The best VR applications for Android that will not leave you indifferent. Programs for virtual reality glasses for Android

One of the easiest and most affordable ways to experience virtual reality is a high-performance phone paired with inexpensive glasses created like Goggle Cardboard. At the moment, mobile game developers have made a big step forward, allowing the average user to enjoy high-quality graphics, good visual and sound accompaniment, as well as the most important thing - exciting gameplay.

On the pages of the Google Play store there are a huge number of interesting applications specifically created for VR devices. At the same time, you can find a large number of frankly raw and weak products that will not bring proper pleasure from the game. In this article, we have selected the best vr android games that will make you take a fresh look at the industry of mobile gaming projects.

The most popular genres of VR games for Android:

• Virtual attractions.
• Arcade.
• Runners.
• Sports simulators.
• Shooters.
• Horror movies.

However, there are actually VR games for Android to suit every taste!

Cedar Point VR

Our selection opens with the exciting game Cedar Point VR. The project is designed as a virtual rail attraction in which the player can feel like a visitor to an amusement park. Sit back comfortably and don’t forget to fasten your seat belts, because right after the start you will feel a real rush of adrenaline from the dizzying roller coaster.

During the game, the gamer will be able to observe a realistic environment, and the excellent feeling of a sharp increase in speed will not make even the most avid fans of virtual attractions bored.

Roller Coaster VR

If you are tired of the amusement park, we recommend going to the Roller Coaster VR project. Like the previous game, this attraction is designed like a rail ride. The player simply finds himself in a trolley, which is heading towards adventure in an amazing and wild world.

Travel to ancient castles, tropical islands and other beautiful places without leaving your home. Sharp turns and deep water obstacles add a special effect. It is worth noting that the Roller Coaster VR game does not require an expensive smartphone and the coolest glasses. You can experience a spectacular journey even with the simplest equipment.

The best arcade games forVR

Deep Space Battle VR

Battles in outer space have always captured the spirit of many fans of science fiction films. If you are also interested in space and flying into unknown worlds, the arcade game Deep Space Battle VR is a great choice.

The essence of the project is to explore space on your combat fighter. Distant spaces are fraught with many mysteries and dangers, such as space pirates and hostile aliens. The player will need quick reactions and a good sense of space. Each battle will be a real challenge - because the enemies are equipped with the latest technology. Destroy enemy ships, explore new worlds and unlock improved fighters, earning in-game currency and experience. Deep Space Battle VR is a game definitely worth your attention.

Best VR action

Galaxy VR Virtual Reality Game

Runners for Android have always been very popular among fans of mobile gaming. We recommend trying the exciting Tunnel Twister VR project in which the player must control a small ball rolling through tunnels. At first glance, the game may seem like a classic time killer, but with each passage the levels will become more and more difficult, so interest and hardcore increase right during the gameplay.

Best Virtual Sports Simulator (VR)

Golf VR

The best vr android games are not only arcade adventures or shooters. Many players around the world liked the interesting sports simulator Golf VR. The developers have transferred all the subtleties of classic golf to their project, adding many interesting new products. In addition to the realistic environment and the ability to choose locations, it may rain heavily during the game, and powerful gusts of wind will affect the behavior of the ball.

If you have never held a real golf club in your hands, it doesn’t matter, with Golf VR you can quickly fill this gap.

The best VR simulator

Perfect Burger VR

The shooter genre has also found its place in virtual reality. In The Lost Future: VR Shooter, the player will be able to play the role of a survivor who must shoot back from hordes of zombies. In the gamer's arsenal there will be a powerful six-barreled machine gun, as well as several options for traps and mines. Give the living dead a real lesson and save your life.

The game is made in the form of a shooting gallery. The player is gradually attacked by hordes of zombies, which increase their strength with each new wave. To stop evil spirits, you need to accurately shoot at enemies, do not forget to use special means and repair broken barricades.

Best VR RPG

Heroes of the Seven Seas VR

House of Terror V is one of the best VR horror games for Android. This game is interesting because you can move freely around the game map (for this, however, you will need a bluetooth controller). In the game you explore a creepy house and you will have to make a lot of efforts not to fall into the hands of the monsters that live there.

You have to solve puzzles, look for clues and, above all, try to survive.

We have selected the most exciting and interesting VR projects for Android so that visitors to our resource do not waste their time on frankly boring and crude games. By installing any of the games presented, you can be sure of good quality and exciting gameplay that will really drag you on for a long time. Fast dynamics, good graphics and a deep immersion effect will help you escape from boring and gray everyday life and plunge headlong into the exciting world of virtual reality.

Virtual reality comes into the home. HTC Vive and Oculus Rift are already available to users, and now a helmet from Sony has joined them. All three inventions offer a specific set of games that are different from the others. If the PlayStation VR collection is quite limited, then PC helmets have acquired various simulators that are suitable for both quiet housewives and hard-core gamers. We have compiled for you a list of the most interesting of them that will justify the purchase of a helmet.

Elite: Dangerous

The Elite series is more than thirty years old, and it is still at the peak of its glory. Perhaps the success is that its creator, David Braben, follows the same principles: giving players complete freedom. In Elite: Dangerous you can trade, fight or explore unknown spaces. Even on a monitor screen, space travel captivates with the romanticism of the discoverer, let alone complete immersion. The helmet will allow you not only to keep an eye on the sight, but also to look around, feeling like a real space pirate.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a game for parties and friendly company. Its essence is simple: one player puts on a helmet and finds himself in a room with a ticking bomb. The remaining participants reveal the instructions for neutralizing it and explain to the sapper what needs to be done. The game is available for Oculus Rift, Gear VR and PS VR headsets.

Job Simulator

In 2050, all manufacturing positions will be filled by robots. Such professions as a cook or a car mechanic no longer exist. People who want to feel nostalgic can visit a special park and experience first-hand how people used to cook. In this they are helped by unlucky robots who do everything wrong, causing chaos in the workplace.

Batman: Arkham VR

The Batman costume you wear while wearing the goggles is only available on PlayStation VR. The superhero game was developed by Rocksteady, the studio responsible for the three best parts of the Arkhem series. For the virtual adventure, they prepared an independent story an hour and a half long. Unfortunately, such an excerpt is sold at the price of a full game, but will be invaluable to fans of the Dark Knight.

Surgeon Simulator VR

A surgeon simulator is similar to a work simulator with the only difference that instead of a whole list of professions, you will get one - a bloody doctor. Naturally, there is no talk of any serious simulator. You will have to chop the chest with an ax, cut the heart with pliers and feed the lifeless body. You can do this on both Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.

Euro Truck Simulator 2

Continuing the theme of work simulators, we cannot ignore truck drivers. If you think that sitting behind the wheel for 8 hours is fun, feel free to buy Euro Truck Simulator 2. What could be more beautiful than sitting in the cab of a truck and admiring the roadside scenery?

Minecraft VR

The most popular block placement game officially supports virtual reality. The good news is that you don't need to buy an expensive Oculus Rift to immerse yourself in it; the modest Gear VR will do just fine. High resolution isn't necessary for a pixelated world, so you won't lose anything.

Hover Junkers

This game shows what many have been waiting for - a multiplayer shooter in virtual reality. Players move on flying platforms, which they customize at their discretion. After flying out, they fight each other, hiding and peeking out from behind cover. Virtual space greatly affects perception: you can knock a can over your opponent's head or blow your own brains out if you want. This is unlikely to bring any benefit, but it will demoralize the enemy.

Eve: Valkyrie

The Icelandic simulator has been around for a long time. It was one of the first virtual reality games. Over time, the graphics have become outdated, but space battles look just as impressive. You won’t see anything other than classic flights between the giant bodies of cruisers, but you will feel like one of the Battlestar Galactica fighter pilots.

Pool Nation VR

Why do you need glasses if they can't replace an entire playroom? The HTC helmet can. Pool Nation VR not only has a pool table, but also a dart board hanging on the wall. In this dimly lit bar, you can move from one activity to another with your friends, as long as they also have a helmet. Otherwise, you will have to roll the balls alone.

Alien Isolation VR

Those who for some reason bought an Oculus Rift rather than an HTC Vive don’t have to be upset. Their device supports the most terrible and canonical Alien game - Alien Isolation. Wandering through the dark corridors of the space station and climbing in narrow ventilation shafts will become even scarier when you can’t turn away from the monster’s mouth.

Assetto Corsa VR

After Kazunori Yamauchi announced Gran Turismo Sport, Assetto Corsa became the best car simulator to date. It doesn't have the largest fleet of cars, but it definitely has the most flawless physics. Assuming you have a steering wheel, buying an Oculus Rift makes sense, since VR support only exists for this headset.

Dear Esther

Like the previous game, Dear Esther is a Facebook Points exclusive. Unlike racing, you don't have to do anything in Dear Esther. This game is like an audiobook with beautiful visuals. Whether to buy an Oculus Rift for it is an individual question, but if you are in love with this story, then the answer is obvious.

Half-Life 2 VR

While you're waiting for the third part of Half-Life, the second one has appeared for virtual reality glasses. Now it is supported by both helmets: HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. We warn you: the game may cause nausea from the hefty pixels.

Shufflepuck Cantina Deluxe VR

Back in 1989, the game Shufflepuck Cafe was released, which featured Star Wars board games. Now an unofficial sequel, or rather a reboot, has been released. It features one entertainment, which in the fictional universe is called Shufflepuck, which in our world is usually called air hockey. Competitions follow a standard pattern: you climb the ladder, from the weakest player to the strongest.

Dying Light

The spiritual successor to Dead Island doesn't look perfect: some of the menu buttons are blurred, the camera turns crookedly, but the game is still fun. Running away from zombies across the rooftops of a metropolis is just as interesting as hiding from the Alien. Only Oculus Rift owners can afford this pleasure.

Subnautica

Subnautica seems like your average diving game, until you discover that you don't recognize the fish here. The fact is that this simulator is about survival in an unknown ocean. Your task is to explore the underwater depths on a submarine or in scuba gear and find items that will help you survive in an alien world. The game is still in Early Access and currently only supports Oculus Rift.

Lucky's Tale

The adventure about a little fox comes complete with Oculus Rift. It looks like a standard platformer, where the hero jumps over gaps, climbs onto ledges and collects coins. The special thing is that you can do this by looking around. Why look around in a platformer? Because it becomes more convenient and interesting to play this way.

The authors' simple premise is an intense survival experience in outer space. The main character constantly requires oxygen, which he receives from cans scattered around the space station. The problem is that the station is destroyed and you will have to explore its wreckage so as not to die, but at the same time learn the history of the crew. Only Oculus Rift owners can wear the astronaut suit.

The Climb

The Crysis developers announced this game a long time ago. In it you need to climb to the top of a mountain, grabbing ledges. The steep slope may cause dizziness for those who are particularly sensitive. That's what the game is designed for - to show how cool and dangerous it is to engage in mountaineering. The downside is that it takes no more than 30 minutes, and you probably won’t want to repeat this climb.

Robinson: The Journey

Another game from the Crytek studio that is more like a real adventure is Walking with Dinosaurs. In it you don't have to perform monotonous actions. You will explore the world of the jungle, in which people find themselves under mysterious circumstances. The story lasts just over two hours and does not offer a grandiose picture, as it is distributed exclusively for PS VR.

Everest VR

If you're looking for better quality, then check out the HTC Vive exclusive Everest VR. This interactive expedition won't have you solving puzzles or jumping over ledges, but it will show you how to climb the world's tallest mountain. Like other games in this headset, Everest VR limits your movement, forcing you not to walk, but to jump between selected points on the surface.

Shooting Showdown 2

Shooting Showdown 2 looks like a primitive shooting gallery, but everything is explained by the platform. The game was released only on Gear VR and uses the power of the phone. With a cardboard case and Bluetooth controller, you can play it anywhere.

Superhot VR

Even the standard version of Superhot looks original. In this game, time moves simultaneously with the hero. When a character stops moving, time stops, and so do all objects. It is very important to monitor your surroundings, as a bullet can fly out from around the corner. In virtual reality it is easier to dodge, because the viewing angle is wider. The helmet version will be released on December 6, 2016.

Resident Evil 7

Those who played the demo version of the seventh part of the series know how scary it is to wander around an abandoned mansion. There are butchered animal carcasses lying around, knitted dolls hanging from the ceiling, and an incomprehensible rustling sound comes from behind the wall. Imagine what these scenes will look like when headphones and a helmet separate you from the outside world. You will be able to find out what sensations this causes in January 2017, but in the meantime, watch our report from Igromir, where we talk about the version for PS VR.

Virtual Reality Game is the miracle of the gaming industry that everyone has been waiting for. The appearance of this was predicted by prophets, science fiction writers, and anyone, because such a cool interaction interface allows you not only to immerse yourself in the passage, but to escape from reality altogether. The film The Matrix, the anime Sword Art Online and other works have widely covered this topic, often going too far. But in fact, full-scale development of games for a virtual helmet is now underway, and even serious developers are thinking about transferring their most luxurious franchises like Fallout, Mass Effect or the new No Man Skies to this platform.

You simply connect the system to your computer and, using specialized programs, set up the downloaded actions so that you can put this miracle of technology on your head and enjoy falling into a wonderful dream, where you have a lot of cartridges, crowds of mutants roam around, or you participate in a cooperative playthrough colorful arcade. Bowling simulators, shooting games and other simple applications have already appeared on the market, and more impressive projects will soon be created.

In general, virtual reality glasses will in theory be an integral part of the new hybrid of games - open world, RPG and action. Here you can chat with non-player characters, and at the same time, an Internet connection is also implemented, because wandering alone is of course fun, but multiplayer is a whole new level of entertainment. So, when purchasing these glasses, you should not only remember the need to buy a powerful PC with a cool video card, but also understand that the coolest world created by programmers awaits you. After all, VR will soon become the basis of any playthrough, because cutting yourself off from boring everyday life and diving into an action adventure with a first-person view is real happiness.

Are your relatives annoying you? Do your parents constantly talk about the need to make decisions? Is your wife whining about little things? Are your kids scratching the walls with their nails and making it difficult to concentrate? Stop putting up with it - put the VR glasses on your head and just fly away from all the nonsense that is trying to penetrate your mind.

Maybe even interesting virtual games, which already allow you to kill opponents by tasting their blood. And all thanks to the wise implementation of the developers, who make full use of the color rendering capabilities of virtual reality glasses.

In addition, when using this equipment, you will feel independent from the world around you, as if you were able to move into another dimension where you are welcome. This is where pleasure and pleasure come from, because every second spent in a virtual reality game will be the most precious one in your life.

You can already download video games by torrent, which combine conventional gameplay technologies and also guarantee support for VR glasses. Real-time sleep is another way to describe this gameplay, and you'll be blown away by the joy of putting the device on your head and immersing yourself in the action. While at home, you can connect with friends via the Internet and together begin a journey through dungeons, wild deserts of a post-apocalyptic future, or modern megacities, where dozens of interesting tasks await you. There you can really become a powerful magician who uses top-secret spells, a soldier who has a cool minigun on his back, or just a traveler who has skills for different occasions.

We live in a time when the development of games and other projects in virtual reality is in full swing.

The era of virtual reality has finally arrived (of course, VR headsets are not yet available to everyone due to high prices), and just a year after the release of the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift headsets, there are already plenty of great VR games on the market. Here is a selection of our favorite projects, which will be updated as new games are released in 2018.

Superhot VR

Developer: Superhot Team | Compatibility: Oculus Rift

Superhot VR is rich in various tricks. Throwing a brick at the enemy, knocking the gun out of his hands, catching the weapon and finishing off the enemy on the head with the handle, and then shooting three enemies in a helicopter behind you is one of the typical sketches of the game. This can take a few minutes or a couple of seconds - it all depends on how quickly you come up with the most spectacular way to get rid of your opponents. Here you can slow down time, but if in the original Superhot, due to traditional shooter mechanics, the player could avoid shootings, then in VR a slightly different scheme operates.

All enemies run directly towards you, which turns the levels into scenes from The Matrix, where agents, one after another, pursued the main character. And you just have to decide how to deal with them, using all available objects and weapons, while dodging bullets, knives, baseball bats, etc. The narrative here, like the original, often breaks the fourth wall, which only adds to the unique atmosphere of Superhot VR.

Skyrim VR

Developer: Bethesda | Compatibility: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive

Bethesda is investing heavily in VR, developing VR versions of Doom, Fallout 4 and Skyrim. All three of these games are good for VR, but Skyrim is the most enjoyable to play. Even if you have hundreds of hours spent in Skyrim, in VR the game world will again feel new and unknown.

While it's not as interactive as games made specifically for VR, it's fully playable, and swinging swords and axes, blocking with shields, and firing spells from your hands is a lot of fun. What you've already seen dozens of times - a towering fortress, moons in the night sky and a dragon circling overhead - takes on new meaning because you have to physically crane your neck to see it all. The price is certainly steep: Skyrim VR costs a whopping $60, although it comes bundled with all existing DLC, and with a few minor tweaks it will be able to work with mods.

Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality

Developer: Owlchemy Games | Compatibility: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift

It would be nice if you happen to be a fan of this cartoon to have at least some idea of ​​what's going on (and why everyone is yelling at you), but even if you're not familiar with the characters, there are still plenty of fun puzzles here and creative toys. Playing as a clone of young Morty, you complete various tasks: some simple (at first glance), such as cleaning, others you need to move through portals to other planets.

The real fun is experimenting with the fantastic gadgets in Rick's garage, including the shrink ray, a device that allows you to fuse any two objects together, and the Meeseeks Ball, which allows you to summon assistants who mimic your every move. This cartoony game is one of the most compelling things to come to VR today because it's fun and interactive.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

Developer: Steel Crate Games | Compatibility: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift

Keep Talking can easily be called the most family-friendly bomb disposal simulator. It’s family-friendly because, according to the developers, the role of the sapper is played by one person, while the rest delve into the weighty bomb disposal manual (the electronic version is included in the kit and, in theory, needs to be printed out) and shout out the procedure.

The virtual reality here is not particularly believable, but the fact that you are in a room with a complex explosive mechanism creates the necessary tension. And if you want to look at the manual yourself and leave the bomb unattended, it will explode. You can play not only with a VR headset, but also on a regular monitor. And everything is in the black (except for those that exploded).

Robo Recall

Developer: Epic Games | Compatibility: Oculus Rift

In this VR shooter from Epic Games, you are tasked with tracking down robber robots. Shoot with a shotgun or two pistols, but don't forget that everything you see can be picked up and used as a weapon or shield. You can pull bullets and projectiles out of thin air and deflect them back at your enemies, as well as tear off limbs or heads from robots and use them as weapons as well. As an action game, it's absolutely amazing and provides tons of fun.

Thumper

Developer: Drool | Compatibility: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift

Thumper looked great before, but after being transferred to VR it became truly mesmerizing. The gameplay here is not particularly difficult - the main thing is to get into the rhythm and not crash into corners - but at the same time it keeps you in suspense. As one reviewer put it, "It's a psychedelic race through a complex, geometric world where you'll have to fight your way through obstacles while balancing on slippery and fragile surfaces." In VR, all this looks like a living nightmare that doesn’t want to end.

Obduction

Developer: Cyan Inc. | Compatibility: Oculus Rift

In this game, the Cyan company has created a world that is amazingly rich in detail, which is much more interesting to explore in VR - this way all the smallest nuances are revealed that you might have missed in the regular version. Obduction, as a continuation of the traditions laid down in Myst and Riven, is full of spatial puzzles, and their solutions are often right in front of the player's eyes. In my review, I said that this game "keeps the feel of Myst without feeling dated"; multiply this by two and you will understand what its VR version is. It feels like you're in a classic Myst world, but it's so realistic that you sometimes have to lean over something to get a better look.

Obduction looks so great in VR precisely because the original gameplay from Myst seemed tailor-made for virtual reality. You jump from one point to another, then look around and collect the necessary items. The mechanics and pacing of the game didn't need any changes at all to fit into VR. You can, of course, just run around this world (if your vestibular system allows it), but Cyan has made each jump point so interesting and unusual that you want to act exactly as the developers intended.

Chronos

Developer: Gunfire Games | Compatibility: Oculus Rift

Chronos is an excellent example of how a beloved genre, after being transferred to VR, sparkled with new colors, while increasing the effect of presence. In my review, I wrote the following about the game: “This is a time-tested action-RPG in the spirit of The Legend of Zelda with a combat system and puzzles that will seem familiar to all fans of the genre. But to me, Chronos was able to do something that Zelda couldn't. What any game running on a monitor or TV screen could not achieve. Even if the game completely absorbs me, I can’t say that I feel like I’m on the other side of the monitor. And Chronos in VR evokes exactly that feeling. I was literally in and really didn’t want this adventure to end.”

This is an exciting 15-hour adventure where you will explore an open world with many interconnected (and for the most part beautiful) locations, as well as master the combat system, where it is important to catch the pace in each battle. Compared to RPGs like Dark Souls, the game is noticeably simpler, but with every minute in VR it draws you deeper into its universe. If I were asked to name a single Oculus Rift project that should not be missed, I would undoubtedly think of Chronos.

Elite: Dangerous

Developer: Frontier Developments | Compatibility: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive

Elite: Dangerous is the first commercial game originally developed for VR, and therefore it demonstrates the full capabilities of this technology to the maximum. Intense space battles between lumbering battleships and nimble fighters look great from the cockpit. It's like you're in space battles straight out of Star Wars. The camera allows you to turn your head to watch enemy fighters flying past. If you play with a joystick, you can lower your head and look at the pilot's body and his hands, which exactly follow your movements. And if the cabin is not too narrow, you can even stand up and walk around it.

But the game isn't just about shooting in outer space. Elite in VR looks impressive no matter what you do: even docking with ships looks incredible, not to mention the magnificent views of space itself. You'll never forget your first flight through an asteroid ring. Millions of slowly rotating asteroids will appear before your eyes, and before you know it, you will stop for a minute or two to admire the spectacle. The galaxy is beautiful on regular 2D screens, but in VR you really feel its scale. Flights at the speed of light and moments of docking with ships also look incredible - all this due to immersion in the game world. When jumping to other solar systems, you will unconsciously curl up in your seat as you watch billions of stars flash by.

By the way, flights in Elite are rich in small details. The ships look massive and realistic, and each model behaves differently. They're all unique, from the Hauler (a clunky cargo ship given out early in the game) to the nimble Eagle and Cobra fighters. Of course, in VR these differences are only more striking. It is highly recommended to play with headphones, as the sound effects allow you to immerse yourself deeper into the illusion of space - especially helpful.

Elite: Dangerous can be called a pioneer in the field of creating games with the effect of complete immersion in virtual reality. After its release, many games were released that were developed specifically for VR headsets, but they have not yet been able to surpass it. This is a rare example of a game that is interesting to play in VR, and not just run for an hour and compare the sensations with the regular version. But be careful: there are a lot of sharp turns waiting for you here, and when you return to reality, you may be a little dizzy, especially if you have spent more than one or two hours in the game.

Hover Junkers

Developer: Stress Level Zero | Compatibility: HTC Vive

Of all the VR games, Hover Junkers has the most interesting control system. The game looks like a shooter with a cover system - you have to hide behind the walls of your vehicle, consisting mainly of wooden beams and pieces of metal. With one hand you need to steer a vehicle assembled from all sorts of rubbish, and with the other you need to shoot enemies, while spending most of the time in cover.

Aiming here is quite difficult, but over time you get used to it; It is also worth noting the extremely detailed recharging process, which occurs almost like in real life. For example, when reloading a pistol, pressing the controller's trackpad opens the drum, bullets are inserted into it using circular movements of the trackpad, and a characteristic movement of the wrist closes the drum. This is a simple technique, but when you have almost finished off your opponent or are hanging on the brink of death, it is easy to panic and slam the drum harder than you should.

The main problem with Hover Junkers is that it is a multiplayer game, and the list of players online is either empty or reduced to two or three. This doesn't make the game bad, so let's hope the number of players increases - after all, quite a few people have already purchased a Vive headset this year.

Accounting

Developer: Crows Crows Crows, Squanchtendo | Compatibility: HTC Vive

If you like the long, almost entirely improvised dialogue from the animated series Rick and Morty, then you'll definitely love this new creation from Justin Roiland (the show's creator) and Crows Crows Crows. The game Accounting can be praised for a long time for its original sense of humor, but it made it onto this list thanks to one of its characters - we are talking about a two-headed xylophone skeleton. This beautiful and at the same time frightening creature lingers in the memory for a long time, and it looks as if it came straight from someone's hallucination.

Job Simulator

Developer: Owlchemy Labs | Compatibility

When purchasing an HTC Vive headset, this game comes included and is, as the name suggests, an office walking simulator. Everything is simple here - the player is given the opportunity to wander around the room, wave his arms and interact with the environment. And interactions with objects (there are a lot of them) in the office or kitchen are often accompanied by witty comments.

Yes, the game gets boring quickly, and you’re unlikely to want to play it again, but it can be shown whenever someone asks why everyone loves VR so much. Job Simulator will at least make even the skeptics smile.

The Lab

Developer: Valve | Compatibility: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift (with Touch system)

Valve's free VR app is another great way to get started with VR technology. It's full of different mini-games that unlock some of the potential of VR. There's also an adorable robot dog.

Fantastic Contraption

Developer: Northway Games | Compatibility: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift (with Touch system)

Fantastic Contraption offers seemingly simple tasks like “move that pink bubble into the pink box,” which look much more fun in virtual reality than before. Here is a puzzle for building various human-sized mechanisms. Using handles, spinning cylinders, and your own creativity, you'll create designs that will shuffle around the level, and trivial tasks like the one mentioned above become noticeably more difficult over time.

What's impressive about Fantastic Contraption is, first of all, its intuitive controls. Creating structures here is essentially connecting the dots, and modifying objects works exactly as expected. Do you need the part to become longer? Stretch it. Do you want the wheel to spin in the other direction? Just spin it in the opposite direction. Don't need the connector anymore? Throw it behind your back and it will disappear. Even at the most difficult levels, the main challenge lies in creating the right plan, not in executing it.

Developers from Northway Games are also promoting a rather interesting concept - during testing of the game they used cameras and a green screen and recorded video of the actions of players in VR. As a result, everything looked as if the player was really in the game world. It's an interesting idea on top of an equally interesting game.

Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator

Developer: SCS Software | Compatibility: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive

Virtual reality can take you to amazing fantasy worlds, but this technology also demonstrates its capabilities in a game that invites you to get behind the wheel of a truck and drive along German highways. Euro Truck Simulator 2 is great in its own right, and with the release of new headsets, SCS Software has added Rift and HTC Vive support to the game. Detailed instructions for setting up the game for these devices can be found on the Steam forums.

The gameplay, as the name hints, consists of simulating the profession of a truck driver: while driving a truck, you have to transport various cargoes across European cities, while observing traffic rules. The gameplay is surprisingly addictive, despite its mundane nature, and the game itself is made very well. And the VR mode here is simply wonderful. Detailed cabs that match the cabs of real trucks create a tangible immersive experience. Here you can look around, watching the passing clouds, or lean out the window at moments when you need to drive through a narrow tunnel.

The weather change is also implemented here. Raindrops running down the glass as you pick up speed is one of the many little things that make up local realism. It's like you're actually driving a truck through bad weather. And if you play in VR and at the same time connect a controller in the form of a steering wheel, then the illusion becomes even more convincing - connecting the steering wheel, of course, is not necessary, but it is highly recommended.

Euro Truck Simulator 2 recreates an amazing portion of Europe, including the UK and Scandinavia, along with their countless highways. And those roads that looked great in the regular version look even more natural in VR. The most beautiful of the countries presented can be called Norway with its picturesque valleys, lakes and forests, which you never tire of admiring during every trip. Oddly enough, the fact that the game is based on mundane actions makes it more realistic than, for example, Elite - there is no need to use your imagination. You may not be attracted to the idea of ​​playing a truck driving simulator, much less in VR, but believe me, this game is worth giving a chance.

The Gallery Episode 1: Call of Starseed

Developer: Cloudhead Games | Compatibility: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift

It was clear from the start that a first-person shooter adventure in the vein of Myst would be perfect for VR. And so it happened: two for VR today are Obduction and The Gallery. In the first episode of The Gallery, you will find yourself on a gloomy island at night, trying to understand what is happening on it, while at the same time becoming immersed in the local atmosphere. Walking around the island and exploring every corner of it, as well as studying the objects found... well, it all looks very plausible.

In VR projects like this, the main thing is the ability to create a realistic atmosphere, and thanks to attention to certain details, The Gallery succeeds in this. Such details include lightning strikes, the ability to hold sheets of paper up to your face to read text, and various nuances in the decorations, such as medieval candlesticks with candles that can be removed and extinguished. This is exactly what kept me engaged for the first hour in The Gallery, and by this time an intriguing story in a sci-fi style had already begun to spin. This is the first game I've seen with an episodic system in VR, and I'm more than confident that I'll play through it to the end.

Space Pirate Trainer

Developer: I-Illusions | Compatibility: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift (with Touch)

Space Pirate Trainer is a VR analogue of the famous game Space Invaders. The gameplay here is straightforward and unpretentious - you are given weapons and waves of fast drones are sent down on you. It's one of those VR games that offers a shooting range spectacle (thankfully, the Vive's joysticks provide precision and shooting comfort), but Space Pirate Trainer feels head and shoulders above its competitors.

Even in Early Access mode, Space Pirate Trainer has no complaints. Each weapon has several firing modes for different fighting styles - there is even a solid laser beam and cartridges that kill enemies with one hit. Drones make distinctive noises before firing, so you can counterattack or dodge, Matrix style. Time slows down as enemy beams come your way, making it a real pleasure to dodge them while still shooting at the drones. By the way, these rays can also be reflected with a shield, which is obtained by pressing the corresponding button.

It's extremely difficult to stop playing Space Pirate Trainer. If this was a slot machine that accepted coins, I would definitely lose all my pocket money in a day.

Eve: Valkyrie

Developer: CCP | Compatibility: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, OSVR

Here is a short review of Eve: Valkyrie, which touches on the main pros and cons of space battles from CCP. The game is full of spectacular moments - when you aim at an enemy ship and fire missiles, when you evade fighters, and then, after a steep dive, catch them in the crosshairs - the excitement in such moments is indescribable. It is enough to spend only a few minutes in the game to feel it.

But, unfortunately, the emotions from these scenes are quickly interrupted by a leisurely system of gaining experience necessary to unlock new ships and parts for them, a very short passage mode and an inconvenient interface, where all the important information is scattered across numerous sections in the menu.

The battles themselves are well executed, but the game lacks the depth and strategic elements of another space simulator, Elite: Dangerous. As one reviewer wrote, if Valkyrie were a slot machine, it “would fit perfectly somewhere between the immortal Time Crisis 2 and Star Wars Battlepod. The action here is done at a high level and can convince anyone in 20 minutes that VR has a great future. But after the first half hour you will find more than one reason to quit the game. And your stomach won’t appreciate the long somersaults at the helm of a spaceship.”

Alien: Isolation

Developer: The Creative Assembly | Compatibility: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive

If you have ever watched the movie “Alien” and imagined yourself on the ship “Nostromo” in the place of the heroes who are pursued by perhaps the most famous creation of the artist Hans Giger, then you are very lucky. The game does not officially support Oculus Rift, but there is a way out - you just need to know how to activate VR. To do this, go to the game folder, open the ENGINE_SETTINGS.XML file and in the ‘stereo mode’ line change the value from ‘off’ to ‘on’. And to run the game on the Vive headset, you will need VorpX drivers. As you can see, getting started is not at all difficult. It is much more difficult to complete the game itself, since the eerie atmosphere literally chills to the bone. If you thought that she looked scary on the monitor screen, then imagine your feelings in VR, where sometimes just a few centimeters separate you from the deadly xenomorph.

Isolation is a survival horror game based on Ridley Scott's 1979 sci-fi film, and it perfectly recreates the film's atmosphere with palpable tension. You find yourself face to face with that same Alien on a huge ship. He wanders somewhere nearby and is looking for you, and his behavior is impossible to predict.

You need to find keys, open doors, collect information from computers as quietly as possible in order to ultimately leave the ship. And the almost pitch-black darkness on the Sevastopol space station in the Rift VR headset seems even more oppressive than before. The claustrophobia and fear that the Alien will catch you are sometimes so strong that you want to quit the game and take a breath, but after each level passed, relief and pride in yourself comes - after all, in the end, you were able to outwit the Alien.

For fans, this game is also an opportunity to admire familiar locations. One of the missions takes place aboard the ship where the crew of the Nostromo first encountered alien life. Looking at the legendary 'pilot' you can feel as if you are on a film set. Even if you're afraid of being in the same room with an Alien, Isolation is worth trying out in VR, if only for the famous fantasy scenery that looks real in 3D. It's no surprise that the horror genre is so popular among VR game developers. This technology perfectly conveys the feeling of claustrophobia that successful games in this genre are usually built on.

Of course, not every gamer can handle such an experience: even fans of horror games will look at their preferences in a new way by trying out Alien: Isolation on Oculus Rift. Developers at The Creative Assembly hid the VR mode in the game, but they should have tweaked it a little and actively promoted it as an additional feature.

Now virtual reality technologies are actively promoted by a variety of companies. And we're not just talking about these accessories for expensive products like the PS4 or top-end Samsung smartphones. In principle, every user can now buy decent virtual reality glasses, because they cost around two to three thousand rubles. The main thing is that the smartphone matches them. Today we’ll talk about how to use VR glasses after purchasing them.

What is needed for VR glasses to work?

Operating system: Android at least KitKat;

The dimensions of the smartphone must correspond to the recess in the glasses;

A set of sensors: accelerometer and gyroscope.

Optionally, you can add a resolution of at least Full HD. In principle, this cannot be called a necessity. But from personal experience I will say that with HD on a five-inch screen, the feeling of the game deteriorates significantly, because the picture is grainy and of poor quality. Accordingly, if this HD is maintained at 5.5 inches, then the pixel density will drop even more, leading to more image distortion.

Otherwise, the process of using virtual reality glasses for a smartphone is extremely simple. First, we stock up on relevant software and media (apps, games, movies, etc.). Then we launch the desired program, insert the smartphone into a special recess inside the glasses, fix it - and that’s it! Now let's go through the software. And we will start, of course, with games.

Games for VR glasses

Very cool content is created by the Fibrum studio. Many toys provide the opportunity to go through a demo level in order to check out the gameplay and answer the question “Do I need to buy the full version?” Among the coolest creations are Space Stalker, Zombie Shooter and Roller Coaster (where would we be without it?!). However, the list of VR games from the Fibrum studio does not end there. The graphics in them can hardly be called realistic, but the gameplay itself is addictive, that’s for sure.

Although “Roller Coasters” can be found on Google Play in huge quantities from many other developers. Another interesting toy is “Survival Horror 3D”. A kind of horror that looks terrifying in virtual reality glasses (even adjusted for the graphic part). But at this point, a very important thing needs to be mentioned: a considerable percentage of similar applications require an additional accessory to control the character. It can be a wired joystick, but it is better to buy a Bluetooth controller. It is more compact and there will be no problems with wires.

Google Play is rich in VR games in more than just shooters and racing games. Here, in addition to Traffic Racer or Mountain Sniper, you can even find a wingsuit jump simulator. Or a fly flight simulator. Or a spaceship. Or a combat aircraft. I could list them endlessly, but I think everything is clear. In general, the choice is up to the user. After spending at least an hour or two searching, you can find several good toys for VR glasses, from which we will get no less pleasure than from playing regular games.

Now we will talk about combining software with multimedia, namely watching movies in virtual reality glasses. Actually, after games, this is the second reason that encourages people to buy appropriate accessories. This especially motivates those who like to go to the cinema to watch a screening in 3D format. What could be better than having your own movie theater at your fingertips, and with the ability to pause the movie at any moment? And although there are quite a few similar applications on Google Play, we will consider only one player, because it has everything we need.

VaR’s VR Player is a multimedia player for viewing both 3D videos and VR videos with a laconic, but stylish and intuitive user interface. The application allows you to play files that are already available directly on your smartphone (choice either through the gallery or through the directive browser). In addition, if the video is posted on the site, you can simply enter its URL in the appropriate menu, so as not to download files and waste time on it. If, of course, traffic allows it.

This program for the Android platform is distributed absolutely free of charge and now, after several updates, it appears on Google Play with the postfix “Pro”. The only purchased content costs 259 rubles, and with its help we can disable annoying advertising. By the way, this is the only drawback of the application. At least in my opinion. Although ratings and reviews on Google Play most likely only confirm my point of view. An analogue application can be called the AAA VR Cinema program.

Want a lot of VR videos? It's doable!

There is special software for this. If you purchased Google Cardboard, then I recommend downloading the corresponding application. But if the virtual reality glasses are from another manufacturer, then universal software tools come to the rescue. Now I will talk about how to use the Fulldive program and what it has to offer, as well as how to watch VR videos directly from Youtube.

As for the Fulldive program... In my opinion, the name “Full Immersion” fully justifies the functionality of the program. In principle, he is not interested in what type of headset the user has. And this makes it stand out against the background of the same Cardboard, designed specifically for owners of VR glasses of the same name.

First of all, the Russified assistant will tell the novice user about the controls in the application, and will also show what is located and where. As for the “arsenal,” the number of videos collected in the general library is simply off the charts. It’s especially cool that they are divided into categories. So, if you are tempted to watch a couple of short horror films at night, you just need to hover the virtual cursor over the appropriate category and wait until filtering occurs.

FullDive contains information not only about videos, but also about games. It's a pity, of course, that there is no possibility of direct downloading. Instead, the program will generate a link and save it, but the user will have to go to Google Play themselves and download from there. The reason for this phenomenon is most likely that not all VR games are free. However, I already talked about this at the beginning of the article, when we talked about the Fibrum studio and other “creators” of virtual reality games. Now a little about Youtube.

This type of content is suitable for both advanced users and those who are just starting their acquaintance with VR technologies. In such videos, shot using 360-degree technology, the user does not have any freedom in terms of movement. He sees only what the fixed camera around him was able to capture. But who said it shouldn't be cool? I assure you: a parachute jump and a roller coaster look quite impressive, especially on smartphones with good screen resolution.

To watch such videos, you do not need to download special applications. Nowadays, many Android smartphones come with a pre-installed application from Youtube, where you can find such “videos”. If this program is not available, then we simply turn to the browser version of the site. In any case, the request will be the same: 360. After turning on the corresponding video, you will need to click on the VR headset icon in the lower right part of the player.

Play GTA 5 with VR glasses? Easily!

There is one interesting program called Trinus. It allows you to synchronize your PC/laptop with your smartphone via either a wired USB connection or wireless (via a shared Wi-Fi hotspot). The point is that after synchronizing the images from the monitor, they are also displayed on the smartphone screen, and, thanks to the presence of a gyroscope, our head movements will be perceived within the game itself. The effect is especially noticeable in games with the possibility of sniper shooting: Sniper Ghost Warrior or Counter-Strike at worst. But we note that such a connection can be made with all games. And playing solitaire with VR glasses or driving a car in GTA 5 is the user’s choice. But let's take a closer look at how to set up Trinus to work.

You can find software for a personal computer on the developer’s official website, and the mobile version of the application on Google Play. I would like to immediately warn you that the trial version only allows device synchronization for 15 minutes. Then the connection is lost and will have to be established again. In fact, this can be done indefinitely. But the only question is the comfort of such use.

With a wired connection, performance will be better, but mobility is lost due to the wire. I recommend setting the balance between picture quality and speed in the settings of the smartphone version of the program, but on the computer set the resolution in games to 800x600. Moreover, run the game itself in windowed mode. This will help save precious FPS and avoid frame drops as much as possible.

Other useful programs

Several more applications have been developed by Google for curious users. These are Google Street View, Google Arts and Culture and others. We will dwell in detail only on Street View. The rest of the software can be easily found in the wilds of Google Play.

I remember that at one time many were fans of the Google service, which made it possible to navigate the streets of almost any city in 3D mode. Users, in turn, got the opportunity to look at many parts of the globe at all 360 degrees. In fact, travelers were able to “drive” through the chosen city virtually. Nowadays, many users still resort to using the desktop version of the service in order to be partially prepared for a real expedition.

However, owners of VR glasses will be interested in trying to adapt the service to a smartphone application. However, if your headset does not provide external control buttons, you will have to fork out for a Bluetooth controller or its wired equivalent. There is simply no other way to navigate the streets.

Conclusion

As you can see, there is plenty of content for VR glasses on the Internet and, in particular, on Google Play. Games, movies, videos - all this leaves no chance of getting bored. Today I gave examples of the best applications and gave a basis for using virtual reality technologies. And in favor of what to make a further choice, the user will decide for himself. We can only wish for a strong vestibular apparatus, since this is the only thing that will stop us in the process of using VR glasses.