These SteamVR games make a perfect addition to your Windows Mixed Reality library.
Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) has integrated with SteamVR, bringing us a completely new pool of content into which we can dive head first. While a lot of games found on SteamVR will work alright with WMR, there are a bunch that have received official WMR support. Let's take a look at the best.
The Gallery
Part epic fantasy storytelling, part intriguing exploration, The Gallery (about $45 for the bundle)— consisting now of two complete episodes — lets you become the hero of the story. Designed from the start for VR, in Episode 1 you'll have to use your wits to find your sister in an alternate world, before exploring further that same world in Episode 2.
If you're a child of the '80s and can fondly remember dark fantasy movies like Labyrinth, this should be in your wheelhouse.
Climbey
Do you love climbing things? Are you always in trouble, being told to "Get down from there!"? Have you had multiple lawsuits filed against you for scaling skyscrapers using suction cups? Whether you answered yes or no to any of those questions, you should check out Climbey (about $10).
You have two virtual hands, a helmet, and an infinite number of levels to climb thanks to a level editor and the ability to share with other players. Join five others for some competition, or go it alone and attempt to beat your personal best scores.
Stand Out: VR Battle Royale
The battle royale genre has recently spiked in popularity — mostly due to PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) and Fortnite— so it's no surprise that a VR version would be created.
It looks a lot like PUBG although not nearly as pretty and there are certainly a fair share of bugs, but it manages to capture the same intensity and multiplies it by the WMR headset. Stand Out: VR Battle Royale (about $25) is still in Early Access, but if you want to support the developers, now is a great time to get going.
Star Trek: Bridge Crew
Excruciatingly delayed a few times before finally getting a full release, Star Trek: Bridge Crew (about $50) is every Trek fan's dream come true. You and three friends pilot the U.S.S. Aegis as it travels the far reaches of the galaxy, completing the campaign before tackling procedurally generated missions.
Because this is VR, all controls are laid out in front of you just as they would on a standard ship, and you really feel like you're there. Even if you aren't a fan of Star Trek, you can still get a kick out of the camaraderie that this game develops between people on the ship's bridge.
Audioshield
Audioshield (about $20) takes a relatively simple premise and makes it addicting. You stand in a dark arena, blue lines on your left and red lines on your right, and watch as colored orbs come flying at you. It's your job to block the orbs with your colored shields.
That's about it. Oh, right; there's also music blaring that syncs up with the orbs. Bring any of your own music into the game, or use YouTube videos, and check out scoreboards for each song. If you're a fan of dance games of days gone by, it's time to check out the future.
Job Simulator
One of the first games I ever enjoyed in VR, Job Simulator (about $20) is, to this day, still just as much fun. The game sees you as an office worker, convenience store clerk, auto mechanic, or short-order cook, but it's not quite what you think.
The entire thing is bathed in tongue-in-cheek humor, and you'll have a hard time not not having a great time from the moment you choose a career. Need a game for the younger crowd? This one is always a hit.
Waltz of the Wizard
As far as free VR games go, Waltz of the Wizard is certainly near the top of the list. While it isn't as much of a game as it is a fully-realized experience, you'll find yourself returning to the magical world time after time.
Stand in your wizard's tower and practice alchemy, pick up and try out souvenirs from your travels (some might even come back to life!) and test to see if your magical powers are still as strong as they used to be. There are even a few quests to embark on, though they might not be exactly as they seem.
The Lab
The Lab is one of the first VR experiences many people have tried out, helped by its free price tag but also no doubt because it's so much fun. It is basically a tech demo showing off what's capable in VR, and it offers eight different minigames accessible through an interactive laboratory.
Highlights here are Slingshot, which has you launching balls into precarious stacks of cardboard boxes and explosives, and Longbow, which has you defending a keep from invaders using nothing more than a bow and arrows. If you're new to VR, this is a great place to start.
Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality
Whether or not you're a fan of the popular (and ridiculous) TV show, this VR adaptation of Rick and Morty (about $30) is sure to please anyone with a twisted sense of humor. You play as a Morty clone as the action goes from the garage all the way to alien worlds.
There are plenty of puzzles and quests to complete, and you can probably spend hours just messing around with contraptions littered throughout the world. For a game that definitely doesn't take itself seriously, Rick and Morty is serious fun.
Rec Room
When it comes to free VR games, Rec Room should be near the top of everyone's list. It's a cross-platform meeting ground that lets you customize avatars and environments, plus it has a bunch of fully-fleshed games for when chatting gets tiresome.
Play laser tag, disc golf, paintball, cards, and more with players from around the world, or host your own private game to hang out with close pals. If you don't yet have Rec Room, you're doing yourself a disservice.
More SteamVR games
Know of some SteamVR games that don't have the official WMR icon but nevertheless run great on the platform? Be sure to let us know in the comments section!
See our Windows Mixed Reality Ultimate Guide!
Updated February 1, 2018: This list has been refreshed to ensure you're still getting the best SteamVR games to use with Windows Mixed Reality.