The SideQuest Indie Spotlight 2023
Our round-up of 15 awesome indie titles, demos, and pre-alphas that launched on SideQuest this year
On December 6, we worked with UploadVR to shine a spotlight on 11 of the many indie titles that launched on SideQuest during 2023 that we believe deserve recognition for their effort, ingenuity, and ability to make a fun game! This is by no means an exhaustive list—we’re seeing awesome new titles coming to SideQuest every month—but for our first Spotlight event, these are the games that have made a splash with us this year.
We also dove into 4 titles that are right in that critical demo or alpha stage that we think should be on your watchlist as we head into 2024, so watch this space!
By testing these games and hosting this event, we aim to support independent developers and help them get their incredible work in front of our fellow VR fans! Because that’s what the SideQuest community is all about—sharing great games and supporting the folks who make them!
Here’s the Spotlight:
Drakheir
“Drakheir is one of the coolest ideas for a hand tracking game in Virtual Realty there is.”—TrueGamer4Realz
With loads of colorful characters inhabiting a gorgeous fantasy world and unique spellcasting mechanics utilizing hand-tracking and even voice controls, Drakheir is one of the most intriguing titles on our list.
Progressing through the story, you’ll get access to a wide range of cool spells to fling at your enemies and a range of power-ups to cause some real havoc. This makes for a one-of-a-kind and pretty challenging experience! Drakheir scratches that fantasy spellcasting itch you might have while demonstrating the potential of hand-tracking and voice commands in VR.
Rooms of Realities
“OMG I love escape rooms and this is top notch.”—Clickster
If you and your friends love escape rooms, then Rooms of Realities is the perfect title to tackle together from the comfort of your own homes. There is a wide variety of engaging puzzles to undertake in this 9-chapter adventure across three drastically different settings, and each puzzle you encounter is genuinely challenging without ever feeling frustrating. You can play Rooms of Realities solo, but it’s definitely at its best when played cooperatively with your pals!
[Get Rooms of Realities on SideQuest]
Bad Dreams
“Very disturbing! The devs are crazy!”—MissChief
Horror fans, take note: Bad Dreams is a pretty disturbing game — but a lot of fun too! Drawing inspiration from a wide range of horror staples like shuffling zombies, chainsaw-wielding maniacs, and mind-bending Lovecraftian weirdness, the developers of Bad Dreams have really shown their creativity (and perhaps a dash of madness) in building this story. If you missed it over Halloween, this should be high on your list.
All-in-one Summer Sports
“If you like Wii Sports or the Switch ones, you will like this VR game so much.”—uftar
It’s clear where All In One Summer Sports draws inspiration from — and that’s no bad thing at all! From the second you open the main menu, it’ll charm you with its art style, fun characters, and a broad selection of summery mini-games. It’s not the hardest selection, but it’s perfect for a little light-hearted competition against the computer, your friends, or a random match-up with online multiplayer. Also, if you like this one, but want a more generic Olympic Games style, check out Appnori’s other title: All In One Sports.
[Get All In One Summer Sports on SideQuest]
Cactus Cowboy: Desert Warfare
“I can’t stop laughing with the dialogue and the characters.”—Gaming Veteran
Cactus Studio’s prickly hero is back for his biggest and most ambitious campaign yet in Cactus Cowboy: Desert Warfare. The roughly 8-hour-long story is a huge amount of fun, with the series’ now signature humor front and center from the moment you boot up the game. Series fans will also be pleased to know that the gunplay is the slickest it’s ever been, with manual reloading, tight handling, and a range of fun customization options to make each weapon your own. There are also several difficulty options to give you a well-balanced bug-blasting experience or a sharp difficulty spike (because cacti).
[Get Cactus Cowboy: Desert Warfare on SideQuest]
Track Craft
“It’s the best Hot Wheels-like MR racing game for Quest.”—SpookyFairy
If you’ve been looking for a game that’ll really show off the power of the Quest 3’s mixed reality capabilities, then Track Craft should be at the top of your list. With a whole bunch of unlockable cars and levels, a really deep custom editor where you can build that track of your dreams — and the ability to share your creations with others around the world, Track Craft is one of our top MR picks and hits you right in the nostalgia (if you ever played with Hotwheels as a kid). With the level of polish—and good times—on offer here, we’re certain that Track Craft will end up on the official store very soon.
[Get Track Craft on SideQuest]
Miracle Pool
“Really enjoyable and I think feels so much more natural and normal than full VR pool games.”—ozzeruk
Miracle Pool is another winner on our list for showcasing the power of MR technology. From the subtle texture of the virtual table to the shine of the balls, Miracle Pool is as close as it gets to setting up a real pool table in your living room. Everything has a satisfying weight and smoothness to it, so playing this game is very aesthetically pleasing as well. There are several game types to try and you can play either against the computer, locally with up to 4 friends, or on online servers. If you’re a pool fan — or if you’re simply after a relaxing low-stakes bit of VR gaming, this is a top title to try — and one of the best casual MR experiences out there.
[Get Miracle Pool on SideQuest]
InRun
“The devs should be really proud of this. Why is it not in the main store? It’s a travesty.”—Slinkyrat
InRun takes the addictive gameplay loop of an endless runner on mobile and brings it to VR with added intensity. With loads to unlock, upgrade, and even a cheesy 80s-inspired story mode to enjoy, there’s a lot more on offer here than first meets the eye with this tongue-in-cheek title. And it’s never dull to see your character breakdancing in the busy street after you’ve totaled your car.
Art of Combat
“The Art of Combat is like Mortal Kombat meets Street Fighter in VR.”—ResolVR
This VR fighter is a compelling mixture of punching, blocking, dodging, and unleashing a range of special moves on your opponent—like the perfect blend of Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter in VR. With a roster of characters to unlock, each with access to a different combination of specials, there’s an element of tactical play to this game — and even easy mode isn’t too easy! Both a good workout and fun beat ’em up — just make sure you make plenty of space before you play, or you might find yourself fireballing your hands into a wall… ouch!
[Get Art of Combat on SideQuest]
AVO Escape Space
“I was only sad when I finished it, as I was enjoying it so much.”—Bob Patrick
An escape room-style adventure for single players only, AVO doesn’t hold your hand at all, leaving you to rely on your puzzle-solving skills to reach the endgame. It also leans into the sci-fi setting with zero-G physics and a nice techy aesthetic to everything. The story is also engaging, with you roleplaying as the sole inhabitant of a space station after your escape pod fails to launch. It’s tense stuff and will definitely test your critical thinking skills. If you’re looking for a solo puzzler, look no further.
[Get AVO Escape Space on SideQuest]
Quest Together
“This is a massive win for VR RPGs if you ask me.”—TruGamer4Realz
Quest Together has been on our radar for a little while, and it has made significant progress throughout 2023. Part Breath Of The Wild, part Minecraft, part Runescape, the world is richly detailed, with plenty to see and do as an adventurer for hire. As you’d expect, there are heaps of quests ready and waiting for you to set out on, and they’re especially enjoyable when completed with friends! This should be on the watch list for any fantasy RPG fans — and we can’t wait to see what the devs bring to Quest Together next. Loads of potential here!
[Get Quest Together on SideQuest]
DEMOS AND ALPHAS
Finally, let’s take a look at a couple of demos and alpha builds that caught our attention over the last 6 months — these games are sure to be ones to watch in 2024, and we’d strongly encourage you to give them a try today. If you do try them, be sure to leave the developers some helpful feedback so they can continue to work hard and bring their creations to life! You can do that by leaving a review on their SideQuest listing!
Somnia (Demo)
“We are definitely witnessing a game with the potential to become something extraordinary.”—SpookyFairy
While the movement mechanics take a little getting used to, the feeling of control and fun once you master it is exhilarating, and you’ll be soaring the skies and flinging fireballs at your enemies like a pro. This demo gives you a great look at the introductory level—and the potential that Somnia has to be an instant classic! The dreamscape world on display is a joy to inhabit and rich with little details like turtles soaring through the skies. The dream-based concept clearly presents the perfect opportunity for the developers to let their imaginations run wild.
FunFitLand (Alpha)
“Fun Fit Land is not just a game; it’s a revolution in home fitness.”—xuwugames
With a blend of boxing and dance-based workouts, the instructors of FunFitLand will definitely get your body moving in this alpha build. The current workouts take you through a range of motions — including obstacles to duck, meaning you need to activate your legs as well — and everything has a slick, polished feel. The encouragement of the recorded instructors helps keep you going and the color choices of the objects coming towards you were well-chosen for colorblind players. The dance workouts in particular highlight the importance of having fun over copying the instructor’s movements exactly, which is a nice touch. There is also a bit of hand tracking to put to the test—so be sure to leave some good feedback!
Tunnels (Demo)
“Honestly, I’ve not been scared this much in a long time.”—emrebulbul23
If you suffer from claustrophobia, stay clear of Tunnels… because this short demo is sure to trigger you! Tunnels builds an effective atmosphere throughout its short demo and really gives you the real feeling of being trapped in a narrow space. It also has an intriguing mystery, unsettling monster designs, and some genuinely creepy moments to be enjoyed in the depths of the abandoned mine setting. The story style seems to take inspiration from past hits like Firewatch, with conversations taking place over the radio, but in the tunnels, you’re on your own... We’re excited to see where they go!
Slink & Snatch: Tales of Thievery
REVIEWS By boxmyth
“Just fantastic. Love the locomotion and the world is fun to explore. This is the type of experience I enjoy most in VR.”—boxmyth
Slink and Snatch has clearly had a lot of love put into it. From the art style to the movement mechanics, everything feels intentional and well-thought-through. It is littered with quality-of-life choices that make for a truly engaging and fun experience. There’s only a short introductory segment to explore so far, but the potential of this title is immediately obvious and will get you excited to see what they do with a full release!
[Get Slink and Snatch on SideQuest]
Quest 3 Giveaways!
That’s right—until the end of 2023, we’re giving away Quest 3 headsets to 8 lucky winners! There are two ways you can be in with a chance:
- Head to the SideQuest website, click on the Giveaways tab, and enter the Quest 3 Giveaway we have running!
- Download our Social VR app, Banter—and start playing! It’s that simple!
You’ll have a better chance of winning a Quest 3 in Banter if you attend events and contribute to the community. But seriously, all you need to do is ‘be in it to win it’.
About SideQuest
SideQuest represents the ultimate community in standalone VR. A place where developers and players around the globe can create, share, and get excited about the virtual reality apps they love.
Developers (like us) are free to experiment with mechanics and modes on their journey to official stores, while players can safely explore thousands of apps across the wonderful world of VR — the biggest collection all in one place, actually.
Because who needs limits, right?
[Download BANTER: our FREE Social VR game]
Let’s keep your SideQuest going…
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