Fun VR games for the whole family
Weindependently evaluateall of our recommendations.
If you select links we provide, we may receive compensation.
They were only available to the super-rich or those in academia.
Photo: Sally Anscombe / Getty Images
Our only glimpse of VR technology was in movies such asThe Lawnmower Man.
Fast forward to the present.
But now, lets take a look at some of thebest VR gamesavailable for kids.
Mechabit Ltd.
Pierhead Arcade: Play virtual arcade favorites
Mechabit Ltd.
Great old-timely look and feel.
Wide selection of games.
Games will eventually get old.
GameplaystudioVR
You know, the one with Skee-Ball and those quarter sucking prize claw crane games.
Well, good news, you might withPierhead Arcade.
You canalmostsmell the corn dogs.
Google Inc.
Candy Kingdom VR: A whimsical shooting gallery for kids
GameplaystudioVR
Feels like a carnival game.
Enough challenge to keep kids interested.
Could use a bit more variety.
Futuretown
They definitely arent kid-friendly.
Candy Kingdom VRtakes the on-rails shooter and makes it something that is friendly and accessible for kids.
Yes, youre still shooting at things, but it doesnt really feel like a violent game.
BigBox VR, Inc
It feels more like a whimsical Disney ride or a wholesome carnival game.
The game is colorful, bright, and surprisingly challenging.
Its candy world theme probably wont induce nightmares like all the currently popular zombie shooters might.
Against Gravity
Why its fun for kids:Bright colors, fun action, and candy of course.
Who doesnt like candy?
Tilt Brush: Bring your drawings to life in 3D
Google Inc.
Amazing visuals.
Northway Games and Radial Games Corp
Excellent selection of tools to paint with.
This isn’t exactly a game.
It might be tough for kids to get started.
Valve
You were in awe of it because it was a completely new medium that you had never used before.
Tilt Brushis essentially a 3D VR paint program that allows you to create drawings in three-dimensional space.
You dont have to use traditional brushes, either.
Whirlybird Games
There are so many possibilities that you could lose yourself inTilt Brushfor hours.
The controls are intuitive and become second nature within a couple of minutes of use.
Once you know the controls, then its all just raw creativity.
Owlchemy Labs
Why its fun for kids:Its an entirely new medium that theyve never explored before.
Fun for all ages.
Like real world mini-golf, it can get frustrating.
Cloudlandsis bright and colorful and the controls are easy to use.
That doesnt mean its easy to play though.
you’re free to even share your course with the world when youve finished making your masterpiece.
you’re able to play courses created by other users as well.
Smashbox Arena: Extreme dodgeball
BigBox VR, Inc
Fun, wild, and attention grabbing.
Multiple arenas and game modes.
It might get competitive.
Some people might consider it violent for very young kids.
This game is definitely dodgeball on steroids.
you could even obtain a sniper-rifle-bang out dodgeball shooter for accurate, long-range shots.
Multiple arenas and game modes make for all kinds of fun.
If this games popularity holds up, there will always be someone available to play against.
Why its fun for kids:Everyone loves dodgeball… and missiles.
Only ages 13+
Online multiplayer might not be for everyone.
VR Platform:HTC Vive, Oculus RiftDeveloper:Against Gravity
Rec Roomis a social VR playground.
As with anything social, you will encounter good people and not-so-good people.
Overall, it seems to be a pretty safe and fun environment to explore.
You pick clothing, gender, hairstyle, and accessories.
you might enter and exit a game whenever you want and are brought back to the locker room area.
Why its fun for kids:Multiplayer VR paintball!
Test machines in real time.
It might get frustrating.
Trial and error gameplay makes you re-make contraptions that don’t work.
You build these simple machines out of balloon-animal-like parts that you get from a cat.
If it fails, you make changes to it and try it again.
The game requires a lot of trial and error.
Fantastic Contraptionis a blast because it requires creativity and problem-solving.
You get some basic parts (axles, wheels, etc.
Its a very STEM-inspired game.
Manipulating the virtual machine parts in VR makes you feel like a mechanical engineer.
Why its fun for kids:They get to build stuff and test their inventions.
What could be more fun than that?
The Lab: Fun mini-games set in the Portal world
Valve
Multiple games with different play styles.
Fun game world with little extras.
It’s basically just an into to VR sampler.
The Labis set in Valves Portal universe and has a lot of science-experiment-gone-wrong humor in it.
The waves get progressively harder as time goes on.
Once too many invaders reach the castle door and break it open, the game ends.
Your goal is to do as much damage as possible.
The cores taunt you and plead with you as you launch them from the catapult.
There is also a little robot dog that runs around.
VR The Diner Duo: Cooperative VR cooking
Whirlybird Games
Collaborative gameplay.
Stressful and challenging in a fun way.
Makes a great party game.
It really is somewhat stressful.
The players might argue about “who messed up.”
So youre probably wondering, how can two people play a game with only one VR headset?
Both jobs get pretty hectic after about level 10.
The difficulty increases as progressively complicated menu items are added and the number of diners increases.
If the customer gets really mad, he ends up leaving.
Honestly, this was one of the most fun and stressful kids VR games weve played.
Why its fun for kids:Kids love cooking.
Pretending to run their own restaurant is something that most kids both young and old have always enjoyed doing.
Job Simulator: Kids pretend to work various jobs
Owlchemy Labs
Humorous game with a lighthearted feel.
Fun for kids to pretend to be adults.
Might get boring for some.
The year is 2050, and robots have assumed all human jobs.
This game provides a nostalgic experience by letting humans see what it was like to work for a living.
The game lets you select any one of four different jobs.
You are led through each job simulation by a job simulator instructor bot who explains the tasks at hand.
Both adults and kids will enjoy this game.
Why its fun for kids:Kids like to pretend to be adults.
Its also just downright hilarious.
