During our last VR Game Roundup, there were several intriguing titles featured including the PlayStation VR version of Pistol Whip, a solid action game called Kongfusion, and more. This week’s VR Game Roundup is also filled with some interesting releases. There is a new game that is essentially Guitar Hero in VR, Shooty Skies Overdrive hits new systems, an escape room to test your wits, and there’s even a free fitness game to enjoy. Check out all the games you should keep an eye out below!
Rocking Hero
Kicking off this week’s VR Game Roundup is Rocking Hero. As the name suggests, this essentially allows you to play an unofficial version of Guitar Hero in virtual reality. It’s pretty neat as it can either be played with a real guitar controller from either Rock Band or Guitar Hero, or it uses hand or finger tracking to play. Currently, there are 10 songs and a song editor that allows players to create their own levels. It’s in Early Access, so expect to see additional songs and maybe even multiplayer in the future.
Fitness Potential
If you’re playing with a physical guitar, you’ll at least be carrying a controller and moving it around a good bit if you get into rocking out. Otherwise, it’s just a lot of finger movement that will get your palms sweaty and nothing else.
Developer and Publisher: Domuro Soft
Release Date: August 6, 2020
Compatible With: Valve Index, HTC Vive, and Oculus Rift
Price: $19.99 ($24.99)
Link: Steam
Shooty Skies Overdrive
Originally exclusive to Oculus platforms, Shooty Skies Overdrive is now on Steam and playable on several additional headsets. Still at just $9.99, the budget-priced title is a fun conversion of the hit mobile game to virtual reality. Players control an airplane in VR that they can use to shoot down enemies and dodge projectiles by moving the miniature plane around with their hand. They’ll use their other hand to grab power-ups that can give players an upper hand during the intense skirmishes.
Fitness Potential
Featuring multiple difficulties, Shooty Skies Overdrive will have you regularly moving around during its highest setting. It’s a solid arm workout on Overdrive mode, although more relaxed difficulties can be played while sitting. With plenty of unlockable pilots and side missions to play, you won’t run out of content any time soon.
Developer/Publisher: Mighty Games Group
Release Date: July 2, 2020
Compatible With: Valve Index and HTC Vive (Previously on Oculus Rift and Oculus Quest)
Price: $9.99
Link: Steam
Enhance
New to Steam is Enhance, which is a fitness title of a different sort for virutal reality. Rather than testing your physical stamina and helping you tone your muscles, Enhance focuses on testing your brain and helping hone your mental fitness. By playing daily mini games you can improve your memory, attention span, flexibility, problem solving skills, spatial orientation, information processing, and motor control.
Fitness Potential
As mentioned above, this has fitness potential but not in the typical way. You won’t be burning many calories while playing or working up a sweat, but mental health is just as important as staying in shape physically. So be sure to try it out if you haven’t been staying active mentally as much as you should be.
Developer and Publisher: Virtuleap
Release Date: August 6, 2020
Compatible With: Valve Index, HTC Vive, and Oculus Rift
Price: $6.79 ($7.99)
Link: Steam
Invasion: Virus Attack!
The game with the most fitness potential this week is Invasion: Virus Attack! for the Oculus Rift. This free title has players using two guns to wipe out oncoming viruses to the rhythm of music. It’s a bit on the nose due to current events but the price certainly can’t be beat.
Fitness Potential
This looks to be a solid all-around workout and with the lack of an entry fee, everyone should give it a go. Players will get a great leg workout as they squat below walls of viruses and will have to constantly move their body and arms in order to take out enemies as well. All parts of your body are getting a workout here.
Developer and Publisher: Virtual Reality Technologies LLC
Release Date: August 6, 2020
Compatible With: Oculus Rift
Price: Free
Link: Oculus Store
CHV: VR Trunk Escape
The cheapest paid title this week is CHV: VR Trunk Escape. This is based upon Defcon’s Car Hacking Village escape room that is done in real life each year. Just like the actual event, you get to choose a variety of items you take into a trunk. It’s then up to you to escape the van within 30 minutes. It’s a cool escape title with plenty of replayability and was solely made due to the real escape room not happening this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fitness Potential
There’s not much fitness potential here as it will be testing your problem solving skills more than anything. It does have room scale tracking, although it can also be played seated and doesn’t require much physical movement.
Developer and Publisher: Hacktop Studios
Release Date: August 6, 2020
Compatible With: Valve Index and HTC Vive
Price: $2.99
Link: Steam
Virtuoso
Ending this week’s VR Game Roundup is another free title called Virtuoso. Less of a game and more of a music creation app (so don’t expect it to play like Guitar Hero), it gives players six different instruments to use including a fully responsive drum pad. With synthesizer options, you can add plenty of effects and even lay vocals by using the Rift’s microphone. It’s ready for streaming and even can connect to music programs.
Fitness Potential
Don’t expect a huge workout making music. Sure, you can bang on drums manually to get an arm workout in, but generally you will be setting up loops that automatically play rather than tiring your arm workout. Again, you can theoretically get sweaty in here but the vast majority of players won’t be playing that way.
Developer and Publisher: Really Interactive
Release Date: August 6, 2020
Compatible With: Oculus Rift
Price: Free
Link: Oculus Store
