Boiling Steel
Every ultra-rich technocrat believes they can create an ideal society free of government oversight. Somehow, that has never happened, and Boiling Steel shows what can go wrong. Set on a colony planet with technology that lets people teleport and transfer consciousness, all is not right in Boiling Steel. As a new arrival, you control a robotic shell from orbit and fight to understand what went so wrong. With upgradeable weapons and randomly-generated areas, you’ll have plenty of variety.
Fitness Potential
Boiling Steel is a first-person VR shooter that gives you full control over your limbs. You’ll use the tracked motion controllers to take out the enemies charging at you. Some of these use beams instead of projectiles, so you will swing your arms back and forth in order to hit numerous enemies at once. The enemies can approach from several directions, so you will have to be quick with your reactions.
Developer/Publisher: MIROWIN
Release Date: December 5, 2019
Compatible With: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality
Price: $17.99 to $19.99
Link: Boiling Steel
YUR Desktop App
The YUR fitness tracker is now available as a desktop application via Steam! Using YUR’s tools implemented into your existing VR games, you can track your calories burnt and discover which of your games offers the best workout. YUR can be used for games that aren’t explicitly for fitness, too, so you don’t have to be stuck playing the same handful of titles. In the future, the app will be getting a leveling system, as well, and it’s already available on Oculus Quest through Sidequest. Mobile is even supported, and the tracking tools boast around 90 percent accuracy so you can better track your total fitness goals.
Developer/Publisher: YUR
Release Date: December 4, 2019
Compatible With: Oculus Quest, HTC Vive, Valve Index
Price: Free
Link: YUR
VR Party Pack
Want to throw the ultimate party with your friends but can’t afford all the bells and whistles? VR Party Pack is here to help with an assortment of mini-games like beer pong, bowling, ping pong, and basketball. You only need one VR headset to play it, and additional games are coming in the future. These include mountain climbing game and a home run derby. Don’t you ever go mountain climbing during the parties you host? Coward!
Fitness Potential
The VR games included in the VR Party Pack are active across the board. You’ll mimic shooting basketballs for the free throw game, throwing balls to bowl, swinging paddles to play ping pong, and slash with swords in the ninja game. All of this is without needing to have the room or equipment necessary to actually do any of these activities in the real world. At only a few dollars, it’s a lot more economical!
Developer/Publisher: Weston Bell-Geddes/Silver Side Studios
Release Date: December 4, 2019
Compatible With: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Windows Mixed Reality
Price: $4.24 to $4.99
Link: VR Party Pack
RollerPlay
If you’re looking for a different take on the rhythm VR genre, then RollerPlay is for you. The runner has you on a set of roller blades, switching between lanes and dodging obstacles to the beat. The game includes a level editor and you can stream all content without worrying about copyright violations for music. It also includes support for LIV mixed reality, and you can even add your own music to custom levels.
Fitness Potential
There are a few different ways to play RollerPlay, including an option designed specifically for exercise. It includes full body tracking, so you can really move around as you’re making your way through a level and avoiding hazards. Using custom levels, you can have an essentially endless stream of levels to play and get your latest workout craze going.
Developer/Publisher: YouVisio
Release Date: December 3, 2019
Compatible With: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality
Price: $9.99
Link: RollerPlay
Arizona Sunshine (Oculus Quest)
One of the most acclaimed VR shooters of all time has finally arrived on Oculus Quest. Arizona Sunshine finds the calm desert in chaos after zombies attack, and it’s your job to cut them down to size. You’ll do this with dozens of different weapons, and you can bring friends along in the campaign and Horde modes.
Fitness Potential
Arizona Sunshine is perfect for VR fitness, because you’ll nearly always have your hands up to blast at the enemies in front of you. You’ll have to reload your weapons in a realistic manner, and you’ll have to handle them efficiently so zombies can’t swarm you. With dual-wielding, you can be strategic about reloading, too.
Developer/Publisher: Vertigo Games
Release Date: December 5, 2019
Compatible With: Oculus Quest
Price: $39.99
Link: Arizona Sunshine (Quest)
