Last Update on November 7, 2025
TL;DR (Quick Picks)
- Social & Creative: VRChat, Rec Room, Little Planet, Horizon Worlds, Spatial, Open Brush
- Free-to-Play Shooters: POPULATION: ONE, Gun Raiders, Gorilla Tag, Pavlov Shack (App Lab), Ultimechs
- Sports & Fitness: Gym Class – Basketball
- Relaxation & Social: Bait!, Bigscreen, Vegas Infinite
- MR/Utilities: First Encounters, YouTube VR, Elixir
New to the Quest ecosystem? If you’re still deciding between the Quest 3 and Quest 3S, start with our comparison: Meta Quest 3 vs Quest 3S.
1) Social & Creative
VRChat (Free)
Why We Love It
The Social VR Game VRchat have Thousands of worlds to explore, community events (karaoke, escape rooms, horror games), and a powerful world-building editor. Free, with optional premium features.
For Who?
Social and creative players looking for an endless platform.
Good to Know
Great for exploring locomotion and voice interactions in VR, whether in private or public modes.
Rec Room (Free)
Why We Love It
The Platform Rec Room have Mini-games (paintball, dodgeball), co-op quests, and the essential Maker Pen to create your own rooms. Cross-platform (mobile/PC/VR).
For Who?
Families, groups of friends, and beginner creators.
Good to Know
Light progression, cosmetic store, and very accessible to new players.
Little Planet (Free – 2025)
Why We Love It
The ultimate cozy game VR: build your island, decorate, collect thousands of items, invite friends, and participate in seasonal events.
For Who?
Fans of chill, decoration, and collection.
Good to Know
Short daily loops and community events make it the perfect “game for the evening.”
Horizon Worlds (Free)
Why We Love It
Meta’s official social platform: themed worlds, mini-games, talk-show stages, low-code creation.
For Who?
A wide audience, creators who want to publish quickly with minimal complexity.
Good to Know
Perfect for casual VR evenings and branded experiences.
Spatial (Free)
Why We Love It
Gallery/events/mini-experiences social: concerts, exhibitions, discussion stages, community rooms.
For Who?
Anyone who wants clean, easy-to-join spaces to meet up.
Good to Know
Super simple to share with friends, even outside of VR (web links).
Open Brush (Free – App Lab)
Why We Love It
The open-source fork of Tilt Brush: paint in 3D space, export your creations, live performances.
For Who?
Artists, streamers, creative workshops.
Good to Know
Remember to save often and experiment with different brushes/effects.
2) Free-to-Play Shooters
POPULATION: ONE (Free-to-Play)
Why We Love It
Battle Royale VR: free climbing, gliding, gunplay, live updates.
For Who?
Competitive FPS team players looking for 20-30 min sessions.
Good to Know
Cosmetic economy, alternative modes (sandbox/events).
Gun Raiders (Free-to-Play)
Why We Love It
Arcade-style FPS with jetpacks, arena modes, quick progression; perfect for “pick-up & play”.
For Who?
Players who want immediate action without a steep learning curve.
Good to Know
Short matches, fast matchmaking, skins available.
Gorilla Tag (Free)
Why We Love It
The Game Gorilla Tag is : Locomotion with just your arms – simple to learn, deep to master; huge community. Free on Quest (cosmetic packs available).
For Who?
Party-game lovers, kids/teens, streamers.
Good to Know
Guaranteed cardio: warm up your arms and wrists, and set time limits for sessions.
Pavlov Shack (Free – App Lab)
Why We Love It
Pavlov : “Tactical-like” FPS with realistic weapons, community maps, and mods.
For Who?
Hardcore FPS players looking for a deeper experience.
Good to Know
Free App Lab version: steadily improving quality, servers active in the evenings.
Ultimechs (Free-to-Play)
Why We Love It
2v2 mechs that launch a ball into goals (think “rocket sports”).
For Who?
Casual esports, duos, clubs.
Good to Know
High skill ceiling (timing, dashes, angles); great for short competitive sessions.
3) Sports & Fitness
Gym Class – Basketball (Free, PRO add-on optional)
Why We Love It
Gym Class : VR basketball is the reference: shooting, dunks, pick-up games, customizable avatars.
For Who?
Basketball fans, players who want to move without extra gear.
Good to Know
The free version is highly complete; PRO adds leagues/official courts/licenses.
4) Relaxation & Social
Bait! (Free)
Why We Love It
The most relaxing fishing VR: various lakes, 60+ fish, gear to unlock, multiplayer.
For Who?
Casual players, relaxation after work.
Good to Know
Enjoyable day-night cycle, mini-challenges with each fishing session.
Bigscreen (Free)
Why We Love It
With Bigscreen : VR cinema, you can: watch movies/streams on a giant screen, host private sessions, or stream your PC in a virtual living room.
For Who?
Social gatherings, long-distance roommates.
Good to Know
For more cinematic options, check out our guides: Top apps for watching movies in VR and our Bigscreen VR guide: Bigscreen VR.
Vegas Infinite (Free)
Why We Love It
Poker/blackjack/roulette/slots free-to-play in stylish environments, expressive avatars, social tables.
For Who?
Social gaming evenings, casual mini-games.
Good to Know
No real money involved: it’s all about the ambiance and meeting new people.
5) MR & Useful Apps (Special Quest 3)
First Encounters (Free, MR)
Why We Love It
Mixed Reality demo designed for Quest 3: cute creatures appear in YOUR living room.
For Who?
New Quest 3 owners.
Good to Know
Perfect for showing off the passthrough feature to friends and family.
YouTube VR (Free)
Why We Love It
Youtube in Virtual Reality, it’s :Infinite content (360°, music, documentaries), and co-watch in testing.
For Who?
Everyone.
Good to Know
Great addition to Bigscreen for watching with friends remotely.
Elixir (Free)
Why We Love It
Hand-tracking magic demo: mix potions, interact with objects with no controllers.
For Who?
New players, demonstrating hands-free VR.
Good to Know
Shows off the hand-tracking potential of the Quest 3 platform.
How to Download Free Games on Quest 3 (Quick Guide)
- From the headset: open the Store → filter by Price: Free → “Get” → “Install”.
- From the Meta mobile app: same process, with remote installation to your headset.
- App Lab & SideQuest: to test beta experiences (Pavlov Shack, Open Brush), check our dedicated tutorial: Download an APK on Quest 3 (SideQuest).
- Play free PCVR games (Steam/Itch) without a cable: start here → How to Connect SteamVR to Quest 3.
Pro Tips: Comfort, Performance, and Streaming
- Comfort & motion sickness. Start with short sessions, enable vignette and prefer teleportation at first. Full guide: How to Deal with Motion Sickness in VR.
- Space & guardian. Aim for 2×2 meters of free space; adjust the height and redo the guardian setup if you move furniture.
- Wi-Fi & streaming. For PCVR streaming, Wi-Fi 6/6E is recommended. See our guides for Virtual Desktop and SteamVR.
- Cinema time. Combine Bigscreen and YouTube VR for co-watching; check our guides: How to Watch Movies in VR.
- New Quest 3 owners. Still unsure between Quest 3 and Quest 3S? Check our comparison: Meta Quest 3 vs Quest 3S.
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best truly free games on Quest 3?
In 2025, VRChat, Rec Room, Gorilla Tag, Bait!, Gun Raiders, POPULATION: ONE, and Little Planet are some of the top free games. Also great for social evenings: Bigscreen, Vegas Infinite.
Are “free” games really free? Are there microtransactions?
Most are free-to-play with cosmetic items/passes optional; the core game remains accessible without paying.
Can I play without a PC?
Yes. All the listed games work natively on Quest 3. A PC is only needed if you want to stream PCVR games (via Virtual Desktop/Air Link).
How to install an App Lab app (e.g., Pavlov Shack, Open Brush)?
Go through the App Lab page or SideQuest, then click “Get”.
Which MR demo game is best for showing off Quest 3?
First Encounters is perfect: no complicated setup, instant “wow” factor.
What apps are best for watching movies for free in VR?
Bigscreen (cinema) and YouTube VR (co-watch in beta) are the simplest; check out our VR movie guides.
I’m new to VR and get sick easily—what should I do?
Start with shorter sessions, increase vignette, and prefer seated games (Bait!, Bigscreen) and consult our guide on motion sickness.
Our Selection — Quick Overview
| Game | Category | Solo/Multi | Model | Why It’s Great |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VRChat | Social/Creative | Multi | Free (+ premium optional) | Infinite worlds, community events. |
| Rec Room | Social/Creative | Multi | Free | Mini-games + easily accessible creation. |
| Little Planet | Cozy/Social | Solo & Multi | Free | “Animal Crossing VR” ; collection/building/seasons. |
| Horizon Worlds | Social | Multi | Free | Official worlds, talk-shows, low-code creation. |
| Spatial | Social/Events | Multi | Free | Clean rooms, easy meet-ups. |
| Open Brush | Creative (App Lab) | Solo | Free | 3D painting, performances, exports. |
| POPULATION: ONE | Shooter BR | Multi | F2P | Full-fledged BR, climbing/gliding, updates. |
| Gun Raiders | FPS Arcade | Multi | F2P | Jetpacks, fast modes, fun progression. |
| Gorilla Tag | Party-Game | Multi | Free | Arm locomotion, massive community. |
| Pavlov Shack | Tactical FPS (App Lab) | Multi | Free | “PC-like” tactical, community maps. |
| Ultimechs | Sports-Shooter | Multi | F2P | Competitive duos, high skill ceiling. |
| Gym Class | Sports (Basketball) | Multi | Free (+ PRO) | VR basketball reference. |
| Bait! | Relaxation (Fishing) | Solo & Multi | Free | Relaxing, lots of content. |
| Bigscreen | Cinema/Utility | Multi | Free | Movie nights, PC streaming. |
| Vegas Infinite | Social/Casino | Multi | F2P | Poker & social tables. |
| First Encounters | MR/Demo | Solo | Free | Best for showing off MR on Quest 3. |
| YouTube VR | Social Video | Multi | Free | Co-watch (beta), infinite content. |
| Elixir | Hand-tracking Demo | Solo | Free | Magic and interactions without controllers. |
Useful Resources
- Official “Top Free” Selection (Meta Store): trending free experiences, updated continuously — https://www.meta.com/experiences/top-free/
- 2025 Update: Little Planet becomes free on Quest — https://uploadvr.com/little-planet-free-quest-3/
