This Week’s VR Game Roundup — Waltz, Panic, and Defect!

Waltz of the Wizard: Extended Edition

You’re a wizard, Harry! Or Barry. Or Larry. Anyone can become a powerful wizard in Waltz of the Wizard: Extended Edition. You can combine ingredients in a cauldron and cast powerful spells. In the Extended Edition, new spells have been added, as has support for the Valve Index controllers and finger tracking. There is also a new room-scale locomotion option for those playing in larger spaces. Just make sure you don’t bump into any non-magic people or you might get startled and turn them into a frog or something.

Fitness Potential

Waltz of the Wizard is a sort of mini-game collection with several different activities included. You can pick up items with your motion controllers and send them across the room. You can also case powerful spells with your arms, and even conjure up a sword. Controlling this sword is done much the same way as it is in other VR game. This means you’ll be getting a solid workout amidst the craziness.

Developer/Publisher: Aldin Dynamics

Release Date: July 10, 2019

Compatible With: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Windows Mixed Reality, Valve Index

Price: $5.99 to $9.99

Link: Waltz of the Wizard – Extended Edition

Okay, Panic!

If the news cycle and the impending threat of mass global flooding has you feeling insane, consider playing Okay, Panic! The VR mini-game collection was designed with Valve’s Index controllers in mind and features control for your individual fingers. You’ll be able to give someone the finger, if you’re into that, and unlock new VHS tapes to get more mini-games. What other game expects you to poke someone’s eyes out?

Fitness Potential

Okay, Panic! is a very physical game, with your actions changing depending on the mini-game you’ve selected. You could chop up a fruit with an axe in one game, and use the force on enemies in another to push them. There is even a table tennis mini-game included, if you don’t want to opt for a full-fledged simulation elsewhere in VR. You might lose your grasp on reality, but you’ll be working up a sweat.

Developer/Publisher: Outer Harbor

Release Date: July 10, 2019

Compatible With: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index

Price: $8.49 to $9.99

Link: Okay, Panic!

Sairento VR (PSVR)

Available now for the first time on PlayStation VR, Sairento VR is one of the flashiest action games in the entire medium. The science-fiction setting is the perfect playground for you to show off your expert sword skills, if you aren’t distracted by the gorgeous level design. The enemies you face won’t be pushovers, so you’ll have to keep your focus.

Fitness Potential

Sairento VR is a frenetic game that has you constantly swinging your sword at enemies. Mixed into this, you’ll also fire guns, and the two can be used in combination to keep them off-guard. You also have access to a bow for precision shots. The action moves at a very brisk pace, so you’ll need to learn the proper techniques and keep some stamina in order to succeed.

Developer/Publisher: Mixed Realms

Release Date:  July 10, 2019

Compatible With: PlayStation VR

Price: $37.99

Link: Sairento VR (PSVR)

Defector

If you’ve been waiting for the VR equivalent of Mission Impossible on Oculus Rift, look no further than Defector. The game is an intense and exhilarating take on the spy genre, complete with brutal gunfights and fisticuffs. This is all wrapped up with brilliant production values from Twisted Pixel, so you’ll be engrossed as you cause mayhem.

Fitness Potential

Defector is the perfect choice for a VR fitness junkie who wants something story-focused. Using your arms, you can literally launch enemies upward with a single punch. You’ll also need to quickly aim your projectile weapons, and you can even punch through doors to open up passages for yourself.

Developer/Publisher: Twisted Pixel/Oculus

Release Date: July 11, 2019

Compatible With: Oculus Rift

Price: $19.99

Link: Defector

I’m Hungry

If you want to combine cooking unhealthy food with a workout, I’m Hungry is one of your best options. Just released on PlayStation VR, I’m Hungry tasks you with being the most efficient and speedy fast food employee around. You will need to get your customers’ orders correct in order to progress, and you can unlock new, shiny equipment along the way.

Fitness Potential

As you play I’m Hungry, you’ll be quickly turning from left to right and using the Move controllers to assemble patrons’ meals. The game keeps track of your calories burnt, and you can play the Infinity Mode to see how long you can last before you tire out and make a mistake. Just don’t eat too much of the food!

Developer/Publisher: Winking Skywalker Entertainment

Release Date: July 8

Compatible With: PlayStation VR

Price: $16.99

Link: I’m Hungry