This month of VR gaming has been wonderfully weird, as I've ventured through Meta Quest 3's latest quirky puzzle game and then taken out my frustration in a high-octane VR battle royale.
I finally got to experience what it's like to be in Foreman (it's harder than you think), what a good job it would do if I needed it Hide the corpse from the police (not very good, apparently) and how fast I can complete the VR game “Find the differences” and find Exit 8 (I actually did well this time.) Then I won my first game of Population: One (My Fortnite skills didn't transfer, I was taken hard and I'm not proud.)
Now, let’s take a look at my favorite Meta Quest 3 games and apps for July 2024. If you’re looking for more recommendations, check out my picks from last month.
Taskmaster VR
See in the
If you've never seen an episode of Foreman What are you doing with your life? It's fantastic.
For the uninformed among you Foreman is a comedy competition show originating in the UK (although the New Zealand and Australian versions are equally excellent from what I've seen of them) in which five comedians compete to see who is the best at completing various bizarre objectives for the eponymous Taskmaster (Greg Davies). The Taskmaster's assistant (little Alex Horne) helps out by making sure no player breaks any rules while completing tasks (and sometimes provides assistance or makes snide remarks, or both).
It is also a contest that makes everyone watching it think they could do a much better job than the competitors. Taskmaster VR shows that this is categorically false.
This game offers you 15 challenges to take part in, plus some additional tasks and a custom mode to create your own tasks, all set in the iconic Taskmaster House and theatre, each of which is judged and refereed by virtual recreations of Davies and Horne; it's literally like you're at the show.
Even manages to deliver MT.Taskmaster's brand of tasks has twists that are equally exciting and frustrating, although there are many Taskmaster VR tasks that require more practical, less thoughtful approaches.
My only complaint is that the controls can be fiddly at times. It kind of fits with the show's theme, but I wouldn't complain if the motion controls were more precise. It's a criticism I've seen others level at the title as well.
So while I love this game (and have had a lot of fun watching my friends, family, and colleagues play it), it's probably only a must-play for Foreman Fans. That doesn't mean that MT. Newcomers won't find anything to like here either, but it takes someone with the right attitude who's looking for delightfully silly fun rather than a gamer looking for a more serious, precise VR experience.
Hide the corpse
See in the
Hide the corpse is a wacky virtual reality puzzle game set in the 1970s where you have one goal: hide Tom's corpse before the police show up. Please let me cook; this game is great.
You have four minutes to find a hiding spot for Tom. Maybe you managed to open his safe and shove him in there, or you simply shoved him into a corner and covered him with random objects. Either way, whether you manage to hide Tom's corpse from the police will be judged on a number of factors, including how quickly you hid him, how many of his personal items you managed to get rid of, and how well you cleaned up your fingerprints.
The game individually grades each of the level's six hiding spots, so you're encouraged to replay not only to find all the ways to hide Tom, but also to maximize your score with each attempt.
I also like how difficult it is to manipulate Tom. It was frustrating at first, but it wouldn't be so challenging (or realistic) if you could just throw him over your shoulder like a sack of feathers.
The only disadvantage is Hide the corpse It's still in early access, so not everything is complete yet. That's why there are only three levels you can play for now: Tom's apartment, the garage, and an underwater level.
That said, what we have so far is magnificent, even in this unfinished state. Hide the corpse deserves your attention. Also, to sweeten the deal Hide the corpse is discounted to just over half of what its full launch cost will be if you purchase it now in early access through Meta's App Lab.
Exit 8 VR
See in the
Exit 8 VR It's not your typical horror game, it's a spot the difference game. You have to navigate a well-lit white hallway with some signs, some maintenance doors, and a lone traveler going in the wrong direction, and make a decision: should you go back the way you came or not?
If everything looks okay, you can proceed down the hallway, but if you notice any anomalies (perhaps a doorknob that's not in its place, strange marks on the floor, the passenger grinning menacingly at you, or a river of blood running toward you), then you have to turn around and go back the way you came. Every correct decision brings you one step closer to the staircase at Exit 8, though any mistake brings you back to where you started.
Playing Exit 8In this looping scenario, it's impossible not to become paranoid as you start to question every decision you make, especially when you realize you made a mistake but have no idea what anomaly you overlooked. And you can't spend forever analyzing every aspect of the room to ensure you're right because if the passenger turns the corner before you, you'll lose control, too.
But there is also a determination that will get you. Every time I put Exit 8 I realized I had come back a few hours later to try again and escape (I'm proud to report that I did, with a badge that also alerted me that I had seen all the anomalies to complete a double-barreled game).
It's fairly short, but also very replayable, as even if you know all the anomalies, they're not always the easiest to spot. It's also not at all expensive, making it an exceptionally affordable VR horror puzzle game that's definitely worth the money.
PS While Exit 8 There may be jump scares, they are well announced and can be avoided if you turn around and walk away (dodging the anomaly), so you shouldn't be afraid of cheap scares in this thriller.
Population: One
See in the
This month I also played the essential battle royale Meta Quest 3. Population: Onewith BigBox VR's Eric Morrill guiding me through the title's recently added Phoenix Royale mode.
He explained that Phoenix Royale is a more accessible way to play a battle royale, such as giving players some automatic respawns at the start of the match so they aren't forced to return to the game queue if they are defeated in the first few minutes.
I've played a lot of Battle Royale in my life: my first paid journalism job was as a Battle Royale writer covering titles like Fortnite – and while modes like this aren’t what hardcore fans say they want, I’ll be the first to admit that these more forgiving options are perfect when you’re looking to have a less stressful game night with your crew.
That's not to say Phoenix Royale is an “easy mode,” though. Players can purchase weapon upgrades and other enhancements that make them more lethal. Also, while respawning, you'll lose all of your gear (so if you're not careful, your losses can add up), and with Population: OneIn the climbing mechanic, you always have to be careful of a player unexpectedly claiming the high ground and shooting at you.
Also, if you're looking for a different play style, Population: One It still has its most classic Battle Royale and other game modes to explore.
Throw in Population: OneThe solid gunplay, the varied map designs that offer a number of engaging battlefields, the adrenaline rush that accompanies each Battle Royale, and the fact that it's completely free to play, make for an excellent VR game. If you haven't played it yet, there's no reason not to give it a try.
