During our last VR Game Roundup, there were several interesting games highlighted including three highly-regarded VR rhythm games for Oculus Quest, a virtual boxing coach, and a Quest port of The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners. This week’s VR Game Roundup is a bit slower with less notable titles, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything worth spotlighting. Headlining this week is a new battle royale title for virtual reality, an intriguing physics-based shooter, and Star Shaman.
Time Hacker
Kicking off this week’s VR Game Roundup is Time Hacker, a unique puzzle game that has you stopping time in order to deal with a plethora of enemies. From pushing enemies off of a moving train to creating hilarious chain reactions, the only limit is your imagination as you attempt to save hostages and get rid of some baddies.
Fitness Potential
Unlike Superhot VR, players are fully stopping time in Time Hacker and it’s much less of a workout as a result. You’re still moving around the environment and setting up kills, but this is more of a test of your mind rather than your reflexes.
Developer and Publisher: Joy Way
Release Date: October 21, 2020
Compatible With: Oculus Rift, Valve Index, HTC Vive, and Windows Mixed Reality
Price: $14.99
Link: Oculus Store, Steam
Urban Basketball
The Oculus Rift is getting another basketball game this week and it’s a cheap one at less than $5. However, it doesn’t look to be the most polished title and the physics don’t seem amazing from the trailer. There is a fully interactive environment to check out, though, and the marketing focuses more on basketball-related mischief rather than actual hoops. It promises leaderboard play, so players will have a goal to aim for while playing.
Fitness Potential
While basketball is a great way to stay in shape in real life, it doesn’t always translate to being a great workout in virtual reality. Not only do players have less incentive to go for jump shots, but they’re also less active in general as they’re only doing shooting motions rather than running up and down a court. That’s not to say this can’t be a decent arm workout, but there are better ones that will keep your arms moving all the time and doing less repetitive motions.
Developer/Publisher: Digital Mosaik
Release Date: October 22, 2020
Compatible With: Oculus Rift
Price: $4.99
Link: Oculus Store
Population: One
The most notable release this week is a new battle royale title called Population: One. It promises live in-game events and a steady supply of fresh content over time. The main gimmick is that players have access to a vertical combat system that gives them more freedom in how they move around the map. This means you can build cover from above and use the high ground to your full advantage.
Fitness Potential
Since the game uses locomotion to move around, most of your active movement will come from aiming guns and performing actions. Mobility is a huge part of the game, so expect to climb objects in order to take full advantage of the map. This probably won’t be a necessary addition from a workout perspective, but it does look mighty fun.
Developer and Publisher: BigBox VR, Inc.
Release Date: October 22, 2020
Compatible With: Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Windows Mixed Reality, and Oculus Quest
Price: $29.99
Link: Oculus Store, Steam
Star Shaman
A great surprise this week is Star Shaman. The rhythm action title has players attempting to liberate planets using several different weapon types. Players will have to dodge out of the way of objects as they go through stages and boss fights will cap off play sessions in an exciting way.
Fitness Potential
Star Shaman looks to be the best fitness game of the week. Players will have to take full advantage of VR by moving around in order to duck out of the way of oncoming objects. As seen in the trailer, this looks to be a great total body workout as you are using your legs, core and arms.
Developer and Publisher: Ikimasho
Release Date: October 22, 2020
Compatible With: Oculus Quest, Valve Index, HTC Vive, and Oculus Rift
Price: $19.99
Link: Oculus Store, Steam
Hard Bullet
Rounding out this week’s VR Game Roundup is a physics-based shooter called Hard Bullet. With slow motion as an option, Hard Bullet is sure to let you live out your action flick fantasies as you do your best Max Payne and John Wick impersonation while playing. The game has an in-depth gore system in place, so expect a lot of body dismemberment and more. The game also features 30 guns and has two gameplay modes: arcade and tactical.
Fitness Potential
With plenty of combat and slow motion encouraging the player to move around, there is plenty of physical activity to be had in Hard Bullet. It might not top many lists of the best workouts, but it’s another solid shooter that fans of physics can add to their library and use for some light fitness.
Developer and Publisher: GexagonVR
Release Date: October 22, 2020
Compatible With: Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Windows Mixed Reality
Price: $17.99 ($19.99)
Link: Steam
That does it for this week’s VR Game Roundup. Let us know if you are picking up of the new releases like Star Shaman and if you have played any of the battle royale titles built for virtual reality!
