First Encounters in Mixed Reality: A Great Starting Point for Kids in VR?
Introducing children to virtual reality (VR) can feel daunting. As a parent, you want something that’s fun, safe, and doesn’t require hours of setup or supervision. After watching my daughter dive into First Encounters on the Meta Quest headset, I think this free mixed reality title might be the ideal first step into VR for younger players.
🏃♀️ Active Gameplay That Keeps Kids Moving
First Encounters is far from passive — it’s an energetic experience that gets players up and moving. In mixed reality, alien creatures spawn all around the room: in front, beside, and even behind you. That spatial design pushes kids to stay alert, move their bodies, and react quickly.
As my daughter pointed out, it’s not just fun — it’s also a fast-paced challenge. There’s a real test of reflexes here, and for a free five-minute game, it’s surprisingly engaging.
👍 Fun, Fast, and Parent-Approved
From a parent’s point of view, the short game length is a win. A single round lasts about five minutes, making it easy to manage screen time without cutting the fun short. And because it resets quickly, kids can enjoy it in short bursts without getting overstimulated or losing track of time.
My daughter mentioned the challenge of having “so many creatures at once,” but never sounded frustrated — just energized. That’s the sweet spot I look for in early VR content: excitement without overload.
🧢 Comfort Matters: Quest 3S vs. Quest 2
A surprise insight from our session came when my daughter compared headsets. She strongly preferred the new Quest 3S, saying the older Quest 2 left red marks and made her eyes sore. It’s a good reminder that headset comfort is just as important as gameplay, especially for younger players with smaller faces and more sensitive vision.
If you’re letting kids try VR for the first time, make sure the headset is properly fitted — and ideally, opt for a newer, lighter model if you can.
Final Thoughts: A Great Starting Point
For families exploring VR for the first time, First Encounters delivers exactly what you need: short, active gameplay that mixes fun with movement, plus just enough challenge to keep it exciting. It’s a fantastic way to introduce younger players to mixed reality — and you might even find yourself grabbing the headset for a round or two.
🎥 Watch the full gameplay session with my daughter here:
