VR game with realistic physics
BONELAB is a premium VR action game by developer Stress Level Zero. This experimental physics-based video game puts players in the shoes of an outcast sentenced to death. They must discover a path through a mysterious laboratory underground to either find the truth or wreak havoc.
A successor to the highly praised game BONEWORKS, BONELAB features an improved and polished physics system that delivers high realism. Players will explore an underground research facility in MythOS city, finding various weapons, items, clues, and secrets to help them move the game’s mysterious story.
Excellent sandbox for VR enthusiasts
BONELAB was touted to revolutionize virtual reality gaming, but it’s not a big leap from BONEWORKS. It reuses many assets and doesn’t do anything huge that its predecessor didn’t already offer, especially for those who played the first game with mods. Still, the physics and quality-of-life improvements make this game a superior experience. Playing with the game’s physics is plenty of times more fun.
With on-the-fly avatar switching and unlimited saves, this game is a lot more enjoyable. Players can import custom avatars so they can look however they want. Unlike the first game, the six modes are available within 30 minutes of gameplay. These include Tac Trial, where you kill enemies as fast as possible, and Sandbox, where you can spawn objects and have fun with the physics.
A sandbox-fueled physics playground
The campaign in this virtual reality first-person offers a mix of different gameplay styles—from classic shooting sections to go-kart racing, parkour challenges, and puzzles. Along the way, you’ll also find Gacha Capsules that unlock new weapons, props, and avatars—including Zombish, Nullrat, Security Guard, Turret V4, Nullbody, The Dog, Jay, Peasants, and others—that you can use in sandbox mode.
The story campaign remains lackluster, but the level design leads to a fun gameplay experience. The physics can feel janky in some areas, but it works well most of the time. As a physics-heavy game, this VR title can overwhelm casual players. It arguably caters to VR enthusiasts who like to immerse themselves in the mechanics. It’s not a challenging game unless you want to compete on the leaderboards.
Is it worth playing?
BONELAB will not feel like a new experience if you’ve played BONEWORKS, especially with mods. However, players who didn’t play the first game will have a blast in this more polished successor. The improvements to the physics are apparent, and it provides plenty of quality-of-life features missing from the first one. For other action-packed VR games, try SUPERHOT VR, Blade and Sorcery, and Half-Life: Alyx.
