Belko VR: An Escape Room Experiment
Genres: Puzzle, Escape Room
Play modes: singleplayer, VRONLY
Release Date: 2-3-2017
Rating: 4.5/5
Developer: Top Right Corner, Yarvo Productions, Paper Crane Games
Our verdict
8/10
- Difficulty: Medium
- Players: 1
- Playtime: 1–2 h
Belko VR is a free, VR-only escape room built as a tie-in to the horror film The Belko Experiment. You play an office worker at the Belko Corporation with a chip in your head, and you have to work through a set of puzzles in your office before a countdown runs out. It suits VR owners who want a short, no-cost taste of a timed escape room.
About 84% of its 537 Steam reviews are positive, and players tend to describe it as a neat one-off rather than a deep puzzle game. Steam tags point to a gory, violent tone that follows the film, and the store page promises a few grim choices along the way. The median playtime among positive reviewers is under an hour and a half, so expect a single short session.
The main limits are length and the movie framing, which matters more if you know the film. It needs a VR headset with tracked controllers and has no flat-screen mode. Since it costs nothing, it is an easy download for any VR owner who likes escape rooms; skip it if gore puts you off.
Pros
- Free tie-in to The Belko Experiment with a clear office-escape premise
- Countdown timer from the head chip adds real pressure
- Hands-on VR puzzles with tracked controllers
Cons
- Short, single-session experience
- VR only, and the gory tone will not suit everyone
About
Belko VR: An Escape Room Experiment is a VR Escape Room unlike any you've ever seen before!
Set in the world of The Belko Experiment, the game will force players to make some pretty twisted choices in order to survive. Each player starts off as a simple worker drone at the Belko Corporation, a dull multi-national company staffing Americans overseas...until one day when 80 of those employees are trapped inside one of their facilities. Forced to escape or die, you will have to solve multiple complex puzzles while a timer counts down to your demise.Features
- Single Player Escape Room/Puzzle game
- Virtual Reality ONLY (HTC Vive, Valve Index, Oculus Rift)
- Average duration: 30 minutes
Our Review
Belko VR: An Escape Room Experiment is more than just an escape room game. You're walking into a story, and you're being grabbed along for the ride almost immediately. Even though it's very short, it's actually a promo for a movie called 'The Belko Experiment', it's a really awesome experience. It's a must-play for Escape Room enthousiasts!
