Google Earth VR

About

Google Earth VR is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by Google and was released on November 16, 2016. It received very positive reviews from players.

Explore the world in virtual reality with Google Earth VR. Soar above breathtaking landscapes, visit landmarks and cities from across the globe, and experience a new level of immersion. Use intuitive VR controls to navigate and interact with the world, making for a unique and unforgettable adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,103 reviews

graphics23 positive mentions

stability9 negative mentions

Google Earth VR offers an awe-inspiring experience, allowing users to explore the world in stunning detail and scale, making it feel like they are truly flying over cities and landscapes.
The integration of Street View enhances the experience, enabling users to walk through streets and visit familiar places, evoking strong emotions and nostalgia.
As a free application, Google Earth VR is a must-have for any VR headset owner, providing endless opportunities for exploration and discovery.

The application shows its age with outdated graphics and minimal updates, leading to a lack of modern features and polish compared to newer VR applications.
Controls can be unintuitive and clunky, especially for users with certain VR headsets, which can detract from the overall experience.
Some areas lack detailed 3D models, resulting in flat and low-resolution representations that can break immersion when zoomed in.

graphics
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
62%
6%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the stunning visuals and immersive experience, while others criticize the low-quality textures and occasional glitches, especially when zoomed in. Users appreciate the ambitious scale and detail of the environments, but many express a desire for improved graphical fidelity and options. Overall, while the graphics are impressive at a distance, they can appear muddy or simplistic up close, leading to a somewhat inconsistent visual experience.
- “The graphics and overall visuals of the software are impressive and provide a high-quality experience.”
- “It's remarkably detailed, and gives you such a wonderful spatial sense of scales and sizes and geographical relationships.”
- “This is amazing, Google did an unbelievable job at creating a smooth experience with beautiful graphics and controls.”
- “I wish the houses didn't have PlayStation 1 graphics, but hey, the images were taken from space, so I ain't complaining.”
- “Eh... mediocre. The graphics are too low to depict reality correctly.”
- “Graphics = 2 out of 10 (glitchy when zoomed in and feels like I'm in a Super Mario Brothers game).”
story
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
77%
5%
The story aspect of the game is highlighted as immersive and engaging, with themes of trust and betrayal that resonate well with players. Many users appreciate the balance of comedy and seriousness in the narrative, making it a standout experience in the genre. However, some reviews mention a lack of story depth in certain titles, indicating a mixed reception regarding narrative quality across different games.
- “The incredible storyline is just amazing.”
- “Gameplay is fun, story is immersive.”
- “This game's story is filled with trust, betrayal, and everything in between.”
- “I dunno man, there wasn't really a story and it seems pretty unrealistic.”
- “Clearly, Google has lost the plot when it comes to usability, so the wonderful aspects of being able to see the earth up close are lost to the unusable controls, which are frustrating and imprecise when it comes to navigating.”
music
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
63%
5%
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and immersive qualities, enhancing the overall experience of exploring the virtual world. Many users find the soundtrack to be beautifully composed, evoking strong emotions and nostalgia, while some suggest that it significantly elevates the gameplay, making it feel therapeutic and relaxing. However, a few reviewers express a desire for more variety in the music selection to further enrich the experience.
- “The music really adds so much to the ambiance.”
- “The music is so good and matching that it does kind of bring a tear to my eye.”
- “The music and sounds accompanying the visits create a very calming and chill atmosphere.”
- “If it weren't for the music and the sounds then this would suck bad.”
- “My only critique is that this experience deserves better music.”
- “I have to use Wander and play the Google VR music with it, but it's just not the same thing.”
emotional
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users overwhelmingly describe the emotional aspect of the VR experience as profound and nostalgic, often leading to tears as they revisit childhood homes and significant locations. Many express feelings of longing and connection to their past, enhanced by the immersive nature of the simulation and the accompanying music. Overall, the experience is characterized as a powerful emotional journey that resonates deeply with users, evoking memories and a sense of wonder about their personal histories and the world.
- “There's something highly emotional about flying all the way from the Hollywood sign to your childhood town like Superman, settling down in front of your old house, and popping into street view for a photographic look at the area.”
- “I visited my childhood home in VR for the first time and I cried.”
- “The places I’ve discovered in this simulation really made me feel a deep longing to be somewhere else, to travel the world, more than just wanderlust; but also I felt a deep connection with this little planet, my home, our home.”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
66%
17%
The gameplay experience varies significantly among users, with some noting a lack of meaningful interaction and gameplay loops, while others appreciate the fun and immersive story elements. Some users suggest incorporating more engaging features, like a geoguessr-style mechanic, to enhance the overall experience. Overall, while the gameplay is described as interesting, it may not be addictive or traditional in nature.
- “The topic of Google Earth is also very neutral in what it's trying to accomplish; the gameplay isn't reactionary or overwhelming, so my parents were more inclined to try it out.”
- “Gameplay is fun, and the story is immersive.”
- “Gameplay is tight and very creative, playing into the plot perfectly.”
- “There are no gameplay loops in this software, no 'gameplay', no meaningful game-like interaction.”
- “I would love for them to add a geoguessr-type gameplay element to it, which would absolutely complete the experience and joy in discovering new places on the planet.”
- “The topic of Google Earth is also very neutral in what it's trying to accomplish; the gameplay isn't reactionary or overwhelming so my parents were more inclined to try it out.”
optimization
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
29%
18%
Overall, the optimization of the game is generally praised, with many users reporting smooth performance even on intermediate PCs. However, it does require powerful hardware for optimal experience, and some users noted performance issues when the application was left idle or when using lower-end systems. While the graphics and performance are impressive, there are occasional delays in loading certain features, and some controls could benefit from further optimization.
- “I do want to mention that it runs smoothly, even on intermediate PCs like mine.”
- “While it may require powerful hardware to run smoothly, Google Earth VR is a worthwhile addition to any VR library.”
- “The quality and performance got me stunned.”
- “Not available for Meta Quest due to performance requirements.”
- “Users with lower-end hardware may experience lag or poor performance, which can detract from the immersive experience.”
- “Fast forward to many years later, and it has barely been updated recently for performance or user experience.”
stability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
82%
Overall, users report that the game's stability is inconsistent, with frequent bugs and glitches, particularly affecting features like street view and certain visual elements. While some players experience smooth performance on specific hardware setups, others encounter issues such as crashes and low-resolution imagery, indicating a need for updates and improvements.
- “Runs great on Quest 2 and Windows.”
- “Runs great on my GTX 970, i7 3770, smooth motion.”
- “I can say it's a little buggy from time to time and Steam loves to randomly crash, requiring you to kill all the processes in your task manager and reload Steam.”
- “They somehow messed up an update and made the earth bubble attached to your hand a white, glaring, buggy mess.”
- “Quite a shame that street view is often buggy, low resolution, or photos are unavailable in the places you'd most like to go.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its surreal and whimsical elements, eliciting laughter and joy from players as they navigate the virtual world. Users report moments of maniacal laughter and childlike wonder, particularly when exploring unexpected or absurd scenarios, contributing to an overall fun and entertaining experience.
- “The first thing I did was turn comfort mode off and fly through the Grand Canyon at top speed while laughing maniacally.”
- “110 degrees of movement as I fly around the planet laughing and smiling like a little kid!”
- “I was crawling around the floor during the tutorial, laughing maniacally at how surreal and unbelievable it was seeing a large city like this.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
17%
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its immersive scale and calming sound design, providing a wondrous experience in virtual reality. However, some users note that the atmospheric effects can be visually obstructive, particularly when zooming out, reminiscent of the less impressive visuals found in the Google Earth desktop app. Overall, it offers a mix of breathtaking immersion and occasional visual drawbacks.
- “Seeing the Earth, the cities, and its natural landscapes in true scale, being able to fly from the edge of the atmosphere to the ground is truly wonderful.”
- “The music and sounds accompanying the visits create a very calming and chill atmosphere.”
- “Definitely one of the most atmospheric and wondrous experiences available for current VR technology.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Players consistently express that the grinding aspect of the game is so demanding that it feels like they would need a second life to fully engage with it. This suggests that the grinding can be excessively time-consuming and may detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players highlight the game's exceptional replayability, noting that it offers an amazing experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.
- “Amazing experience with unlimited replayability.”
- “Every playthrough feels fresh and exciting, making me want to dive back in.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more.”