With the growth of virtual reality skyrocketing in the last few years, it’s no surprise that multiple different headsets to experience the software with have also appeared. However, there is only one that’s considered the most popular for a variety of reasons. The best virtual reality headset is the Oculus because of how high quality it is and that you get your money’s worth. The Oculus virtual reality headset is extremely durable and comes ready to play right out of the box. You do have to set up an account, but after that, you will have access to thousands of virtual reality experiences. But what are the best free Oculus games you can play right now?
We’ll explore with a full list of our 23 favorite games in today’s article.
The VR Gaming Headset We Recommend
Our favorite all-in one Virtual Reality headset bundle is the Meta Quest 2 (formerly called the Oculus Quest 2).
Battle with friends, enjoy immersive live events, and exercise in exotic locations, all with the Quest 2 from Meta.
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Why We Love the Oculus
In addition to the quality of the set, we also love that the Oculus comes as a wireless set up, but that you can also connect it to your PC for a full experience.
You can also get the full experience for a great price. The headset sells for about 300 dollars, which is significantly less expensive than other headsets that can go for 500 to 1,000 dollars.
The headset comes with everything you need to get started, meaning you only have to worry about downloading games and playing. You can even get some of the best virtual reality games on the headset for free.
List of the Best Free Oculus Games
The following article is a list of twenty three of the best free virtual reality games available on the Oculus. Each game includes a short description and a link to the official website for the game.
Ancient Dungeon Beta
This exploration game demo is still in development, but it’s one of the most popular free experiences on the Oculus.
Ancient Dungeon Beta is a game where you explore a mysterious dungeon that’s filled to the brim with exciting battles and secrets to find. It’s very similar in style and objective to Minecraft, but it’s a bit more story and battle focused.
A few features of the game include:
- Using multiple different weapons, such as swords, arrows, and knives
- Climbing over pits and dodging traps
- Searching for hidden treasure
- Smashing pots and crates to find items
With so many physical features, this game is a great way to learn the basics of the Oculus quest in a fun and interactive way.
Bait!
Bait! is a basic fishing game where you can catch a variety of fish while experiencing some colorful visuals. The mechanics are fairly simple and don’t require a lot of moving around.
It’s a great game to practice getting used to the headset on if you want something more laidback. Despite the game being free, the graphics and colors of the environment are also breathtaking, adding to how relaxing the game is.
If you want something more story focused, then Bait! is able to cater to that as well. The story is that you have to help your boss capture a rare fish so they can beat another aquarium for popularity.
You can also interact with neighboring fishers and fish across four different lakes. This game is perfect for players that want something relaxing but still fun and entertaining.
Bogo
Virtual pet games have been popular for a very long time, and virtual reality is not exempt from this fact. Bogo is a free virtual pet game where you take care of an adorable orange dinosaur, including feeding it and playing with it.
The experience is fairly short and doesn’t involve a lot of movement, but it’s a great way to get used to using the Oculus hand controllers.
The game also includes room scale environments, meaning the headset takes your physical space into account and creates virtual spaces that will fit inside it.
This makes it very easy for new players to be submersed into the virtual world, and get used to the feeling of VR space while still having some fun.
Crisis VRigade
One of the best free first person shooter games on VR, Crisis VRidage puts you in the position of a dutiful police officer whose mission is to get rid of a band of burglars that are causing an uproar.
The game mechanics are fairly basic and easy to get the hang of, but that doesn’t mean the game isn’t challenging.
You have the opportunity to also shoot at power ups while trying to take down the burglars, which can give you a better gun but less ammo.
There are also multiple different areas to explore, so you can keep challenging yourself to get the high score in different areas. This game is more intense, but it’s a great way to challenge your control skills and practice them at a higher difficulty level.
Cubism VR
Even though this is a simple three dimensional puzzle game, Cubism VR is super entertaining and can be played for hours.
All of the puzzles use very small pieces that you need to put together, and it’s great if you need to practice using the hand controls or want to try out hand tracking.
The puzzles start out simple but slowly get challenging as you go along. There are always new levels being added so you never run out of puzzles to solve. If you love puzzle games and want to try them out in a virtual realm, then this game is for you.
Echo VR
Echo VR, also known as Echo Arena, is a zero gravity game where you play as a robot flying around and catching/throwing frisbees to other players. You can play it alone or with some friends that also have the Oculus headset.
The mechanics do require you to move around a lot, since you control where you fly and where you throw the frisbee with your entire body.
For example, you throw the frisbee by moving your arm and hands and launch yourself into the air by jumping off of nearby objects.
This game lets the player be fully immersed, and it’s a great one to play if you want to get used to using your entire body and physical space in the virtual world.
Elixir by Magnopus
Another game that centers around hand tracking, Elixir by Magnopus lets you experience a virtual alchemy lab. You can use and experiment with hand gestures to make potions and play the fantastical role of a wizard’s apprentice.
The experience is relatively short, but the graphics and controls are very immersive.
It’s also a great game to practice hands free controls with since you have to use specific gestures for certain things. It will help you get acquainted with each hand gesture, from the simple to the specific.
Since the hand gestures will only work if you do them a certain way, it can be frustrating to figure out at first. But once you do, Elixir becomes very fun to play.
Epic Roller Coasters
Epic Roller Coasters is a simulation game where you use track pieces and other elements to create a personalized roller coaster from a base track.
You can then ride it and race with your friends, shoot at enemies or targets, and complete other challenges. Despite the relatively simple premise, this game is a very entertaining way to practice using the controllers.
The main downside is that you only have access to a few maps with the free version. If you want access to all of the maps, then you have to buy the game.
You can ride the tracks as many times as you want, and the added features mean you can customize it in multiple different ways.
First Steps
As the name suggests, First Steps is a game that introduces you to the basics of the Oculus headset. It’s the first game you play when you power on the headset, and will walk you through everything from the controls to utilizing your playing space.
The game uses a robot full of personality to guide you through the basics of virtual reality. Even those that have played with virtual reality should play this game, just because it’s entertaining.
Once you’re done with the experience, you can also go back whenever you need a refresher or want to practice your skills for another game.
The game is an interesting and effective way to present a tutorial, one that hasn’t been done before in the world of gaming.
Free Flighter
Free Flighter is a combat game that uses science fiction based aircraft to fight against enemies that want access to the game’s interstellar base.
The enemies are known as the defilers, and you must protect your base and your leaders from them by shooting at them with your ship’s weapons. It’s very reminiscent of classic first person shooter games, only it’s much more immersive.
Goliath: Playing With Reality
The first narrated game on this list, Goliath: Playing With Reality guides you through the story of a psychiatric ward patient that is only able to connect with others through video games.
This game is more story focused, rather than gameplay focused, and is very dialogue heavy and relies on character interaction. But it’s still very immersive and allows you to explore the virtual world it’s set in.
Gorilla Tag
This game takes the simple concept of tag and kicks it up a notch by having the player be chased by gorillas.
Gorilla Tag is a very mobile game that requires you to move around your physical space and use grab-the-world technology to climb trees and swing on vines.
You can also play with other people in the game’s multiplayer mode. You can either have every player, or gorilla in this case, fend for themselves, or add to your group with each gorilla you tag and chase after all the other players.
The graphics aren’t top tier and the premise is pretty simple, but it’s still a fun game to play because of how interactive and quick paced it is.
Half & Half
Half & Half is one of the many free social experiences that the Oculus headset offers.
It’s a version of hide and seek where the players that are hiding appear very small, while the players that are seeking have to explore multiple different spaces in order to find them.
It’s a great way to meet new people online in a stress free and fun environment.
Hyper Dash VR
Hyper Dash VR is a multiplayer combat game that includes a variety of weapons and actions you can use to defeat the opposing team.
But to install it, you have to join the game’s Discord channel and complete a few extra steps. Aside from that, the visuals are incredible and the gameplay is very exciting.
Mission: ISS
This game is a simulation that allows you to explore the International Space Station (ISS) as an astronaut in orbit.
Mission: ISS has incredibly detailed environments and allows you to fully interact with them, including letting you venture outside for a space walk.
This game is easily the best virtual astronaut experience available, and you get to experience it free of charge.
MoonRider.xyz
This game is essentially the free version of the popular music rhythm game Beat Saber.
MoonRider.xyz is a rhythm game that involves hitting neon blocks to the beat of popular songs. It has a sizable music selection despite the free price tag, so there’s a song for everyone to enjoy.
This game is great for improving your coordination and response time in virtual reality.
Ninja Legends VR
Ninja Legends VR is a 360 degree combat game, where your main goal is to survive as long as you can while ninjas attack you from all sides.
You defend yourself by slicing through the ninjas with a pair of katanas or other weapons. It’s very similar to Fruit Ninja, only you slice actual ninjas instead of fruit.
Oculus First Contact
This is a free game you can only gain access to if you have an Oculus headset.
Oculus First Contact is a fully explorative game that allows you to experience everything the headset has to offer. You can interact with other players, hold and throw objects, and so much more.
This game is great for getting used to working the Oculus controls and experiencing virtual reality, especially if you’re a first timer.
Pavlov Shack Beta
Pavlov Shack Beta is essentially the free version of the popular first person shooter Counter Strike. There are two main play modes, deathmatch and co-op.
Deathmatch allows you to play alone and take down any other players that get in your way, while co-op requires you to play with other players to survive.
The gunplay is incredibly realistic and gives you pretty much the same experience as other shooting games, but for free.
PokerStars VR
PokerStars VR is a game where you play, unsurprisingly, a game of poker. You can play in multiplayer mode or on your own, but both experiences are very immersive.
The other players all have tells and unique actions that make it feel like you’re in a real poker game. The game also has different modes you can play, including roulette and samurai slots.
Project Terminus
This game is a short horror survival experience, but it’s still riveting nonetheless. Project Terminus is set in Paris during an invasion from an unknown source, and your main goal is to survive.
The graphics make for a very unsettling atmosphere, and the creeped out feeling comes from being chased by an unknown entity rather than jump scares.
Puppet Fever
Puppet Fever is a virtual reality twist on the classic game of charades. The player in the headset is given a card with a word they have to act out with puppets that the game provides.
The game can be played with strangers or with friends, and is a lot of fun despite the simplicity.
This game also has a free companion app you can download for free on other devices. It allows other players to play and participate without needing to have an Oculus headset.
The more dramatic and over the top you are with your puppets, the more entertaining the game is.
Rec Room
Rec Room is one of the most popular socialization experiences available on the Oculus. The expansive environments and vast selection of mini games make Rec Room an easy and fun place to meet fellow virtual reality players.
There are elements you can pay for, such as clothes or other avatar enhancers, but you can still get an immersive experience for free.
The Contractors
Last but not least, The Contractors is a first person shooter type game with stunning graphics and incredible detail, even though it doesn’t cost anything.
The gameplay is fast paced and very action intensive, and the mechanics can definitely keep up with it. Shooting the weapons is very satisfying and the physics are fairly accurate.
Because of how visually stunning it is and fun to play, it’s significantly surpassed other first person shooters that cost money in popularity.
Final Thoughts About Playing Free Oculus Games
The Oculus headset has a vast library of free games and demos, but the twenty three best free Oculus games listed in this article are considered (by us) to be the best of the best.
The range of gaming genres is very wide, so there is something for everyone to enjoy on this list of the best free Oculus games.
Happy gaming!
