Insights

VR Apps we’re playing in 2019

October 4, 2019

Yeah, we love VR. The options are endless for creating mind-twisting experiences. That obviously appeals to us as, well, experience designers. But on a more visceral level, what’s more fun than immersing oneself in the metaverse? We already did a round-up of some of our favorite VR apps, but we just had to share some more. Almost all of the following apps don’t even require an expensive headset or ultra-powerful computer to run them–just your mobile phone. So here are more VR apps you need to check out, like, now:

Facebook 360

Remember the eclipse?! This app was one of the best VR apps to experience it. For those who couldn’t travel to the path of totality, CNN teamed up with Volvo to live-stream the eclipse from multiple locations in 4K Ultra HD and 360 degrees. With Facebook 360 and Samsung Gear VR, viewers could experience what the eclipse looked like in seven different time zones from seven different angles.

Expeditions

With a growing list of 200+ expeditions, Google Expeditions is one of the best educational VR apps from Google Cardboard. As the “guide,” you have the opportunity to lead a group of explorers through your adventures. Take a virtual trip to historical landmarks, travel through the infinities of space, or dive into the deep depths of the ocean.

Insidious


Another Google Cardboard app, Insidious VR has the checks all the horror boxes. Tension and suspense build with sinister sounds, eerie signs, and, of course, heart-skipping jump- scares. Horror, as a genre, has been extremely successful with VR, and apps like Insidious make it clear why.

Fulldive VR

With over one million videos to explore, FullDive VR creates a movie theater environmentfor you to watch your videos. You can also browse the internet in VR mode. Currently, though, the app is only available for Android users.

Soundstage


The VR music application allows you to instantly transform your room into a personal studio or DJ sandbox. The retro low- polygon instruments connected with colorful cables are simple in design but appealing. You can play around with wireless controls like drums, synthesizers, cassettes and speakers. With major updates that allow the user to import and export sounds, SoundStage is a fun app for living out your musical dreams in the comfort of your bedroom or living room. It is available on Steam and Viveport for the HTC Vive.

End Space VR


Since space is the ideal 360-degree experience, End Space VR takes advantage of this bottomless, limitless region. You can look and travel in all directions with your spacecraft and fight intergalactic enemies with weapons. With the help of excellent graphics and 3D immersive audio, you tend to forget that your feet are still firmly on earth.

VR Roller Coaster


Rollercoasters aren’t for everyone (i.e. they can be terrifying), but VR Roller Coastergives users the thrill of riding one without that whole possible loss of life-and-limb thing.

Do you have any favorite VR apps? Or maybe you just wanna get down and nerdy about experience design? Hit us up.