Apex Construct
This is a futuristic first-person, action and adventure, high tech bow and arrow shooter with puzzle elements. It’s set in a mechanized world and in nature, where you’ll fling arrows at different robotic bad guys so you won’t get taken over by their uprising.
Fitness Potential
Apex Construct is a room scale, seated, and standing VR game that will give you a light upper body workout. This is room scale so you’re free to move as far as you can without bumping into things and you can always squat or lunge as you shoot, which will benefit your lower body.
Do you like to play bow and arrow shooter games? Play: In Death and oVRshot.
Developer/Publisher: Fast Travel Games
Release Date: March 20, 2018
Compatible with: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Windows Mixed Reality, PSVR, with tracked controllers
Price: $29.99
Link: Apex Construct, Apex Construct (PSVR Feb. Release)
SiegeVR
Video Credit to: VR EXPLORER via YouTube
SiegeVR is a first-person bow and arrow shooter that takes place a neat looking medieval setting complete with castle, flaming torches, and armoured warriors. In this game, you’ll be competing against or alongside AI’s and other players as a single player, in multiplayer and co-op modes to see who the best archer is and who can keep their defences up.
Fitness Potential
Playing Gallery mode will have you aiming and shooting at targets for great hand-eye coordination practice and medium level upper body work if done quickly and for longer durations. In Siege mode, you’ll be teaming up with other archers against some medieval baddies on the ground with catapults and other weaponry.
If you like bow shooters or playing in multiplayer, play: Elven Assassin and Holopoint.
Developer/Publisher: Sixense Studios/Vive Studios
Release Date: March 20, 2018
Compatible with: HTC Vive, with tracked controllers
Price: $8.49 to $9.99
Link: SiegeVR
ARK Park
Based on the original PC game ARK: Survival Evolved, ARK Park is an open world, action and adventure game with shooting, collecting, and crafting elements to it. You’ll be transported to a futuristic world where dinosaurs that range from tiny monkey to T-Rex size rein supreme.
Fitness Potential
This is a first person, room scale, and multiplayer game where players will be fighting or collecting dinosaurs and eggs before they eat you. There are locations to shoot at dinosaurs and even some yeti’s like the old school game (um, in 2017). Players can sit or stand when they play, making it an accessible game that will utilize your upper body during spear attacks if you have power behind thrusts and shooting when you do it for a while. If that’s too easy for you add a weighted vest or gloves. Crouching to collect objects or dodging attacks will give you a lower body workout with extended play.
Want to fight dinosaurs and other monsters in VR to get some exercise? Play: Island 359 and DMD Mars Mission.
Developer/Publisher: Snail Games
Release Date: March 22, 2018
Compatible with: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Windows Mixed Reality, PSVR, with tracked controllers
Price: $39.00 Base Game, $47.99 Tek Edition, $49.99 PSVR
Lunar Stone: Origin of Blood
Video Credit to: vrgamecritic via YouTube
This is a first-person shooter and sword game with a story element to it, where you’ll be fighting monsters to the death. Players will have to fight evil and creepy looking bosses to combat their dark forces to protect life. Collect powerful moonstones, heal and fight alongside AI NPCC’s, and upgrade your weapons.
Fitness Potential
With 4 combat levels to shoot and slay monsters and bosses in, this is an upper body game that lends itself to lower body action when dodging or crouching in room scale (dodge control system doesn’t count for exercise, sorry). Holding up your arms to shoot guns and slicing using your sword with effort is going to give your upper body a workout.
Like a good shootout and swordplay in your VR games? Play: GORN and Zanshin.
Developer/Publisher: Gamepoch, Inc./GQJoy Co., Ltd; Zenox Studio/GQJoy Co., Ltd
Release Date: March 21, 2018
Compatible with: PSVR, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, with tracked controllers
Price: $9.99 to $14.99
Link: Lunar Stone: Origin of Blood, Lunar Stone: Origin of Blood (Vive/Oculus Release 2016)
Audio Beats
Video Credit to: vrgamecritic via YouTube
This is a VR rhythm game where you’ll be listening to electrifying music as orbs make their way towards the beat platform. Players hit the orbs accurately for points but also have to use both hands to do so. There are different types of notes to hit including single notes, long notes that you hold, and directional notes.
Fitness Potential
This is a single-player rhythm game where your upper body will get all the exercise when you hit the panels in front of you quickly. Play in 3 difficulty levels of Easy, Normal and Hard. This makes it a good entry level game that can turn up the intensity as you progress. Rhythm games like this are great for coordination and can be a great supplementary game for arm day.
Do you love to dance or hit music notes to the beat? Play: Holodance and VR Rhythm Action Seiya.
Developer/Publisher: Gamepoch, Inc./Famiku
Release Date: March 20, 2018
Compatible with: PSVR, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, with tracked controllers
Price: $9.99
Link: Audio Beats, Audio Beats (Vive/Oculus Release 2017)