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UPDATE:
In 2019, we’ve got three main options from the leaders in the VR industry that have shifted my recommendations. Check out the Gremlin’s thoughts on what to buy and why.
In early 2016, I thought Virtual Reality was the ultimate example of technological over-invention. The idea of wearing a monitor on my face seemed awkward and absurd, the product of the Google Glass team trapped in a small room for a decade. I hated the idea of being locked away from the real world so viscerally, and was skeptical that the technology could convincingly transport me to another world.
Then I tried it.
Now, I can confidently say that VR is the coolest, most dramatic tech innovation I’ve encountered. I still enjoy 2D “pancake” games and apps, but they feel inevitably stuck in the past for me, like watching an old DVD right after seeing a 3D screening of Avatar.
The truth about VR is, you can’t “get it” until you’ve tried it for yourself with quality hardware (that’s properly setup), but this article aims to get as close as possible to making you appreciate the joy that is VR.
Now, if Virtual Reality is something you’ve read blurbs about, but never really looked into, here’s a quick refresher on the basics (nerds, skip a little). Consumer VR, as it exists now, is just a display with sensors in it that you strap to your face, and a pair of Wii-mote style controllers that can track their position in space. The idea is very simple: instead of looking at the digital world through a narrow window, you’re physically inside of it, interacting by simply turning your head, reaching out with your hands, and moving around.
The mainstream tech press were quick to hype VR, and just as quick to throw out a list of criticisms. Some of them are valid, and some of them are completely overblown, so I’ll start by addressing the big issues.
Here’s the rundown:
-It looks unbelievably lame. Verdict: Totally true.
If you thought 3D glasses were dorky, prepare to be out-dorked. The upside is, if you have a significant other or a roommate, your VR purchase will provide them with hours of entertainment, as they watch you flail at virtual objects, sit on non-existent furniture, and leave yourself vulnerable to being scared out of your skin when they scream from right beside you while you’re “immersed.” My wife has mastered this. That said, if you decide not to buy into VR because you’ll look stupid, you may have fundamentally misunderstood the “cool” factor of well… every technology ever.
-There’s no worthwhile software for VR. Verdict: Depends on what you’re into.
A cursory glance at Valve’s Steam store or Oculus’s Experiences section will show you that there’s hundreds of games available for VR. Of course, a large selection of games doesn’t guarantee that there’s anything actually worth your time (as mobile gaming has proven). So what’s the deal? VR is indisputably a new medium. Buying an HMD in 2016 felt a whole lot like owning one of the first DVD players: cool for a few weeks, until you’d watched Space Jam ten times and were ready to pull the plug. But in the last couple of years, a series of indie and AAA developers alike have slowly grown the list of worthwhile VR experiences. I’ve fallen hard for a long list of games; some that offer a solid one time play-through, and many that I keep coming back to over and over again (you’ll find a list of my top experiences at the bottom of the page). What many people miss is, while traditional gaming consoles have vastly larger staples of AAA games, even simple indie games in the virtual world can leave your jaw on the floor in a way that a 2D game and a gamepad simply can’t match. Whether it’s living out my Trekkie fantasies in Star Trek: Bridge Crew, hovering over a Game of Thrones inspired living game board in Brass Tactics, or exploring the vast universes of Skyrim VR and Elite Dangerous, the available content on headsets has left my stack of traditional games largely unplayed. Even for non-gamers, it’s hard to argue with the sheer awe delivered from entering the cockpit of Apollo 11, or diving into the wreck of the Titanic (in fact, after I played Elite Dangerous in VR, I started building my cockpit…)
-It’s way too expensive. Verdict: Not so fast.
People use this argument for just about every new gadget. The truth is, money is always relative, and everyone’s budget is different. Is your Xbox too expensive? Your cell phone? Your router you upgraded because you didn’t like waiting an extra five seconds for this page to load? For some people yes. But for most of us, VR is totally attainable. Especially today. When modern VR launched in 2016 with the Oculus Rift and HTC VIVE, VR was $800, plus a top of the line computer. Today, the Rift is a great value at $399, and a huge swath of computers are either VR ready, or can easily be made so with a $200 graphics card upgrade (Note: Oculus still offers a downloadable tool on their site to check for compatibility). PSVR is an even lower barrier for entry, as it doesn’t require a PC, just a regular old PlayStation 4. Bundles for PSVR have been seen as low as $200, or $250 including the controllers. At the end of the day, I look at purchases based on how much joy they bring me, and how much use I’ll get out of them over the lifetime of the product. For me, a $400 headset that I use 8-12 hours a week is well worth the joy it brings me. If you’re like me, with a modern game console gathering dust on your shelf, you might have been better off buying into VR instead.
-The cord is a drag. Verdict: Overstated.
Many people who haven’t spent time in VR think that any aspect of the technology that separates it from actual reality breaks the illusion. The truth is, I find the experience more than convincing enough to immerse me thoroughly in what I’m doing, cord be damned. Many of the best VR games don’t actually involve a ton of sprinting or diving, and most people will quickly forget about the cord IF they’ve routed it correctly (so it falls loose to the side it naturally shifts to, without catching on objects around you). Some room scale games make you more aware of it than others, but the only time the cord bothers me is after I’ve been circling for a couple of hours straight in VR, and the cable starts to tangle on itself. It’s rare, and easily mitigated.
-VR look’s like a hassle to setup. Verdict: It totally is, but keep it in perspective.
I’ve setup multiple types of VR systems in three different rooms in my house, as well as in other homes for friends and family. If you’re going with the traditional external tracking style VR system, the setup does take some time and effort to get right (typically an hour or two). You’ll also spend the first day or two pulling and twisting straps to get the fit just right. But just like hooking up a TV, or configuring a router, the end experience is well worth the effort. Especially with the latest software releases, both Steam VR and Oculus Setup both offer clear and straightforward instructions on where and how to setup your sensors, and as long as you don’t bump them, once you’re setup, you’re good to go.
-VR sound’s cool, but I just don’t have the space. Verdict: Do you have space for a victory dance?
More so than most gadgets, VR does require some space. A VR game can necessitate anywhere from a 10×10 ft swath of territory, to a solitary office chair, but most experiences are summed up as either “sitting room,” “standing room” or “room-scale.” Newcomers may decide it’s not worth doing unless you’ve got a large area to commit to it, but in my experience, that’s unnecessary. Out of all the VR titles I play regularly, three out of four are played in a swivel chair, and are still incredibly immersive. While there are a handful of games that do truly require 8+ square feet of space, most room-scale games are designed with small spaces in mind, and involve mechanics like teleportation or thumb stick free movement to shift your play-space. The Gremlin’s rule of thumb is, if you can stand up, spin in a circle with your arm stretched out and not bash into anything, you’ve got ample space for VR. 6’x7′ is idea.
-I’ve played with a Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Go, or Google Cardboard. VR wasn’t that great. Verdict: Those paltry imposters are NOT VR.
Mobile VR has been talked up by the tech press as the thing that would make virtual reality A THING. But these headsets have major limitations. They all lack the critical trifecta of solid tracking, ample processing power and developer backing. The result is that software makers haven’t been willing or able to port the great PC VR experiences to these platforms. Mobile VR is like watching an abridged cut of Laurence of Arabia on an iPhone SE. If you’ve tried these experiences and come away disappointed, it’s cause you were doing it wrong.
On a related note, many of you may be considering buying Oculus’s latest headset, the Oculus Quest. The Gremlin’s deeply skeptical of Quest’s ability to render high quality games, and thinks you should skip it. Want more info? Check out my reaction piece here.
So… maybe I’ve intrigued you. You’re thinking about giving this whole VR thing a shot.
Which system do I go with? What stuff do I need?
The options are plentiful. If I were buying a headset on a moderate budget today, the best option out there for most people is the Oculus Rift. You can find cheaper, higher resolution, and more comfortable headsets, but Rift is the true all-rounder. Here’s why. At $400, it’s price competitive with Microsoft’s Windows Mixed Reality line, and vastly cheaper than the top end option of the Vive Pro. The tracking takes a few minutes to setup, but is mostly rock solid. The HMD and controllers are supremely well designed. Most importantly though, Oculus has managed to curate a huge library of games, many of which are exclusive to their headsets. Some Vive fans will tell you that a software hack called Revive allows you to install those exclusives on other devices, and while that’s true enough, you’ll end up encountering bugs, from games crashing to missing vibration effects and mismatched controls. The rift even has slightly superior visuals over the original Vive, which spreads the same number of pixels over a somewhat larger viewing area. Both Rift and Vive also have the advantage of being driven by PCs, most of which are much more graphically capable than a playstation console.
While the Rift is my overall recommendation, it’s not the best fit for some people. If you don’t already own a PC that’s VR ready (more on that in a minute), PSVR is a great option. While it’s tracking is admittedly more limited than Rift, Vive, or WMR headsets, PSVR has two huge advantages. First, is that with the backing of Sony, PSVR is THE VR platform. Almost every major VR game is available for PSVR (and many appear there before they hit PC). PSVR is also the easiest way to enter the matrix. Grab a bundle on sale for $250, plug the tracking camera and headset into your PS4 console (it’ll work well with either the standard PS4 or PS4 Pro) and launch your favorite title. It’s also worth noting that while PSVR does have a lower resolution than its PC counterparts, the difference isn’t as stark as resolution numbers would suggest. Sony has cleverly used a different sub-pixel arrangement for its display, so its apparent sharpness, while still less than Rift or Vive, isn’t quite as low as you’d think.
Now, a select few of you may be ready to enter VR and never leave. The true die hards. For you, there is only one answer: Vive Pro. At $800 for the headset alone, it’s not for the faint of heart. But Vive pro is the bees knees of virtual adventuring. Critics have complained that its 2880 x 1600 pixel grid isn’t enough of an upgrade over the first gen VR headsets. But in practice, the resolution bump is often game-changing. The dreaded “screen door effect,” or the ability to see the gaps between pixels on screen, is effectively eliminated by the Pro, allowing you to better discern distant objects, and more easily find yourself present in the world. Resolution is a hard thing to visualize, but in practice it feels like the 1080P of VR; blurry enough that you can still see room for improvement, but sharp enough that you could happily live with it for years to come. Valve’s lighthouse tracking system, while the most inflexible to setup, is also the most accurate. Mount the sensors 7ft up at diagonal corners of your room, plug them into power, and you’re off to the races.
Other Options
Those most discerning readers will note that I’ve barely addressed the Windows Mixed Reality set of devices. The most notable of these is the Samsung Odyssey, a headset which, on paper, offers the higher resolution of the Vive Pro at a price that’s competitive with the Rift. In full disclosure, I haven’t played with an Odyssey, but I’ve done some digging. The biggest issue is that the controllers have received some complaints, from tracking problems to an awkward design. For those who are only interested in playing simulation games, this might be a good option. That said, it’s hard to overstate the massive advantage that the Rift, Vive and PSVR headsets have as successful devices with a static set of specs that are easily targetable by developers. I’ve read anecdotal reports of popular games running poorly on Odyssey, and I’d personally rather lose resolution or spend the extra cash than end up with an inconsistent experience.
The only other mainstream VR option is the original Vive, which I’ve barely touched on thus far. The OG Vive was the Gremlin’s first headset, and it’s still a fantastic experience. Valve maintains the crown for most accurate and consistent tracking system on the market, and HTC’s first model is now offered at a competitive price against a Rift (when you factor in the extra sensor Oculus requires for proper room-scale gaming).
The issue I have with the OG Vive is that the way game development has gone in VR, most of the best experiences I’ve had are either Rift exclusives, or don’t really push the limits of the Vive’s superior tracking. If you’ve got a free garage or large room to setup in, and you’re on a limited budget but still want to really roam in virtual space, the Vive IS worth considering, but for most people, I still lean towards the Rift’s superior pixel density, comfort and built-in headphones.
Pro Tip for My Four-Eyed Friends:
Got glasses? Wanna love VR? I feel your pain. When I got my first headset (the original Vive), I listened to the reviews that claimed there was plenty of space for glasses inside the headset. Three weeks later, I discovered I’d managed to scratch both the Vive lenses and my own glasses, which unbeknownst to me had been rubbing gently against each other while I was gaming. The rift is even narrower, and thus more uncomfortable for glasses wearers.
The best solution I can recommend for glasses wearers is VR Lens Lab a German company that specializes in specially shaped prescription lenses for VR headsets. It’s not cheap (roughly $100 USD) but I have a set of both the Rift and Vive lenses, and it’s a real game changer if you use your headset daily, as I do. Unfortunately, they only sell lens protectors for PSVR, but they do ship a small specialized style of glasses specially made for use inside any VR headset.
They throw a bunch of options at you when you purchase. I strongly suggest you opt for the RABS lens upgrade, which uses a specialized lens curvature that minimizes distortion. While the company claims that most people quickly adjust to the standard lens curvature, I found it completely unworkable, to the point that I had to have the company send me a revised version (which, to their credit, they did free of charge!)
Final side note: if you’re already running VR, and want to take immersion to the next level for seated games, check out my guide to “bass shakers,” a special device which adds realistic rumble to your chair!
The future of VR:
The final excuse many make for not buying VR is the classic “It’ll be better in a year” argument. And while we never know what the future may hold, there’s some serious misconceptions going around about the pace and timeline for improvements to VR.
As a nascent tech that’s low margin, VR is going to take a long time to reach the idealized vision of a wireless, lightweight, ultra high resolution headset that’s entirely self contained. R&D is expensive, and in this new market, even the leaders of the technology are taking a slow and steady approach. All the major headset manufacturers have taken the unusual step of stating that they have no plans on introducing true second generation devices for at least another year or so. I have little doubt that in fifteen years, we’ll have something meeting that idealized image of VR, but in the mean time, there’s a long list of hurdles that have to be cleared before we get there. Insisting on waiting to enter VR until we hit that aforementioned ideal would be a little like insisting in 1990 that you weren’t going to buy a computer until they weighed less than a pound and had touch screens. Computer processors also aren’t shrinking and improving as fast as they used to. Affordable graphics cards are only now becoming capable of powering this first generation of headset resolutions, and they’re all the size of my foot and hotter than a space heater. Battery technologies simply aren’t advancing quickly enough to power high end VR for more than a couple of hours, and the solutions that are being previewed involve clipping heavy power banks to a belt. We’ll get there someday, but if you hold out for perfection, you’re going to miss out on years of revolutionary new experiences that VR already offers today.
Requirements: What do you need to run VR?
For PSVR
–PS4 console ($200 used, $300 new).
–PSVR HMD with tracking camera and controllers ($250)
Total: $550
For Oculus Rift
VR ready PC Minimum Requirements:
-Modern quad core computer processor (like the i3 8100)
-GTX 1060 (6GB Variant) Graphics Card
-8GB RAM
-Oculus rift bundle includes the headset, controllers and two sensors. $400
Total: $400, plus the cost of a pc or computer upgrades
For Vive Pro:
Vive pro headset bundle with controllers and tracking sensors $1100
(Note, to purchase at this price, you need to order directly from HTC, and add their Vive pro accessory package to cart at the time of purchase),.
-Vr capable PC
Total: $1100 for new vive owners, $800 for those upgrading from the original Vive, plus the cost of a pc or computer upgrades.
Thanks for reading, as always. If you enjoyed this guide and are planning a purchase, please consider supporting this site by purchasing through these links. ByteGremlin may earn a small comission, and it doesn’t cost you a dime!
As an aside, I only endorse products that I’ve personally used and loved, or thoroughly researched and genuinely recommend.
What good is any HMD without games & apps? Here are my favorite habitual games, as well as some fantastic one time play-throughs.
Games I play regularly:
An RTS like you’ve never experienced it before, BT may be the most polished VR game out there. This game plays like Starcraft with a Game of Thrones theme, complete with intricately detailed mechanical units and inventive maps. But what really matters is the core strategic gameplay, and this game truly delivers. Control of map sections dictate resources (a la Company of Heroes and others), resulting in heated matches that can flip back and forth several times before a victor is declared. Every unit is balanced and unique. BT’s development team has also completely nailed the VR interaction scheme, allowing you to intuitively pull yourself around the map at top speed without a hint of nausea. Units are easily selected with trigger pulls, and advanced players can actually direct units with both hands at once. The community is vibrant, and whether you’re more into a solo campaign, co-op or VS, there’s an engaging experience waiting for you. If you’ve ever enjoyed any kind of strategy game, this is a must buy.
This free game has me hooked. The development team behind this and its story based entry Lone Echo spent a ton of development time designing an intuitive and immersive system for moving around in VR, and it makes everything you do in their worlds utterly engaging. Whether you stick with the free (and delightful) new VR sport known as Echo Arena (think ultimate frisbee in zero G), or you opt for the $10 Echo Combat add on, you’re in for a treat.
Arena and Combat are really two totally separate games, but they’re linked together by a wonderful social VR space, which is both convenient for keeping a party together, and has the effect of ensuring there’s always a host of available players any time of day (you can actually purchase the Combat expansion while in VR in the lobby).
Combat in particular is just insanely addicting. I’m regularly reminded of the feeling I had the first time I played Halo 2 online back in high school (God I’m old). This fast movement system which allows you to race through zero gravity at top speed with a pistol in your hand is an experience you need to try to fully appreciate. The two initial objective based game types (payload and control point) are a perfect way to encourage advanced tactics and gameplay, which are further enriched by the fact that your team can communicate with body language and hand gestures instead of just a mic. This is the best $10 I’ve ever spent on a game.
Those of you who’ve read my cockpit build guide know how I feel about Elite Dangerous. It’s your personal spacecraft simulator, with astonishing detail and engaging gameplay. The game is literally the size of our galaxy (Frontier Developments use procedural generation techniques to build the game). As a result, this is a game so large that the entire player base will never fully explore it in our lifetime. Gameplay ranges from massive Star Wars scale space battles, to bounty hunting to simple trading and mining expeditions. If that doesn’t excite you… I’m at a loss.
This one’s a simple little gem. Essentially VR tower defense, you’re equipped with a bow, and your goal is to stop nefarious orcs and dragons from getting past you. Firing a bow in VR is deeply satisfying, and that’s pretty much what this game is. The player base is consistent, and it’s great fun to play in co-op with buddies. The new PVP mode is also a treat.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
The most awesome VR party game, EVER. One person has to disarm a bomb in VR. Their friends have to talk them through the procedurally generated boobytraps using a PDF manual.
Just google videos of people playing this game.
I’m not even a big cars guy, but I can’t resist Project Cars 2. It’s the most detailed simulation game (of any kind) that I’ve ever experienced. Pick virtually any car ever made, on all the most famous raceways in the world, and have at it. Simulation games of all kinds are ten times better in VR, and this is no exception. Strongly recommend a racing wheel for this one.
Robo Recall (Included with Oculus Rift + Touch)
A short but elegant arcade shooter with a serviceable story, Robo Recall would be a staple on the Rift even if it weren’t free. The gunplay is satisfying. The leveling/gun unlocks keep you coming back for more. I beat the campaign long ago, but still pop into this once in a while for some quick solo thrills.
Star Trek: Bridge Crew (Next Generation bundle)
If VR had no games aside from Bridge Crew, I’d still have bought into VR. As a lifelong Trekker, this game is literally a dream made into reality. Serve on the bridge of a Federation starship as either the Captain, Weapon’s Officer, Engineer or Helm, and attempt to complete your missions while keeping the ship in one piece.
The campaign is decent, and with the new DLC, the random mission generator is a bit more effective, but what really makes this game fantastic is the core experience of working together as a group to run your ship. The community in this game is small but incredibly friendly and dedicated.
The Next Generation DLC pack is essential, both because the TNG enterprise is a more intricate and exciting ship to operate, but also because most of the player base has bought the DLC, meaning you’ll need it if you want to find strangers to play with.
Awesome one-time play throughs:
A historical recreation of the Apollo 11 moon landing mission. I actually teared up the first time I ran through this, listening to Kennedy’s famous call to arms. You can optionally choose to pilot the lunar lander yourself (it ain’t easy), but this isn’t a game, its an incredible new way to experience history.
Epic. Terrifying. Epically terrifying. If you’re looking for a solid story to play through in VR and you’ve got a stomach for horror, this game is amazing. I am NOT a horror guy, but still soldiered through the nail biting mine shaft level because of the game’s story and satisfying gun mechanics. The protagonist’s quirky dialog helps keep it from getting too creepy. If you’re as terror averse as I am, consider playing through the campaign in co-op!
VR is still short on strong story based games, but Arktika 1 fits the bill nicely. The story is satisfying, and the limited teleporting movement doesn’t detract too much from the experience. The ability to buy upgrades and physically fit them to your guns as you go is a great touch. Well worth buying on sale.
Pretty much Portal 2 meets VR. The story is cute, sarcastic, and occasionally frightening, but the stealth/teleporting gameplay is unique and addictive. The developers took their time putting this together, and it shows in the story beats and level design.
The Gallery: Call of the Starseed $19.99 & The Gallery: Heart of the Emberstone
The Gallery was my first jaw dropping moment in VR. This pair of games are an unforgettable adventure/mystery romp, and really reminds me of a modern version of the Myst franchise. Every object in the game world is fully interactive, and the puzzles are intricate and satisfying. If this is even remotely your thing, The Gallery franchise is not to be missed.
The best story based VR experience, bar none. Everything is perfect: the storytelling, the locomotion, the level design, and the core gameplay itself are a fantastic window into the future of VR as a medium. From your interactions with Olivia, your human companion, to pulling yourself around the zero gravity environment, every moment of this game is engaging. Best of all, the developers are at work on a sequel.
From the makers of Apollo 11 VR, Titanic VR is a must have for anyone with an interest in the tragic yet often romanticized history of the Titanic. You play as an explorer who’s wealthy benefactor is searching for artifacts on the wreck, and the story takes you on a thorough exploration through an unbelievably realistic model of the sunken ship. Piloting the controls of your submarine and ROV drone, the experience is so real that you’ll feel a twinge of guilt every time you accidentally bump into the wreckage. Audio recordings of interviews with Titanic survivors really helps connect you to this important piece of history.
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Updates:
11/29/18: Updated Game Recommendations
7/18/18 Added recommendations for glasses wearers
8/10/18 Revised for clarity, and info on space requirements