Free to playIs The Lab worth it?
The Lab is worth it if…
- you want a gentle first step into VR, with no timers and nothing punishing
- you like short experiments you can try one at a time, at your own pace
- you enjoy Portal's humour and want more of Aperture Science's strange technology
- you want something to show family and friends who have never worn a headset
- you like arcade challenges with a score to chase, like archery defense
Screenshots
A castle to defend, a bow to draw
Longbow is the experiment people come back to. You stand on a fortress wall, physically pull back the bowstring and loose arrows at waves of attackers marching on the gate. The enemies are rampaging, adorable and, in their own way, just as noble as your castle. Later waves get harder, so you start picking targets and using explosive barrels to thin the horde. Drawing, aiming and releasing with your actual hands makes every hit feel earned, and it is the kind of thing you replay just to beat your own score.
A lab full of small worlds
Wreck a storage annex with a slingshot as a Calibration Trainee. Pilot a ship in Xortex, an arcade shooter that happens all around you. Repair a malfunctioning robot in a workshop full of Aperture Science humour. Browse artifacts and cast spells at Dota's Secret Shop, the fantasy equivalent of a corner shop open at all hours. When you want quiet, visit far-off places through Postcards, walk through a detailed model of the human body, or stand inside the solar system instead of watching a show about it.
What about the robot dog?
How much content is there?
Eight experiments, from castle defense to a medical scan of the human body. Each one is small but polished, and several have challenges and scores that invite another run. Once you have tried everything there is not much new left, so it shines as a collection to revisit and show off rather than a game for dozens of hours of new content.
Can you play it solo?
Yes, it is a singleplayer collection. The multiplayer tag comes from its roots as a headset showcase: it works well as a party piece, with you playing while others watch and take turns. Everything in it, from the archery to the solar system, is designed to be experienced on your own.
Do you need to know Portal to enjoy it?
No, but it helps. The Lab is set in a pocket universe of Aperture Science, the facility from Portal, and the humour, voice acting and strange technology carry that personality across. Fans of the series get extra out of Robot Repair and its familiar faces, while newcomers can enjoy every experiment without any backstory.
