IKEA VR Experience

About

IKEA VR Experience is a single player simulation game with a business theme. It was developed by IKEA Communications AB and was released on April 4, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Explore and interact with an IKEA Kitchen in Virtual Reality! Walk around freely, open drawers and put your vegetable peelings in the waste sorting station. You can even enjoy the visual impact of different material finishes and experience things from a child’s point of view. This is the first time IKEA has offered a VR experience to our customers, so we'd love to get your input.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 296 reviews

emotional2 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The IKEA VR Experience offers a unique and immersive way to explore IKEA's furniture and kitchen designs, making it a fun tool for those interested in home decor.
The interactive elements, such as cooking meatballs and changing furniture colors, provide a lighthearted and engaging experience, especially for newcomers to VR.
As a free experience, it serves as a good introduction to VR technology and showcases the potential for future developments in virtual shopping.

The game lacks substantial content and interactivity, with only a few objects to interact with, leading to a short and somewhat boring experience.
Many users reported technical issues, including black screens and compatibility problems with various VR headsets, making it frustrating to access.
The experience feels outdated and limited, with a static environment that doesn't fully capture the essence of an actual IKEA store.

story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
65%
21%
The game's story is noted for its deep lore and meaningful single-player narrative, with some players feeling a strong connection to the characters. However, there are mixed opinions, as some find the plot lacking, while others praise it as one of the best of 2018. Technical issues on various VR platforms have also detracted from the overall experience for some users.
- “Only every once in a while does an absolutely stunning game come along where you feel close to the characters and the story you are playing in such a way.”
- “I love the cutting-edge graphics, and the amazingly written story.”
- “But it's just a huge aspect of the story, which is very hard to get because the lore is very deep.”
- “The plot sucks.”
- “-meaningful singleplayer storyline”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews; while some players praise the nearly photorealistic visuals and innovative design, others criticize low-resolution textures and performance issues, particularly in specific scenarios. Overall, the game showcases a blend of cutting-edge graphics and engaging storytelling, though some users feel it falls short of modern standards.
- “I think they used the Unreal Engine, because the graphics look nearly photoreal; in fact, I don't think they could make it look much better.”
- “Bursting with innovation, players are pitted against each other in a team-based environment with many game modes and maps to offer, all in sharp, clear, and optimized graphics which push the boundaries of the gaming experience.”
- “There was an old man bending to lift a flat-pack bunk bed while his wife looked around nervously with a 'excuse me young man, could you help' look on her face (the graphics are astonishing)...”
- “It's stuttering, textures are low res, and the graphics in general just feel old.”
- “We have evolved from pixelated graphics to a standard of which is the IKEA VR experience.”
- “There was an old man bending to lift a flat-pack bunk bed while his wife looked around nervously with an 'excuse me young man, could you help?' look on her face (the graphics are astonishing)...”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The gameplay aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users criticizing the lack of meaningful interactions and gameplay loops, while others praise its engaging storyline and immersive world. Overall, the experience seems to vary significantly, with some finding it enjoyable and others deeming it lacking in content and fun.
- “When I first launched the game, I had no clue what to expect. I'd only seen one or two trailers and gameplay videos and went into this with an open mind, only to discover a world I felt I could immediately connect with.”
- “Best storyline and gameplay of 2018, enjoyed it.”
- “There are no gameplay loops in this software, no 'gameplay', no meaningful game-like interaction.”
- “I would not really recommend this game, it's not fun, there is no content or gameplay, just an IKEA kitchen.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting stuttering, low-resolution textures, and general performance issues, particularly when accessing certain features. While some users noted sharp and clear graphics in specific contexts, the overall impression is that the game lacks proper optimization, leading to a less enjoyable experience.
- “Bursting with innovation, players are pitted against each other in a team-based environment with many gamemodes and maps to offer, all in sharp, clear, and optimized graphics which push the boundaries of the gaming experience.”
- “It's stuttering, textures are low res, and the graphics in general just feel old.”
- “Doesn't seem very optimized; I was getting some stutter.”
- “Bad performance, boring, and not well implemented.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The monetization aspect of the IKEA VR Experience is criticized for functioning more as an interactive advertisement rather than a traditional game, lacking any clear branding or monetization strategies. Users feel it primarily serves as a promotional tool for IKEA furniture, with minimal gameplay elements.
- “Instead of being a game, the IKEA VR experience is a software application that contains an interactive advertisement for IKEA furniture. Yes, this is an IKEA advertisement polluting Steam.”
- “Very simple game; decorate for Christmas, look at IKEA advertising, play around with peelings and pancakes.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The music in the game has received negative feedback due to the absence of a soundtrack DLC, leaving players disappointed and longing for more musical content.
- “The music... oh god.”
- “The music...oh god.”
- “No soundtrack DLC available.”
- “There is no soundtrack DLC available :(”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The IKEA VR experience is praised for its heartwarming portrayal of domestic life, evoking strong emotional responses and resonating deeply with players. Critics highlight its ability to touch on the nuances of home and relationships, making it a standout in emotional engagement.
- “Overall, the IKEA VR experience is a heartwarming and critically acclaimed look at the nuances of domestic living.”
- “Very touching.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is notably poor, with users reporting significant bugs, such as the inability to exit the game and glitches affecting other applications on the HTC Vive. Additionally, inconsistencies in interactivity and overall short gameplay further detract from the experience, leading to strong recommendations against playing it.
- “The app is a bit buggy; you can throw meatballs through the oven glass when it is opened. Some things are interactive while others aren't, and the game is pretty short.”
- “We have had to recommend players not to use this game because it refuses to exit after playing, causes glitches in other games, and basically creates system problems everywhere with the HTC Vive.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
200%
100%
The atmosphere is characterized by an oppressive and unsettling ambiance, enhanced by flickering lights that contribute to a pervasive sense of unease throughout the environment.
- “The haunting sound design and eerie visuals create an immersive experience that keeps you on edge.”
- “Every corner of the game world is filled with a palpable tension that draws you deeper into its dark narrative.”
- “The oppressive atmosphere, flickering lights, and a sense of unease permeate every inch of this disconcerting landscape.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is perceived as hit-or-miss, with some players finding certain features, like the meatball cooking function, amusing but ultimately repetitive and dull.
- “The meatball cooking function is hilarious and adds a quirky twist to the gameplay!”
- “I love how the humor is woven into the game mechanics; it keeps things entertaining!”
- “The jokes and funny scenarios throughout the game had me laughing out loud!”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or additional lives to progress effectively.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”