You can experience Creed in virtual reality before the release of Creed III, an upcoming boxing movie that premieres in theaters on November 23 and follows blockbuster successes Creed I and Creed II, released in 2015 and 2018.

Creed: Rise to Glory is available on the Oculus Quest store for $30, and the game lets you box VR versions of characters from the Creed movies. It’s also available for Windows Mixed Reality, PlayStation VR, PlayStation 4 and 5, and HTC Vive.

You play as Adonis Creed, the main character from the movies, and you’ll have to face very real-looking opponents that get tougher and tougher as you fight your way to the top.

You can get a good glimpse of the game for free in the demo version, which lets you fight one opponent out of the 12 in the full version. Even the demo version of Creed is better than The Thrill of The Fight, another boxing game I played that you can get for $10 on the Oculus Quest store.

The full version lets you customize the gaming modes – from store-driven Career, customizable Freeplay, or minigame-based Training. There is also the option of playing online against friends where you choose your opponent and contenders, including classic characters Rocky Balboa, Ivan Drago, Viktor Drago, and more.

The game supports full body, face, and hands tracking, and it’s room-scale, so you can walk around anywhere in the ring if you have adequate space. You can walk around your room and inside the virtual ring where you can greet and wave at staring fans in the stadium. You can also opt to press on the controller buttons and swing your hands to walk around, but it’s imperative to move around with your feet once the fighting starts. I can comfortably play the game in my living room, so you don’t necessarily need much space.

Creed: Rise to Glory isn’t just for boxing fans — it’s great for anyone who likes exercising in VR. You’ll be sweating hard after just a few rounds because the game keeps you moving as you defend yourself against heavy punches and aim your own jabs and punches at your opponent’s face and body.

This game is hard —  it’s difficult for a non-professional boxer to manage even three rounds of fighting without being knocked out by an opponent.  Despite the challenge, even a beginner will find it competitive and fast.

You can hear directions, insights, and guidance from your coach — in this case, Rocky — as you play on. If you want to last longer, you should follow your virtual coach’s instructions carefully to block punches from reaching your face by using your fists and arms.

You’ll need to aim your punches anywhere above the belt, and there’s a chance you’ll knock out an opponent with a good hit. Points are based on the punches you successfully deliver to an opponent and are counted as the rounds progress into the game.

The matches take place in a packed stadium so you hear cheers from your fans and those of the opponent. It’s intense, and you feel like you’re right in the action, though I suppose there may be more detailed boxing games that professional and hardcore boxers could use for their training.

Creed VR is a realistic game not just because of the life-like avatars and cinematic scenes but also because of the physics. For example, the harder you throw your fist in the air in the real world, the more impact the virtual punches leave on the opponent.

I watched Creed II a few months ago, and I think this is the game to go for if you’ve already seen and enjoyed the emotionally wrecking Creed II — and the VR experience puts you right at the center of the boxing action instead of just watching it happen.

In Creed II, Michael B Jordan plays fictional boxer Adonis Creed, who’s coached by Silvester Stallone as Rocky. Creed is now a WBC Heavyweight champion who has won six times, but this time, against the wishes and advice of Rocky, he accepts a challenge to fight Viktor, son of Ivan Drago, the former Soviet boxer who killed Creed’s own father in a boxing match in 1985.

Rocky feels that Creed isn’t ready yet and refuses to coach him. Creed gets a different coach but suffers a humiliating defeat by Drago’s son, taking heavy punches that result in a broken rib and putting him in a hospital for seven weeks.

Creed: Rise to Glory picks the story up from this point. Now healed from his wounds, Creed is fighting his way to a rematch against Drago’s son Viktor after further coaching by Rocky. Creed II ends in a glorious victory for Adonis Creed, who rises from an undiscovered underdog to a world-class fighter, and with that inspiration you too can shoot to the top, even if you’re starting from scratch with no boxing skill.

2020 has been a challenging year and nobody could be blamed if they were looking for a little reprieve from reality. One outlet that’s gained in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic is virtual reality or VR.

You can quickly enter another immersive world just by putting on a VR headset. VR isn’t just for gaming either. You can watch movies, interact with other people on virtual social forums, watch concerts, go to virtual art galleries, and more.  The cost of entry isn’t prohibitive either.

Some newly released devices have improved in performance and display quality while actually dropping in price over previous less powerful models. Other VR headsets have been going strong for a couple of years and are still well-liked and affordable.

Whether you’re looking for a holiday gift for a loved one, want a fun new escape from the real world, or already own a VR headset and want something different, there are all sorts of options.

Amazon’s a good place to get your VR experience going.  There are many available options, and you get the benefit of other people’s reviews before you decide what to buy.

You’ll find affordable VR headsets that you can use just with your phone. There also find powerful stand-alone devices that work wirelessly and let you move around the room. For the serious VR enthusiast, there are VR headsets that plug into your computer and offer the highest possible resolution and performance if that’s what you’re looking for.

Here’s a list of the ten most popular options currently available on Amazon. This list is based on two factors, the number and the quality of reviews. The more reviews something has and the more stars (or more favorable rating), the higher up it will be on the list.

A wide variety of price points and types of devices are covered here, so there should be something for everybody.

1. Oculus Rift S PC-Powered VR Gaming Headset

The Oculus Rift S is the number one seller in computer-powered VR headsets on Amazon. It’s tethered, which means it will have to be connected to a PC that’s powerful enough to run it, so this might not be the first choice for a VR newbie. If high-end VR gaming is your bag and you don’t mind being tied to your PC, then this might be the one for you. Also, be aware that you need a Facebook account to use this device.

Reviewers speak favorably about the enhanced comfort and better screen resolution compared to the original Rift. Another major improvement over the original Rift is the insight tracking, which means all the sensors are built into the device, and you don’t have to mount external cameras as you did with the original Rift. With an average score of 4.4 out of 5 across 9,843 ratings, this VR headset released in March 2019 is still going strong.

Buy on Amazon for $399.

2. Oculus Quest All-in-one VR Gaming Headset

Originally released in September 2018, the Oculus Quest is a favorite amongst the standalone VR headset options — it doesn’t need a computer, gaming console or smartphone to power it. Reviewers said it’s comfortable to wear.

VR buyers should know that an updated Quest 2 has been recently released and would be a better option if you’re looking for the most cutting edge VR technology, and as with all Oculus products, you do need a Facebook account to use the device.

With an average score of 4.7 out of 5 across 7,669 ratings, this is a popular option.

But it new for $604.99 or used for $366 on Amazon.

3. Oculus Quest 2

Just released this fall, the Oculus Quest 2 is an improvement over the original.  It’s cheaper — it starts at just $299 on the official Oculus site.

It also features a display with 50 percent more pixels than the first Quest and reviewers definitely enjoyed the higher screen clarity.

It is still a standalone headset — no computer required — but you can also connect it to your computer if you want to play PC-based VR games like Half-Life: Alyx.

Quest 2 can play all the original Quest games and has an improved refresh rate of 90 Hz over the original’s 72 Hz, which can help reduce motion sickness in people who’ve suffered from it in the past while using VR.

One downside reviwers mentioned was the battery life, which often clocked in around two or two and a half hours, and charging the unit could take over an hour over its USB-C connection.

With a score of 4.7 out of 5 across 5,225 ratings, Amazon currently has the Quest 2 listed as available on December 20, 2020. Some reviewers said this device could be the one to help make VR mainstream so if you haven’t tried it before or weren’t happy with the performance of older models, this could be the one to get.

Get the Oculus Quest 2 Family Christmas Holiday Bundle on Amazon for $799.

4. BNEXT VR Headset

Looking for a VR headset that works with your iPhone or Android phone? Are you curious about VR but don’t want to spend much money to try it out? Want a cheap Christmas gift for your kids? This phone powered VR headset by BNEXT ticks all the boxes. It’ll work with most phones that are 4-6.3 inches in size and is easy to set up and get going.

Reviewers say that despite its cheap price, this VR headset is comfortable, sturdy, and has plenty of free game options. Originally released August 2018, and with a 3.7 out of 5 across 5,153 ratings, this might just be the cheapy but goody VR option for you.

Get it on Amazon for $40.99.

5. OIVO VR Labo Goggles Headset for Nintendo Switch

Are you a gamer who already owns the Nintendo Switch, and you’d like to try it out in a VR set up? This is the cheapest option for that, and reviewers speak favorably about its build quality and comfort while wearing it.

Some reviewers complain that only a handful of Switch games are supported for the VR setup, but for the low cost it’s a fun way to get an entry-level VR experience, though it won’t rival the quality of the higher-end Oculus devices, nor is it meant to.

With a rating of 3.5 out of 5 on Amazon with 2,553 ratings, this is a popular option for Nintendo Switch owners.

Get it on Amazon for $32.99.

6. Topmaxions Google Cardboard VR Headset

Got some spare change in a jar? Looking for the cheapest option to give this whole VR thing a whirl? With a price in the single digits, this piece of cardboard with lenses and a strap is all you need to get the VR experience. Just attach your 3.5 to 6-inch smartphone and you’re ready to roll.

With a score of 3.6 out of 5 across 1,391 ratings, this simple gizmo’s been around since 2016, and you won’t find a cheaper way to get into VR.

Buy this cheap on Amazon for $5.99.

7. Samsung HMD Odyssey+ Windows Mixed Reality Headset

Here’s another favorite among the PC powered VR headsets. Reviewers speak favorably about the image quality, ease of setup, and good tracking. Reviews are mixed however as some glasses-wearers have a hard time getting comfortable in this VR headset, and there are some complaints about the controllers, which several reviewers state aren’t as good as those that come with the Oculus systems.

Despite some drawbacks, with a score of 4.3 out of 5 out of 1,167 ratings, this system looks like a solid choice amongst the computer powered VR options.

Get it on Amazon for $699.

8. Pansonite Headset with VR Controller

This is another affordable headset that works with any phone from 4.7 to 6 inches.  One reviewer remarked on the good quality of the built-in headphones, but be warned that it’s a standard headphone jack that most newer phones don’t have anymore.

The general consensus is that it’s comfortable and good for the price. It seems like a reasonable choice with a 3.7 out of 5 across 1,034 ratings though there are cheaper options higher up on this list if you’re looking for a VR headset that works well with a phone.

Get this affordable headset on Amazon for $82.99

9. Sony PlayStation VR

This VR headset is designed to be used with the PlayStation 4, so it’s geared towards gamers who already own that system. Reviewers enjoyed many aspects of this system, including comfort level even while wearing glasses, the ability to play any game from the system, being able to watch movies on a big virtual theater screen, and freeing up the tv for other household members to use.

There were some complaints, such as since it was released in 2016 it doesn’t have anywhere near the best resolution that’s available on a VR set nowadays, and it’s required to be plugged in which some people found limiting for gaming.

Overall the PlayStation VR received a 4.5 of 5 across 1,229 ratings and could be the right VR headset if you already own the PlayStation 4.

Get this used or new on Amazon at a variety of prices from $155 to $319.

10. Destek V5 VR Headset

This is a newly updated for 2020 phone powered VR headset that has some nice perks such as blue light protection lenses and the ability to hold a phone up to 6.8 inches in size.  Reviews on comfort and ease of use are generally favorable and it works well with glasses as well. It’s already very reasonably priced and at the time of publishing, there’s a 30 percent off coupon available on Amazon for this device.

Out of all the phone powered headsets, this might be one of the best deals, and at 3.8 out of 5 across 1,001 ratings, it’s well-liked.

Buy on Amazon for only $30.95 and bring down the price even more with the 20% off coupon.

Here are my favorite resources.

Best review website: WeArVR

Every tech pub, including Hypergrid Business, will occasionally review virtual reality apps. But relying on those reviews is hit-or-miss, and top-ten style articles are typically out of date soon after they come out.

In my opinion, the best website to find reviews and ratings of the largest variety of apps, for all major VR platforms, is WeArVR.com.

They include Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, PlayStation VR, OSVR, Samsung Gear VR, Daydream, Cardboard apps for both Android and iOS, and even Windows Phones and the IdeaLens K2 all-in-one headset. To be fair, though, the Windows Phone section is mostly YouTube videos, not standalone apps.

In addition to selecting the apps for a particular platform, you can also filter by category. The site currently has more than 30 categories, including kids, puzzle, arcade, RPG, flying, horror, multiplayer, and so on.

After you’ve picked your platform and category, you can also sort by newest, rating, or popularity. The site also shows prices, and has links to the download pages.

There are currently more than 3,500 apps listed on the site, making it the most comprehensive review site out there that is dedicated specifically to virtual reality apps.

It doesn’t include every single app out there, however. For example, it only lists about 40 Daydream apps, out of more than 200 that are available now.

Other VR app listings

Another site that lists virtual reality apps and allows you to sort by release date, popularity and rating is Appzoom.

It currently lists nearly 300 Cardboard apps for the iOS platform, and over 1,700 Cardboard apps for the Android platform.

The site also shows 64 apps for Daydream VR. However, it pulls up everything with “Daydream” and “VR” in the description, including games that say “Daydream support coming soon.”

My biggest problem with the site is that clicking the “download” button doesn’t take you directly to the app store, but requires you to create an account on the site and log in. So you wind up having to search for the app’s title directly in the app store.

Meanwhile, while VRHeads is more of a general site about virtual reality, it has a great page for Daydream owners — “Every Daydream app you can install right now, and a look at what comes next.” They’ve got over 200 titles on this list, with prices, and the links take you directly to the Google Play downloads. However, you can’t sort by rating, release date, or popularity here — it’s just a simple list.

Another list of Cardboard VR apps is the Stooksy VR-Spektiv App Database, which currently lists 340 apps and lets you sort by title, category, price, operating system, and when the app was last updated. However, the newest app on this list is from last January.

For iPhone owners, check out the VR-iPhone Virtual Reality Game List for iOS Devices, which currently shows more than 300 apps and lets you sort by name, genre, and price.

Official app stores

Some platform also have their own online app stores. Here are the links:

• Samsung Gear VR app store
• Oculus Rift app store
• HTC Vive Viveport app store
• Google Daydream app store

Neither Apple nor Google has a dedicated VR section in their official app stores, but you can search for “VR” in their mobile apps, or, with Google Play, on their website. For iOS apps, it’s easier to do a Google search instead, such as “rollercoaster ios vr app.”

There are currently 250 apps that come up for “VR” on Google Play, but the search isn’t very effective. For example, it doesn’t bring up the Hulu app, which supports Daydream, nor the HBO Go VR app. The “Featured Cardboard Apps and Games” list is even less useful, with just 27 apps at current count.

Some platforms also come with built-in app stores. For example, Daydream’s home screen lets you find and download apps, as does the Gear VR.

Mobile apps that help you find other VR apps

Another option for finding Cardboard apps for your Android phone is to use apps designed for that purpose.

Here are the top ones:

Cardboard: The official Google Cardboard app (also available for iOS), downloaded more than 10 million times. I hardly ever use this app, though, since the selection of apps and demos is so tiny.

Fulldive VR – Virtual Reality: A nice platform for finding VR apps and videos for both Cardboard and Daydream. It also has an iOS version. It’s been downloaded more than a million times and is made by the folks who make the Durovis Dive, one of the earliest mobile VR headsets on the market. I don’t like their headsets, but I do like their app.

VR Store: More than 1,500 VR apps listed that you can browse by category and sort by ratings and number of downloads. It also has a list of over 1,000 VR videos. This app itself has been downloaded more than 100,000 times.

VR Apps and Games: VR apps and 360 videos, downloaded more than 100,000 times. Has a search option, but doesn’t have filters or categories, and doesn’t show how popular the apps are, or their ratings.

I’ve tried a few other apps in this category, but they only had a handful of apps in their listings — not worth the time it takes to download them. If you know of any apps or online app directories that have a decent catalog, let me know in the comments!