Virtual Reality – Space
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Victor Marquez
We’ve all thought about visiting space. However, it goes without saying that many of us might never be able to live this fantasy.
Luckily, there are hundreds of spaced-themed VR games that you can play. Although it is not the real thing, it is the closest we’ll come to exploring stars, plants, and anti-gravity environments.
After thorough research and testing, we have compiled the best VR space experiences available.
If you’re interested in what VR is and how it works, we suggest you read our post here.
Quick Summary
In this post, we will go over:
- Space Explorers (The ISS experience)
- Mission ISS
- Spheres
- A Walk Through The Universe
…and more.
So, without further ado, let’s get started.
What is The Best Space Experience?
Space Explorers (The ISS Experience)
After testing out multiple VR space experiences, our top recommendation for the best space experiences is Space Explorers: The ISS Experience.
So, what is it and how can you experience it?
The ISS Experience is a type of documentary that was filmed on the International Space Station over the course of two years.
It offers a fascinating look at life at the station and offers insights you won’t be able to find anywhere else.
However, this is an Oculus-exclusive program.
It is not as interactive as we had hoped. You’re basically limited to jumping back and forth through the documentary timeline. But, if you’re a huge fan of the space, it will be well worth your time.
Mission ISS
If you’ve ever wanted to walk about the International Space Station, you must try Mission ISS.
What we love about this VR space experience is the attention to detail. You can’t go pressing random buttons. Instead, you’ll have to study and read all the labels to navigate the ISS.
Although this was hard, we appreciated the authentic experience.
Similar to space explorers, Mission ISS is only available on Oculus. However, you’ll be pleased to know that you can download it for free through the Oculus Store.
Spheres
If you don’t want an extremely accurate representation of space, we recommend you try Spheres.
This experience is divided into three 10-minute portions. Moreover, the whole storyline is narrated by Millie Bobby Brown, Jessica Chastain, and Patti Smith.
Unfortunately, their presence does not elevate the experience of Spheres compared to regular actors. But, for what it’s worth, the writing, as well as the narration, came across as sincere.
However, what really makes Spheres a memorable experience is the stunning visuals and the haunting soundtrack.
It’s important to note that this is not a free experience. You can purchase all three chapters for $9.99 via the Oculus Store.
A Walk Through The Universe
This is an app that lets you experience the vastness of the universe and does an excellent job at that.
We were particularly impressed by the details, spectacular graphics as well as the six explanatory pieces that introduce you to Earth, the solar system, planets, Saturn, and the Milky Way.
Moreover, you can also turn on the exploration mode to look around the universe on your own.
It is available on PSVR, Meta Rift, and Meta Quest. You can also download it from different platforms such as Steam, Oculus Store, and Viveport.
If you want to learn more about VR headsets, you can read our post here.
Conclusion
Virtual reality is a great way to explore places and experiences that are otherwise beyond our reach.
Some other notable VR space experiences are:
- Apollo 11 HD
- Google Earth VR
- Discovering Space 2
- Into Space
- Universe Sandbox
However if you’re new to VR, we must warn you of the motion sickness that comes with space VR. If you want to read more about VR issues and their solutions, we suggest you read our post here.
If you’re interested, we also have a separate post on VR games here.