Moss I  and Book II Remain Solid VR Staples

Moss and Moss: Book II remain these constant VR staples, even years after the original 2018 release. We see both entries show up on new platforms, years after their launch. After all, both only just made their PS5 debut in 2023. Most recently, alongside the Meta Quest 3S launch, both games ended up getting additional improvements and updates in September 2024. After going back and playing them after said update, it’s easy to understand why.

Part of it is the premise of both Moss and Book II. These aren’t VR games that attempt to put you firsthand in the experience of a massive adventure game or action-RPG, though the scope is admirable. You’re a person who follows alongside a mouse named Quill and assists her as she first attempts to save her immediate home in the first entry, then save the world of Moss as a whole in the second. 

As such an assistant, it means there is a lot more freedom to explore and handle puzzles. After all, we’re trusting and replying upon Quill, our partner, to help with some of the lifting. So we aren’t necessarily going through actions or activities that could result in motion sickness or unpleasant effects. We’re allowed a little more freedom with our actions and don’t need to worry about demanding precision, since we’re assisting in puzzle solving and progression.

This leeway allows for range of approachability and accessibility that not every VR game offers, which works in favor of Moss and Book II. The genre is one that is generally very well accepted on the platform, since adventure games do generally allow players more time to react and puzzles are welcoming to anyone. It not demanding many sudden movements or major activity means someone new to VR or gaming in general could easily get adjusted. Since we’re working alongside a heroine who can provide us insight and hints, but who isn’t holding our hands as we go through it, it’s also a comfortable way to ease into the experience and allow for more character and storytelling.

It also helps that Polyarc does continue to improve the Moss and Book II experiences. The most recent update alongside the Meta Quest 3S launch is a perfect example. It features both visual updates and fan-requested features. As I played the original games before, heading back and being able to completely turn off combat was quite a boon. Not that it is bad, as I appreciate how it is handled, but it is another good option both in terms of accessibility and approachability. It allows someone to return and, as a result of that stressor being removed, be able to appreciate other elements of the games. Plus the additional visual improvements mean that it does keep looking crisper, better, and more in line with what we expect from VR games as technology improves. 

Moss and Moss: Book II always feel like they remain relevant VR games, and a few hours spent with each reveal why. The nature of both adventures show how welcoming they are to both newcomers to gaming in general or VR headsets. The fact that Polyarc also keeps considering what players might want and updating it goes even further to ensure they remain staples even six years after the original’s debut.

Moss I and Moss: Book II are available on the PS VR and PS VR 2 for the PS4 and PS5, Meta Quest headsets, and other VR headsets via Steam.