Virtual Reality is almost as intimidating as Reality Reality!
January 8, 2024 9:54 AM Subscribe
For the holidays, my partner and I got a Meta Quest 3 VR system and a year's subscription to the Supernatural fitness app. We are total VR and video game newbies. I'm interested to hear if others have any games/tips/tricks for using the Meta Quest 3 either individually or as a couple?
We were intrigued by the ads for Supernatural and took the plunge on the Meta Quest 3 VR system. Neither of us have ever used VR before, and we're a little intimidated by all of the options. We're having fun with Supernatural, but I'm worried we're essentially going to use the headset just for that, and it feels like for the price there should be lots of other fun things we could do or learn.
If you have a Meta Quest (any version) and it contributes to your health and happiness, what does that look like? Is there any value in getting another headset so we can play games or do things together? (I have a feeling that question is a good indicator of how little I understand the VR world and how it works.)
I don't see us getting into any shoot-'em-up games, but if there's a game or app that you can recommend, please do! I'm specifically curious about any games/apps that promote mental health, gratitude, emotional regulation, education, or relaxation.
Thanks!
We were intrigued by the ads for Supernatural and took the plunge on the Meta Quest 3 VR system. Neither of us have ever used VR before, and we're a little intimidated by all of the options. We're having fun with Supernatural, but I'm worried we're essentially going to use the headset just for that, and it feels like for the price there should be lots of other fun things we could do or learn.
If you have a Meta Quest (any version) and it contributes to your health and happiness, what does that look like? Is there any value in getting another headset so we can play games or do things together? (I have a feeling that question is a good indicator of how little I understand the VR world and how it works.)
I don't see us getting into any shoot-'em-up games, but if there's a game or app that you can recommend, please do! I'm specifically curious about any games/apps that promote mental health, gratitude, emotional regulation, education, or relaxation.
Thanks!
Best answer: We have one headset between us, and it does get a bit anti-social. You can 'cast' to a TV screen or monitor if the other person wants to watch.
There is one game that requires one person in-headset and at least one other person outside: Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes - that's quite fun!
I really enjoy puzzle/adventure/interactive story games, some of my favourites:
Moss and Moss 2 (stunning graphics)
A Fisherman's Tale (and Another Fisherman's Tale)
Ghost Giant
The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets
The Room
Down the Rabbit Hole (possibly my fave)
posted by atlantica at 11:03 AM on January 8, 2024 [1 favorite]
There is one game that requires one person in-headset and at least one other person outside: Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes - that's quite fun!
I really enjoy puzzle/adventure/interactive story games, some of my favourites:
Moss and Moss 2 (stunning graphics)
A Fisherman's Tale (and Another Fisherman's Tale)
Ghost Giant
The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets
The Room
Down the Rabbit Hole (possibly my fave)
posted by atlantica at 11:03 AM on January 8, 2024 [1 favorite]
Beat Saber is great. I have mine modded so I can get custom songs for free. The documentation for the modding process is very good.
I have TRIPP, and get some use out of it.
The other game I like a lot is RUSH. The game starts you off flying with your arms out, but you can change the controls to tilting the hand controllers, which is more relaxing.
posted by itesser at 11:09 AM on January 8, 2024
I have TRIPP, and get some use out of it.
The other game I like a lot is RUSH. The game starts you off flying with your arms out, but you can change the controls to tilting the hand controllers, which is more relaxing.
posted by itesser at 11:09 AM on January 8, 2024
Best answer: I adore rhythm games, so I have to throw in a vote for Beat Saber, but also Synth Riders as I feel it's a little friendlier and more fun for beginners.
As far as relaxation, this might be a weird suggestion, but I really like VR Fishing - I don't even fish in real life, but it's fun to just hang out in beautiful locales and watch the water and do some fishing. Walkabout Mini Golf is fun for multiple people, and not fast/stressful.
If you're down to try puzzle games, The Room VR: A Dark Matter is really fun and immersive (this one might only be on Steam, not sure what platforms you're open to using) and Moss and Moss 2 mentioned above are also great, very charming atmosphere.
posted by rachaelfaith at 12:23 PM on January 8, 2024 [1 favorite]
As far as relaxation, this might be a weird suggestion, but I really like VR Fishing - I don't even fish in real life, but it's fun to just hang out in beautiful locales and watch the water and do some fishing. Walkabout Mini Golf is fun for multiple people, and not fast/stressful.
If you're down to try puzzle games, The Room VR: A Dark Matter is really fun and immersive (this one might only be on Steam, not sure what platforms you're open to using) and Moss and Moss 2 mentioned above are also great, very charming atmosphere.
posted by rachaelfaith at 12:23 PM on January 8, 2024 [1 favorite]
sm1tten: Walkabout Mini Golf? I've heard good things about it.
posted by rhamphorhynchus at 1:34 PM on January 8, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by rhamphorhynchus at 1:34 PM on January 8, 2024 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I'm learning a lot from the answers to this question, and I might try some.
That said, I'll add: we're also not video game people, we pretty much just use the VR headset with Supernatural, and yet the benefits of that alone for physical wellness, mental health, and getting positive boosts in our day have been worth so much more than the cost. So if you find yourselves poking around and not finding much that appeals, it's OK to have it be great at the one thing.
posted by shelbaroo at 1:35 PM on January 8, 2024 [2 favorites]
That said, I'll add: we're also not video game people, we pretty much just use the VR headset with Supernatural, and yet the benefits of that alone for physical wellness, mental health, and getting positive boosts in our day have been worth so much more than the cost. So if you find yourselves poking around and not finding much that appeals, it's OK to have it be great at the one thing.
posted by shelbaroo at 1:35 PM on January 8, 2024 [2 favorites]
Also recommend Walkabout Mini Golf. It's good for chatting and hanging out with remote friends, and the environments are really well done.
Real VR Fishing is also good for casual socializing, but not much in the way of gameplay.
Wander is neat, just basically Google Street View in 360 degrees but the immersion is cool. You can also wander the world with friend(s), one of you follows the other around.
Climb 2 has some cool mechanics and graphics, there's a lot of stretching, but not good if you have vertigo.
If you start the web browser you can play an open source clone of Beat Saber at https://moonrider.xyz/
posted by credulous at 4:19 PM on January 8, 2024
Real VR Fishing is also good for casual socializing, but not much in the way of gameplay.
Wander is neat, just basically Google Street View in 360 degrees but the immersion is cool. You can also wander the world with friend(s), one of you follows the other around.
Climb 2 has some cool mechanics and graphics, there's a lot of stretching, but not good if you have vertigo.
If you start the web browser you can play an open source clone of Beat Saber at https://moonrider.xyz/
posted by credulous at 4:19 PM on January 8, 2024
Our best local innovation is Peaches, the Virtual Reality Awareness 'Possum.
Peaches is a small, plush toy replica of a Virginia Opossum.
When one is playing a VR game and cannot hear or see one's non-virtual surroundings, one's cohabitants can HURL Peaches at one's HEAD to request attention.
This is 100% effective, does not risk injury or property damage, and is reliably funny as hell.
posted by sourcequench at 12:07 PM on January 9, 2024 [2 favorites]
Peaches is a small, plush toy replica of a Virginia Opossum.
When one is playing a VR game and cannot hear or see one's non-virtual surroundings, one's cohabitants can HURL Peaches at one's HEAD to request attention.
This is 100% effective, does not risk injury or property damage, and is reliably funny as hell.
posted by sourcequench at 12:07 PM on January 9, 2024 [2 favorites]
There are over 180 social VR platforms similar to VRChat. A wide variety of events happens there.
Figmin XR allows you to place objects and to paint in your space, a good mixed reality program.
posted by Sophont at 2:00 PM on January 9, 2024
Figmin XR allows you to place objects and to paint in your space, a good mixed reality program.
posted by Sophont at 2:00 PM on January 9, 2024
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by rhamphorhynchus at 11:02 AM on January 8, 2024 [1 favorite]