Best VR Games for Family Gatherings: A Holiday Guide
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The holiday season is the perfect time to introduce your family to virtual reality, and the Meta Quest headset makes it easier than ever with its portable, PC-free design. Most games featured here are "bite-sized" experiences – perfect for passing the headset around at gatherings, letting everyone get a quick taste of VR without committing to lengthy sessions.
Before You Start: Setup Tips
Before your guests arrive, take some time to prepare the VR experience:
- Set up the play space and boundary walls/floors in advance
- Ensure the headset is fully charged
- Pre-install and update all games you plan to play
- Have cleaning wipes ready for the headset
- Clear any obstacles from the play area
Pro Tip: For the best family experience, cast the player's view to your TV so everyone can watch and participate. Check out our previous guide on how to cast from your Quest headset to your TV to get started.
Perfect for Spectators (Everyone Can Join the Fun)
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a party favorite where one person in VR defuses a bomb while everyone else consults the manual (either a printed copy or viewed on a phone) to help them. No VR experience needed for the helpers - perfect for getting everyone involved! The ticking clock and frantic communication create hilarious moments as players race against time.
In NOPE CHALLENGE, players face their fears while friends and family watch and laugh! With challenges centered around clowns, heights, and spiders, viewers can enjoy watching players push their limits or hit the "NOPE Button" to retreat to the calming Breather Space. The AI-driven encounters ensure each playthrough is unique, and Mr. Peels, your emotional support banana, is always there for comfort.
Musical Adventures
Beat Saber remains the quintessential VR rhythm game that's perfect for quick sessions. Slice blocks to the beat in this instantly intuitive experience that gets everyone moving. With a variety of music styles and difficulty levels, it's easy to learn but challenging to master.
Maestro lets you become a virtual orchestra conductor using just your hands! Perfect for music lovers, this controller-free experience lets you conduct famous classical and jazz pieces while others watch you bring the orchestra to life. Features works from legendary composers like Wagner, Beethoven, and Mozart, with multiple difficulty levels to master your conducting skills.
Synth Riders offers a more dance-focused rhythm game with freestyle movements. Great for those who want a more flowing, expressive musical experience. The game now features special experiences like the Barbie™ DLC, adding unique visuals and environments to dance through.
Taiko Frenzy lets you channel your inner drummer in this energetic percussion game set in a gorgeous Japanese-inspired world. Perfect for quick musical sessions with four difficulty levels for all skill levels. The stunning visual effects create mesmerizing sakura storms as you perfect your rhythmic timing.
Trombone Champ: Unflattened is a hilarious musical game that lets players attempt to play trombone in VR. The intentionally awkward controls and funny sound effects guarantee laughs from both players and spectators. Includes over 50 tracks to honk through, plus collectible Tromboner Cards packed with absurd trivia.
Great for Multiple Headsets
Walkabout Mini Golf is a beloved multiplayer experience that perfectly captures the fun of mini-golf. Up to 8 players can join for casual rounds or competitive tournaments across beautifully designed courses. Regular updates add new courses and features, making it a game that keeps on giving.
Game Night transforms your living room into a party game venue with multiple Quest headsets. Perfect for physical, active gameplay that gets everyone moving and laughing together. Supports up to four players in person, making it ideal for family gatherings. Note that the game is currently in Early Access with three game modes available, with more content planned for future updates.
Spatial Ops turns your space into a tactical battlefield with up to 8 players in mixed reality combat. Great for team-based games where players can use their physical environment for cover and strategy. Includes various game modes like Free-for-All and Capture the Flag, plus a single-player campaign.
Demeo (Note: This is a longer-form game perfect for dedicated gaming sessions) is a virtual tabletop RPG that brilliantly recreates the D&D experience in VR. Perfect for groups who want to settle in for an epic adventure together. Features five complete campaigns and a social hangout space where you can paint miniatures and practice archery between sessions.
Relaxing Family Experiences
Ocean Rift lets you explore underwater environments filled with sea life from dolphins to prehistoric creatures. Perfect for peaceful exploration and learning about marine life. Can even turn your room into an aquarium with virtual windows showing different marine environments.
Real VR Fishing provides a serene fishing experience that's great for all ages. Support for up to 4 players means you can create a virtual fishing trip right in your living room. Features 40 beautiful locations in the base game, with DLC adding even more fishing spots and over 300 species to catch.
Lost Recipes teaches you to cook in historically authentic kitchens from ancient Greek, Chinese, and Maya civilizations. A relaxing, educational experience perfect for food lovers and history buffs. Includes native-speaking voice actors and historically accurate cooking techniques you can try in your own kitchen.
Living Room transforms your home into a cozy wildlife sanctuary where you can create and tend to virtual ecosystems. Perfect for nature lovers and casual gaming sessions. Watch your animals breed, evolve, and interact with your space in real-time.
Puzzling Places lets you build beautiful 3D jigsaw puzzles created from scanned real-world locations. With multiple difficulty levels and frequent updates adding new puzzles, it's perfect for peaceful problem-solving sessions. Can be played seated, standing, or even lying down for ultimate comfort.
Kid-Friendly Favorites
I Am Cat lets you become a playful cat exploring a house full of activities and quests. Perfect for younger players who want to cause some virtual mischief! Includes fun mini-games like football and basketball, plus the chance to either befriend or antagonize Granny.
LEGO Bricktales invites you to build your way through beautiful LEGO worlds by solving creative construction puzzles. Great for developing problem-solving skills while having fun. Help your grandfather revitalize his amusement park while exploring diverse environments from jungles to medieval castles.
Pets & Stuff / Shave & Stuff are cute grooming simulators that let players care for animals and style hair/create tattoos. Perfect for creative expression with no pressure. Features a wide variety of animals to groom and style, plus the ability to upgrade your clinic with new tools and accessories.
Elixir is a whimsical hand-tracking adventure where you become a sorceress's apprentice, perfect for magical experimentation and laughs. Features delightfully chaotic tasks like handling dragon vomit and maintaining unstable alchemy equipment - all with your own hands!
Making the Most of Your Family VR Session
Remember that introducing family members to VR should be fun and pressure-free. Start with shorter experiences and mixed reality games that let players see their surroundings. Having the game displayed on a TV keeps everyone engaged, even when they're not wearing the headset.
For multi-headset experiences, consider setting up a designated play space where players won't bump into each other. And don't forget to take regular breaks – VR is exciting, but it's good to rest between sessions!
Most importantly, focus on games that match your family's interests and comfort levels. Whether that's solving puzzles together in Puzzling Places, conducting an orchestra in Maestro, or causing chaos as a virtual cat, there's something here for everyone to enjoy.
The best part about these games is that most offer quick, accessible experiences perfect for passing the headset around. Even Demeo, while longer-form, can be a fantastic centerpiece for a dedicated family game night.
Happy gaming, and may your family VR gatherings be filled with laughter, surprises, and memorable moments!