Banter

Banter is a free social VR game built by SideQuestVR Ltd and published by SideQuestVR, with creativity tools for making your own worlds. Physics sits at the center of it, powered by a system called FlexaPhysics from Nimso. It was released on the Meta Horizon Store on December 12, 2022. It is in early access.

How it plays

You can bend gravity or switch it off entirely, then put that to use in games with friends. Leaderboard games range from Ski Jump to the slapstick Tush Push.

• Avatars from Ready Player Me, or a fully custom one imported from Blender
• Regular hangouts, meetups, movie nights and karaoke sessions
• Thousands of community-made worlds linked by portals, including the Banter Backrooms
• Tools to build worlds and games, host events and share them with others
• Options for full-body motion tracking

Multiplayer

Banter is multiplayer only and needs an internet connection. The developer says it is free to play and will stay that way, and the store lists it at no cost.

Comfort

Meta rates it intense, so it suits players who already have their VR legs. It supports seated, standing and room-scale play and is played with controllers. Low-gravity games and portal hopping can be a lot at first, so look at the comfort settings before you dive in.

Platforms and what to know before buying

• Price: free on the Meta Horizon Store.
• Headsets: Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 3S, Meta Quest Pro and Meta Quest 2.
• Internet: required.
• Ads: no in-app ads.
• Early access: yes, it is still in early access.
• Languages: English.
• Age rating: 12+.
• Also listed on: SideQuest.