Beat Saber (Full Release)
It’s odd considering how enormously successful Beat Saber has been thus far, but the game just saw its full release this week! Taking the rhythm genre and adding in a dose of lightsaber-style combat, it’s a match made in heaven. A bumping soundtrack and several difficulty levels make it ideal for all VR users. The full release adds in a level editor, new scoring system, “One Saber” Levels, and different bomb mechanics.
Fitness Potential
Beat Saber is the quintessential VR fitness game for a reason. As blocks move toward you, you must swing your saber in order to eliminate them. This is done in time to music, and as the difficulty goes up, it will get much faster. You’ll be able to work up a sweat in just a few minutes, with the potential for much more intense workouts during extended play.
Developer/Publisher: Beat Games
Release Date: May 21, 2019
Compatible With: Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, HTC Vive, Windows Mixed Reality, PlayStation VR
Price: $29.99
Link: Beat Saber
BoxVR (Full Release)
The second immensely popular VR fitness game to officially release this week is BoxVR. The boxing simulation is focused on your workout rather than crazy characters or special abilities. You can choose from a variety of songs while you punch and train, and real fitness experts help guide you through your workout. For the full release, 15 additional workouts have been added, and you can experience all workouts in multiplayer.
Fitness Potential
Built specifically for fitness, BoxVR offers an intense and efficient VR workout. You can choose a workout as short as three minutes if you’re just starting out. For veterans, there are workouts that last more than 20 minutes, and the game tracks the calories you’ve burned so you can see exactly how much progress you’ve made toward your goal.
Developer/Publisher: FitXR
Release Date: May 21, 2019
Compatible With: Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, HTC Vive, Windows Mixed Reality, PlayStation VR
Price: $29.99
Link: BoxVR
Wave Circles
Cut from the same cloth as Beat Saber but with an emphasis on creativity, Wave Circles is a fresh take on the rhythm genre. Projectiles will fly toward you as in other rhythm games, but alongside them as special waves that you must watch with your controllers. You’re given the freedom to create your own “beat maps” and then share them with friends. They’ll help determine which among you has the most rhythm.
Fitness Potential
Wave Circles encourages you to move your full body during your VR workout. You’ll want to wiggle your hips, nod your head, and flail your limbs as you lay down your beat map. With practice, you can turn into a competitive dancer and pull off some moves you never thought were possible. Or you might just look silly. The choice is yours.
Developer/Publisher: PlatformaVR
Release Date: May 23, 2019
Compatible With: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Windows Mixed Reality
Price: TBD
Link: Wave Circles
Dance Central VR
Harmonix has been relatively quiet recently, but this week it launched one of its most ambitious games ever. Dance Central VR takes the tight dancing gameplay of the original Kinect games and turns it into a VR experience, complete with Oculus Quest support. It comes with cross-play support for the Quest and the Rift, and 32 songs on its soundtrack.
Fitness Potential
Dancing remains one of the most engaging activities to do in VR. While using tracked motion controllers and the headset, your every move will be tracked. You’ll need to complete dance moves accurately and on time in order to get the best score. You can bring your friends in on the fun, and use the multiplayer lounge to enjoy a dance battle.
Developer/Publisher: Harmonix/Oculus
Release Date: May 21, 2019
Compatible With: Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest
Price: $29.99
Link: Dance Central VR
Oculus Quest
The Oculus Quest is now available! The standalone VR headset doesn’t need wires or a PC, so you can enjoy games nearly anywhere. Early launch titles for the Quest include Beat Saber, Superhot VR, Creed: Rise to Glory, and BoxVR. The library on looks to improve over time, and a two-hour battery life means you can spend all the time you need working out.
Fitness Potential
The Oculus Quest provides a VR fitness experience like no other headset before it. Without wires to worry about, you can twist and turn without risking tangling yourself up. The cameras’ design means you don’t need an external sensor viewing you. And of course, not needing a PC means you can even go outside to enjoy your VR workout, weather permitting.
Developer/Publisher: Oculus
Release Date: May 21, 2019
Price: $400 to $500
Link: Oculus Quest
