The Best VR Experiences for Christmas 2020
Whilst this Christmas is likely to be a little different to others, many will still be looking forward to having some festive fun with loved ones. If you are tired of the groans as you pull out the Scrabble board and want to have different experiences this holiday season, virtual reality (VR) offers something for everyone.
With a broad range of content and the unique ability to create a sense of presence, this technology is the perfect way to connect with your nearest and dearest — if you are together or apart — and even burn off the calories from overindulgence!
If you managed to scoop a VR headset during the Black Friday sales or are expecting one from Santa, we’ve pulled together a list of VR games for every occasion.
Best for: Connecting with those who can’t be there
Sometimes a Zoom call isn’t quite enough. For those missing loved ones, immersive technology can help create a sense of connection whilst we are apart, so why not hop into VR this Christmas?
Over the past few months, increasing numbers of people have turned to social VR apps like VRChat to find new and better forms of communication and connection. Over the Halloween period, VRChat announced a record 24,000 concurrent users, 52% of those in VR!
VRChat allows VR and non-VR users to connect, chat, and explore other users’ worlds. So, if you have a VR headset but your Grandma doesn’t, she can still log in to VRChat from a computer to join in the fun. Of course, we think that the experience is better with a VR headset, but we might be biased.
Best for: VR newbies
You might have been lucky enough to get your hands on a VR headset for Christmas, but if you’re new to the technology, it can be hard to know where to start.
The best introduction to the wonder of virtual reality is Oculus First Contact on Oculus Quest/Rift S or Oculus First Steps on Quest. These experiences are designed specifically to introduce newcomers to the power of VR and the feeling of presence, with First Steps showcasing the freedom of Oculus Quest. Both experiences are beautifully simple and perfect for those who have never stepped into VR before, and the best part of all, they’re free!
Once you’ve got to grips with the basics of VR, it’s time to try one of the most popular games available on the platform, Beat Saber. There is a reason why this game is mentioned in every ‘Top VR Games’ list — the gameplay is wonderfully intuitive and epic fun.
Beat Saber is a VR rhythm game where you slash the beats of a song as they fly towards you in a neon futuristic world. There is a free demo so you can try before you buy, but the full game is only £23 and it is worth every penny. You can also expand your song library with your favourite artists including BTS, Timbaland, Imagine Dragons, Panic! At The Disco, Greenday and more, there really is something for everyone.
Best for: VR aficionados
For the virtual reality lovers in your life, Half-Life: Alyx is the ultimate experience. Built from the ground up for VR, you’ll need a PC VR headset such as Oculus Rift S, Valve Index, or HTC Vive to experience the impressive visuals and immersive gameplay. Described by VR Focus as a “stunningly rich experience from start to finish”, the game is a perfect showcase for the potential of VR gaming.
For those new to the Half-Life franchise, Half-Life: Alyx is the story of an impossible fight against a vicious alien race known as the Combine, set between the events of Half-Life and Half-Life 2. Playing as Alyx Vance, you are humanity’s only chance for survival. The Combine’s control of the planet since the Black Mesa incident has only strengthened as they corral the remaining population in cities. Among them are some of Earth’s greatest scientists: you and your father, Dr Eli Vance.
The game launched in the throes of a global pandemic and topped the best selling games list on Steam the month of its release and has remained in the top 5 ever since. It also won VR Game of the Year at the VR Awards in November.
Best for: Marvel fans
If you’ve been gifted a PSVR headset for Christmas and you happen to be a Marvel fan, Iron Man VR is the perfect experience for you. Exclusive to the PSVR platform, Iron Man VR has you suit up as the armoured Avenger, blast into the skies with an arsenal of iconic Iron Man gear at your fingertips, and face off against one of his greatest foes in high stakes, action-packed battles.
Or, if you haven’t got a PSVR headset, but want to join in the fun, you can purchase a headset and the game will come included with the bundle alongside everything you need to get started in VR.
Best for: Burning off the calories from Christmas dinner
Christmas can be an indulgent time of year, so if you’re looking for a fun way to burn off those extra calories, VR is here to help.
BoxVR brings music enhanced, boxing-inspired workouts to virtual reality. Leading fitness instructors produce a variety of boxing workouts, specifically designed to destroy calories in the most entertaining way ever devised! According to the Virtual Reality Institute of Health and Exercise, playing this game can burn 6–8 calories per minute — that’s the same as playing a game of tennis!
For more information on how to workout in VR and get the most from it, check out our article here.
Best for: Bringing the family together
This game made our 2019 Christmas list, and we’re including it again because it’s one of the few games you can get the whole family involved in, even if you only have one VR headset. It’s called Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes, and it will let you live out your Mission: Impossible dreams! Using frantic communication your team must help you defuse a virtual bomb, that only you can see, by consulting their “bomb-defusing manual”.
This game is sure to bring everyone together as you all have to work in sync using your puzzle-solving and communication skills. The games are loud, fast-paced and intense, but a huge amount of fun as well.
Best for: Horror fans
You might want to save this game for when the kids have gone to bed because it can get a little scary! The game is called Reiko’s Fragments and can be enjoyed by multiple people, even if you only own one headset. The player in the VR headset must escape a haunted house and a vengeful ghost, but the other participants play as spirits who have full control over sabotaging the house they’re trying to escape! It’s a spooky but fun experience and best of all, it’s less than £10.
Best for: Taking a break from it all
After a busy day of entertaining, eating, and present opening, you might be feeling the need to relax. Rather than slumping in front of the TV, why not try a VR experience to calm your mind?
Guided Tai Chi on Oculus offers over 200 tai chi inspired workouts in 20 nature settings, in sessions running from 3 to 60 minutes. Serene music and beautiful environments help relax your mind after a stressful day, as you follow your teacher to master the craft of Tai Chi.
If Tai Chi isn’t your thing, how about guided meditation? Guided Meditation VR makes it simple and visual. With 27 environments and over 500 different meditation spots, you can completely customize your experience with shorter or longer sessions, different music and different focuses for meditation including relaxation, body awareness and mindfulness. Perfect for winding down after a busy Christmas day!
Whilst you enjoy the wonder of VR this Christmas, if you are sharing a headset don’t forget to wipe down the headset and controllers with anti-viral/anti-bacterial wipes and encourage everyone to wash their hands before and after using the hardware. It’s something that can be very easily overlooked in the excitement of it all, but it’s important to keep everyone safe. You can check out our article on best practices for VR hygiene here.
