It’s been a stressful year and while being stuck at home comes with many disadvantages, probably the worst is not being able to get out and explore the outside world like before, or even just being able to head over to a yoga class to wind down.
Those with access to virtual reality are in luck, however, because regardless of the stresses we face in our real lives, there’s a chance to escape for a while into a virtual world.
Whether you’re looking for an experience that will transport you to a different state of mindfulness, or want to explore a casual VR game at your own pace, there ought to be something here for you in this list of 20+ VR relaxation/meditation games and apps.
VR Exploration
Paper Valley
Platforms: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index
Get it on: SteamVR
Making and throwing paper planes was just something everyone did back in school because… well, mostly out of boredom really.
Yet somehow in VR, flying paper planes suddenly takes on a magical new air – and it might have something to do with the whimsical world that developer
Vitei Backroom Inc has created in Paper Valley.
You’ll get to explore different areas of this world as you bring it back to life – literally – by guiding your range of aerodynamic paper planes across a series of obstacles.
The paper plane physics is definitely one of the most satisfying elements in this game.
Horizon Beyond
Platforms: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index
Get it on: SteamVR
Ever wanted to be the captain of your very own flying ship? Ever dreamed of sailing through the clouds on a soft breeze?
What you were looking for was never beyond the horizon, but rather Horizon Beyond.
In this short little experience, you’re given free reign of your own flying ship which you can use to sail around the world as you please, catch a few fish, and interact with some of the creatures in the skies around you.
This free VR game might be short as there is a definite ending should you choose to follow that path, but it’s an enchanting experience from start to finish.
Fujii
Platforms: Oculus Rift, Quest, HTC Vive, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality, PSVR
Get it here: SteamVR, Oculus, PS Store
Fujii provides you with a colorful interactive world full of creatures and plants to discover.
It’s an entirely peaceful game with some light puzzles and different areas that you can explore at your own pace.
Those who love to garden will find this appeals to their green thumbs too, as you can collect various seeds throughout the game to plant and tend to in your own garden.
Whatever you decide to do here, you’ll find a soft, calming space that you can lose yourself in for a while.
Garden of the Sea
Platforms: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index
Get it here: SteamVR
Escape to your own quaint little cottage on an island that’s entirely your own.
In Garden of the Sea, you get to hang around on a mystical island that you can fill with magical plants and cuddly creatures that you can help nurture.
On top of that, you’re given a tugboat to explore the open seas.
There are other islands to discover with plenty of resources to gather too.
At the moment of writing, this game is still in Early Access and many more features may be added in the future.
Music-Driven Experiences
Electronauts
Platforms: Oculus Rift, Quest, HTC Vive, PSVR
Get it here: SteamVR, Oculus, PS Store
Relaxing doesn’t mean you have to sit in a quiet space and try your hardest to meditate.
If you find music relaxing then you might just shed some stress trying to create your own beat.
Don’t worry if you don’t have any musical talent to speak of – Electronauts does all the heavy lifting for you.
In this VR game, you get to become the DJ, and its fantastic mechanics and intuitive controls ensure you’ll be bopping to a new track in no time.
Drops: Rhythm Garden
Platforms: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index
Remember those people who can create whole songs just using glasses filled with different amounts of water?
This VR experience is based on a similar idea, except your working with various shapes that make different sounds when struck with balls.
Drops: Rhythm Garden provides a steady stream of balls and shapes that you can combine to create your own meditative beats.
Particulate
Platforms: Oculus Rift
The main concept of Particulate focuses on particle physics, using a custom engine to render millions of particles that you can manipulate and play with.
There is also a sound element, called ‘Audio Reactivity’ which lets you play any music to which the particles will then automatically react.
Regardless of the music you choose, this is bound to be a cathartic experience.
Surge
Platforms: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index
Get it here: SteamVR
This is practically a ‘golden oldie’ in VR terms by now, but Surge is still worth paying a visit to if you haven’t experienced it yet – especially because it’s free.
The experience doesn’t provide any real interaction and functions more along the lines of a VR music video of sorts. It’s a deeply entrancing experience nonetheless.
Tinkering in VR
Gadgeteer
Platforms: Oculus Rift, Quest, HTC Vive, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality
If you find the best way to relax is by tinkering about with different objects to see what sort of Home Alone contraptions you can come up with then Gadgeteer is right up your alley.
You get a whole room to fill with different balls, tracks, and blocks of all shapes in the sandbox mode, and in the puzzle mode, you can make your way through 60 challenging puzzles.
Vrkshop
Platforms: Oculus Rift, Quest, HTC Vive, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality
Get it here: SteamVR
There’s something truly special about crafting a piece of furniture or wooden sculpture with your hands. Or, if all else fails, just hammer a piece of wood full of nails, name it Lucille and call it a day.
There are no zombies for Lucille to play within this game, though.
What you will find, however, is a great space and enough tools to create anything you like.
This game is still in early access at the time of writing, so a lot may still change.
Puzzles
Tetris Effect
Platforms: Oculus Rift, Quest, HTC Vive, PSVR
Get it here: Epic Store, Oculus, PS Store
Who hasn’t spent a couple of hours trying to beat a classic game of Tetris?
No need to dust off any old consoles, though, as Tetris Effect puts a whole new spin on an already fantastic game.
Play through some surprisingly challenging levels, each of which is presented in an entirely unique way along with visuals and beats that will almost make you forget you’re supposed to concentrate on winning.
Cubism
Platforms: Oculus Rift, Quest, HTC Vive, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality
If the splashy effects of the Tetris Effect are not entirely your thing, then Cubism might be a more enticing option.
It’s still Tetris, albeit in a 3D format.
This is a great option if you’re looking for a unique VR Tetris/puzzle game that you can play while relaxing on the couch, but one that won’t overwhelm you with special effects or environments.
Teaching Mindfulness
Marvellous Machine
Platforms: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index
Sometimes, we just need an outside voice giving us some much-needed perspective, and this is something Marvellous Machine does really well.
It’s a seated experience that pulls you along on a track, with a narrator that calmly walks you through some mindfulness basics.
It’s a short experience but provides a great exercise to get back into touch with the here and now, ironically.
Where Thoughts Go
Platforms: Oculus Rift, Quest, HTC Vive, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality
One of the most cathartic ways to relieve stress is to just let whatever you’re thinking off your chest.
But that isn’t always possible, for a myriad of reasons.
In Where Thoughts Go you can walk along serene spaces filled with floating orbs that contain those exact thoughts, shared by others all over the world.
You can add your own recordings too, and let them float off into the ether for someone else to find.
Visual Experiences
theBlu
Platforms: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality
Discover the wide ocean in this fantastical experience that shows you glimpses of animal life on the seafloor.
Stay for as long as you like, watching the marine life float on by.
theBlu gives escaping to nature a whole new take – and even though it’s all rendered, you’ll feel like you’re right there among the creatures of the deep blue.
Spheres
Platforms: Oculus Rift
Get it here: Oculus
Where theBlu takes you down into the depths of our oceans, Sphere’s lets you soar through the timeless depths of space.
The creators of this VR experience have taken some creative liberties with their interpretation of the cosmos, but it’s an incredible sight nonetheless.
On top of that, you get to reach out and touch the worlds you see, then hear the sounds they create.
Sheaf – Together EP
Platforms: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index
Get it here: SteamVR
Ever just cruised down a road with no real destination in mind, letting the music transport you farther than the miles on the dashboard?
There’s no need to burn any gas driving to nowhere because you can do just that in VR thanks to Sheaf – Together EP, an interesting mix of VR experience and three-track music video.
Plus it’s free.
Google Earth VR
Platforms: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index
This is pretty much exactly what it sounds like; Google Earth but in VR.
Instantly travel to anywhere in the world and explore new places, even if you can’t do that in real life right now.
Find relaxing spots to hang out for a while, or try to discover exciting new places.
It’s all up to you. It’s also free to boot.
Lumen
Platforms: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive
Get it here: SteamVR, Viveport
Only have a few minutes to calm down?
Step into Lumen where you’ll be guided through a quick breathing exercise followed by a walk through a forest that grows where you direct your gaze.
Then look up at the sky and see the aurora borealis change colors under your gaze. It’s also free.
Guided Experiences in VR
Guided Meditation VR
Platforms: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality
Guided Meditation VR might be the ultimate meditation tool, with over 27 beautiful environments filled with a total of 500 meditation spots between them.
The app also lets you choose your own music and narrator, who will then guide you through various meditation techniques to help you unwind.
Guided Tai Chi
Platforms: Quest
Get it here: Oculus
Ever tried Tai Chi? It may be one of the few relaxation-oriented workouts that you can do with a VR headset on.
Guided Tai Chi has over 100 workouts ranging from a couple of minutes to full hour sessions.
It uses the Quest’s VR controllers to track your movements and guide you into slow, peaceful movements.
Chilling in Nature
Real VR Fishing
Platforms: Oculus Rift, Quest
Many people see fishing as a fantastic way to relax and that holds true for VR as well.
There are a couple of great VR fishing games out there, and Real VR Fishing stands out by providing some spectacular scenery while you wait for your catch of the day.
VR Regatta
Platforms: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Windows Mixed Reality
Get it here: SteamVR, Oculus, Viveport
You don’t need to have any sailing experience to take a sailing trip around the Caribbean – that is if you boot up VR Regatta.
It provides a fun if simplified sailing simulation where you can either cruise the gentle waters between islands or race the waves against other players online.
There are also two expansions that take you to Japan and the icy arctic waters respectively.
