POPULATION: ONE review: VR battle royale where you can climb everything

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

POPULATION: ONE is a multiplayer battle royale shooter from BigBox VR. It launched in October 2020 on Quest and PC VR, with cross-play between them. Squads drop onto a large map, scavenge weapons and fight until one team is left. What sets it apart is what BigBox calls its Vertical Combat System: you can climb any surface, glide with your arms spread like wings, and build walls and ramps for cover.

Facebook, now Meta, bought BigBox VR in June 2021, according to Road to VR. On March 9, 2023 the game became free-to-play on the Meta Horizon Store, while the PC VR version on Rift and SteamVR dropped to $20 with 1,200 Bureau Gold included. The game makes money from Bureau Gold, an in-game currency for cosmetic character and weapon skins. The free-to-play update also added a single-player mode with bots and larger lobbies, and sandbox modes followed. The game now has squad battle royale, larger Legions squads, team deathmatch and a Sandbox where players build and share custom maps. On the Meta store it has a 4.3-star rating from around 16,000 reviews and is rated 12+ for moderate violence, with user interaction and in-game purchases.

Strengths

• Movement. Climbing, gliding and building are what reviewers remember. UploadVR's David Jagneaux wrote that its "verticality and freedom of movement is unrivaled", and gave it 4 out of 5 under the headline "The New King Of VR Battle Royale Shooters".
• Smooth, snappy play on standalone hardware. UploadVR found it felt fantastic even on the original Quest, and Gaming Trend, which scored it 85, praised fluid mechanics and found no bugs or glitches.
• Map design. UploadVR found each area of the map distinct, with reliable loot that keeps matches moving.
• Free on Quest. Since 2023, Quest players can try it without paying, and spending only affects cosmetics.
• More than one mode. Team deathmatch, bot matches and the Sandbox map builder give players options beyond full battle royale rounds.

Weaknesses

• Comfort. Fast climbing, falling and gliding make this a hard game for players prone to motion sickness. UploadVR placed it among the "least accessible VR games" for comfort, with one tester getting sick even with every comfort option on. See our guide on how to reduce motion sickness in VR.
• Gun handling is simplified. Road to VR's pre-launch preview criticised streamlined weapon handling, a floating menu for equipping weapons, and grenades thrown along a visible arc rather than by hand. Gaming Trend found the scope view "jarring" and missed more physical reloads.
• Plain look. Road to VR described its aesthetics as "astoundingly banal" before launch, with generic weapon designs.
• Thin variety at launch. UploadVR wanted more diversity in content and weapons. Later events and modes have helped, but the core loop is still loot, climb and shoot.
• Online only. It needs other players. The bots mode helps, but this is not a game for people who prefer single-player VR.

Who it suits

POPULATION: ONE suits players who enjoy shooters and want fast, physical multiplayer, especially on Meta Quest 3S or Meta Quest 3, where it costs nothing to try. It works best for people who already have their VR legs. If climbing and gliding make you queasy, start with short sessions or try a gentler game first. The 12+ rating, interaction with strangers and in-game purchases are worth checking for younger players.

How it compares

Gorilla Tag is the other free Quest hit built around climbing, but it uses arm-swing movement with no thumbsticks and no guns, so it is simpler and more casual. POPULATION: ONE adds weapons, looting, building and structured team matches, which gives it more depth for shooter fans. Compared with most VR shooters, its standout is the freedom to scale any building and glide between them. Its weakness is that weapon handling is less physical than in games built around realistic gun mechanics.

Sources

• BigBox VR: POPULATION: ONE official site
• Meta: POPULATION: ONE on the Meta Horizon Store
• Wikipedia: Population: One
• UploadVR: Population: One Review - The New King Of VR Battle Royale Shooters
• Gaming Trend: Who knew VR battle royale could be so fun? – Population: One review
• Road to VR: 'Population: One' Preview – A Competent Battle Royale Recipe Struggling With Its VR Ingredient
• Road to VR: Facebook Just Bought Its Fifth VR Studio, 'POPULATION: ONE' Developer BigBox VR
• Road to VR: Hit Battle Royale 'POPULATION: ONE' is Going Free-to-Play on Quest in March