Within the context of today’s VR hardware landscape, many immersive entertainment enthusiasts have their sights set on the latest and greatest headsets like the Oculus Quest, Vive Cosmos, and Valve Index. While we’re certainly intrigued by the affordances offered by these new cutting-edge devices, today we’re turning our attention towards a different beast entirely: the Oculus Go.
An affordable, all-in-one VR headset that hit the market in early 2018, the Oculus Go has already proven its worth as a classroom-ready VR device, with a slew of learning-centric experiences across available for download via the Oculus Store. But which educational games and apps stand out among the rest? Check out our picks below – and let us know what other titles you’d recommend over on our Facebook or Twitter!
Have you ever dreamed of becoming an astronaut and traveling through space? Well thanks to the power of VR, your dream can now become reality! Apollo 11 VR is unlike any documentary you’ve seen before, allowing users to not only witness the historic spaceflight that landed the first-ever humans on the moon, but also participate in the action using the Oculus Go Controller. Ready to take flight? The award-winning VR experience is available as a $4.99 purchase from the Oculus Store.
Calcflow is unlike any other app available on the Oculus Go – and it’s a must-have for fans of math and calculus. At its core, Calcflow lets users intuitively input three-dimensional mathematical functions, which can then be visualized and appreciated in full 3-D. The app is available as a free download from the Oculus Store – give it a go and let your mathematical imagination run wild!
Last year, we released Breaking Boundaries in Science – a VR celebration of some of history’s most renowned women in STEM – as a free download for Oculus Go. Since then, the app has received critical acclaim – including a Webbys People’s Voice Award for best educational game – for its immersive depictions of historical worksites, stunning 3-D visuals, and free curriculum materials. Oh, and did we mention the game features narration by Dr. Jane Goodall herself!?
The Body VR lets users to embark on an immersive, first-person tour inside the human body – Osmosis Jones-style! A must-have app for biology and anatomy enthusiasts, the experience focuses primarily on a cell’s epic journey through the bloodstream as it spreads oxygen throughout the human body. And the best part – The Body VR is available as a free download on the Oculus Store.
Award-winning educational app Anne Frank House VR hit the Oculus Go in summer 2018 – and we simply cannot recommend it enough to players of all ages. An emotional, one-of-a-kind look at the WWII-era Secret Annex that housed Anne Frank, her family, and 4 others, Anne Frank House VR immerses players in a hauntingly real depiction of their two years spent hiding from Nazis. Available now as a free download for Oculus Go.
More VR for learning resources from the Filament Games Blog:
How VR Changes Learning
Virtual Reality in the Classroom: 3 Real-World Applications
Why Virtual Reality May Be The Tech to Bridge Generations