Unlike first-person shooters and dystopian world-building titles, board games are fun for multiple players and can bring families and friends together. Virtual reality is a natural fit for this popular pastime, and the best VR board games offer a captivating blend of traditional gameplay with the immersive immersion of the latest headsets.
From the soothing temple garden setting of Tsuro VR to the thrilling clack of the chessboard in Chess Club VR, these games immerse players in centuries-old battles, tense scuffles and riveting matches. Some are beautifully scripted, easing some of the more tedious micro-management of traditional board gaming and freeing up players to focus on the thrills of the game itself.
One of the most popular is Checkers VR, which brings you back to the Wild West with black and white round and flat pieces on a checkered board. This game, which is available on Meta Quest 2, Meta Rift and SteamVR, encourages players to focus on their strategy and beat a virtual opponent.
Another popular choice is Dominoes VR, where you can play classic dominoes against a computer or a friend. This game, which is available on SteamVR and Meta Qest 2, also supports touch controllers for a more tactile experience. It also features a multiplayer mode that allows you to compete in online tournaments. There’s even a mobile app for smartphones that allows players to join in on the action without using a VR headset. One of the biggest benefits that I can see from this game is that it could enable people with limited fine motor control to play and win board games that they would otherwise be unable to use.