During our last VR Game Roundup, BoxVR impressed with its downloadable content and a Baby Shark game released for kids. This week features a couple of virtual takes on actual sports, a few action games, and even a free educational title that will keep kids active.
Joe’s Fists
Kicking off our VR Game Roundup is this Chinese virtual reality game that is all about using your fists! Players have detachable fists (only in the game, sadly) that they fire at enemies by doing a punching motion. It’s a cool concept and players will use this mechanic to do everything from defeating enemies to navigating the virtual world by swinging around with it.
Fitness Potential
You’ll be doing a lot of punching but it doesn’t seem to be the fastest-pace experience, so don’t expect it to match rhythm games in terms of intensity. It will keep you regularly active even if this isn’t likely to become a workout favorite.
Developer/Publisher: Hangzhou Wookart Technology Co.,Ltd.
Release Date: April 27, 2020
Compatible With: Valve Index, HTC Vive, and Oculus Rift
Price: $5.59 to 6.99
Link: Joe’s Fist
Electronic Squash
Electronic Squash lives up to its name as it delivers a virtual reality take on the sport. However, this is far from a simulation as you can see in the video above. Instead, the wall will constantly come at the player, who is tasked with breaking it. There’s also a challenge mode that allows players to test their skills against others.
Fitness Potential
Players are only using one hand to swing around a racket, so you’ll get the swinging movements of a tennis game here. That’s a decent light workout, but it’s only using one arm and there isn’t all that much movement beyond swinging your arm around to be had.
Developer/Publisher: VRAIN Labs
Release Date: April 27, 2020
Compatible With: Valve Index and HTC Vive
Price: $5.59 to 7.99
Link: Electronic Squash
Witching Tower: Heroes
One of the most exciting titles in this week’s VR Game Roundup is Witching Tower: Heroes. This fantasy action game is filled with action as players take on a variety of baddies that range from undead soldiers to sorcerers. There are four different weapon types to choose from: melee weapons, archery, guns, and a drill that shreds apart skeletons.
Fitness Potential
It really will depend on what weapon type the player is using. Melee attacks has plenty of swinging around and will keep you active while guns and the drill has less movement. Archery is also always a good fitness choice in games as the movements to fire off arrows will burn calories. This appears to have a lot of variety, so this could be surprisingly capable for working out, especially if using a weight vest.
Developer/Publisher: Daily Magic Productions
Release Date: April 29, 2020
Compatible With: Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Windows Mixed Reality
Price: $29.99
Link: Witching Tower Heroes
Virus Popper
Fitness Potential
Virus Popper keeps players active throughout as viruses come from a wide degree of angles and movement is necessary to keep up with them. Some weapons are more active than other, particularly the melee ones that have players swinging at viruses, and it teaches a good lesson to children. While this isn’t a great game for adults, Virus Popper will help kids learn proper safety measures during these trying times and keep them active in short spurts.
Developer/Publisher: Starcade Arcade LLC
Release Date: April 30, 2020
Compatible With: Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Windows Mixed Reality
Price: Free
Link: Steam, Oculus Store
Slammer
Fitness Potential
Air hockey doesn’t require as much movement as table tennis, but it will keep one arm active. However, as it only focuses on one arm it won’t provide a great arm workout, and even if you did switch arms intermittently there are better ways to burn calories in VR. Slammer looks to be a fun recreational game, but it won’t be a workout favorite.
Developer/Publisher: Viewpoint Games
Release Date: April 23, 2020
Compatible With: Oculus Rift
Price: $9.99
Link: Oculus Store
The Burning Descent
Fitness Potential
The Burning Descent takes full advantage of player body movement. While you teleport to move, players will be able to crouch to make themselves a smaller target, lean out of cover to get off shots, and duck out of the way of enemy fire. While not the greatest workout, there is enough movement to separate it from traditional gaming.
Developer/Publisher: RyseUp Studios
Release Date: April 30, 2020
Compatible With: Valve Index, HTC Vive, and Oculus Rift
Price: $24.99
Link: The Burning Descent
