The game begins with a stunning view. I'm standing on a bridge overlooking a river at sunset as it winds through early 16th-century Florence. I look up and see the dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, an ornate white marble statue of a woman, ivy climbing a balcony, and the church tower of the Badia Fiorentina rising majestically above me.
All of this is rendered on a Meta Quest 3 with a level of splendor that I have rarely seen on a standalone headset. This level of visual fidelity continues later in the atmospherically lit and richly decorated interiors and in the small details of the artifacts you interact with throughout the game.
I think it's the relatively static environments and the fact that you can't move around freely that make such visuals possible. But that doesn't change the fact that The House of Da Vinci VR is a feast for the eyes and one of the best-looking VR games for standalone headsets.
If you're looking for a stress-free and immersive VR game that you can play in the comfort of your coach on cold winter evenings, The House of Da Vinci VR is a good choice. I hope that Blue Brain Games will bring the two sequels to virtual reality with the same love and care.
You can purchase The House of Da Vinci VR for $25 from the Horizon Store and on Steam.