Within the run-up to a brand new console launch, it is easy for video games to get misplaced within the pleasure and shuffle of latest {hardware}. Fortunately, Meta and its associate builders are planning on supporting the Quest 2 {hardware} for a very long time to come back.
This yr is proof that loads of builders aren’t ready for the Meta Quest 3 to launch new Quest games. Actually, up to now month alone, I’ve performed over half a dozen new video games, and I believe 4 of them are completely value your cash.
And whereas few builders have introduced Quest 3-specific enhancements for his or her video games, I absolutely count on many of those to see updates and patches with new options and/or graphics upgrades as quickly because the Quest 3 is offered. Searching for some new video games to go the remainder of the month? Test these new releases out first.
Useless Hook
When you’ve performed Quest video games for any size of time, you may know there is no scarcity of roguelikes to play. Actually, most of the best Quest 2 games make the most of this system to some extent, and this one does it extra efficiently than some others.
When you’re not accustomed to the time period, a roguelike is a sport the place you may play by way of a stage — normally one which’s randomly generated — till you die, incomes loot and XP that you simply take again to some type of hub space to spend on upgrades.
The system right here isn’t any completely different and does nothing “new” to reinforce it, per se, however Useless Hook’s core gameplay mechanics are what actually assist the title shine among the many plethora of choices. As you might need gathered from the trailer artwork above, Useless Hook is deeply impressed by Doom, and nearly all the things feels just like the deepest homage to that basic collection.
However, not like Doom, gamers aren’t confined to strolling round or leaping with simply their very own two toes. As an alternative, gamers have hooks on every arm that may be launched at any floor, extending a large chain to swing by.
To say Useless Hook feels completely visceral does not fairly come near describing the sport’s vitality. Ranges are randomly generated, multi-level halls that gamers will discover themselves always ascending and descending to eradicate demons with an array of upgradable weaponry.
Plus, kills unlock particular strikes and melee assaults that finish fight in essentially the most brutal methods attainable. It is actually good to see a correct religious successor to Doom VFR, this time with extra VR-centric motion in thoughts.
Purchase for $20 at Quest Store
I Anticipate You To Die 3: Cog within the Machine
I’ve a love-hate relationship with the I Anticipate You To Die collection, and the third entry does nothing to vary that. Sure, this can be a little bit of an odd technique to introduce a stellar new entry right into a longtime, well-reviewed collection, but it surely’s as a result of this entry doesn’t try to win over critics of the collection. It is made solely for the followers.
I Expect You To Die 3 places you within the sneakers of a undercover agent trying to cease the evil Zoraxis and its infinite variety of henchmen. This time round, nonetheless, you may be chasing after good Dr. Roxanna Prism whereas concurrently unraveling the thriller of what Dr. Zor is doing behind the scenes.
I’ve bought a mushy spot for the parody 60’s Bond theme right here — it is most likely all these hours enjoying Goldeneye 007 as a middle-schooler — and this sport pulls off the theme like none different on the Quest. The intro credits alone provides you with an thought of what you need to count on from Schell Video games’ newest entry.
The gameplay and presentation are as honed as ever as this fully-seated expertise, which aligns with the gameplay and mechanics of the previous two video games. As I stated earlier than, this title is actually an identical in its theme and skillset required to play, which is each a constructive and off-putting expertise for me.
Personally, I would prefer to see a spin-off of this collection that permits me to stroll round rooms and extra intricately discover the areas on this extremely intriguing world. Regardless of that, Schell Video games has put collectively one more glorious spy-themed escape room-style expertise that is a pleasure to play.
Purchase for $25 at Quest Store
Swordsman
I as soon as spent a month experimenting with HEMA — that is Historic European Martial Arts — however wasn’t a fan of the “most individuals break bones commonly” idea of actual sword combating. Sorry, I would like these arms to work, and so they do not work nicely when damaged.
That is the place Swordsman is available in.
Little doubt, in the event you’re interested by sword fight on a VR headset, you’ve got most likely performed Blade & Sorcery. The sport is the stuff of legend and has rocketed many a YouTuber to success with the unending barrage of mods and intelligent content material additions. However there’s one factor Blade & Sorcery does not do nicely: swordplay.
Which may sound sort of bizarre for a melee-based VR sport, however you may know precisely what I am speaking about in the event you’ve ever performed it. It is simply not real looking, and the sport does not penalize you for swinging a sword round prefer it weighed as a lot as a pencil. Swordsman, nonetheless, comes at this from the precise reverse angle.
I took that month of information I gained from HEMA lessons, put it into apply the second Swordsman got here out, and wasn’t in in the least upset. If what you are doing, this sport will make it really feel such as you’re battling an actual particular person on the opposite finish — other than the occasional physics glitch, in fact.
And that realism is what stored me coming again to Swordsman once I gave up on the plethora of different related titles on this method. This is not only a “wave your weapon round and kill dangerous guys” sort of sport. It makes an attempt to make weapons really feel actual, together with rewarding actual stances, methods, defenses, and assaults for gamers who take them severely.
Plus, it is not simply medieval knights swinging at one another. The sport consists of ninjas, Mongols, Samurai, Vikings, and extra. Plus, it is not only a bunch of sandbox arenas to struggle in. There’s really a narrative right here, albeit a reasonably shallow one.
Purchase for $20 at Quest Store
Hubris
When Hubris was first introduced, I believed the title appeared fairly on-brand. What seemed like a shallow — but extraordinarily fairly — sport turned out to be a powerful Halo-like sci-fi narrative-based shooter.
A few of it’s kind of tacky, do not get me fallacious, however the total presentation, graphics, and gameplay mechanics assist make up for some fairly boring dialog. It will take you round six hours or so to run by way of the story, which, to me, is the candy spot for many single-player video games.
Apart from the visuals — that are among the many highest you may ever see on Quest 2 {hardware} — the sport’s selection and attention-grabbing mechanics stored me questioning what was round each nook. There’s lots right here that is acquainted, however the sport introduces these mechanics and enemy varieties in a method that feels recent sufficient, particularly since this can be the primary time you’ve got ever seen them in a VR title.
I am speaking about enemies that look an terrible lot like Headcrabs from Half-Life, grabbing and climbing mechanics that really feel straight out of Horizon: Name of the Mountain, and gunplay that might really feel proper at residence in Halo VR.
My greatest gripe, other than the pretty boring dialog, is a scarcity of co-op multiplayer. Possibly the Quest 3 {hardware} will give Hubris’ builders extra room to work with, however I all the time take pleasure in all these sci-fi shooter video games higher with a good friend.
Purchase for $30 at Quest Store