15 Best VR Apps and Experiences You Must Try Once (2019)
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Been eyeing a VR headset of late? Already have one but don’t know which apps to try? Don’t worry, because we’ve got you covered. There are a ton of great virtual reality apps and games in the market today and while a lot of them are quite decent, not every one of them is worth your time. To save you the trouble of going through poor VR experiences, we’ve compiled a list of the best VR apps and games you should try right now, with options across a variety of genres so that all of you find something that catches your fancy:
Note: Some of the apps on this list contain flashing lights and images which might trigger seizures, nausea or headaches use them at your own risk. Prices mentioned in the article are for the Android versions of the apps, wherever applicable, pricing on other platforms may vary.
Best VR Apps (Sections):
Best VR Experiences
For those of you looking for some mind-blowing VR experiences, we’ve compiled a list of VR based experiences that featuring stunning videos that will transport you to a whole new realm. You can explore different 3D environments right from the comfort of your couch and believe me when I say, some of these experiences are just magical.
1. Within
Within is one of the best apps to begin your journey in virtual reality as it offers users a single platform through which they can discover great VR content from creators around the world. The app features immersive VR videos spanning across a variety of genres, from fictional tales to serious documentaries. The experimental section on the app is home to some fun, trippy videos which will transport you to another dimension. If you’re someone who enjoys great video content, then I’m pretty sure you’ll find yourself spending increasing amounts of time on Within. It’s definitely one of the best VR experiences out there.
Supported platforms: Android (Google Daydream), iOS, Windows, Oculus, PlayStation VR, HTC Vive
Price: Free
Download Within (Free)
2. BBC Earth: Life in VR
If you’re looking for something a bit more informative, one of the best VR apps you should definitely check out is BBC Earth: Life in VR. It’s a Google Play Award winning app that allows users to experience the natural world in VR. The cartoonish animation makes the app perfect for young kids who can use it to learn a lot about life around them. The app focuses on the fauna round the Californian coast, delving to a microscopic level to help you discover organisms that you’ve never seen before and it even allows you to dive deep into the ocean alongside a Sperm Whale to get closer to the gargantuan creature than you’ve ever been before.
Supported platforms: Google Daydream exclusive
Price: Free
Download BBC Earth: Life in VR (Free)
3. InCell VR
One of the best virtual reality apps for educational purposes – InCell VR – has been designed to teach you how the human body works by taking you down to the cellular level and helping you understand just what goes on inside the building blocks of our body. In order to make the experience a bit more interesting for you, the app gamifies the biology with an action/racing game thrown into the mix. The stunning visuals, along with the gaming aspect of the app, really go a long way in ensuring that you learn some interesting things about cells and their components.
Supported platforms: Google Cardboard/Daydream, iOS, Samsung Gear VR, Windows, HTC Vive, Oculus
Price: Free
Download InCell VR (Free)
4. Horizons
Not really into all the educational content? Then you should probably try Horizons, a visual masterpiece which takes you an a series of interactive journeys based on the music of renowned producer Bonobo. The app allows you to control the music, and the music, in turn, controls the virtual world in front of your eyes. The psychedelic experience is definitely worth checking out and I’m sure that the visuals, combined with the spatial sound, will amaze you. If you’re a fan of Bonobo’s work, then you shouldn’t think twice before downloading this app.
Supported platforms: Google Daydream
Price: Free
Download Horizons (Free)
5. Star Chart
Take off from Earth and explore the solar system and the wide expanse of space beyond with Star Chart VR – a real-time space simulation which gives you accurate locations of the celestial bodies you can see from Earth. Get up close to the Sun or drift far away to the cold, deep space around Pluto; count Saturn’s rings or view thousands of the most visible stars in the night sky; you can do it all with Star Chart. It’s definitely one of the best immersive apps I’ve tried till date and I especially like the part where the app allows you to experience the most memorable moments of human space exploration, something you might have just seen on TV or YouTube up until now.
Supported platforms: Android (Google Daydream/Google Cardboard), Windows, iOS, macOS, Xbox 360, Oculus
Price: $4.99
Download Star Chart ($4.99)
6. NYT VR
Developed by New York Times, NYT VR takes you up and close to riveting stories captured by the publications journalists. If you’re looking to stay connected and up to date with everything that’s happening around the world, but don’t just want to read news to get that information, then you should definitely try out NYT VR. The app has some amazing content on offer and due to the fact that it immerses you and takes you to ground zero, the experience and the information that you gain about a particular topic are unmatched. Quick tip, download the videos before you play them or you might encounter a black screen if your internet connection isn’t stable.
Supported platforms: Android (Google Daydream/Google Cardboard), iOS, Samsung Gear VR
Price: Free
Download NYT VR (Free)
7. Fulldive VR
Fulldive VR is sort of a social media app for virtual reality which hosts 100 percent user generated content that you can watch on your VR headset. Being a social platform, the app allows you to add friends from around the world and experience their content. You can even share VR content that you created on the platform and you can rest assured that it will reach VR enthusiasts worldwide. Other social features include reactions, comments and sharing, which means that the VR content that you upload on the app sure has a strong chance of going viral. You can even discover other great VR apps and games on the Fulldive, which is an added bonus.
Supported platforms: Android (Google Daydream/Google Cardboard), iOS
Price: Free
Download Fulldive VR (Free)
Best VR Games
In case you’re more interested in an interactive experience, however, you should definitely check out the following VR apps and games. These 3D apps and games provide an interactive experience like no other, with some even giving you the opportunity to play with friends even when you have a single VR headset between you. We have included the best apps and games that offer an immersive experience here and I’m sure you’ll find something great that will help you make good use of your VR headset.
1. Mekorama VR
Mekorama is a fairly popular puzzle game and has featured on many of our best Android games lists, so when I found out that there was a VR version as well, I didn’t think twice before getting it on my phone. For those who haven’t played Mekorama before, it’s a three dimensional puzzle game in which you have to control a cute robot and take him from point A to point B, overcoming tricky obstacles all along the way. The VR version of Mekorama really does justice to the 3D puzzle as it allows you to view the diorama from any angle in full virtual reality. It looks really beautiful, and controlling the robot in VR is just a really fun experience, but unfortunately there’s no multiplayer angle to the game. If puzzle games are your jam, Mekorama VR is definitely one of the best VR apps you’ll find right now. However, the game is only available for Google’s Daydream platform, so unless you have a Daydream ready phone, and a Daydream headset, you’ll not be able to play it.
Supported platforms: Google Daydream
Price: $3.99
Download Mekorama VR ($3.99)
2. Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes
One of the best VR games I’ve tried in a while is “Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes.” In case you’re hanging out with a bunch of friends, but have just a single VR headset between you guys, then you should definitely try out Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes – an engaging puzzle game in which you and your friends have to think fast or all of you risk blowing up. The game’s premise is quite simple to understand, with one player trapped in a virtual room with a ticking time bomb, and the others giving instructions on how they can diffuse the bomb. However, the game in itself is quite tricky as each new bomb is unique and the bomb defusal manual doesn’t really give you the easiest directions. Try it out at your next get together, I’m sure you’ll have a ton of fun.
Supported platforms: Android (Google Daydream), iOS, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Windows, macOS, Linux, Oculus, HTC Vive
Price: $9.99
Download Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes ($9.99)
3. Thumper
Do music based games catch your fancy? Then you should consider trying out Thumper – a rhythm based action game in which you play as a space beetle, running down an endless psychedelic track, trying its best to confront the maniacal giant head from the future. Thumper offers nine different levels of rhythm hell with epic boss battles, simple controls, along with visuals and sounds that will definitely give you a sensory overload. It goes without saying that people who’re susceptible to seizures should stay away from this game as it’s full of flashing lights and images.
Supported platforms: iOS, Windows, Oculus, HTC Vive
Price: $19.99
Download Thumper ($19.99)
4. Virtual Virtual Reality
Another great VR game that has been honored by a Google Play Award for the best VR experience – Virtual Virtual Reality – is also a must try for all of you VR fans out there. As the name suggests, Virtual Virtual Reality puts you in a virtual world where you start as a new worker for Activitude – a sci-fi facility that provides services to AI clients. But that’s not all, there are multiple virtual worlds within this virtual world in which there are a number of mini games that you can play. I won’t spoil the fun for you by giving you all of the details, you really need to try the game to truly experience virtual virtual reality or just too much virtual reality.
Supported platforms: Google Daydream
Price: $8.99
Download Virtual Virtual Reality ($8.99)
5. Deep Space Battle
Looking for something a bit more simple? Perhaps you should give Deep Space Battle a shot. A fun VR game in which you control a spaceship deep in space and defend against the invasion of the Shadow Fleet. It does sound quite easy, but the game can be really challenging to play as you have to control the movements of the ship with your head. You have a variety of ships you can choose from to take down the Shadow Fleet and the best part is that everything is completely free, without any ads. Try out Deep Space Battle if you’re looking for a casual and immersive game that you can play whenever you’ve got a couple of minutes to kill.
Supported platforms: Google Cardboard
Price: Free
Download Deep Space Battle (Free)
6. Rez Infinite
Another VR game that you should definitely try, Rez Infinite is an action packed shooter with incredible environments that you, as a hacker, have to traverse. The game has an otherworldly premise in which you have to travel through cyberspace filled with firewalls, viruses and other obstacles to jumpstart an AI called Eden that has fallen into a vegetative state. Eden is the core of Project-K, a system designed to curb the rising crime rates in the real world. So your failure to reach Eden and get it back up and running will have some serious consequences.
Supported platforms: Android (Google Daydream), PlayStation VR, Oculus, HTC Vive, Windows
Price: Free with in-game purchases
Download Rez Infinite (Free, with in-app purchases)
7. Eclipse: Edge of Light
Explore an alien landscape with Eclipse: Edge of Light, a VR adventure game in which you’re crash landed on an alien planet armed with a powerful relic – the Artifact – that helps you interact with ancient technology and gives you superpowers. Eclipse: Edge of Light has some immersive visuals that will surely blow you away. On top of that, the game makes excellent use of the Daydream controller which really enhances the gameplay aspect of it, you can move around, interact with objects and complete puzzles to progress the storyline.
Supported platforms: Android (Google Daydream), Oculus, Samsung Gear VR
Price: $8.99
Download Eclipse: Edge of Light ($8.99)
8. Twilight Pioneers
Have you ever wondered if you would experience a full-scale RPG in VR? Well, you can with Twilight Pioneers – a first-person action RPG based in a fantasy world full of magic. The game offers an immersive VR experience, making good use of the Daydream controller to give free movement to the players. You can wield a variety of different weapons and embark on a thrilling quest filled with exploration, skirmishes and epic boss battles. It’s like playing World of Warcraft in first-person. Now, I’m sure some of you are going to love that.
Supported platforms: Android (Google Daydream)
Price: Free
Download Twilight Pioneers (Free)
SEE ALSO: 15 Best PlayStation VR Games You Should Be Playing
Check Out The Best VR Apps and Enjoy Your VR Headset
Did any of these aforementioned experiences and immersive apps grab your attention? Have you tried any other VR app that you think should be included on this list? Do let us know in the comments section below. And if, in case, you try out one of the listed experiences, make sure you share which experience you liked the most. In my time testing out these apps, I really liked the Tokyo Light Odyssey and La Fuga videos in the experimental section on Within, you should definitely check those out on your VR headset.
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