Skip to content

Seven Things To Do In VR With Your Family This Christmas

Seven Things To Do In VR With Your Family This Christmas

The festive season is upon us and, if you’re reading this page, there’s a good chance you’ve got a shiny new VR headset to entertain the relatives with this Christmas. But deciding what to actually do with your VR kit on Christmas day can be a challenge. Never fear; we’re here with seven recommendations for virtual activities for the entire family.

Have A VR Dance Party With Beat Saber

Let the kids channel their inner-Jedi and the elders embrace their only cardiovascular exercise for the year with the manic rhythm-based action of Beat Saber (Rift, Vive, PSVR). In this Star Wars-inspired app you wield two wannabe laser swords and slice your way through cubes that arrive to a beat. It’s instantly accessible for anyone and, better yet, comes equipped with a party mode ideal for passing the headset around.

Alternative Apps: If you want to keep the party going but your arms are getting tired then might we recommend Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes? It’s enormous cooperative fun and available on pretty much every headset.

Play Pictionary In Tilt Brush

Tilt Bursh Google VR

Okay, we’ll admit we stole this idea from Jimmy Fallon but we’ve played VR Pictionary with the folks before and it always go down well. Take your mandatory, unavoidable family game segment of the day into the third dimension by getting everyone to draw out words using Tilt Brush’s (Rift, Vive) virtual brush. Chances are you’ll still end up drawing things in 2D but the best among us will harness VR to raise the bar.

Alternative Apps: If you don’t want to go with Tilt Brush on Rift then Oculus Quill offers an artsy alternative, whereas PSVR users can try out CoolPaintrVR.

Distract The Kids With Astro Bot

Astro Bot PSVR

You’ve had your dinner, the mood is mellowing but the kids are still barreling round like a Mento in a bottle of coke. No one can put a stop to their despicable level of enthusiasm, but VR can at least contain it. Astro Bot Rescue Mission (PSVR) is the perfect way to keep them quiet; it’s a Mario-style third-person platformer with the controls they’re used to and minimal setup required. It’s also really, really good.

Alternative Apps: Both Rift and Vive have a good Astro Bot alternative in Moss, but if you want something that more than one kid can play then the free Playroom VR app on PSVR is a must.

Take Your Australian Auntie Back Home In Google Earth

For some reason, nothing drops jaws in VR like seeing the exact place you’re standing in… in VR. Google Earth’s (Rift, Vive) 3D renditions of major cities and towns around the world make it the perfect place to showcase the power of VR. If you want a hidden gem, might I suggest a virtual trip to Rochester Castle in the UK? I’m from there! You can tell everyone watching along that. They’ll be fascinated.

Alternative Apps: There’s no other virtual tourism app anywhere near on the level of Google Earth but, if you have a Daydream headset, you can also access Google Street View in VR and Wander on Oculus Go does the same.

Deliver Festive Frights In Face Your Fears

Face Your Fears Stranger Things

As the sun disappears from view and the winter chill sets in do away with the cheerful celebrations and replace them with some good ol’ fashioned jump scares. Face Your Fears (Gear, Go, Rift) is the perfect destination for some festive frights that will have everyone else dying with laughter as grandma screams and rips the Go from her eyes. That is until it’s your turn to face the scary clowns. No thanks.

Alternative Apps: VR is no stranger to horror but PSVR users can’t go wrong with Resident Evil 7 and The Exorcist: Legion VR is a great alternative for Vive and Windows users.

Cuddle Up With Henry For A Christmas Movie

Henry Birthday Elijah Wood VR Movie Oculus

Forget the Shrek marathon; there’s an assortment of all-new movies to see inside your VR headset. Henry (Rift, Go, Gear) is a Pixar-worthy animated short that delivers all the wholesome goodness you need out of a festive film. It might mean having to wait your turn but it’s a powerful little piece that will light up your eyes with wonder in a way that the green ogre just can’t manage any more.

Alternative Apps: It’s a bit more on the interactive side, but Gnomes and Goblins on Rift and Vive is another great story for Christmas day. Either that or check out Crow: The Legend, which includes the voices of John Legend and Oprah Winfrey.

Challenge Your Dad To Master Arca’s Path

Arca's Path VR

A lot of VR games out there are initially quite hard to grasp. Arca’s Path (Rift, Vive, PSVR, Go, Gear, Windows) is designed to be the exact opposite; it’s essentially a VR marble maze where you use just your head (no controllers required). The measured pace serves as a great introduction but it won’t be long before you get addicted to navigating the more challenging paths.

Alternative Apps: The aforementioned Astro Bot is another easy jumping-on point for VR.

UploadVR Member Takes

Weekly Newsletter

See More