Virtual reality (VR) is an awesome entertainment medium which has dramatically improved over the last few years. While the original entry point wasn’t exactly cheap or necessarily practical for a lot of people the arrival of Meta Quest 2 has opened up the technology to a much wider user base. Its portability, inside-out tracking, 6DoF controllers and hand tracking allow for instantly immersive gameplay. However, for those fresh to VR choosing the right experience can mean the difference between a lifelong passion or instant dislike. Hence why XR Source has chosen these Quest 2 games for VR beginners.
Quest 2 Games for VR Beginners
The important variables to consider are whether the title offers enough of that VR spark without causing any discomfort. So that pretty much means no locomotion to begin with or maybe some light teleportation, coupled with lots of interactive elements. The following titles offer a variety of seated and standing gameplay, without the need for too much running around.
Cubism
A title that shows off many of Meta Quest 2’s features, housed entirely within a deliciously addictive puzzle game. Cubism is almost like 3D Tetris, where you have a selection of colourful blocks that need to fit into a predefined shape.
With calming music and 90 challenging puzzles to solve, Cubism can easily make the hours flow by. Twisting and turning shape after shape to make each fit feels almost therapeutic. Plus, it’s very comfortable to play sitting on the sofa.
Additionally, you don’t need to use the controllers as Cubism supports Quest 2’s hand tracking. Another feature newly introduced is Passthrough Mode, seeing your own environment rather than a virtual one.
Moss: Book II
A gorgeous puzzler from Polyarc features an adorable mouse called Quill as the main protagonist. She must save her land and Uncle from an ancient evil ravaging her world. You do this by fighting monsters and solving environmental puzzles along the way.
Moss: Book II is entirely third-person, as you control Quill through fantasy worlds filled with danger. This makes for a very comfortable, seated gameplay experience. At the same time, the rich environments encourage you to lean in, admire the detail and look for secrets.
Don’t worry if you’ve not played the first, as Moss: Book II fills in those details. The story is engaging and you’ll easily find yourself becoming attached to Quill. She interacts with you by waving and other gestures, forming a bond that ties you into the whole narrative. Great for all ages.
Beat Saber
Let’s kick things up a notch with some physical gameplay. Beat Saber is one of the most well-known VR games around. It is a rhythm-action videogame where you slice blocks to the music with a pair of lightsabers.
It is very energetic, waving your arms around to slice the incoming blocks, sidestepping obstacles or ducking under them. Furthermore, there’s no virtual locomotion – the leading cause of some players feeling unwell – so you can just enjoy the action.
The core game has a decent selection of music included. There are also loads of DLC packs to purchase, some from famous artists including Fall Out Boy, Green Day, Billy Eilish, Lady Gaga, The Weeknd and many more.
Les Mills Bodycombat
Want something similar to Beat Saber but with a workout vibe? That’s where Les Mills Bodycombat comes in. Mixing martial arts with fitness routines, this app has an extensive workout portfolio of 45 routines. Whether you’re a beginner looking for a light 10-minute session or a more advanced half-hour workout, there’s something for everyone.
Les Mills Bodycombat will have you punching, squatting, ducking, and moving your whole body to the beat. And don’t forget to utilise Oculus Move to further track your fitness goals.
Pistol Whip
Another rhythm-action videogame, however, Pistol Whip is very different from the rest. With guns in hand, you shoot enemies in time with the music. The more on the beat you are the higher the score. And that’s it.
Only joking, there’s much more to Pistol Whip than that. This time around you have to dodge bullets to avoid getting killed. You can also gun butt enemies that get too close. Customise your loadout with different gun designs or add gameplay mods to alter your next run.
There are 30 “scenes” – as developer Cloudhead Games likes to call them – with thumping tunes and eye-popping visuals. Also on offer are two cinematic campaigns, one in a futuristic dystopia, the other in the wild west.
Demeo
If you love tabletop games and want something similar in VR, then give Demeo a look. Supporting up to four players, Demeo is a D&D-style dungeon crawler where you fight through monstrous enemies to defeat an evil boss.
Entirely turn-based, Demeo can be played seated. You chose from one of five adventures, select a character class such as an Archer or Wizard then head into the depths. Characters can be picked up and moved a certain distance, and when engaged in combat you roll a virtual die to determine the outcome.
When not going on a quest there’s the Heroes Hangout, where you can meet other players, practice some archery and even paint miniatures.
Puzzling Places
As you may have realised by now, puzzle games are a great way to get started in VR. Another title with a unique twist is Puzzling Places. What we have here are 3D puzzles created from real-world locations.
From small scenes and buildings to entire environments, they’ve been accurately scanned and rendered into a 3D model. You can then select the difficulty, splitting the puzzle down into ever smaller pieces – from 25 to 400!
There are 17 models supplied with the base game, with DLC packs available should you wish to find more.
Spacefolk City
A delightful city builder based in space, Spacefolk City allows you to build in any direction you chose. The idea is that you have to save the spacefolk before a star goes supernova, building up a town and advancing it enough so they can eventually escape.
Each spacefolk has a different ability to put to use, whether that’s constructing particular buildings or fixing problems. You can decorate your town to make the residents happy, and be aware that they require rest. So they’ll all nod off eventually, even at a critical time!
Blaston
What do you get when you combine a comfortable VR experience that’s free? PvP shooter Blaston of course! Built by VR veteran Resolution Games, Blaston pits you against another player in a shooting duel. You’re both on a raised platform so there’s nowhere to go. Shoot, duck, shoot and avoid projectiles to become the winner.
The hook here is that all the projectiles move in slow-motion. Use a shotgun to fire multiple pellets or a machine gun for a rapid-fire attack. All whilst trying to not get shot yourself. It is a lot of frantic, fast-paced fun.
There are multiple weapons to choose from as well as customisation options for your character and loadout. There’s even a mixed reality Passthough Mode to bring the action into your living room.
The Room VR: A Dark Matter
A VR version of the excellent mobile videogame series The Room, The Room VR: A Dark Matter is full of clever puzzles and deep narrative. You’re in The British Institute of Archaeology, London, circa 1908 to investigate the disappearance of an Egyptologist.
Exploring creepy locations to discover cryptic secrets, you’ll encounter fantastic gadgets and enter otherworldly realms that blur between reality and illusion. If you’ve played the original games, The Room VR: A Dark Matter still keeps their same level of intrigue and mystery, whilst expanding upon the premise.
As for comfort, The Room VR: A Dark Matter entirely uses teleportation, so you can jump from one area to the next without worry. This is one thoroughly engrossing adventure.
After all of those, don’t miss our 50+ free VR games selection for Meta Quest 2.