VR is a brave new frontier. There are still plenty of blank areas on the map. As we explore the tech, it’s our responsibility to blaze trails for the explorers yet to come. We should keep an eye out for ways to ease the up-and-coming generation of gamers into this bold new paradigm. But that can be difficult when your library is stuffed to the rafters with zombie shooters and killer headsets.
Fortunately, we’ve already done the legwork for you in finding the best (and simplest!) VR titles for younger players! Let’s take a look at the top five best VR games for kids.
Top 5 Best VR Games for Kids
Starting at #5, let’s work our way down through the top kids VR games around.
5. The Cooking Game VR
- Website: http://thecookinggamevr.com
- Platform: Windows (Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift)
- Playstyle: Standing, Room-Scale
- Developer: Play Spirit Limited
- Release: July 13th, 2018
The Cooking Game VR establishes a strong foundation of VR basics with its intuitive design. You’re a chef tasked with filling customers’ orders for hamburgers, hotdogs, and french fries. This is all done from behind your kitchen counter; no walking or teleporting required. The fridge on your left stocks sundry condiments like lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese. The freezer holds your raw hamburgers and hotdogs. And when you make a mess, there’s a broom to sweep it away and a fire extinguisher just in case.
That’s pretty much the whole game. Simple, right? But there’s a method to the madness of preparing food correctly and on time. As the orders pile up and the hamburgers catch fire, it becomes a hilarious sort of chaos that kids (and parents new to VR) will love. It teaches some of the fundamentals like grabbing items with the controller, turning and leaning around to interact with the environment, and offers just enough challenge to keep it engaging. It’s a great introduction to VR and bound to make your younglings laugh as they gleefully send the wrong food to waiting customers.
4. Beat Saber
- Website: https://beatsaber.com/
- Platform: Windows (Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Windows Mixed Reality), Oculus Quest, PlayStation 4
- Playstyle: Seated, Standing, Room-Scale
- Developer: Beat Games
- Release: May 1st, 2018
Kid tested, parent-approved. Beat Saber is a phenomenon. It’s the closest thing VR has to a killer app at the moment. It seems like everyone is playing it, and I speak from experience when I say that the kids in the family enjoy it too. Granted, they won’t be playing at normal difficulty or above unless they’re a bit older. But for the youngest in the family, putting them in a familiar song (mods help here!) on easy with No Fail enabled is a thrill. They love the spectacle of it all. And breaking blocks with lightsabers is a seemingly universal language.
Encourage them with friendly coaching every time they cut in the arrow direction or break the right color, and they’ll get the hang of it in no time. Even if they don’t get all the rules, they’re bound to have a good time.
3. Garden of the Sea
- Website: Steam Store
- Platform: Windows (Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift)
- Playstyle: Standing, Room-scale
- Developer: Neat Corporation
- Release: June 10th, 2019
Garden of the Sea is a little-known VR treasure. It’s still in very early access, so don’t expect much in the way of content just yet. But for the little ones, it’s simply perfect.
You play as an island farmer looking to grow plants and feed the wildlife. It brings to mind memories of Harvest Moon. The art style is cute and colorful, and the risks are minimal, giving kids plenty of room to explore. They’ll love befriending the sea cows and puffin-penguins roaming around — and they’ll learn a bit about teleport locomotion and fundamental VR interactions in the bargain. The developers have recently announced that they’re shifting their focus back to Garden of the Sea, so more content may be on the way!
2. Moss
- Website: https://www.polyarcgames.com/
- Platform: Windows (Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Windows Mixed Reality), PlayStation 4
- Playstyle: Seated, Standing
- Developer: Polyarc Games
- Release: February 27th, 2018
As a VR enthusiast myself, I had heard of Moss, but I had not been informed that it was a “must-own” VR title. Well, I’m here to tell you — if you have VR but you don’t have Moss, you’re missing out on the storybook sensation of 2018. As a once-voracious reader of the Redwall books by Brian Jacques, Moss was a rare opportunity for me to join a mouse on their quest to save the world.
It’s one of the rare VR titles designed (and intended) for seated play, which means sitting on the couch or the floor is perfectly viable. Though it’s easy on the feet, the controls can be a bit complicated for youngsters due to the platforming aspects. Not to mention that the puzzles can require a bit of lateral thinking. Sticking around during play to help your kids through tough spots can make Moss into an impromptu co-op experience. The scenery is simply beautiful; it feels like you’re viewing the events of the game in a diorama. And there’s plenty of heroic sword fights and daring adventure to keep your kids’ attention until the final chapter. While the game may prove challenging, it’s no doubt a world your kids will want to return to again and again.
1. theBlu
- Website: https://wevr.com/theblu
- Platform: Windows (Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Windows Mixed Reality)
- Playstyle: Seated, Standing, Room-scale
- Developer: Wevr, Inc.
- Release: April 5th, 2016
Designed to be “beautiful moments in passing,” theBlu is a fantastic introduction to VR. It’s best suited to those putting on a headset for the first time, though if you have even a passing interest in the ocean, you’re going to have a good time. There’s a handful of different experiences for players to choose from — some scarier than others for the little folk. The Reef Migration may be best, as its brightly lit, and there aren’t many (if any) intimidating creatures on display. But if you have a budding marine biologist in the house, they may love the Whale Encounter. The sheer, massive scale of the whale can be intimidating, so judge for yourself whether it’s suited to the player. The Luminous Abyss is a creepy plunge into the deepest parts of the ocean, complete with a giant squid lurking in the gloom. Again, your results may vary — so just make sure your kids are up for the spooks before sending them to the abyss.
As a training tool, theBlu is perfect for helping new players become accustomed to the sense of scale and place common to VR. There’s no movement, except perhaps for leaning or a few steps here and there to investigate something new. And there’s nothing to grab or manipulate, which means that the replay value is slim to none. But for a kid’s first experience in the world of VR, you can’t do better than admiring a giant sea turtle while quoting Finding Nemo together.
Further Reading
Enjoy our list of VR games for kids and want more? Check out our other roundups below:
You must sign in to comment.
Don't have an account? Sign up here!