Slip the surly bonds of earth in this week’s top Oculus games. Between multi-directional space dogfights, solving mysteries on a space station and hunting down zombies from a heavily armed chopper, gravity turns out to be less a “law” than a “suggestion.”
Overload
from Revival Productions
Created by member of the team behind Descent, this release brings the six-degrees-of-freedom shooter into the modern age with VR support. Overload is…well…overloaded with options for multiple preferred play styles, including a story-driven campaign, multi-player matches, tons of ship customization, and a soundtrack the composers who worked on the three original Descent games.
A warning, though: the original Descent series’ portrayal of zero-gravity space ship combat was dizzying, to say the least, so VR players with motion sensitivity might want to avoid this. But in all aspects, this is absolutely the spiritual sequel fans have been waiting for.
Oculus Rift | 8 GB | $29.99 from Steam
Downward Spiral: Horus Station
from 3rd Eye Studios
The full-length follow-up to 2017’s acclaimed Downward Spiral: Prologue, this game features both an exploration-driven adventure mode and a wave shooter-inspired mode for players more interested in combat.
Both styles of play incorporate an atmospheric and environmental-driven approach to storytelling that borrows from 2001: A Space Odyssey, Alien: Isolation and any number of terrifying Doctor Who episodes set on abandoned space stations.
Oculus Rift | 10 GB | $19.99 from Steam
Along Together
from Turbo Button
A puzzle platformer that focus more on charm than extreme challenge, Along Together is a heart-warming tale that puts the player in the role of a child’s imaginary friend as the two work together to rescue a missing dog. Family-friendly but wonderfully executed, this would make a great introduction to new VR users.
Oculus Rift | 850 MB | $19.99 from Oculus or from Steam
Zombie Gunship Raptor
from Limbic Software
Apart from the obvious zombie-related premise, Zombie Gunship Raptor is an unexpectedly realistic helicopter combat simulator, especially for a mobile VR game. It’s also tons of fun.
Oculus Go | 116 MB | $3.99 from Oculus
Gear VR | 116 MB | $3.99 from Oculus
Nothin’ but Net
from What Up Games
Less an NBA simulator than a neighborhood basketball game, Nothin’ but Net will have you reliving the days of pick-up games and playing H-O-R-S-E with your friends. Both multi-player and solo modes are available, in case your friends aren’t around but you still want to work on your free throws.
Oculus Rift | 325 MB | $9.99 from Steam