With Halloween behind us now, we can almost hear the jingle bells (or, most likely, Mariah Carey) already echoing in the distance. And as the weather gets frostier, it's that time of the year to reach for the blankets, grab a hot chocolate and enjoy a relaxing evening. Fortunately, there are great VR options that are sure to take you to whole new level of mindfulness and relaxation. Whether you're just looking for a quick guided meditation session or you're in for a more playful and engaging experience, here's a list of the best VR games that will help you shed some stress and enjoy your 'me time' to the fullest.
Fujii - Oculus Rift, Quest, HTC Vive, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality, PSVR
This throughly relaxing VR game mixes a garden landscape with mystical creatures that will keep you company as you explore different worlds. Players can also collect seeds, grow plants and design their own garden as part of this soothing virtual reality experience.
Developer's description: A serene, mystical journey that traverses a series of otherworldly, organic landscapes, Fujii is a respite for weary travelers. The experience flows between outdoor exploration and creative gardening, merging aspects of adventure and cultivation into a refreshing, musically enveloping whole. After emerging from a mystical tree, players venture out to explore three unique and magical biomes. Watering, touching, and interacting in musical ways with plants and creatures throughout each biome restores its lifeforce, and expands the energetic rings of light that hover above. Each biome brings its own biodiversity and plant interactions, eventually leading players to the source of Fujii’s powerful energy well.
Garden of the Sea - Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index
Keeping in the theme of Fujii, this VR games will take to a relaxing and mystical island where you'll meet creature that you can help raise and nurture. You'll also be given a bot to explore the sea around the island and reach other islands where there are more resources you can collect.
Developer's description: Garden of the Sea, a magical virtual reality game where grow your own fantastical garden, nurture local creatures, and adventure across the sea. Developed by Neat Corporation
OrbusVR: Reborn - Oculus, SteamVR
If you're looking for a hint of action while also having a relaxing time, OrbusVR: Reborn is a great choice. This VR game can be played solo or in group mode, as you'll engage in mini games, exploring different words, battle monsters, brew potions and race dragons throughout dozens of hours of unique content.
**Developer's description: **Welcome to Patreayl, a once-great nation now decimated by war, politics, and a cataclysmic event that opened a gateway to a new dimension, plaguing the nation with mysterious radiation and alien monsters. Playing the role of a long-lost hero, you’ll defend the city of Highsteppe and try to improve life for the locals—all while trying to unravel the mystery behind what happened that fateful day.
Gadgeteer - PSVR
This is the perfect VR choice for those who like building gadgets and design original puzzles. With Gadgeteer, there aren't any rules except for the rules of physics. Your engineering marvels can be shared and discussed with others. In total, there are 60 physics puzzles that can be solved in endless ways and users can access access 40 additional gadgets inspired by Rube Goldberg machines.
Developer's description: Gadgeteer is a physics-based VR puzzle game where you build chain reaction machines to solve fun, intricate puzzles. Your machines will use gadgets to launch, bump, twist, and turn—creating chain reactions that may even end up tearing apart the fabric of space-time. Prepare your wits because you'll need them to build your masterpiece!
Electronauts - Oculus Rift, Quest, HTC Vive, PSVR
Everyone has a different concept of what relaxing means, and for some of us it means listening to (or even creating) great music. Electronauts lets users jam on eight digital instruments, record loops and sequences, layer filters, mashup and arrange songs to fit their style. You can collaborate with other users and perform your set with surreal visuals, adaptable colors, and dynamic camera angles that will take your concert to the next level.
Developer's description: Ever wanted to ride the vibes of a top DJ playing a packed festival’s main stage? Here’s your chance to shine: all it takes to be an Electronaut is the passion to become one with the beat. Create music with confidence, no matter your skill level, as you make music magic in this VR-exclusive experience featuring 40-plus songs from 50 top artists across EDM, hip hop, trap, and countless other genres.
Ghost Giant - Oculus Quest, PSVR
A truly relaxing VR game that will keep you engaged every step of the way, Ghost Giant enables you to become a helper (in the form of, well, a ghost) to a cat-child named Louis LaFleur. As his imaginary friend, you'll explore the miniature world of Sancourt, help its people with tasks and lend Louis a helping hand in taking care of his family's farm.
Developer's description: Ghost Giant is a heartfelt puzzle story in VR about trying to keep life together with a little help from a very big friend. Step into Louis' world and break the wall between protagonist and player in a highly immersive VR story. Maneuver a unique diorama world by opening roofs, grabbing cars or rotating a whole house! While you’re at it - why not use a crane as a huge fishing rod? Explore the cozy miniature village of Sancourt and help its citizens with all their quirky problems by using your strength and wits. Experience a heartfelt adventure about friendship and courage, written by internationally acclaimed writer Sara B. Elfgren.
Tetris Effect - Oculus, PSVR
This blast from the past game takes an iconic title like Tetris to a whole new level, with levels that are more challenging than ever, added to incredible visuals and audio.
Developer's description: Tetris Effect is Tetris like you've never seen it, or heard it, or felt it before—a breathtakingly gorgeous reinvention of one of the most popular puzzle games of all time, from the people who brought you the award-winning Rez Infinite and legendary puzzle game Lumines. Music, backgrounds, sounds, special effects—everything, down to the Tetriminos themselves, pulse, dance, shimmer, and explode in perfect sync with how you're playing, making any of the game's 30+ stages and 10+ modes something you'll want to experience over and over again.
Where Thoughts Go - Oculus, PC VR
Where Thoughts Go is a VR game that is described as a 'story and anonymous audio-based social network' that lets you share anonymous stories with other participants, and listen to theirs as well, as you walk through relaxing and inviting atmosphere. The experience with the aim of challenging the current impersonal nature of social media and has scooped several awards after premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2018.
Developer's description: In this award-winning social experience, human thoughts exist as sleeping creatures that can be awakened to reveal voice-recorded stories of other participants who were here before you. These anonymous stories are revealing and inspiring, encouraging reflection and introspection. To progress, you must leave your own stories behind for others to uncover. Visually beautiful and wholly transformative, Where Thoughts Go thematically explores the course of a lifetime through five simple questions written to dig deep. The voice recordings you hear are unique and unidentifiable, left by individuals from every walk of life, every age and every background. Participants have no way to discern who they are hearing from, only how considerate and sensitive each and every person is.
Sky Sanctuary - Oculus Rift, HTC Vive
Practice archery and katana on a stunning archipelago, while embodying the character of a would-be Samurai and fulfilling the tasks needed to master combat training and the art of Zen with this calming virtual reality experience.
Developer's description: Have you ever wanted to be a samurai? On this beautiful archipelago high in the clouds, you can make your dreams come true. You will follow the instructions of Delios-Sensei, your only friend out there. He will teach you how to progress in the warrior's way and explore the secrets of Zen. Archery, Katana moves, throwing arts and many other practices await you. And if you need rest, take a stroll around the islands to enjoy panoramas in front of a beautiful sunset. Sky Sanctuary is not a limited experience, there is fun beyond game modes. Test weapons, multiple interactions are directly designed to let you play the way you want without any rules.
Luna - Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, PC VR, PSVR
Luna is an ideal VR game for relaxation and mindfulness, letting you enter the adventures of a bird as it goes from level to level inside a world of fantastical nature. You'll be able to shape plants and trees, change their colors and unwind in this truly peaceful setting.
Developer's description: Luna is a tactile, interactive fairy tale about a young Bird who swallows the last piece of the waning Moon and is blown far from home. Players must untangle the Bird’s memories, revealing plants and animals it has encountered before. By planting and cultivating plants within terrariums, players bring life back to the moonless world. The Bird will meet other animals along its journey, who can help guide it home.
exVRience Relaxation - Oculus, Samsung Gear VR
Looking for a truly relaxing experience, where you can meditate and escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life? exVRience relaxation is an immersive experience like none other, especially because you'll be given a wide range of tools to customize it, like adding your own music playlists.
Developer's description: Create your own relaxation! Relax to your favourite music in a selection of natural Australian surroundings including beaches, lagoons, waterfalls and lookouts using 360 degree video. Listen to nature, choose from a selection of soothing music, relaxing guided voiceovers and special effects. Featuring 360 degree videos – Beach, Ocean Cave, Lagoon, Waterfall, Lookout, Beach Rocks, 5 Guided Voiceovers, 8 inbuilt soothing music tracks and 8 Effects.
Guided Meditation VR - Oculus Rift, Valve Index, HTC Vive, PC VR
A simple and straight to the point meditation experience that will transform any environment into a relaxing setting. Meditation sessions can range from 2 minutes up to 10 minutes, and users can choose to simply listen to the sounds of nature, like a beach or a forest, as they relax.
Developer's description: Meditation made simple & visual. Bring peace, joy, and calm back into your daily life with the virtual relaxation app Guided Meditation VR. Transform your home into an exotic, relaxing escape.
Nature Treks VR - Oculus Quest, Valve Index, HTC Vive
While not a VR game per se, Nature Treks VR is as addictive as it gets (while also bringing you some much needed peace of mind, of course). Through this virtual reality experience, you'll be visiting amazing worlds and exploring beautiful locations, each with incredible animals, sounds and experiences. This will make sure that you have plenty of opportunities to be relaxed and entertained.
Developer's description: Explore tropical beaches, underwater oceans and even take to the stars. Discover over 20 different animals. Command the weather, take control of the night or shape your own world. Immerse yourself into the Nature Treks VR experience and escape into a world of relaxation.
