High-five, gamers! Have you seen Sword Art Online or Overlord? Chances are, you became virtual reality fans after having watched these anime series plotted in an alternate world of gaming. But is it too good to be true to play in a fictional world like theirs? Do you need to spend millions like Tony Stark to experience this fantasy?
Several apps and mixed reality products have been introduced each year. Many of these are enhanced and developed for gamer’s satisfaction for augmented reality or virtual reality enthusiasts alike. From top-sellers to upcoming releases, Steam is the go-to platform to play, discuss or even create games of any category.
So, is there a need to break the bank to achieve the perks? Below are Steam VR games under $5 or less best for gamers on a budget. Let’s discuss them per genre:
Action
AltF4 ($1.99)
This is a single-player knight who needs to surpass several traps and terrains to clear the game. More or less, he jumps to various obstacle courses and speedruns to success. Players like the thrill of overcoming the traps and the dread of repeating from the start.
Codename: Phantom ($4.99)
Play as an undercover agent with a couple of pistols to dispatch enemies for 40 levels. It has Normal and Hardcore Mode which both requires steady aim and fast reflex. This is a puzzle-shooter game.
A-10 VR ($4.99)
Take action as a gallery shooter in outer space using selected gunplay. The goal is to shoot enemies and not let them escape. The longer you last, the higher the score. This is available for Practice Mode, Time Mode, Survival Mode, and the new Attack Mode.
Spacecats with Lasers VR ($4.99)
This is a light play shooting game where a space cat takes on waves of rat enemies using a laser weapon. Avatar is customized for players and can be enhanced through power-ups and upgrades upon playing. It gives an arcade vibe in its galaxy setting.
Thirst ($2.99)
Enter the world where water is scarce and the only chance of survival is brought by a transport train under your protection. The setting is post-apocalyptic and you have a machine gun or RPG to shoot enemies.
Scrap Attack ($0.99)
Protect ancient Botanite Crystals at all costs against frenzied robots on the planet of Botanika. This arcade-style shooting game makes you blaster over various Boltheads and scraps from attacking. They vary from long-mid-short ranges that can damage you and the crystals, especially by the group.
Princess Kidnapper 2 VR ($0.99)
Add some drama in the kingdom by picking war against the King’s army and trying to steal princesses. This allows you to be strategic in attacking through our bow and arrow weapon. This game makes you wreak havoc and be the madman you are!
Battle Dome ($1.99)
This is a VR shooter that allows you like a single or team player to destroy an opponent's base before your camp. A wide selection of weapons is available. Spread your team’s color and survive any of the 5 PvP modes it features: Destroy the Core, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, King of the Kill, and You Only Live Once. It is best played with trackpad locomotion.
Ding Dong VR ($2.99)
Try to last as long as you can and beat your score in this arcade-style gameplay. Proper timing will be your ally in hitting your enemies. Upon power-ups, the game lets you gain skins for your player. This is an addictive and fun shooting game once you get through it.
Unseen Diplomacy ($2.99)
Be an elite member of The British Espionage Tactical Initiative by carrying out diplomacy against wrongdoers in this VR game. Maximize your room space in pacing and moving around as this will be your core task in rolling against the environmental obstacle. This is closest to tactile experience for virtual gaming.
Duckpocalypse ($2.99)
In a pixelated world, “roboducks” are the future. They replaced humans as superior beings and your goal is to hunt them using your scrapped guns. Bring down as many robot ducks as you can and earn a high score!
Downward Spiral: Prologue ($1.99)
A real action sci-fi game that features a zero-gravity experience among its users. It can be played on Solo Mode, Co-Op, or Deathmatch. This is known for the immersive journey and mystery brought by environmental storytelling without giving motion sickness to players.
Tornuffalo ($0.99)
A fresh-to-ear kind of disaster hits humankind known as the “Tornufallo” which is a combination of a hard-hitting tornado and a herd of angry buffaloes. The experience makes the players feel a touch of warm air and moist plus cold dry air while dodging various items like fire hydrants, cars, as well as the main nemesis which are the bison.
Starbear: Taxi ($4.99)
Prepare to be at service in delivering busy bear passengers using your spaceship taxi around Starbear city. Arrive on target destinations as many times as you can while dodging a bandit of raccoons along the way. This is a single-player game that aims to let you earn the highest score possible.
Blade Shield ($2.99)
Another sci-fi game for survival is fighting off bots and turrets by using your electroluminescent light blades. Wipeout waves of enemies through a killer combination of your blade and shield!
Adventure
Dimensional ($4.99)
This puzzle game is designed for you to try and save an alien race by beating chambers through hidden messages and reacting to dangers. It allows you to move kinesthetically and be an active part of the game area by jumping, sliding and other movements you may find necessary to survive.
Kindled Cavern ($5)
This playthrough makes you fight off enemies, solve puzzles, and collect gold. The game is centered on lighting up seven oil pedestals to escape the cave. You will be drawn by its imaginable setting of nature and explorable cavern.
Astral Domine ($3)
As a single-player, you must retrieve an energy sphere to restore the power of your spaceship after crash landing on a mysterious planet. Be ready for adventure and exploration to the ruins of this alien kingdom.
A Writer and His Daughter ($2)
This VR game is the first part of a trilogy where a daughter unfolds a magical book which makes her be torn between reality and fantasy. Keep an eye for hints and clues to answer the puzzle and explore both worlds. The game is semantically open for multiple interpretations. It lets you decide as to the main hero of your fairy tale.
The Price of Freedom ($1.99)
This adventure VR game is inspired by true events. As Agent Zero, your mission is to assassinate Miller after he breaks the CIA research facilities and steals Chemical Weapons research. Find out his motives behind and uncover the secret whilst protecting this information away from the enemy's hands.
Interkosmos ($4.99)
Get ready for a galactic play with Interkosmos as a surviving astronaut inside a space capsule. Fight your way to the pressure of having the world’s fate in your hands and stay on course in flying!
Street Champ VR ($0.99)
This resonates with the horrors of crossing the street with high-speed cars and endless lanes. Being cautious, like a real-life necessity, is a must to last longer in this game. A fail in each crossing allows you to replay and clear a level.
Alice Mystery Garden ($4.99)
Discover the quirky world of the Mystery Garden with Alice in this VR action-puzzle game. Manipulate Alice’s action and collect the looking-glass fragments to unlock each stage.
Kismet ($3.99)
In her Gothic cabin, Kismet gives accurate Tarot card readings for your daily access. It involves real-time and actual alignment of celestial bodies through your birthday. It also gives a unique outcome from Kismet’s attempt to look in the future while you listen across her on a table and listen for your fortune.
Portable Farm ($4.99)
A lighter take amidst action games is Portable Farm. It enables players to take care of crops and generate an upgraded farm by planting in real-lifelike seasons. Let your farming be productive by watering, fertilizing, and growing your plants. Wait for them to blossom even while you’re away!
Ashi Wash ($2.99)
This VR game is based on a Japanese folktale where a giant nasty foot needs to be cleaned otherwise, it will disturb the peace inside your house. Absurd as it may sound, it gives a thoughtful haiku to think about per play that is great for party games and may give you and your friends a laugh after.
Horror
The Scream ($3.99)
This game centers its inspiration with the famous painting “The Scream” of Edward Munch. The terror is made from the demons and ghosts from Munch himself which emerge from this canvas to reveal a secret. This game lets you head-to-head with the demons and chaos that invade every inch of your slash virtual space.
VR: Vacate the Room (Virtual Reality Escape) - $3.99
Thrilling and pressuring, this is an “escape the room” game where you must answer and solve puzzles to find your way out. Find clues by interacting with items that can be carried and grabbed around.
Necro Mutex ($1.99)
Disturbing and gore, this sci-fi horror makes you fight off an army of weaponized undead caused by Orcus Research Cartel station going rogue and turning them. Survive by not letting the persistent corpses get you and find an escape before you run out of time. This game is up for 10,000 levels. Try to make it on top of leaderboards available for different modes.
Indie
Conscious Existence - A Journey Within ($2.49)
In no time, this will give you a virtual existentialist moment as it allows you to refresh your perception of nature in the eyes of a child. This is perfect to try now that the world is under pandemic and cannot physically enjoy outside. Because of its real-time impact and flashy effects and details, the creators warned any players with medical issues to consult a physician first and be cautious of unwanted sensations or any sensitivities.
Cockroach VR ($1.99)
This game is also placed under the Horror genre since it gives goosebumps in dealing with giant flying cockroaches towards you! Survive these in-house pests with all your might using your hand-held gun!
L U N E ($2.99)
Make use of an HTC Vive or Valve Index headset for this unique medium of virtual reality. L U N E brings forth a new experience to VR using a haiku or a short poem wherein you can touch and play; poke and prod; dance, move, caress, or simply meditate using the surroundings, mainly the stars and the quiet moon.
The Hunger: Games Ensemble ($3.99)
This game stands out to hilariousness because it spoils you to starvation like never before! It is inspired by Youtube superstar Hot Dad’s "4 VR Games That'll Leave You Hungering for More". It features a collection of strange comedy games which lure you to eating as a voracious traveler. Keep in mind to not give in to temptation and make your family proud...and yourself hungry.
Warka Flarka Film Flam ($1.99)
Become the #1 Warka of Flarkas in this physical game of Vive. This fast-paced game comes with great caution not to commit mistakes to avoid the punishment of replaying your journey.
Multiplayer
Hand Simulator ($1.99)
From the name itself, this VR game requires the control of your hands even by using only a keyboard and a mouse. There’s a lot of different levels and interesting concepts in this game from handling weapons to milking a cow. It paces to action levels like taking part in a Mexican duel with friends, or simply chatting in an anonymous club. Then, it goes back to having a good time fishing and playing chess. Multiplayer mode is available in the online game.
ViKubb ($3.99)
ViKubb lets you channel your inner Viking by honing your throwing skills to pit against friends, AI, or skilled opponents in the ‘ranked’ play. Enjoy this competitive online multiplayer using a VR headset, an internet connection, and the Viking spirit in you.
Rec Room (Free)
Have fun hanging out with friends all over the world for free. Play with other sociables on Rift, Vive, PlayStation VR, Windows VR, etc. Customize your appearance and showcase a personality in your circle and choose fun activities like paintball, laser tag, or any casual mini-games.
Music
Old Friend ($2.99)
Be caught up with frenzy dance routines and movements with Old Friend’s joyful world of music. Get ready with using your steps through your cartoon character and show them to a dance party.
DMT: Dynamic Music Tesseract ($4.99)
Have fun playing with visualizations to sync with your favorite music. This game might be visually sensitive however, it can give the satisfaction of watching trippy visuals. It features 3D visualization of vast 4-dimensional objects that move with every beat of your selected song.
Hop Step Sing! Kiss x Kiss x Kiss HQ Edition ($4.99)
Join Hop Step Sing!, Japan’s newest idol group, in overcoming the world of music by enjoying your VIP ticket. The group has their comeback with their melodious second single: "kiss×kiss×kiss". Make use of your HTC Vive or Valve Index and listen to Niina, Mikasa, and Shikiri in this love song.
Puzzle
UNTITLED ($4.99)
For over 125 trials, your puzzle-solving and logic skills will be put to the test to challenge you with upcoming obstacles. The game gives a selection of tools and lets you develop skills to think outside the box and clear the course. Creators claim that all proceeds to this game will be donated to "Act Blue Anti Racism and Police Brutality Funds" in combating racism all over the world. So, you can partake in this advocacy while enjoying this mind-trick game for a cheap price.
Fingers: Mini-Games ($2.99)
There will be nobody movements in these mini-games other than the use of virtual hands. Solve puzzles on a virtual table but while standing with a VR headset and controllers. The complexity elevates as you progress with the game you will choose. This features three game types including collecting white tablets and not dropping them, pyramid building, or guessing the type of object by feeling them. It mainly uses your tactile capabilities.
Light Repair Team #4 ($4.99)
Embody a light-repair person in this light-reflection puzzle and return power to nearby buildings and get the city back on its feet. Within 25 puzzles, try to re-route the light pipes to their proper receptacles and save the city of New Corona from the state of fragility!
Jigsaw 360 ($1.99)
Your traditional puzzle now turned to beautifully detailed spherical jigsaws. Use controllers to put together the pieces easily while rotating the spherical puzzle to see it from different angles. Traditional flat ones are also available.
Dungeon Escape VR ($4.99)
Escape the rooms by solving puzzles and overcoming challenges while trapped in a dungeon cell. Objects are pickable and interactive to help you find clues.
Waddle Home ($4.99)
Within 40 Frozen levels, guide the trapped penguins to the Rescue ship. Though this game is not easy as it sounds. Traps, guards, and ice are holding the penguins back from going back home to the rescue ship. Help them by dodging nasty traps and keeping them away from pesky guards lurking. Three eggs must be collected per level to earn a high score.
Racing
Ludicrous Speed (Free)
Using your natural locomotion controls, join the race in this infinitely-generated track. The neon-filled surrounding reacts to the beat and rhythm of your selected background music. Its features can be modified, difficulty can be set and movements can be toggled. Your experience in this racing game can be customized to your preference.
Wacky Wings VR (Free)
Enjoy this diverse VR world of an arcade-style ride in this many-themed game. Collect gold medals to gain speed and maneuverability as you progress in the race. Through these point-boosters, you can easily avoid obstacles. Collect coins and unlock wings for your vehicle!
Critter Kart ($4.99)
You may opt to race alone, or with up to three other friends in split-screen matches with Critter Kart. You may select among 11 playable characters and race to 5 locations with other opponents. It’s fun with the customizable features that allow players to choose the number of karts, laps, and the difficulty of their opponents. Start the engine and may the best Kart win!
Mini Tracks ($4.99)
Race using toy car models and drive on mini tracks in standard or VR mode. The game is set from the perspective of toys, so most of the tracks are around tables, chairs, bathtubs, and many other everyday objects. Earn money by winning races to unlock tracks and vehicles and to compete better with 3 other online players.
Galaxy Forces VR (Free)
Race on time or transport cargo to get a high score as a single-player space shooter. Clear 55 levels and unlock 22 achievements inside a narrow cave by dodging enemies along the way. This game requires a VR headset.
Sports
Stunt Kite Masters VR ($4.99)
Master flying your stunt kite in different weather and scenery. This game is perfect for experiencing an outside luxury while at home. Enhance your skills in launching your kite through the wind for it to fly mightily in the sky. Choose from Snake Mode for precision skills or Outrun Mode for dodging remorse-controlled planes on the way!
Magical Squash ($4.99)
Magical Squash is a virtual reality sports game that aims for players to actively experience the rush while playing as if they are exercising in real life. Creators aim for players to enjoy a happier, healthier gaming experience. Use your HTC Vive or Valve Index headset.
Drone Fighters ($4.99)
This is an arcade-style sports game where you play as the top Drone fighter against opponents. Master 18 solo games in different arenas, unlock new drones and customize your weapons as you go. Best played with Vive and Oculus Touch controllers.
Science
Chroma Lab ($4.99)
This colorful fluid simulation of particles is satisfying and stimulating. This allows you to experiment and create beautiful visuals which you can save and load. The particles will be made using tools to pick up, hit, pull, explode, shoot and paint.
BLARP! ($2.99)
This is another fun-filled physics game that requires an intuitive understanding of motions to create a unique and addictive experience. This game is built for the HTC Vive and is best played with a racket, yoyo, or a rope.
Chunky Orbits ($1.99)
For galaxy and space enthusiasts, this game is best for satisfying your experience to be up close to cosmic chunks. This game is based on real-life physics and deals with free-floating objects in space because of gravity. You may choose to pilot a simple spaceship or pinch and pull to move around using your controllers. This is more like a science lesson more than a game though. So feel free to nerd about the chunky orbits!
Final Words
Whichever genre you may find interesting, no more worries breaking the bank to experience a game well played. We, as fellow players, know the struggle! That’s why this list was made in the first place.
Steam will continuously provide new releases and update games to satisfy our VR play, but one thing should be kept in mind. Respect for others is a must, may it be in a virtual game or the real world. Like the Marvel character Peter Parker says, “With great power comes great responsibility.”
>>> Visit Gurugamer.com for more interesting game news!
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