If you’re new to the Meta Quest 3, there’s a huge world out/in there, but getting started can be a challenge. So I put together a collection of must-haves for the device, with a focus on apps, games, and utilities that take advantage of the Quest 3’s improved hardware and mixed-reality capabilities.
(If you don’t have a Quest 3, consider buying one. They’re pretty cool. Check out my review for more details on the pros and cons of the new standalone VR platform.)
Must-have games for the Meta Quest 3
Credit: Soul Assembly – Stephen Johnson
Drop Dead: The Cabin: I am in love with the mixed-reality mode of Drop Dead: The Cabin. It replaces the windows and doors of your room with game-specific portals, stocks you up with guns and ammo, and sets zombies loose to invade your home. It’s like living in Dawn of the Dead.
Assassin’s Creed: Nexus VR: Stealth gaming and virtual reality come together in this Assassin’s Creed game. Nexus really takes advantage of the beefed-up power of the Quest 3 and delivers one of the system’s best AAA game experiences.
Asgard’s Wrath 2: This action-RPG has earned raves from game reviewers for taking VR gaming to new places and using the medium to tell stories in new ways—it’s a noticeable step forward and a hell of a lot of fun.
Smash Drums: If you always picked drums in Rock Band, this is the game for you. Smash Drums‘ drums are virtual, but the feedback from the controllers does a very impressive job of making them feel tangible.
Vegas Infinite: This free game is for the casuals out there. It lets you gamble virtual money at poker, blackjack, roulette, craps, and slots in virtual casinos, but the people you’re playing with are real. It’s relaxing, social, and takes advantage of the Quest 3’s pass-through cameras and improved hand and eye tracking too.
Must-have utilities for the Meta Quest 3
Side Quest: This app lets you download and install apps on your Quest 3 that don’t come from the Meta Store, so if you’re interested in expanding the possibilities of your VR headset, Side Quest is a must. It gives you access to a huge collection of tech demos, games, apps, and more, as well as giving you new options for customizing and improving your Quest 3 experience. You’ll also need Side Quest to install Quest Game Optimizer.
Quest Games Optimizer: If you’re even a little “serious” about gaming, consider this $10 utility. It allows you to control the resolution on games, letting you up-rez the graphics on many Quest games, as well as letting you control frame rates, record video, and access other settings.
Virtual Desktop: Virtual Desktop allows you to wirelessly connect to your computer in virtual reality. Along with streaming videos, browsing the web, and doing anything else your PC does, you can use this to run PCVR games with your Quest 3 (as long as you are running a Window 10 or 11 PC that’s specced for virtual reality games) unlocking a new level of gameplay.
Must-have video-streaming apps for the Meta Quest 3
Credit: Xstadium – Stephen Johnson
Bigscreen: This social video-streaming app lets you watch movies and TV with other folks in the Meta-verse on the VR equivalent of a 100-foot video screen. You can watch YouTube, Disney+, Twitch, and PlutoTV streams, rent movies, or watch videos stored on your computer, either alone or with others.
XStadium: If you’re into sports, XStadium is a mind-blower. It puts you courtside at live NBA games, giving you a fully immersive, 360 degree, you-are-there basketball experience. You can also immerse yourself in UFC fights from the Octagon, and check out X-games madness, watch some good old fashioned wrestling, and enjoy other sports, either in 360 view or in multi screened mixed reality.
DeoVR: You can watch and customize all kinds of video content with this app—it’s not just for porn. But if you’re interested in new thresholds of virtual-reality pornography, this is the go-to video app.
Must-have fitness apps for the Meta Quest 3
Credit: Sealost Interactive LLC – Stephen Johnson
Les Mills BodyCombat: Whether you want to sweat in virtual or mixed reality, Les Mills has you covered. BodyCombat features a ton of martial-arts inspired workouts and knowledgable virtual coaches, and it doesn’t require a subscription.
Supernatural: The subscription-based Supernatural is my favorite fitness app for the Quest. I’m a music snob, and finding an app with real music, that I actually like, was downright shocking. The coaches are charismatic, and the workouts are almost as fun as Beat Sabre.
The Thrill of the Fight: This boxing simulation provides the hardest workout of any app in virtual reality—full-speed shadow boxing is no joke—but it’s an incredibly addictive game too, so it’ll keep you sweating. The addition of mixed-reality mode takes boxing matches into your home in a surprisingly efficient way.
Must-have relaxation apps for the Quest 3
Pillow: Most VR games are about action and being active; Pillow breaks the trend. It’s made to be played on your back in bed, and each of its four “dreams” (mini games) are as chill as possible. Activities include stargazing, storytelling , meditation, and my favorite: fishing for other people’s thoughts. You cast onto your ceiling, and when you reel in a virtual fish, you hear audio of another user answering an open-ended question like, “describe something that changed your life.” It’s very strange and calming.
TRIPP: This app promises a “life-changing shift” and a “revolutionary approach to mindfulness.” I don’t know about all that, but it’s definitely trippy. If you’re into guided meditation, breathing exercises, and surreal experiences, check it out. But download the free demo first; the $60 price tag is a bit steep for a sight-unseen experience.