Moss: Book II review: a gorgeous, comfortable sequel that ends too soon

This review is an AI-written assessment. It is based on official game details and on what published reviews broadly agree on, not on hands-on play.

What it is

Moss: Book II is a third-person action-puzzle game from Polyarc and the sequel to Moss. It picks up straight after the first game. You play two roles at once: you steer Quill, a young mouse warrior, with the thumbstick, and you are also the Reader, a large presence in the world who reaches into each diorama-like scene to move platforms, grab enemies and heal Quill. The adventure moves beyond the castle of the first game, and Quill gains new tools, including a glaive, a hammer and a dash ability, that open up both combat and puzzles.

It launched on the original PlayStation VR in spring 2022, came to Quest 2 that July, and arrived on Steam in October 2022 at $29.99 with support for Valve Index, HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. UploadVR timed the campaign at about four and a half hours, or about five and a half with collectibles. It is on the Meta Horizon Store, SteamVR and the PlayStation Store.

The series has now ended. Polyarc laid off about two-thirds of its staff in spring 2026 after a major project was cancelled. In July 2026 it released Moss: The Forgotten Relic, a non-VR version of both games made with Blackbird Interactive, and in September 2026 the studio closed. Road to VR reported that both VR games remain on sale on PlayStation VR, PC VR and Meta Quest.

Strengths

• Art and presentation. Road to VR, which scored it 8.5 out of 10, said the game is "polished to the brim" with stellar art direction, and praised its animation and sound. MIXED highlighted the detailed levels and Quill's expressive animation, which makes her easy to care about.
• Smarter puzzles and combat. UploadVR, which gave it a Recommended rating, singled out "brilliant new gameplay mechanics" that lead to inventive combat. The new weapons interact with the environment and with the Reader's powers, which gives puzzles more depth than the first game.
• A better bond with Quill. UploadVR felt the connection between player and hero is stronger than before, and MIXED called the storytelling emotional and the sequel a must-have for VR players.
• Comfort. The camera is fixed in each scene and there is no first-person movement, so it is one of the most comfortable action games in VR. Road to VR scored comfort 9 out of 10 and called it nearly ideal for seated play.
• Better on Quest and PC. Road to VR noted that the Quest 2 version benefits from better tracking than PlayStation VR and from two separate controllers.

Weaknesses

• Short and ends early. UploadVR felt the game finishes "just as its best ideas" start to develop, and the campaign is about five hours.
• Story told on the page. Road to VR noted that much of the story is narrated through book pages, which limits character development, and that the world never really acknowledges the Reader. UploadVR found the warrior-mice lore underdeveloped.
• Some loose mechanics. UploadVR found some jumps sluggish and imprecise, and the armour sets are cosmetic only. Road to VR wanted more enemy variety, and MIXED missed a dodge move.
• Bugs and PSVR limits. UploadVR and MIXED both hit occasional bugs, such as Quill getting stuck. On the original PlayStation VR, MIXED reported tracking problems at the edge of the camera's view and Road to VR noted minor jitter.
• No future. With Polyarc closed, there will be no further updates and the story will not continue.

Who it suits

Moss: Book II suits anyone who enjoyed the first Moss, and players who want a polished, comfortable VR adventure they can finish over a weekend. It works well seated and is gentle on players prone to motion sickness. It is also a good pick for a Meta Quest 3 or Meta Quest 3S owner looking for a story-driven game rather than a shooter. Players who want many hours of content for the price may find it short.

How it compares

Against the original Moss, Road to VR called Book II a longer and better experience, thanks to its new weapons and mechanics, and the outlets broadly agree it refines rather than reinvents the formula. Newcomers can start with either game, but the sequel's story continues directly from the first, so playing in order makes sense. Players without a headset now have Moss: The Forgotten Relic, which bundles both games in a non-VR form, though the Reader's hands-on role is the part that made the series stand out.

Sources

• UploadVR: Moss: Book 2 Review - A Satisfying Sequel That Leaves More Room To Grow
• Road to VR: 'Moss: Book II' Review – A Refined & Satisfying Sequel That Sticks With What Works
• MIXED: Moss 2 Review: The second part of the masterpiece
• UploadVR: Moss: Book II Now Available On Steam For PC VR Players
• UploadVR: Moss VR Developer Polyarc Games Has Shut Down
• Road to VR: 'Moss' Developer Polyarc Announces Closure Following “major project” Cancellation