During our last VR Game Roundup, there were several interesting games highlighted including Star Wars Squadrons, The Walking Dead Onslaught, and Until You Fall arriving on additional platforms. This week’s VR Game Roundup doesn’t feature many notable titles but has some interesting ones coming under the radar. Headlining this week is the unique virtual reality shooter Blaston, Falcon Age comes to PC, and a VR kart racer called Dash Dash World.
Dash Dash World
Kicking off this week’s VR Game Roundup is an original kart racer called Dash Dash World. It features heavily customizable characters, so you can show off your racer online and a single-player story mode so you can learn all of the nuances to the game’s tracks. Up to eight people can play online and additional tracks and weapons will be added in the future.
Fitness Potential
What really makes Dash Dash World unique is that it takes full advantage of being in virtual reality. Rather than just pressing a button to unleash an item behind them like in Mario Kart, players actually use their hands to aim attacks. It creates a more active experience and one that winds up being a bit more skill-based as a result. However, this is still a game where you are mostly staying still and steering slightly, so don’t expect this to be a phenomenal arm workout. Early reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, so this looks like a winner for arcade racing fans.
Developer and Publisher: Motionx Studio
Release Date: October 8, 2020
Compatible With: Oculus Rift and Oculus Quest (also coming to Steam and PlayStation VR)
Price: $24.99
Link: Oculus Store
Blaston
New on Oculus Quest is Blaston, a unique bullet hell shooter that has the bullets moving in slow motion. While that would normally make a traditional bullet hell shooter too easy, that isn’t the case here due to it being in virtual reality. You will have to literally move out of the way as you dodge and duck under bullets. It’s a competitive title, so you will get to use weapons to take out other players online.
Fitness Potential
Blaston is the top fitness game releasing this week. Due to its reliance on competitive play and movement, this should give you a solid full-body workout as you try to eliminate your foe and outmaneuver them. With plenty of replayability and lots of depth to uncover, this is a title you will be able to spend countless hours playing as long as the online competitive scene stays lively.
Developer/Publisher: Resolution Games
Release Date: October 8, 2020
Compatible With: Oculus Quest
Price: $9.99
Link: Oculus Store
Mysterica
A relatively unknown title that looks like it has some potential is Mysterica. This heavily stylized virtual reality action title looks like Tron and has players facing one another in a duel. Players can use their sword to attack and cast magic through arm motions. There’s also an offline mode that is an endless endurance mode for solo play.
Fitness Potential
Similar to Blaston, Mysterica could be a really great arm workout title as long as it finds an audience or you can convince a buddy to pick it up and play with you. Even if it doesn’t have a lively online community, the solo endurance mode seems prime for working out due to its endless nature.
Developer and Publisher: gelare1029745
Release Date: October 9, 2020
Compatible With: Valve Index and HTC Vive
Price: $7.19 ($9.99)
Link: Steam
Panoptic
One of the most unique virtual reality titles to come out is Panoptic, an asymmetrical local multiplayer title that has the headset-wearing Overseer trying to find the sabotaging Challenger among a sea of inhabitants. This multiplayer title has received rave reviews due to how original it is and there are multiple levels to experience in this one-on-one title, plus a free demo to check it out.
Fitness Potential
While a very cool multiplayer experience, Panoptic is not much of an exercise game. The non-VR player is using traditional controls to move their character, while the Overseer is simply standing around and searching while aiming their laser via head movement.
Developer and Publisher: Team Panoptes
Release Date: October 8, 2020
Compatible With: Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Windows Mixed Reality
Price: $10.19 ($16.99)
Link: Steam
Falcon Age
Originally released on PlayStation 4 and PSVR, Falcon Age is now available on PC and supports a bevy of additional headsets. The first-person adventure game has the player teaming up with an adorable baby falcon as they explore a planet and face off against evil machines. While VR is optional here, it is recommended as the combat feels more rewarding and fun to experience.
Fitness Potential
Falcon Age won’t top any workout lists, but it will have you using your arms some as you face off against the robotic foes. Combat isn’t always frequent and it simply isn’t designed around exercising, but this is a solid adventure title that is worth checking out for fans of the genre.
Developer and Publisher: Outerloop Games
Release Date: October 8, 2020
Compatible With: Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Windows Mixed Reality (Previously available on PlayStation VR)
Price: $14.99 ($19.99)
Link: Steam
That does it for this week’s VR Game Roundup. Let us know if you are picking up Blaston and what you think about any of these new releases in the comment section below!
