In space, no one can hear how much fun you are having
Who doesn’t love space? It’s massive, spaceships are cool, and the idea of all those alien worlds and moons being out there when we have no idea what they contain is one of the most intriguing mysteries there is.
Unfortunately, most humans alive today are not destined to go to space, it’s too complicated and too expensive for the average person to go. But the average person can afford a Meta Quest headset and visit space in VR. Sure it’s not the same but it is the closest most of us will get.
With that in mind, what are the best games available for the Meta Quest that lets you visit space. Keep in mind that this list is not in any particular order.
End Space
Old but still a classic, this was one of the first proper VR space games placing you in the cockpit of a space fighter. And the good news is that it runs gloriously on the Quest headsets.
Admittedly the game is not too deep, focusing purely on space combat, but it is done well. The ship’s are easy to control but handle how you would expect them to give a good blend between arcadey and realistic.
The space vistas still look stunning too. Even as a seasoned VR gamer, I still get mesmerised when I look out my cockpit window at a colossal planet outside. You get a variety of levels, each one having a different alien planet or full of space debris and stations.
End Space is not the deepest game on this list, but it is a decent experience that will let you experience space combat in standalone VR.
Astra
I did debate whether to include this one as it is not really a game but more of an experience.
But there really isn’t anything else like Astra right now, at least not until Starship Home releases later this year. This is because Astra isn’t a VR game, it’s a mixed reality experience.
The concept is simple, and memorable. Astra maps out your room and places windows on your walls and a control panel in the centre of the room. Two minutes later you are standing in your living room, but it’s not your living room anymore, it is a full blown spaceship with amazing views outside your “windows”.
You don’t get full control of the ship but walking around your living room and marvelling at the sights outside is amazing. The game does transform to a VR experience as it takes you down to the surface of the planets. Standing on the surface of Jupiter is not something I think I will ever forget.
This is not a game you will play again and again, but it is one that you should try at least once.
Space Docker
Space Docker is not an exciting game, it’s not full of action or peril, you don’t kill anyone. Instead your job is simply to collect containers and deposit them on the salvage ship. Yes that may sound boring, but every second of it is glorious.
This is thanks to the controls, Space Docker embraces highly realistic space physics and controls. So velocity, pitch and yaw need to be respected as you need to learn how to move the ships in Zero G. You will spend the first hour cursing yourself and beating your head against the wall, but once it clicks it really clicks and you will be zipping around the levels smiling to yourself as the ship becomes an extension of your body.
The graphics are not too shabby either. With the ships looking detailed and realistic and the environments all holding a lot of variety. But really this game is all about physics, which it does very well.
Interkosmos 2000
Interkosmos 2000 may have a cartoony look but don’t let that fool you, this game embraces the harsh realities of space fully and it is insanely realistic.
In space everything wants to kill you, the temperature, the radiation, the lack of oxygen and the difference in pressure, it all wants you dead. And Interkosmos 2000 doesn’t let you forget that. Your mission is to complete the orders given to you by space command and keep the ship (and its life support systems) running so you don’t die.
You will need to manage the in ship atmosphere ensuring there is the correct amount of oxygen. Run the power systems whilst making sure the power is going where it is needed and not overloaded. This all ends up with you frantically trying to juggle your time between getting to your destination and making sure the ship doesn’t fail. And it is brilliant for it.
Add in the super realistic simulation aspect of the space flight and you have a gem of a VR game here.
Ziggy’s Cosmic Adventures
Somewhat similar to Interkosmos 2000, yet also totally different is Ziggy’s Cosmic Adventures. This game also puts you in a spaceship and asks you to keep its systems running so you don’t die out in the void.
However what really makes this game shine is the hand tracking. This may be the best use of hand tracking I have seen yet on the Meta Quest, it does have some hiccups, but for the most part it just works and feels so satisfying as a result.
The ship is awesome as well, full of interactive systems that beg to be played with. You also get a cute little companion called Ziggy, but don’t get too attached, you will need to murder them frequently as they make a rather good fuel source. Don’t worry though, they always respawn.
The game also features some great space dogfighting, which makes things really intense when you are trying to keep your ship alive as people try to kill you.
Crashland
This one really deserves more praise, because in my opinion this is one of the best games available for the Quest, purely because of the sheer intensity that doesn’t let up at any point. I haven’t even come close to beating this one, because it is absolutely unrelenting and savage, but I do love what I have played of it.
Crashland, as the title suggests, places you in the shoes of a space pilot who has crash landed on an extremely hostile alien world. Your goal is quite simple, just survive for the five minutes it will take for rescue to arrive and get you out of there.
This is much easier said than done though as all types of hostile creatures want nothing more than to kill you and they don’t slow down at any point. This leads to incredibly intense moments as you keep an eye on the heartbeat monitor with dread as you see more and more creatures coming to kill you.
The combat is satisfying and the variety of enemies is impressive. The gameplay is kept fresh too with plenty of weapon variations available.
Crashland really does deserve a chance if you can handle the intense combat or the odd 20ft tall spider trying to rip you to pieces every now and then.
Red Matter
Red Matter 2 is a standout space adventure that builds on the strengths of its predecessor. You play as Sasha, diving into a conspiracy involving the mysterious red matter.
The story is engaging, even if some twists are predictable, and the gameplay shines with intuitive controls that make great use of the Quest’s features. The exploration is the star of the show, with truly stunning visuals that bring eerie bases and distant planets to life.
Seriously, there is an argument to be made to say that Red Matter 2 has the best graphics on the Quest headsets (though I imagine with the new releases coming at the end of 2024 this will change soon).
However keep in mind the combat sections, introduced midway, can be frustrating due to tricky enemy weak spots, they don’t overshadow the overall experience.
For fans of space exploration and sci-fi puzzles, Red Matter 2 is a must-play on the Meta Quest.
Mission ISS
Like Astra, Mission ISS is not a proper game but more of an experience, but it is one that anyone who is even remotely interested in space should try.
The set up is simple, it places you in the shoes of an astronaut aboard the International Space Station. You navigate the narrow corridors in full Zero G, using the hand holds to push and pull yourself around the station.
The recreation of the ISS is something to behold too, who needs years of space flight training when you can just throw on a headset and be on a 1:1 recreation of the ISS in minutes. I’ll never forget the part where I got to the viewing room and saw the earth way down below, it really felt like I was there.
You also get to take part in a space walk, and seriously, you really don’t appreciate how terrifying space walks must be unless you try this experience. It gives you a new appreciation of the bravery the people who actually do go up to space must have.
So there you have it, these were the best space based games I could find right now for the Meta Quest. If you have any other suggestions get in touch via Reddit or Twitter.
