This initially looked quite ambitious before you realize it’s a gamepad title. It’s a multiplayer medieval combat game played in both first and third person in which you’re apparently given complete control of your limbs. It’s in Early Access and VR isn’t required.
Recommendation: This one is a skip.
https://youtu.be/CZ9w87O6bdQ
Ballanced, from Brian King
Price: $4.99 (Rift)
First on Oculus Home, now on Steam, a ball balancing game in which you’ll have to guide a sphere through a series of treacherous courses. There are 24 different levels to navigate, which should prove quite tricky thanks to a mounting difficulty scale.
Recommendation: Hardly groundbreaking, but might be fun.
VRNinja, from OutOfBounds Software Solutions Inc
Price: $9.99 (Rift)
Train your reflexes with this simple but fun VR dodging game. Step into one of three immersive environments and duck and weave between incoming attacks. The game doesn’t require any kind of controller.
Recommendation: Forgettable fun, but priced a little too high.
ThrounnelVR, from Sunnyview
Price: $2.99 (Rift)
Tetris from up top. You stand looking at a wall far down a corridor from you. Blocks fall towards the surface and you have to correctly position them so as to clear out waves. Played with a keyboard and mouse, oddly enough.
Recommendation: Novel, but throwaway.
Thick Air, from People Gotta Play
Price: $9.99 (Rift)
What do the robots do when humanity is gone and Earth falls silent? Race of course. Thick air is sort of like a drone racing game where you’ll control miniature aircraft and speed them along open tracks. The game’s in Early Access right now and VR support feels like it might be quite sickly.
Recommendation: Only for those with a strong stomach.
Planet Smasher, from George Gilbert
Price: $3.99 (Rift)
This is a bit of a confusing puzzle game which sees you collide earths together. Eventually you make some sort of weird super planet.
Recommendation: Not entirely sure why this one is in VR, looks a bit unfinished.
