Are you in search of the ‘Best Roller Coaster VR Apps’ or ‘Best Roller Coaster Game for Oculus Quest 2?’
If so, you’ve safely landed on the right place. In this guide, we review everything from the classic roller coaster ride to epic roller coasters and even theme park rides that will have you holding on for dear life … ALL IN VR (virtual reality).
So strap up, strap in, and hang tight as we cover the best ways to enjoy all the rollercoaster fun, right in your own living room.
VR and Roller Coasters … The Appeal
Since their invention in the early 19th century, roller coasters have been a mainstay attraction in theme parks all around the world. With the thrills they provide, it’s no surprise that they bring in a ton of visitors—at least 375 million people a year visit an amusement park. However, roller coasters are admittedly not for everyone.
For those with sensitive stomachs, it can be hard to have fun riding a roller coaster. And for those who budget, sometimes the price of an amusement park ticket just doesn’t seem worth it. But thanks to VR technology, such as Oculus Rift, roller coaster enthusiasts and newbies alike can experience the adrenaline-pumping moments of riding a roller coaster.
Skip the real roller coasters and get the same feeling in a VR game. A word of caution though…virtual reality can still evoke feelings of high speeds and even evoke motion sickness, so take it easy and maybe don’t overeat before your first trip to the digital amusement park.
In this article, we go over the best VR roller coaster apps that provide the greatest thrills.
1. Coastiality
Photo credit: https://coastiality.com/
Though many VR roller coaster apps take you through vectorized and digitally constructed coasters, Coastiality ranks among the best AAA games in our books, offering riders the thrills of actual roller coasters from Europe, including such attractions as the Alpenexpress and the Valerian.
Riders on Coastiality can enjoy a 360-degree view during the ride, providing a no-holds bared rollercoaster VR universe with no lack of attention to detail in sight.
Coastiality is available on numerous platforms including but not limited to iOS, Android, Steam, and the Oculus Store.
2. Darkness Roller Coaster VR
Photo credit: Google Playstore
For those looking for a more suspenseful experience, the Darkness Roller Coaster VR app is perfect. Users of this app can choose between two amazing universes: a ghost mine-themed track and a dark fantasy-themed track.
While we don’t suggest this one if you have an immense fear of spiders, the Darkness Roller coaster VR app brings together the perfect combination of roller coasters and suspenseful and scary genres.
Interested buyers can purchase the app from the Apple Store, the Google Play Store, and the Oculus Rift store.
3. No Limits 2
Photo credit: https://www.cleanpng.com/
Why ride on a digitally generated roller coaster when you can use and experience what the professional use? No Limits 2 is best known for its realism—the app tries its best to replicate the same speed and conditions roller coasters in real life have.
There is a free demo, full version, and even a professional version of the game.
No Limits 2 also has a pre-set array of roller coasters from real life that you can experience from the comfort of your couch; furthermore, you can also create your roller coaster track with No Limits 2.
Regardless if you work in the industry as a professional roller coaster architect or if you’re an intense roller coaster enthusiast, No Limits 2 provides hours of fun and thrills, making this a great gaming experience with solid re-play value.
4. Atlantis: Infinite Coaster
Photo credit: http://atlantis.skuhlen.de/
You may have heard of VR apps with themed roller coasters or roller coasters that are simply digital copycats of real-life roller coasters, but what about a roller coaster that goes on forever? Enjoy this roller coaster VR universe Infinitum, on your own time, for as long as your thrill-seeking heart desires.
While there is only one setting on Atlantis: Infinite Coaster—a featureless floating city in the clouds—the app’s main appeal point is its never-ending gameplay with unlimited possibilities.
On top of its never-ending gameplay, the roller coaster will always have a different format with every playthrough, giving you a completely different view each time you strap in. In other words, you’re never going to ride the same coaster twice.
For those interested in Atlantis: Infinite Coaster, you can use the app via Oculus Rift.
5. Cmoar Roller Coaster VR
Photo credit: https://rexdl.com/
The Wild West, ghost mines, and dragons, what’s not to love?
Cmoar Roller Coaster RV combines these exciting motifs for an action-packed, thrilling ride from start to finish. While you can experience 1 minute of this adrenaline-pumping roller coaster on the free version, fans will have to pay up for the full four minutes this ride provides. Cmoar Roller Coaster VR is purchasable from the Apple Store as well as the Google Play Store.
6. Star Coaster VR
Photo credit: wearvr
Are starry skies and gigantic whales swimming through seas of celestial bodies part of your aesthetic? Then Star Coaster VR is the perfect fit for you if you’re looking for a roller coaster with such themes. With maroon skies, lavender stars, and the occasional great whale, this roller coaster provides a dreamy and soothing atmosphere. This roller coaster simulation also features a speed-up aspect—with every lap you take, the roller coaster becomes faster, which is perfect for the daredevils. Star Coaster VR is available for purchase from the Oculus Rift store.
7. Chunks
Photo credit : https://steamcommunity.com/
For fans of Minecraft and its sandbox gameplay, Chunks is similar in style and aesthetic. What makes Chunks fun is that you first design your world, adding mountains and chasms, and then design your personal coaster to weave through your world. While the project has been unfortunately abandoned, you can still enjoy the features left in its beta version. Chunks is available only for the HTC Vive and can be purchased on Steam.
Free Roller Coaster VR Games
YouTube videos or other platforms that offer 360 videos are an amazing way to experience roller coasters virtually. They let you take a seat on famous roller coasters from around the world but the experience can be fairly one note for many users. Sure, you get the rush of speed and the amazing visuals and heights that will cause your stomach to lurch or your vertigo to set in but there are even better experiences available if you know where to look.
VR roller coaster games specifically can offer more elements for interaction and some extra layers of immersion that videos alone fall a little short on. Let’s take a look at some of the free titles available across multiple platforms. The quality varies but the fact that each title is free means all you have to lose is your time. Let’s check them out! Don’t worry, we’ll also check out what YouTube has to offer too so keep reading!
Epic Roller Coasters (PCVR, Vive, Quest 2)
Epic Roller Coasters does an amazing job of balancing free content to entice you in and then hits you with some paid additional content. Players’ choice is evident though and you can have a very good and fulfilled time only playing through the free stuff on offer. If you fall in love with it though and crave more, I would suggest you try out the paid version too. You’ll be greeted with extra gameplay modes, more carts, additional characters, and designs, and most importantly … more roller coaster tracks to experience.
The free version is no slouch though. You get plenty to experience here for the meager cost of zilch, which is nice! The stand-out elements that make this a superior experience to just videos are the fantastical elements thrown in for you to enjoy. Passing through courses filled with dinosaurs or exploding mines is completely unrealistic but also a big pile of fun. Breaks in the track cause your cart to soar through the air only to land perfectly on another piece of track across a huge chasm. It’s a bit like you’re in a Fast & Furious movie without anyone annoying you about it being all about family!
The comfort levels are changeable to cater to new virtual reality users and old sea dogs alike. Learning what your comfort levels are is key to having an enjoyable experience and not having to introduce the sick bucket to your routine is a bonus. A good suggestion is to start with the blinkers in place and strip them back once you’ve grown accustomed to the motion. Having shorter gaming sessions will also help fend off motion sickness.
The variety of in-game modes is enjoyable and allows for lots of repeat gameplay. The gun mode where you try to shoot targets like some kind of roller coaster-addicted cowboy is a whole bunch of fun! Trying to hit targets and spotting those half-hidden treasures makes for an immersive challenge that will have you coming back again and again trying to beat the high score. Yippee Kay Ey! Also having targets to focus on and shoot can help distract from motion sickness too if you’re prone to it. Top tip!
The tracks themselves are also varied and very creative. The developers have had a lot of fun basing their tracks on these world experiences from Santa flying through rocky chasms to dinosaurs wandering around prehistoric worlds it never takes itself very seriously. You may find yourself hurtling along a track before performing death-defying stunts rather than just your regular A to B rodeo roller coaster. There is a lot of fun to be had with Epic Roller Coasters.
Another game mode sees you control the pace of your cart as you motor along. You are the driver and the pacesetter which adds a layer of difficulty. More challenging than it sounds if you go too fast, you’ll crash or too slow and you won’t make it up the inclines. One for the control freaks among us. Not for everyone but still a great addition to lengthening your gaming experience. There are many roller coaster experiences out there you can play or view but this is one of the best. A must-try at the affordable price of … for free!
Roller Coaster VR on iPhone … Fun Across Multiple VR Devices
Roller Coaster VR developed by Fibrum for the Apple store is available to download for free. It offers an amazing 360 VR simulation of a fantastical roller coaster ride. Taking full advantage of the nonrealistic graphics and soaring above realism with some creativity. The game boasts another level of thrill and excitement in virtual reality. As Apple doesn’t have any of their own official VR devices on the market currently (watch this space) you can play Roller Coaster VR using any mobile phone-friendly VR device such as Google Cardboard for example.
VR Roller Coaster steps up the thrill of a traditional roller coaster by taking it to the extreme in virtual reality. The developer wows the crowd with looney drops, lightning-fast speed, and the craziest track twists one could ever imagine! The 360-degree video allows users to move their heads in any direction and never break immersion. The graphics on offer although a little cartoonish are detailed and work well with the immersive soundtrack to provide a superior VR experience.
Here is a full list of supported VR devices compatible with your iPhone that allows you to experience Roller Coaster VR to its fullest:
FIBRUM VR, ANTVR, Carl Zeiss VR One GX, ColorCross, Cynoculars, Durovis Dive, Fove 0, FreeFly, Homido center (V2), Merge VR, Nibiru, Puyo Box, Refugio 3D, Stooksy, Tepoinn 3D, VR KiX, VR Smartview, VR View-Master DLX, VRTRIA, VRTX One, Xiaomi VR 3D Glasses.
The free version is a trial offer that allows you to explore all the developer has to offer on its free tier platform. If you enjoy what you’re playing, then you can opt-in and purchase the paid version at a reasonable price. This will allow you unlimited access to everything the app has to offer!
Overall though, the free version gives you a taste of the quality experience you might partake in and even though it’s short, it’s very memorable. One worth giving a try if you are an iPhone user! Now let’s check out iPhone’s competition!
VR Roller Coasters on Android … Cray Rider & Adventure Thrills
With already plenty of options on PC and standalone VR headsets, it’s time to look towards mobile android gaming. Let’s see what’s the cream of the crop for our lovely android users.
VR Roller Coaster Crazy Rider & Adventure Thrills
Wow, that is a mouthful of a title. Available on the Google Play store for any compatible mobile devices. This roller coaster game has plenty of content to keep you entertained. The visuals are 3D rendered virtual worlds rather than photorealistic locations but this isn’t a bad thing. The locations on offer are both varied and creative. From underwater scenarios to dusty deserts and snowy peaks there’s enough variety here to hold your attention for a long time. The lack of realism also allows for some fun interactions, getting to go underwater and explore the depths of the sea for one thing is quite creative and fun.
Content is completely free however some tracks require you to rate and like the app before unlocking which isn’t too much of an inconvenience. Navigation menus can be a little bit fiddly and it’s recommended to use a small Bluetooth controller or remote so you won’t need to take the device off and on each time you want to select a new track. The sense of movement and speed on each track is excellent and the overall experience is quite good considering this is essentially a free game. Available android compatible VR devices are listed below so if you have one, please check this app out! (Just make sure you check your mobile phone make/model is compatible with the VR device before purchasing one)
Samsung Gear VR
Merge VR
Google Cardboard
VeeR Falcon
Destek V4 VR
BNext VR
Google Daydream View
VR Roller Coaster Ride … Step Into The World of YouTube 360
Riding around in VR 3D environments is all well and good but it’s not for everyone. Getting to explore and experience real-life locations and partaking in world-famous roller coasters have some great appeal to most. The sight, sounds, and splendor of real-world locations can give that authentic feel to your VR roller coaster experience. It’s cool to have artistic impressions and 3D virtual renderings but sometimes you want some real-world visuals. Well, dear friends…the world of YouTube awaits!
The great thing about YouTube is it pretty much runs on everything. Your Pc, smartphone, and even Grandma’s hearing aid can connect to YouTube. So whatever VR device you own, Vive, Oculus, or even Google Cardboard, the world of 360 YouTube video experiences is available to you! Here is a quick list of some of the most famous roller coaster rides from around the world. All videos are of high quality to enhance your VR experience and are completely free to playthrough over and over again until your stomach can’t take it anymore!
VR 360 Disney Castle style Roller coaster Virtual Reality Simulator Experience Ride. Enjoy this POV simulator experience 4K UHD ride with your Virtual Reality box headset or by using the YouTube smartphone app to look around at 360°
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNAbQYU0wpg
VR 360 Video of Top 5 Roller Coaster Rides 4K Virtual Reality
VR 360 The Beast World’s Longest Wooden Roller Coaster POV Kings Island Ohio
Take a 360 view of the world’s tallest, fastest and longest dive coaster, Yukon Striker!
*This video was filmed with a mounted camera, safely by staff in accordance with Canada’s Wonderland policies.
Check them out plus the hundreds of other VR videos available on YouTube. You won’t regret it.
Scary Roller Coaster Games … Pack A Spare Pair of VR Pants for Until Dawn: Rush Of Blood
Rush of Blood is a polished VR horror experience available on the PSVR. Developed by Supermassive Games back in 2016, this nightmarish experience extended the ‘Until Dawn’ license and created a roller coaster shooter with characters and themes from the original game. Where Rush of Blood shines is in its execution. This is a very polished AAA VR experience at its finest. The horror themes, creepy music, over-the-top jump scares, and creatures born out of pure nightmare fuel help elevate this experience into something truly special. The gameplay too is fantastic with fast gunplay and dodging skills essential to your survival. It also includes boss rights and multiple paths to explore on each playthrough.
A big benefit to this game that’s lacking in almost every other experience on this list is the plot. Supermassive Games have crafted a story set within the world of Until Dawn. The player is kept guessing from level to level if they are truly experiencing these interactions with creatures of the night or is it all in their head? The inclusion of the psychiatrist/carnival host adds some layers of disbelief to the tasty visual nightmares on display.
The talented Larry Fessenden lends his voice to proceedings and his performance is excellent. The atmosphere is tense at almost all times and when your cart is slowly crawling through a dark area you’ll find your heart pumping with anticipation as much as when the roller coaster is hurtling down a death slope. Definitely not a game for the faint of heart. I would recommend it as a party piece with lots of friends around. Take turns playing levels as guests can view the antics on the TV scream while the headset victim tries not to scream. Devilishly fun!
Alternative Scary Roller Coaster Experience … Scream Park for Quest 2
Scream Park is a 360-degree video experience that is available through the Oculus store for free. It can also be found on YouTube so can pretty much be experienced by everyone. The premise does a stellar job of setting the tone. Check it out: “In January of 1990 construction completed on The Fremont Family Fun Park. A two-hundred acre, attraction-filled destination built to bring the residents of nearby San Francisco through its metal gates. Unfortunately, those gates would forever never open.
The night before the park was to open, the “California Coaster” caught fire. The fire spread quickly, almost supernaturally, until it circled the entire park leaving the park’s large staff and owners trapped inside. Anyhow, the park never opened. Nobody wanted to go after all those people went … bye-bye.” Chilling stuff. The presentation isn’t lackluster either.
Sporting glorious 4K visuals and plenty of artistic flairs, this horror thrill ride is a great experience. The tension builds slowly as you squirm in your seat and continually ramps ups in line with the pace of the cart. The only downside here is that the experience is painfully short. I guess the best compliment you can pay the makers is that it leaves you wanting more. Free and available on almost all devices this is a short horror experience for those with a strong will and a stronger stomach. Go check it out!
We’ve covered so much and seen so much variety across this list. Here’s a quick round-up of the best of the best under each category to help you quickly find the ideal experience that suits your needs
Best free roller coaster games … this is a no-brainer. Epic Roller Coasters has some quality content and it’s available across multiple platforms. Not to be missed. If you’re an iPhone-only user, then perhaps check out Roller Coaster VR instead.
Best VR roller coaster game of all time. Critic’s choice here but for the sheer finished quality, gameplay, and horror elements, I would recommend Until Dawn: Rush of Blood. If horror isn’t your thing and you don’t like what goes bump in the night, then No Limits 2 is a great alternative. None of the scares but high-end graphics and a professional experience!
Best cell phone experience of all time … we’re going to have to give this one to YouTube. Whether you’re an android or iPhone user, YouTube has got a huge amount of content for you to explore. With a decent connection, you can stream high-quality 4K 360 videos for the cost of absolutely nada! The only downside is just how much time you might find slips away as you dive deep down the VR roller coaster video rabbit hole!
Final Thoughts on the Best Ways to Enjoy Virtual Roller Coasters in Virtual Reality
Roller coasters are popular because they allow us to feel all the thrills and excitement of being in a cart without actually being in danger. Sure you might argue that you’re never really in any danger but try telling that me when I’m in the queue for the Dragon Khan in Portaventura! Getting to explore and enjoy all these wonderful and varied experiences from the comfort of your sofa is a privilege and a worthwhile experience in virtual reality.
While technology has made the modern-day roller coaster a staple to all theme parks, VR provides a new dimension and an easily assessable alternative to the amusement park classic. VR makes it possible for everyone to enjoy the coaster. No more waiting in long lines or purchasing expensive tickets when roller coasters are available at the tap of a finger. We hope you’ve enjoyed our extensive lists. We’ve kept it as varied and interesting as possible to appeal to different tastes.
If you want to check other seated experiences in virtual reality, then check out our list here:
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