Mace and Grace
In the mood for VR murder, but need it to be a little bit cute at the same time? If such a thing is possible, Mace and Grace is the game to deliver it. You play as a giant protecting your kingdom from invading knights sent flying toward your location. With an assortment of medieval melee weapons like maces and spears, you can slash, swing, and dismember the attacks. You can even just use your bare hands or even a crossbow.
Fitness Potential
Mace and Grace is a very active VR experience, requiring constant swinging and movement to attack your targets and dodge projectiles. If you hit targets harder, you’ll receive more points, and you can kill two at a time for a “rage mode.” There is also an unlimited mode that will only end with your death, so you can really get in a workout swinging the weapons.
Developer/Publisher: PlatformaVR
Release Date: May 15, 2019
Compatible With: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Windows Mixed Reality
Price: $7.99 to $9.99
Link: Mace and Grace
Tuition
Think you’re going to college just to get an education? Tuition has other ideas, overrunning an abandoned university with zombies hell-bent on murdering you. You’ll only start your journey with a pistol, knife, and flashlight, but you’ll soon find other powerful weapons to take down the undead. The objects in your environment can also be used in a pinch.
Fitness Potential
Tuition features an ever-increasing difficult that will keep you fighting frantically. When using melee weapons such as swords, you’ll have to swing them violently in order to kill the zombies. The zombies come in waves to give you slight breathers, but you’ll find yourself overwhelmed if you don’t take them down quickly. If you find precious grenades, you can even hurl them at the horde for massive destruction.
Developer/Publisher: Clayton Stamper/CStamp Games
Release Date: May 15, 2019
Compatible With: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift
Price: $14.99
Link: Tuition
Rhythm Defender
You’re not going to let unidentified flying objects invade your planet, are you? If you’re still on the fence, what if you can destroy them while jamming to your favorite tunes? In Rhythm Defender, the Beat Saber formula is given a science-fiction twist. While you swing at the incoming enemies, you’ll also have to pay attention to attacks from the mothership, and you can import your own songs.
Fitness Potential
Rhythm Defender is a more active game than Beat Saber because you’ll need to dodge incoming attacks from the mothership. Additionally, in a pinch you can head-butt enemies and send the flying back from where they came. If you need a challenge, there are four difficult levels, and the player size can be scaled to accommodate most heights.
Developer/Publisher: GameplayStudio VR
Release Date: May 14, 2019
Compatible With: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Windows Mixed Reality
Price: $10.49 to $14.99
Link: Rhythm Defender
Under Water: Abyss Survival VR
What is the only thing scarier than being trapped underwater? How about being trapped underwater while battling mysterious creatures? In Under Water: Abyss Survival VR, you’re sent on a mission to fix a nuclear reactor but are soon greet by unexpected guests. You must simultaneously work on fixing the base as monsters race toward you. Of course, you’ll have some weapons to defend yourself.
Fitness Potential
Under Water: Abyss Survival uses the tracked motion controllers for your weapons. These include firearms that you aim in front of you, as was as melee weapons. You will even have shields that you must raise to avoid taking damage from closer enemies. These will often need to be used in unison, with one hand firing a gun while the other fends off eneimes with a sword.
Developer/Publisher: Visual Light
Release Date: May 14, 2019
Compatible With: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Windows Mixed Reality
Price: $2.99 to $4.99
Link: Under Water: Abyss Survival VR
Swords of Gargantua Open Beta
Swords of Gargantua promises to be one of the most intense sword combat games available in VR. The online game is currently holding an open beta test, which you can sign up for on the game’s website. Featuring 30 weapons and cross-platform four-person cooperative play, it could become your next obsession.
Fitness Potential
Swords of Gargantua aims for the most realistic sword combat in VR. You’ll need to raise your shield to block weapons or time your strikes to parry them. Slashing at unprotected points will deal damage, and you’ll have to keep your guard up to protect against magical projectile attacks, as well. With multiple enemies types, however, one strategy won’t always work.
Developer/Publisher: Yomuneco Inc./gumi Inc.
Release Date: To be announced, currently in open beta
Compatible With: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Windows Mixed Reality
Price: Free during open beta
