Glider Island

In short, this is a proper little gem for VR! It's not a huge game but what it does, it does well, which is taking you for a flight around some pretty islands at a pace of your choosing, whether you just want to glide around and relax or rush like a madman for the high score! This is one of those super simple titles that you can learn quickly and take turns on with your buddies, meaning it's a great option for VR cafes/arcades. At less than £6, or just a tiddle under tree-fiddy on offer, you really can't go wrong! Honestly, the ONLY thing wrong with this title is the lack of players - there's a competitive element to the game with a prize pool, but sadly there just isn't much competition :( If you have a VR headset you absolutely should get this, even if you're only gonna demo it to your mates because it's a fun, colourful experience which is easy to pick up at a moments' notice. P.S. The developer is working on a glider simulator (as opposed to an arcade title), which is available to play as a beta through this game :)

Glider Island, developed by Joey Sipos and published by 5D Realities, is a focused aerial experience that blends arcade-style objectives with the sensation of freeform flight, primarily designed with virtual reality in mind. Rather than attempting to simulate realistic aviation, it takes a more accessible approach, placing players in control of a glider and challenging them to stay airborne, navigate floating islands, and collect targets within a time limit. The premise is simple, but it’s built around a core idea that emphasizes movement, spatial awareness, and efficient use of limited resources. The gameplay revolves around maintaining altitude and momentum while weaving through a series of floating rings scattered across open environments. You rely on a combination of gliding physics and limited rocket boosts to stay in the air, which introduces a constant balancing act between conserving fuel and pushing for higher scores. This system creates a satisfying loop where planning your route becomes just as important as executing it. Picking up energy refills mid-flight encourages players to think ahead, chaining movements together to maintain a continuous rhythm. When everything comes together, there’s a smooth, almost meditative quality to the experience as you glide seamlessly from one objective to the next. One of the game’s strengths lies in how it combines freedom with structure. The environments are open enough to allow for exploration and experimentation, but the scoring system and time constraints give each session a clear goal. This balance prevents the experience from feeling aimless while still giving players the space to develop their own strategies. Environmental hazards, such as sudden weather changes or dangerous terrain features, add occasional bursts of tension, forcing players to adapt quickly and break out of their established patterns. These elements help maintain engagement, even though the core mechanics remain consistent throughout. The control scheme is flexible, offering multiple ways to pilot the glider depending on player preference. In VR, the game leans heavily into immersion, allowing players to physically guide their movement in a way that enhances the sensation of flight. Outside of VR, traditional controls are available, but the experience loses some of its impact, feeling more like a straightforward arcade challenge rather than a fully immersive activity. Regardless of the input method, there is a learning curve involved, and mastering the controls is essential to achieving high scores and maintaining smooth movement. Visually, Glider Island opts for a stylized approach rather than aiming for realism. The environments are colorful and varied, featuring different island themes that provide a sense of progression as you move from one area to another. While the graphical detail is relatively modest, the design prioritizes clarity and scale, which is crucial for a game centered on navigation and movement. The sense of height and openness is particularly effective, especially in VR, where the perspective can feel genuinely expansive. Despite its strengths, the game’s limited scope becomes more noticeable over time. The core gameplay loop, while initially engaging, does not evolve significantly, and the number of environments and objectives is relatively small. This can lead to a sense of repetition, particularly for players who are not motivated by chasing higher scores or improving their performance. The inclusion of leaderboards and competitive elements adds some longevity, but these features are more appealing to players who enjoy refining their skills rather than those seeking new content or variety. Ultimately, Glider Island is a game that succeeds by focusing on a single idea and executing it effectively. It captures the feeling of gliding through open spaces and pairs it with a simple but engaging scoring system, creating an experience that is both relaxing and challenging in short bursts. However, its narrow focus and lack of long-term variety prevent it from maintaining broader appeal over extended play. In the end, it stands as a solid example of a niche, mechanics-driven experience that offers moments of genuine enjoyment, particularly for players who appreciate skill-based gameplay and the immersive potential of VR. While it may not have the depth or variety to sustain long-term engagement for everyone, it delivers a satisfying and well-crafted experience within its chosen scope. Rating: 7/10

I got it on sale and it's ok for the price but theres some really questionable gameplay decisions... the time limit - it adds nothing except making it hard to complete the levels - much better idea would be remove it or have each hoop you go through add 1-2 seconds to your time - this would make close calls happen more - ie. you only have 30 seconds left to get 10 hoops but if you get 5 hoops that might give you the 5-10 seconds you need to get the last 5. As it stands once you're down to the least 30 seconds you pretty much know whether or not you can finish the level so it all seems a bit futile. Easy fix and as other reviews have said its currently kinda frustrating to finish levels - auto-unlocking the levels doesnt solve the frustration all that does is make people feel like they're being babied. The weather event is ok but I think it shoulkd trigger once you hit 100 rings instead of automatically every few minutes. My main issue with the weather event is the music is mediocre during the weather event. Tries to be dramatic and foreboding but it sounds like 8 bit synthesizer which just doesnt have a dramatic imact lol. I'd also like a free roam mode - no weather, no time limit, just clear skies. Plus an infinite boost mode would be cool to unlock... these should all be easy to implement if the devs still care At its current state I can only recommend it on sale and even then it has some gameplay issues that need fixing imo

My secret VR addiction. I always begin and end a VR session with a few rounds of Glider Island. The dev has done sterling work creating a vertigo-inducing thrill ride that keeps the adrenaline pumping, but then it all becomes serene once you get into the flow of flight and all feelings of vertigo disappear as you soar over some very pretty landscapes. The monthly competition is great fun too and keeps me interested in the progress on the game.

I really like this game. I would prefer that it allowed you to use momentum & speed to generate lift, but for this price you can't have everything. It's a VR must have. If for no other reason than a great tool to demo for your friends who want to experience an uncomplicated VR game.

I like this game, I wasn't sure about it but I gave it a chance. The flying mechanics were fun to use and worked well (I used the touch hand controls). If you like flying through rings in Ultrawings you will like it here too, just don't expect any other game modes like in Ultrawings, there is only one. But there are three different islands with some optional objectives (catching random birds) and there are events (like a thunderstorm) that happen every so often. It's kinda like Mario Kart where different events happen on each lap, but only one here that happens multiple times per play through. I have to say the more I play this game the more I like it, the game is not easy but not terribly difficult either. I would suggest anyone interested to give it a chance it's a fun game with leader boards that keep you invested.

Einfach nur top! Vor allem für den Preis.. ein wirklich tolles VR Erlebnis für kleines Geld. Also von mir ein ganz klare kauf Empfehlung...

Great glider fun!

Fun , and challenging , works with a keyboard and mouse.

great game