Mixed reality on Quest 3 promised a revolution, but has it truly delivered? Laser Dance might just be the game to finally make good on that promise. This early access release isn't just another tech demo; it's a genuinely engaging experience that transforms your living room into an obstacle course of laser beams.
The mastermind behind this intriguing creation is Thomas Van Bouwel, the developer also known for Cubism. With Laser Dance, Van Bouwel gives you an awesome reason to fire up your Meta Quest 3 or 3S headset and scan your living room. You can find Laser Dance on the Meta store.
Remember the hype surrounding the Quest 3's launch over two years ago? It was touted as a "next-gen mixed reality device," boasting high-quality passthrough and the potential for a new breed of experiences that seamlessly blend the virtual and physical worlds. While we've seen glimpses of this potential, with games like Starship Home offering a unique take on using your own home as a playspace, Laser Dance feels like a significant step forward.
So, what exactly is Laser Dance? The core concept is simple: navigate a room filled with lasers to reach a button on the opposite wall. It's a mixed reality game that demands an accurate room scan to function flawlessly. You have the choice to play using either hand tracking or traditional tracked controllers.
- Platforms: Quest 3/3S
- Release Date: November 6, 2025 (Early Access)
- Developer/Publisher: Vanbo BV
- Price: $9.99
Laser Dance distinguishes itself from other VR hits like Beat Saber with its accessibility. The ability to play without controllers makes it instantly more approachable for newcomers. Imagine casting your Quest's view at a party and watching your friend contort and crawl to avoid the virtual lasers. It's a spectacle far more entertaining than watching someone slice blocks, and the laughter continues even after they've taken the headset off.
The gameplay revolves around moving from one end of your room to the other, with the cardinal rule being: your head, arms, and spine cannot intersect with the laser beams. The game leverages the Quest's upper body tracking to determine your position. And this is the part most people miss: Your legs aren't tracked! This means you can technically clip through lasers with your legs without penalty. Whether you exploit this like a laser tag cheat or maintain the illusion of full-body tracking is entirely up to you.
Each level's start and end points are marked by large red buttons on opposing walls. You customize the playspace by designating the button locations on your walls. As you progress, the difficulty escalates, introducing lasers that move or blink in complex patterns, requiring careful planning before you make your move.
During my hours of gameplay, I only encountered a few instances where the system seemed to misinterpret my movements, resulting in frustrating restarts. The solution, at least in one particular level, was to exaggerate my movements, crawling further than I initially thought necessary. By the end of my hand-tracking-only playthrough, I found myself consciously holding my hands in front of my face to ensure the headset maintained accurate tracking.
Comfort is key, especially in a game that demands physical movement. Laser Dance cleverly adapts each level to your room layout and body dimensions. You can fine-tune these dimensions in the options menu under the "accessibility" tab. Since there's no artificial locomotion, you're physically moving through your environment.
The game allows you to register your player height, shoulder width, and even set the lowest height you can reach, catering to players with mobility limitations. Player height can be adjusted automatically, and you can also halve the speed of the moving and blinking lasers for a more forgiving experience.
Meta promised room-scale mixed reality with the Quest 3 back in 2023. Now, in 2025, Laser Dance emerges as the most accessible showcase of why mixed reality shines on a VR headset, and why hand tracking is the future.
I completed all of Laser Dance's early access levels without controllers, breaking a sweat and exploring previously uncharted territories in my home. It was a truly novel experience, unlike anything I've encountered in a headset before. Even in its early access state, Laser Dance is a must-try for anyone looking to understand the potential of mixed reality on the Quest 3 or 3S.
Laser Dance is arguably one of the easiest games ever conceived. While it may not yet offer endless replayability, it deserves a place in most VR libraries and is destined to become a go-to party game. Thomas Van Bouwel is subtly reshaping our perception of gaming, suggesting that dodging furniture is all part of the fun as virtual lasers hum dangerously close, threatening to vaporize your virtual carpeting.
UploadVR typically employs a 5-Star rating system for our game reviews. However, as an early access release, this review remains unscored.
But here's where it gets controversial... Does Laser Dance truly justify the Quest 3's mixed reality capabilities, or is it merely a clever gimmick? And more importantly, does the reliance on accurate room scanning and physical movement create accessibility barriers for some players? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
