Goliath: Playing with Reality

Goliath: Playing with Reality is a narrative adventure from Anagram, with the publisher credit listed as Anagram, Floréal. It is an animated, true story about a man known as Goliath, who spent years isolated in psychiatric institutions after a diagnosis of so-called schizophrenia and found connection through multiplayer games. It came to the Meta Horizon Store on September 9, 2021.

How it plays

This is closer to an interactive animated film than a game. A guide called Echo, voiced by Tilda Swinton, leads you through the different realities Goliath has lived in. You pass through several worlds, and the story is told through dialogue, striking visuals and symbolic interactions rather than challenges or combat. Along the way it looks at the limits of what counts as real and at how gaming communities can support people who are otherwise cut off.

You will need to speak into your headset microphone at points during the experience. The studio has since released a second piece in its Playing with Reality collection, called Impulse, which is also on the Meta Horizon Store.

Comfort

Meta rates Goliath as comfortable for most people. You can play sitting, standing and room-scale with controllers. If you play seated, the door you need during the arcade machine scenes is out of view; the developer suggests using the thumbstick to move out of the room.

Platforms and what to know before buying

• Price: $5.99 on the Meta Horizon Store.
• Headsets: Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 3S, Meta Quest Pro and Meta Quest 2, plus the original Meta Quest.
• Internet: not required to play.
• Ads: no in-app ads.
• Early access: no, it is a full release.
• Microphone: required during the experience.
• Languages: English only.
• Age rating: 12+.