Top 5 Oculus Releases – September 2nd-8th – Knock Howl Crash Shoot

Lots of shooters out for the Oculus Rift this week (even more than usual) and some horror offerings, too, but if you’re worn out by jump scares and the old ultra-violence, there are also some all-ages offerings and a couple of games ideal for VR newcomers. These are our top picks for Oculus games released this week:

Don’t Knock Twice

by Wales Interactive

Don't Knock Twice game screenshot courtesy Steam
Don’t Knock Twice – screenshot courtesy Wales Interactive

A first-person horror game tied in with the movie of the same name – starring Katee Sackhoff of Battlestar Galactica fame – Don’t Knock Twice looks legitimately terrifying. Players explore an authentic Welsh house to discover the terrible truth behind an urban legend. The game supports multiple control options, and nearly every object in the house – itself modeled entirely on the one used in the film – can be interacted with.

Developers Wales Interactive have already proven their ability to evoke creepy atmosphere and first-person horror with PC games like Master Reboot, itself set within a VR environment of sorts. Admittedly, there’s no shortage of VR horror experiences, but between the dev team’s track record, the details in the haunted house and the Bloody Mary-esque monster, this one looks better than most.

Oculus Rift | 1.8 GB | $19.99 from the Oculus Store or from Steam

Crashimals

by Rogue Earth LLC

Crashimals game screenshot courtesy Steam
Crashimals – screenshot courtesy Steam

Drawing obvious inspiration from Angry Birds, this game brings cute animals and destructible environmental puzzles into 3D. Crashimals also adds the challenge of steering – instead of just aiming a slingshot, players use guide animals in RC airplanes like cute, fuzzy little kamikaze pilots. With 72 levels and added challenges – destroy cakes while leaving presents behind, for example – this is a lot less simple than it appears at first glance.

Oculus Rift | 1 GB | $29.99 from the Oculus Store or from Steam

Wolf Must Die

by FuntaVR

Wolf Must Die game screenshot courtesy Steam
Wolf Must Die – screenshot courtesy Steam

Wolf Must Die is a wave-based shooter with a fairy tale twist: instead of guns against robots, it’s bows and arrows against cartoon wolves as players defend their village. Wolf Must Die aims at being fun for all ages, so this might be a good entry point for VR newcomers.

Oculus Rift | 50 MB | $7.99 from Steam

MINE!

by Tantrum Lab

MINE! game screenshot courtesy Steam
MINE! – screenshot courtesy Steam

Sometimes all you want is a simple wave shooter, and MINE! delivers on that front. Defend your mine from waves of aliens out to steal or blow up your precious crystals in this static-view wave shooter. Using simplified controls, MINE! is meant for VR newcomers and conference demos. It’s also totally free – a bit basic, maybe, but you can’t argue with the price.

Oculus Rift | 50 MB | FREE from Steam

Hell Dimension VR

by Third Door Studio

Hell Dimension VR game screenshot courtesy Steam
Hell Dimension VR – screenshot courtesy Steam

Another shooter, but this one definitely isn’t for kids or beginners. Instead, Hell Dimension VR pays tribute to the gore and horror-themed FPS games of yesteryear – think Painkiller and Blood – with copious blood-splatters and bullets a-plenty. For added blood, gore and deformed monstrosities, try multi-player mode.

Oculus Rift | 1 GB | $8.49 from Steam

Other Noteworthy Oculus Releases:

Gappo’s Legacy

by Odysseus

Gappo's Legacy game screenshot courtesy Steam
Gappo’s Legacy – screenshot courtesy Steam

Yes, it’s another shooter wherein players blast oncoming waves of robots, but Gappo’s Legacy, still in Early Access, is attempting to push the boundaries of the VR shooter glut. Besides the story-driven tie-ins – apparently there are both TV and comics series in the works – Gappo’s Legacy adds multiple mechanics like shields and bullet time as well as mixed reality green screen gaming for arcades and festivals. Odysseus look like they’re trying to create a real virtual reality “experience” with this one as opposed to another wave shooter VR cash-in. Time will tell whether or not they’re successful.

Oculus Rift | 3 GB | $8.99 from Steam

VirtuGO

by Surreal Games

VirtuGO game screenshot courtesy Steam
VirtuGO – screenshot courtesy Steam

Remember Klax? Arcade game with tiles falling off a conveyor belt that you had to stack for combos? A bit like a Connect 4 crossed with Tetris? Well, VirtuGO is that, basically (but in VR). Though not particularly original, this could be a lot of fun if Surreal Games gets the input and sound effects right so that the tiles combine with properly satisfying clanks.

Oculus Rift | 1 GB | $1.99 from Steam

Be sure to check back next week for more Oculus Rift and Gear VR releases!