Black Hat Cooperative is great for players who have another person handy who would be willing to switch in and out of VR, though the many, many deaths and failures you will experience can cause frustration, there is nonetheless a sense of camaraderie and joy to be found in Black Hat Cooperative that is well worth exploring.

Magic Flight Academy needs to offer an awful lot more for the single-player experience for the price. What exists on Steam is exhilarating and reasonably fun, but simply isn’t worth the price of admission, especially when you consider the high-quality VR titles available on Steam for the same or lower price that offer much more in way of content.

Cygnus Defense Alpha is a fun little experience that’s certainly enjoyable for the couple of hours the 15 levels last. A neat little time waster it might be but it’s a shame there’s not a lot more on offer as the idea behind the videogame is sound. This is one of those titles that make for a good introductory purchase for Oculus Go because its cheap, but you’ll soon find yourself wanting something with a little more depth.

As a normal piece of VR content HoloLAB Champions is short but sweet, offering an informative introduction into the world of chemistry. This isn’t the sort of title where you can go all mad scientist and create crazy concoctions – there’s Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-Ality for that – but it’s not meant to be. As a teaching tool it’s quite easy to see how VR has a place within education.

Survios has managed to do what few VR developers have done, secure a hat trick of quality titles that should be in everyone’s library. Electronauts combines a wonderfully elaborate yet perfectly simple gameplay design alongside some of the best dance tunes from around the world, making for a videogame that will have you playing for hours and wanting just one more go.

Overall, Gates of Nowhere is a visually stunning hack-and-slash dungeon crawler with enough other things to do like magic crafting, exploration and puzzle solving to make it absorbing and engaging. Though some aspects of the combat, such as the bow and arrow, could still use a tweaking, this title is certainly worth your time.

Let’s be clear that while Code51: Mecha Arena looks good and the gameplay design makes for a comfortable fighting title, it does still feel like its lacking substance. With so few additional options it can’t compete with Archangel: Hellfire for shear gameplay finesse. Code51: Mecha Arena needs more, otherwise it’s one of those videogames that’s great for 30 minutes or so before you want to move onto something else.

Symphonics isn’t going to be for everyone, it’s way too stark at the moment. However, if you love VR and creating your own music then this is certainly worth a look for the cheap price as it is entertaining, and VRFocus will be interested in seeing it take shape.

With its mix of comedy charm and light-hearted gameplay Paperville Panic provides and enjoyable VR escape that should put a smile on players faces. There are some short comings with experienced players likely to find it on the short side. Even so, there’s still a decent amount of fun to be had as you shoot Paperville citizens in the face.

Jet Island doesn’t look like much in comparison to some VR titles yet it offers a wealth of challenges for those that want to put the time in and explore. You can completely ignore the bosses and just whizz around the landscape to your hearts content, which in itself isn’t easy, yet that would be missing out on an important chunk of the experience. Not one for every gamer, Jet Island is certainly worth a look for those with VR legs.

Overall, Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR is a good table tennis simulator with great physics and a pleasant backdrop, but the lack of multiplayer and strange absence of music leave holes in what would otherwise be a very satisfying title. This is one of enthusiasts, though once the multiplayer comes out, it might be worth a second luck.

Unearthing Mars 2: The Ancient War is an improvement on the first Unearthing Mars, but the impressive visuals writes a cheque that the lacklustre gameplay simply cannot cash.

All in all the Witching Tower is a reasonably solid VR experience throughout. It’s not overly long but there are secrets to find for those completionists out there which help stretch the gameplay that bit further. While it doesn’t break new ground or offer anything too unique, the Witching Tower is still an enjoyable title for those who love this genre of videogame.

PolyCube is no cakewalk, this is definitely a virtual reality (VR) videogame for the puzzle aficionado. There are no frills, just hardcore block stacking, with the controls more than apt for the purpose. It might not be a showpiece for VR but what the hell it works just fine, and its dirt cheap on Steam which is always nice.

Scraper: First Strike has plenty of little bits and pieces that are appealing and it’s been perfectly tuned for immersive VR gameplay. Because it is episodic some may find it’s not particularly lengthy, but turn the difficulty up and you’re in for a challenge. As a debut title, Labrodex Inc. should be proud of what’s been achieved. And with four more planned Scraper: First Strike is an impressive showcase.

As a stealth experience for VR Shadow Uprising is a welcome addition to the fold. It’s a title with some decent entertainment value and should have a good few hours of gameplay if you enjoy properly sneaking around. That being said, Shadow Uprising doesn’t feature any wow factor to make it a must-have experience, just middle of the road.

Arca’s Path comes at a time when VR is maturing. We’re seeing the medium move away from the deep trench of wave shooters that began to suffocate the medium and coming back to more unique ideas built specifically for the hardware. Arca’s Path is exactly this kind of experience – it would arguably work as a traditional non-VR videogame, but certainly wouldn’t have the same impact – and as such offers an engrossing worthy of your time aside any bigger titles that may be on your agenda. It does also act well as a first-step into VR, which despite now having more than two years of consumer adoption is still an important factor over this holiday season.

As the name indicates Escape Room Series: Robbery at the Museum is the first in a possible long-running escape room series – the start of the videogame showcases nine titles, eight of which are ‘coming soon’. However, there are plenty of issues to iron out before VRFocus could recommend it. With the irregularity of the puzzles, scenery which mostly looks cobbled together from basic Unity assets, and improvements needed with the hand design, if you’re after an escape room experience look else ware.

Dick Wilde 2 was never going to be a standout experience but for fans of the original, there’s enough new content to be worth a look. Those new to VR will also enjoy the title, as the gameplay is kept to purely shooting stuff. But for those VR gamers who have owned their headset for a good couple of years, Dick Wilde 2 won’t suffice, only scratching the surface of what VR can do.

The idea is novel in itself but it feels like the entire experience is resting on that singular features shoulders. Even a couple of years ago the gameplay might have looked a little aged yet now it looks dated. With over 50 levels providing a decent amount of gameplay time, the repetition will likely wear on most VR fans. What PlanTechtor needed was more of the tower defence style gameplay, with the possibility to move to other towers, and slightly more convoluted levels to give it that extra slice of variety.

Virtual Space Port is still a highly enjoyable puzzle experience that really makes use of VR’s roomscale to give you complete freedom to build. Set against a gorgeous interstellar backdrop, ViSP – Virtual Space Port is almost the perfect example of a well designed indie VR title, delicately balancing content and gameplay.

On its own Skyworld: Kingdom Brawl plays just fine, taking popular card gaming and bringing it to life for some rather epic tabletop battles. The gameplay design hasn’t changed since the original, just the offering of more online PvP battles. However, should you want value for money and a card-based videogame, then Skyworld is a much better bet.

There’s plenty to love about Final Assault. Providing a leaner less complicated approach to RTS gameplay, most fans of the genre apart from the die-hard stalwarts should find there’s enough depth and reply value to keep coming back for hours on end. Much in the same way VRFocus enjoyed Brass Tactics, Final Assault is another superb example of why table-top gaming works in VR.

As a launch title for Oculus Quest Face Your Fears 2 really should amaze and drop you to the floor in horror. Yet at no point does the experience ever feel like it can attain those heights, treading mediocre level ground that sorely underuses the device’s ability. Face Your Fears 2 is by no means a bad VR experience it’s just not up to the calibre of Turtle Rock Studios’ previous output.

Shadow Point is a suitably well-accomplished puzzle experience. Those previous grumbles aside, there’s enough here to provide a good few hours of entertainment without breaking a sweat or running the risk of hitting a wall accidentally. Shadow Point isn’t quite up to the standard of Coatsink Software’s Augmented Empire for Oculus Go but it’s a charming adventure no the less.

While all the flashy extras such as customisation options or other gameplay modes don’t exist in FREEDIVER: Triton Down, the videogame is still one that shouldn’t be overlooked. Short it may be (roughly an hour), nevertheless it’s an energetic journey which keeps you on edge at all times. Hopefully, Archiact plan on spinning this out further as FREEDIVER: Triton Down seems more like the first episode in a larger story.

Space Ops VR is a bit of a guilty pleasure. Sure it’s rather generic and it has its faults – some more head-scratching than others – and the multiplayer needs some more people, yet it’s hard not to like just a little bit. If it was overpriced then Space Ops VR wouldn’t be worth it. Luckily it’s not, get a good sale price and Space Ops VR is worth a cheeky purchase.

ZED was such a promising title, and with Cyan Ventures helping to back it for launch, all the ingredients were there for a unique experience. However, that’s not been the case. A pretty videogame does not necessarily make for one that excites and enthrals. There has been some great VR content arrive this year, ZED is not one of them.

RADtv is quick instant fun that’s great for short stints in VR. With a bold distinctive art style, interesting character design and zany gameplay, RADtv isn’t a videogame that wants to be taken seriously; it just wants to put a smile on your face. This is an impulse purchase title and Ruffian Games has priced it accordingly, great for those moments where you can’t decide what to play.

Corsair’s Curse is ideal for those stepping into a VR arcade for the first time, rather than some intense first-person shooter (FPS). There’s time to learn the basics and the joy of VR gaming, picking stuff up, the visual impact of scale and much more. The replay factor might be somewhat muted after a couple of sessions but with a few friends, it’s still worth playing.

There really isn’t much to dislike about Acron: Attack of the Squirrels as its such an amusing videogame. Resolution Games has stuck with its tried and tested playful design, whilst bringing some multiplayer mayhem to the table, making it an ideal choice for Oculus Quest owners who like to take their headset out and about. When it comes to VR party games, Acron: Attack of the Squirrels should be top of your list.

Gadgeteer isn’t going to be for everyone, much like being a watchmaker. It’s finicky, time-consuming and puzzling all at the same time. They’re also the reasons why Gadgeteer is a puzzle gem for Oculus Quest. The gameplay becomes engrossing as you beaver away, one idea forming and then morphing, splitting into tangents the more time is spent. All it’s missing is a way to share and view these crazy creations with the world.

Fitz has managed to take the core essence of what makes boxing so compelling and distilled it down into Thrill of the Fight. Immersive and a great use of roomscale, Thrill of the Fight has all the hallmarks of an indie gaming gem, especially being so cheap. All you really need to worry about is having enough space so you don’t start putting holes in walls.

Death Lap has some great elements to it, instantly offering exciting races where you can throw caution to the wind, drive like a maniac and shoot stuff. Unfortunately, there is a lack of finesse and polish to the whole experience with the content really needing a little boost. Plus there’s no way to add some personalisation or upgrades for that much-needed variety. In another six months, this may well be a great racer, for now, it’s simply average.

If you’re after a VR title that’s big on adventure and elaborate quests then videogames like Stormland, Borderlands 2 VR, The Mage’s Tale, Asgard’s Wrath and others offer that sort of experience. However, when you can’t be bothered with all that fuss and want a pickup and play shooter Scraper: Gauntlet is a solid option with polished visuals and gameplay mechanics. Plus, it’s not stupidly priced.

Much like Wales Interactive’s other VR titles Soul Axiom Rebooted elicits a mixture of emotions, joy, puzzlement and dab of exasperation. Beautiful and unnerving, Soul Axiom Rebooted has plenty to see and do, great for puzzle fans seeking an expansive experience. Yet the addition of VR does feel like a last-minute inclusion, putting you in an impressive virtual world without the ability to reach out and touch it.

There’s no doubt that Good Goliath is fun in short sharp intervals, drawing you in with its colourful designs and pick up ‘n’ play mechanics. Nine levels might not sound many but you should get a good few hours of gameplay as they are subdivided with checkpoints because of their length. This is rinse and repeat gaming so the gameplay isn’t exactly deep but it’s still mostly enjoyable, great for those looking to steer clear of RPG style titles.

There are plenty of impressive elements to Ironlights which give the videogame a unique presence in the market. While the style of gameplay can be repetitive and a little frustrating at points, it can also be rewarding and satisfying once the kinks are worked out. There’s also plenty of potential there for expansion both in the single- and multiplayer modes. Ironlights biggest draw is that it offers something a little different from all the FPS and puzzle titles, and that’s no bad thing.

For an indie title that was originally just a portfolio piece, Hooplord is an enjoyable basketball videogame with a nice cartoon style. There’s just the right amount of difficulty so that you can’t blast through it in five minutes, the only real frustration is if you’re a rubbish shot. Hooplord isn’t a massive title so it would be great if Wu continues to support it and expand the premise, maybe adding a menu in there.

The dungeon crawling experience isn’t without its bugs with a little finesse needed here and there. The sword mechanics, story and visuals are all notable highlights while the bow and enemy AI could be improved. Even so, The Morrigan is one of those indie titles with bags of character, a plucky adventure which makes good use of VR’s features and sometimes maybe that’s enough.

B99 has been in Early Access on the Oculus Store since 2017 which made it easy to miss. Now that it has seen a full release fans of VR roguelikes should definitely take a look, as there’s some quality gaming to be had. Make no mistake B99 is no walk in the park, it does get a little repetitive because of the type of videogame it is and there’s some questionable English being used. Even so, VRFocus enjoyed it immensely thanks to the easy mechanics, electro tunes and brash style. Just beware of the floating cat head.

What Shooty Skies Overdrive offers is an entertaining arcade shooter, great for those times when you want to dive into a VR game that’s not too overly complicated. The powerups help to break up the repetitive nature of the gameplay whilst the aesthetics give the overall experience a charming personality which makes Shooty Skies Overdrive great for any age.

Moose Life is quite clearly one of those indie titles which has been made for the love of videogames. Cheap and cheerful, it’s like a playful puppy which just wants to have some fun because life doesn’t always need to be serious. There might not be a lot of depth to the experience or options but for those looking for a quick injection of easy retro gaming, Llamasoft has got your back.

Falcone Age is one of those little VR adventures which has bags of character, easily able to charm even the most hardnosed of gamers. The co-op companionship and storyline are certainly its two best features, calling you back into tie-up any missed secrets. There are some areas which aren’t faultless and at points, the locations can seem sparse of things to do but they don’t make the title a bad game. One to consider if you’re looking for a nice, narrative-driven experience where you can raise a falcon.

Here you have a good example of why indie developers are such a vital part of the VR industry. Cubism would never have been made by a big studio yet it deserves your attention nonetheless. Easy to pick up yet difficult to complete, it may take some an hour whilst others will take five. It’s the kind of VR game you can give to anyone and they’ll instantly know what to do, because who doesn’t know how to place a few blocks together.

Much like the comic books it’s based around, Tarzan VR is a light affair that can be easily consumed in stages. The action isn’t too particularly tough, and the enemies aren’t at all clever but the overall experience is enjoyable enough for a couple of hours. Be aware that the episodic nature of Tarzan VR’s delivery means only buying the first instalment will give you a slice of the tale, rather than each having its own self-contained storyline. It does do a lot of things right as well, lots of interactive elements, great movement and some excellent audio throughout. For a franchise with such a long history, Tarzan VR does it justice.

The fast and furious gameplay is instantaneous, grab a gun and shoot it, with the real enjoyment coming from dodging all over the place. It’s like you’re in a sci-fi dodgeball tournament without the worry of a ball smacking you in the face. Plus the studio has managed to give it that wow factor with some really eye-popping aesthetics. If you’re looking for a deeply engrossing experience this isn’t it, Blaston is more suited to quick-fire gaming sessions.

Machizzle is a perfectly likeable puzzle title for fans of the genre. While it doesn’t necessarily set itself apart when it comes to features, the gameplay is solid and perfectly suited for most players as there’s no need to worry about locomotion – there is none. If the studio can build a strong community of players then that’s where Machizzle could really shine thanks to the level editor. VR may have a strong contingent of titles in this genre but thanks to a packed solo campaign and the sandbox mode, Machizzle offers good value puzzling.

There are points where A Wake Inn provides some superb VR design more games should have and it never felt like there was nothing to do. But clunky elements stutter the experience making it less refined. It was close to being a great VR title, instead, falling into the average horror crowd.

Drawing inspiration from The Little Prince, the early 20th-Century novella by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Stargaze feels very much like a piece of children’s piece of interactive literature. It offers a pleasant narrative set amongst the stars with enough wonderment and interactive controls to keep them entertained. For most players this will be a one and done experience that’ll last a couple of hours at most, even the last couple of puzzles aren’t too difficult. Short, wholesome VR puzzle gaming.

Day of Heroes: D-Day offers some nice level ideas and decent visuals that do allow you to become engrossed in the gameplay at points. But it is a very middle of the road VR shooter with mechanics which could do with some refinement and more comfort options to support player requirements. One aspect Day of Heroes: D-Day does completely miss is heart, you’re in the midst of a war yet it feels very ‘by the numbers’, a videogame you could like but never love.

With its colourful aesthetic, muppet-like characters and off-the-wall sense of humour Floor Plan 2 is a delight, perfectly suited to the Oculus Quest platform. The pacing and complexity of the gameplay is very well crafted, ensuring players of all ages should enjoy exploring all the various floors. It could do with being a little more difficult especially for puzzle fans but the experience is still satisfying to complete. As Floor Plan 2 does a lot right and little wrong, this is an easy win when it comes to purchasing.

Little Chicken has managed to take an unusual idea and make it work really well as a virtual reality (VR) experience. Best played in short 30-minute durations as it can become a little grinding if you try and play for over an hour straight, nonetheless Traffic Jams provides an enjoyable and engaging arm flailing time. It would’ve been nice if the multiplayer had some more substance to really trip the VR player up though. The kind of VR experience everyone can have fun with no matter their skill level.

On the one hand, the weapons are great and you could easily spend hours in the shooting range mixing and matching components. The 4-5 hour campaign is ok until you get further in and notice some of the glaring issues and glitches like the AI or the rather bland design choices. Best played on the hardest difficulty setting for any real challenge, Zero Caliber: Reloaded gets enough right to be worth a look, but only just.

There’s plenty of content on offer if you love RTS gaming with options galore to keep you coming back for more. Even though it isn’t a perfect experience and larger, more insane battles would be great, Eternal Starlight is still wonderfully fun to play.

Arashi: Castles of Sin has some solid ideas and mechanics going for it, from the wealth of tools available to the ability to pick and choose how you attack each castle. Yet the issues do hamstring the experience and stop it from being the great VR ninja game it could have been. You’ll get a good 5+ hours out of Arashi: Castles of Sin, and whilst you can retackle levels however you wish, there’s no incentive to go full stealth or completely on the offensive. Scampering across rooftops flinging shuriken is still fun though.

Eye of the Temple feels like it goes back to VR’s roots in a way, the gameplay is simple but very effective, always keeping you thinking and on your toes. The whole experience achieves that one sort after quality in VR, immersion, where you become so focused on what you’re doing it’s easy to forget that the temple is actually your living room. Just be careful not to topple over, that can happen!

Sweet Surrender is very much a no-frills type of roguelite. It covers all the basics with a reasonable amount of variety in the weapons, enemies and upgrades, all displayed in a very nice, low-ploy aesthetic. There’s still finessing that needs to be done though, weapon balancing, a bit more room variety, tougher enemies and progression expansion. Great for those that love easy to digest action-oriented shooters, not so much if you want a roguelite with mechanics you can really dig deep into. Still, even after all of that Sweet Surrender has that addictive quality that draws you back in. Hopefully, Salmi Games continues its refinement.

What Spacefolk City truly excels at is the use of spatial gameplay. Played either seated or standing, the ability to inspect your city from any angle, the asteroids that fly in and the giant looming sun that hovers directly overhead; Moon Mode has created a wonderfully inviting experience that could only be appreciated in VR. There are still glitches such as the menu system becoming illegible due to showing multiple pages on top of each other or items getting caught on invisible walls (mostly the scrap) but that wasn’t enough to hamper the overall experience. What it desperately needs is a random multiple cloud generator option in the Sandbox. Other than that, Spacefolk City is certainly worth a look if you like god-like city creation in VR.

Captain Toonhead vs The Punks from Outer Space is a ludicrous tower defence experience and all the better for it. The gameplay is pure entertainment from start to finish, with plenty of character and bravado that you really shouldn’t take it too seriously. There are a couple of wobbles along the way and there is certainly room for some finesse in the mechanics. If you’re looking for the ultimate VR tower defence title then this isn’t it. If you want humour, strategy and guns, then you’ve come to the right place.

Final Space has a legion of loyal fans and that’s exactly who Final Space VR – The Rescue is being catered towards. If you’ve never seen the show and you buy this as a single-player shooter you’ll be disappointed. It looks good, sounds great and plays well yet there’s so much missing to make this an awesome sci-fi FPS. You need friends who love the cartoon to truly get something out of Final Space VR – The Rescue. Another concern was that there was no teleport to be found and no additional gameplay modes. A co-op like this would’ve benefited from a horde mode or something to keep you coming back for more. Final Space VR – The Rescue had its fun moments but just like the show, it ended too soon.

On the whole, Anshar Wars 2 does a great deal to stand out. Where the game could get bogged down by repetition, the developers have gone to great lengths to keep the missions unique, mixing up objectives or giving you different ships with other abilities to use. Several moments during missions had me grinning like a loon as I piloted the ship through tight ravines or zoomed through closing doors, creating cinematic memories. It’s a shame the story isn’t as cinematic and does little to set itself apart from other space adventures to make this a must-have.

UNBINARY delivers a wonderfully paced puzzle experience that’s vivid and alive, even if it’s meant to be a digital simulation. Those pretty visuals aside, it’s such a shame that so many other factors hamper the overall enjoyment. Those random walking issues, janky teleportation and random bugs like preferences being in Portuguese when the language is set to English. For a game that lasts around 3-4 hours depending on where you get stuck, it needs more polish, so that completion feels truly fulfilling. There were moments where it was delightfully satisfying to be in UNBINARY as if trapped in an abstract painting you don’t mind being locked inside. By the end though it was nice to get out.

I’m aware that I’ve been pretty negative about MarineVerse Cup, which frustrates me because there were some genuinely great moments, fleeting though they were. I loved sitting in the boat and looking up towards the sails as they billowed in the wind, and the feeling of catching the wind just right and hearing the air whip past was exhilarating. Though, as you’re probably sensing, these moments were few and far between. MarineVerse Cup feels more like a sedate Sunday at a boating pond, rather than the thrill ride of sports sailing.

Vox Machinae coming to Meta Quest 2 is a huge achievement for Space Bullet, it’s great to see this title finally hit the standalone headset and reach a wider audience. Sitting inside those mechs is a joy and never gets old when you’ve got a few buddies watching your back, stomping around the battlefield unleashing lasers and rocket barrages. It isn’t all plain sailing though, glitches were noticeable throughout and that 10-hour campaign makes for heavy, painful going. If you love giant robots fighting and always wanted to partake then Vox Machinae provides a grand (multiplayer) mech experience.

Oddly enough, painting and drawing apps work very well in VR, but only usually if they stick to big, broad effects or 3D work, creating any kind of finesse is incredibly tough to pull off. If you’ve got the time, Vermillion can work for larger abstract creations, but the detailed light touches are lost in translation.

It feels as if any painting app is going to suffer a markdown in a review because it will never compare to creating in reality, however, Painting VR gets the closest, despite a lack of customisation options. Why? Because the paint acts like paint, rather than a disjointed liquid which creates a disconnect between you, the tool and the canvas. If you’re looking for perfection, it’s still in the distance, but for something that feels genuine, and honestly, great fun to experiment with, give Painting VR a try.