The biggest problem with Assassin's Creed Nexus VR, a VR (virtual reality) entry on the long-running stealth action series exclusively for Meta Quest headsets, is that it feels more supplemental than any fully-fledged Assassin’s Creed installment. All the franchise’s key mechanics are well represented, be that the trademark parkour, delightfully slick hidden blades, or those iconic leaps of faith from high vantage points into nearby piles of hay, but the focus on existing protagonists and familiar settings holds it back.

This is a game that doesn’t really have its own distinct identity, seeming more like a ‘best of’ compilation geared towards existing fans rather than something that, like many of the best VR games, newcomers might be incentivized to pick up a new VR headset in order to play. It’s a shame as, otherwise, this is a remarkably solid VR experience elevated by some seriously impressive elements like its massive maps, formidable length, and abundance of side content, and only a handful of frustrations to overcome.

Clip compilation

Unlike a traditional Assassin’s Creed experience, Nexus VR is divided into distinct episodes that alternate between protagonists from some of the best Assassin’s Creed games.

You begin in 1500s Italy, catching up with fan-favorite Ezio Auditore years after the events of Assassin’s Creed 2. Your home has been infiltrated by bandits and your first task is to navigate through its hidden passages and retrieve your stolen gear. These early segments are very linear, introducing you to the parkour systems (the most impressive part of which sees you able to grab onto practically any surface and hoist yourself along like some kind of spider monkey) and outlining the combat mechanics in some encounters with basic armed goons.

The parkour works fantastically, channeling that simulated physicality that makes VR climbing experiences like Horizon Call of the Mountain so satisfying, but the combat never felt quite right to me. It’s fine on paper, at its most basic level it challenges you to hold your sword in the correct direction of an incoming hit to block it or swing as an enemy strikes for a parry.

Unfortunately, the collision detection seems off and no matter how hard I focus on holding my sword in the right places, it always seems like a fifty percent chance that it would actually register properly. This was despite multiple attempts to recalibrate the game to my height and position in the settings menu.

There’s a chance that this was due to the fact that I was playing on the slightly older Meta Quest 2 headset, which doesn’t have as advanced tracking capabilities as the Meta Quest 3, but it’s not something that I’ve experienced while trying any other VR game thus far.

Lots to do

Mercifully, you’re not expected to fight your way through every single encounter and you’re soon thrust into the ancient sandals of Kassandra - the protagonist from Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Exploring the Greek island of Delos in about 400 BC, her sections are easily the best of the bunch and impressively open despite their small size. While you always have an objective on screen to pursue, there are loads of optional side activities that mean that you can easily squeeze much more out of the already meaty 13 or so-hour runtime.

There are fantastic parkour challenges which have you racing through a series of checkpoints on tight time limits, collectibles that unlock interesting historical facts to browse, and plenty of hidden relics to track down in secret chests. Even if you only focus on the main tasks, you’re completely free to approach objectives as you wish which is where the stealth really starts to shine. It’s nothing hugely complex, but crouching behind boxes and throwing distractions to lure nearby guards over for a one-hit hidden blade takedown was never not satisfying, and truly felt like I was embodying an assassin.

There’s a lot of mileage in experimenting with your arsenal of useful tools like smoke bombs, throwing knives, or your bow too, and I’m still keen to dive back in for more sneaking action even now that the credits have rolled. On top of Ezio and Kassandra’s stories, there are a handful of missions where you play as Ratonhnhaké:ton, or Connor, in the build-up to the American Revolution.

Connor was always my least favorite Assassin’s Creed protagonist and, unfortunately, he is still just as unappealing in Assassin's Creed Nexus VR. His monotone voice lines are faithful to his original characterization in Assassin’s Creed 3 but are glaringly uncharismatic when presented between the amusing innuendos dispensed by Ezio and the brash confidence of Kassandra. His aggressive, edgy attitude to even the most inoffensive non-playable characters (NPCs) often made me cringe too - this is one hero probably best left in 2012.

These three plotlines are all brought together by an overarching storyline set in the real world that’s centered around the futuristic Animus (the device that lets you look into the past) and the seemingly endless battle between the ancient order of Assassins and the evil Templars. It’s a thread that has run through the series since the beginning and, while it starts engaging enough in Nexus (and makes interesting use of your headset’s front camera for a novel augmented reality effect), it soon devolves into characters standing in practically blank environments lecturing you on the conflict for extended periods of time when you’d much rather be doing literally anything else.

I often resorted to sitting on the floor of my living room while these played out and would have likely skipped them entirely were I not evaluating the game for the purpose of this review. The real-world storyline has always been a sticking point in Assassin’s Creed games, so much so that the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows has simply opted to relegate it entirely to a separate menu, but it’s still a big shame that it’s just so uninteresting here.

As I’ve previously mentioned, I experienced the whole of Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR on the Meta Quest 2 headset. This is far from the company’s latest offering (the flagship Meta Quest 3 or even more budget-oriented Meta Quest 3S), but the visuals still manage to be a highlight.

It's not perfect, with a few cutbacks to overall image quality and the resolution of textures, but the bright sunny streets of Italy or Greece and the moody fog of colonial America oozes with atmosphere. This would, however, seem even more impressive if these weren’t well-worn settings that we have seen represented in even more life-like detail by other games in the series.

This all raises the question, is Assassin's Creed Nexus VR worth playing? The great graphics and stellar stealth would definitely suggest so in spite of the wonky combat, especially given the relatively low $39.99 / £34.99 price of admission. If you’re an existing fan of Assassin’s Creed like me, there’s also some extra enjoyment in revisiting familiar characters from games gone by (yes, even Connor) - though an original setting and cast would undeniably be much more appealing and approachable to newcomers.

Should I play Assassin's Creed Nexus VR?

Play it if…

Don’t play it if…

Accessibility

Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR has lots of accessibility features designed to improve your comfort in VR. There is a dedicated accessibility menu with features such as hand stabilization, multiple control layouts, and more. The game has four different comfort presets to choose from, with the option for continuous motion or teleportation movement. The game also offers a fear of heights mode, which adds a visible floor beneath your character when you’re high up in the virtual world. On top of this, the entire game can be played while seated.

You also have the option of turning on a vignette or virtual nose, which can help prevent motion sickness. There is a dedicated crouch button and the game can also be played either seated or standing. There are also multiple difficulty levels to choose from. As far as VR games go, these are some of the most fully-featured and comprehensive accessibility options that I’ve ever seen - so props to Ubisoft here.

How I reviewed Assassin's Creed Nexus VR

I played Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR for over 13 hours using a Meta Quest 2 headset. During that time I completed the missions of the main story and also spent a bit of extra time exploring the more open areas of the world to track down collectibles.

My playthrough mainly focused on stealth, though I was also careful to evaluate the quality of the combat by engaging in a few head-on fights.

First reviewed March 2025

Developer Allware makes no secret of its inspiration from Superhot with its aptly named VR game Cold VR. Flipping the script with the tagline “Move or Die,” this shooter introduces a reversed time mechanic: time slows down when you move and speeds up when you stand still. While Superhot used its time-bending feature to create strategic, puzzle-like combat, Cold VR pushes for a more fast-paced, aggressive style, demanding quick, on-the-fly adjustments.

Even the art style takes cues from Superhot by focusing more on simple low-poly visual design with various shades of white, blue, black, and pink. There is a visual switch-up during optional intermission horror-inspired levels called 'backrooms' that feature dark orange and black but we’ll touch on that later.

Neither Hot Or Cold

The core gameplay loop of Cold VR has players defeating a set amount of enemies until an area is clear. Dodging bullets and attacks is a must as one hit will send players back to the beginning of the level which can stretch pretty long compared to Superhot. So long that players may find themselves frustrated by making it far to have to start all over considering some segments take as long as 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

A diverse arsenal of melee weapons and firearms keeps the gameplay exciting and dynamic. Of course, players can wield those weapons in either hand for a nice variety of combat options. Like Superhot, one strategy involves having something like a sword in one hand and a pistol in another as guns have a finite amount of bullets. Various katanas, claws, straight swords, and even shields join pistols, shotguns, machine guns, assault rifles, and sniper rifles. Playing in a flat open arena firing away at gun-toting enemies in one hand and hacking approaching grunts in another in slow motion can be a euphoric experience at times.

While you can throw guns and swords at enemies, the awkward physics and clunky controls make it an unreliable combat option. Adding to the frustration, players can’t pick up weapons from defeated enemies. This eliminates the kind of cinematic moments seen in Superhot, where you could toss an empty gun at an enemy, watch them shatter into crystal-like fragments, snatch their weapon midair, and seamlessly continue the fight.

Some platforming portions within gameplay add some diversity to the combat though it doesn’t make good on the promise the opening tutorial brings. Similar to Doom, some battle scenarios beg players to run on jump pads and shoot enemies while in mid-air. Outside of learning core mechanics, players have to use the time mechanic to slow down lasers to pass alongside climbing moving stairs.

The optional backroom levels initially offer a refreshing break from the intense combat, challenging players to navigate a maze armed with nothing but their wits. These eerie corridors are patrolled by black, spiked creatures that kill on contact and the first level effectively builds tension with clever flashlight mechanics. However, the suspense quickly fades as these levels devolve into tedious fetch quests and button hunts. One variation has players searching for three orbs, which can be confusing without a map and frustrating if you're killed mid-search. For completionists, the backroom levels risk dragging down the game’s pacing and adding unnecessary frustration instead of serving as a pallette cleanser.

Shining bright despite bugs

Combat is also hurt by bugs that can lead to annoying moments. Sometimes levels can start with players pointing in the wrong direction which can lead to instant death. This happened several times in a level that starts with an elevator opening with an enemy already firing in your direction. This happened in other missions that start with enemies directly facing the player as well. Cold VR also has ammo counters on guns but a bug makes it inconsistent when players see them leading to an unnecessary guessing game.

Though Cold VR’s gameplay experience can be fairly inconsistent, its story and presentation shine. Players are a piece of software attempting to fight against a rogue artificial intelligence led by a menacing force. The mysterious protagonist is helped by a human hacker who appears via a large monitor in between levels. These live-action FMV (full-motion video) sequences ride a fine line between providing over-the-top camp and meaningful story beats. By the time Cold VR ends, players will even have a nuanced understanding of the main baddie’s motivations.

The FMV sequences add to a respectable-looking game that blends solid cyberpunk art direction and great performance. Cold VR's minimalistic art design allows for some pretty neat special effects. This includes fantastic particle effects, lighting, shadows, and even reflections. All of that is done without a hint of slowdown during our playthrough. Adding to the experience is an awesome techno soundtrack that enhances the feel of combat in meaningful ways. If there’s one area where Cold VR overtakes its inspiration, it’s the presentation department through and through.

Cold VR offers a unique twist on the time-manipulation shooter formula, delivering a visually striking and fast-paced experience. With its 3.5-hour campaign, it’s a concise yet challenging ride that demands quick reflexes and strategic thinking. The reversed time mechanic - where time slows as you move - pushes players into more aggressive combat scenarios. While the gameplay occasionally stumbles with clunky physics, bugs, and some frustrating level design, Cold VR excels in its narrative and presentation.

The straightforward story, bolstered by engaging FMV sequences, adds depth, while its cyberpunk aesthetic and dynamic techno soundtrack elevate the overall immersion. Despite its flaws, Cold VR stands out for its cool mechanics and polished visuals, making it a worthwhile addition for VR enthusiasts seeking a fresh take on the genre. At this price point, it’s an intriguing, albeit imperfect, adventure that’s sure to challenge and entertain.

Should you play Cold VR?

Play it if...

Don't play it if...

Accessibility features

Cold VR offers smooth gameplay regardless of whether you're standing or sitting. Movement is handled with the left controller, while the right controller allows for both snap and smooth turning options. Players can adjust snap turn angles and smooth turn speed with dedicated sliders. Additionally, a vignette slider is available to darken the screen's edges, helping some visually impaired players focus on the center of the image.

How I reviewed Cold VR

I reviewed Cold VR on a gaming PC using a Steam key provided by the developer, playing wirelessly on a Meta Quest 3s via Steam Link. The single-player campaign took about three hours to complete, but I spent more time with the game to explore it and test it more intensely.

First reviewed February 2025