Sports Bar VR

Over-sensitity of Move controllers can be frustrating as can the incredible efficient A.I., but overall Sports Bar VR is a fun party game when playing online.

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"Sports Bar VR" is a virtual reality game that lets you experience a lively sports bar right in your living room. Play pool, darts, and other bar games, or just lounge around and watch live sports on the big screen. With realistic physics and social multiplayer, it's like being at a real sports bar, but with the convenience of staying at home.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

65%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,246 reviews

graphics60 positive mentions

stability18 negative mentions

The game offers an incredibly immersive experience, making players feel like they are actually in a bar playing pool with others.
Pool physics are well-executed, providing a realistic gameplay experience that appeals to both casual and serious players.
The multiplayer aspect is a highlight, allowing for social interactions and fun banter with players from around the world.

The game suffers from performance issues, with frame rates dropping significantly on higher settings, affecting the overall experience.
There are reports of bugs and glitches, particularly in multiplayer mode, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustration.
The AI difficulty can be inconsistent, with some players finding it too challenging even on the easiest settings.

graphics
122 mentions
49 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising their overall quality and sharpness, particularly in VR settings. However, some users report issues with optimization and performance, leading to lower resolutions and frame rate drops, especially on lower-end hardware. While the visuals are generally considered impressive, there is a consensus that further optimization and additional graphics options would enhance the experience.
- “The graphics are stunning.”
- “The graphics in this game are top notch.”
- “Very smooth gameplay and crisp graphics.”
- “The graphics appear to have a lower resolution than other games, even though I maxed out multi-sampling and graphics quality.”
- “The graphics resolution overall was a little grainy and could be much crisper.”
- “The graphics are not that good even on high.”
music
88 mentions
18 % positive mentions
78 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game is highly praised for its customization options, allowing players to add their own music and videos, which enhances the overall experience. While the default blues and R&B soundtracks contribute positively to the atmosphere, many users express a desire for a broader selection and the ability to stream their own playlists through the jukebox. Overall, the integration of personal music and ambient sounds is seen as a significant feature, though some players wish for improvements in multiplayer music sharing and more diverse song choices.
- “The ambient acoustics and music are good, the jukebox in particular provides spatial audio cues that really help keep you oriented when teleporting or 'hulking' your way around the tables.”
- “Absolutely love the blues soundtrack that they are using!”
- “And the addition of adding your own music and video makes this so much more enjoyable.”
- “Multiplayer works well, although I found that if you join a multiplayer game I could not hear any music or bar chatter.”
- “There are jukeboxes in the bar, but there isn't a whole lot of song selections.”
- “Repetitive music.”
gameplay
82 mentions
54 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its immersive experience, featuring excellent physics and intuitive controls that enhance the realism of activities like pool. While the mechanics may take some time to master, players find the overall experience enjoyable, especially in multiplayer settings, despite occasional server issues. The combination of smooth gameplay, engaging mechanics, and a visually appealing environment contributes to a fun and polished gaming experience.
- “The ambience, both audio and visual, the excellent physics, and the good game mechanics make this a truly immersive experience.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are spot on, the controls are excellent, and the fun is endless!”
- “It's the full package: gorgeous, immersive, solid gameplay.”
- “I don't know if there's just not many people playing, server issues, or just my own internet (which I doubt), but if you do manage to find someone to play with, unless they have a mic, the gameplay isn't much better.”
- “It's a little buggy and rough with the optimization and performance, but the graphics, gameplay, and menus are really polished so I bet they're gonna fix the performance.”
- “Would like to see some more mechanics for the XP system and initiate pool matches instead of casually playing against opponents.”
optimization
70 mentions
14 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback from players. While some report smooth performance and stunning visuals, many others experience significant lag, frame drops, and connectivity issues, particularly on higher settings. The developers are noted for their active engagement with the community and commitment to addressing these performance concerns, suggesting that improvements may be forthcoming.
- “Incredible experience with stunning visual quality, performance, and realistic physics.”
- “One of the better experiences right now in VR, could use a little optimization at higher settings due to a lot of the things going on (objects, etc.), but definitely worth checking out.”
- “The developer is active, which is good, because the game could use some performance optimization.”
- “But most often players (if you find any) will disconnect every few minutes, everything lags and jumps around, air hockey is just unplayable, so is the ramp ball... very poor performance reported by me and any player I interacted with.”
- “With an overclocked 1070, and a score of 11 in the SteamVR performance test, I still can't run this game on ultra settings (high gets 90 fps).”
- “Performance optimization could maybe use some work; I've been playing on low with a GTX 970 to maintain a solid 90Hz, and even that drops frames now and then.”
atmosphere
54 mentions
48 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and realistic bar setting, enhanced by excellent lighting and physics that create a fun, pub-like environment. Players appreciate the ability to interact with various elements in the bar, contributing to a lively yet not overwhelming ambiance, making it a great space for virtual socializing, especially during times when in-person gatherings are limited. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature that elevates the VR experience.
- “Fantastic and utterly realistic physics within a friendly bar atmosphere, especially after the developers have improved the lighting, reflections and polished up the menus/interface in the new release (version 2.0).”
- “The atmosphere really does capture the feeling of a poolshark-type joint, with a bunch of glowing TVs above the bar, a jukebox (which you can lift over your head like a beast, but not load your own music into, unfortunately), darts (and a dartboard to throw at), beer bottles to throw and break, and lots of other fun things to discover.”
- “The whole atmosphere of this game allows for full immersion, and the pool physics are just great.”
- “Controls are super tight, and overall it's just a fantastic translation of real pool into VR; even down to the atmosphere of the bar you're playing in.”
stability
24 mentions
25 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting significant bugs, particularly in online play and certain gameplay mechanics, such as cue ball drifting and issues for left-handed players. While some players have experienced a mostly smooth multiplayer experience and praised the overall performance, concerns about the game's maintenance and potential future issues remain prevalent. Overall, while the game is enjoyable, its stability is currently hindered by various glitches and optimization problems.
- “Graphics are great, the multiplayer is nearly bug free.”
- “Nicely built, runs great and loads of fun multiplayer.”
- “This game is the epitome of buggy abandonware.”
- “So many glitches.”
- “It's a little buggy and rough with the optimization and performance, but the graphics, gameplay, and menus are really polished, so I bet they're gonna fix the performance.”
humor
16 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted as a key feature, with players enjoying spontaneous, funny interactions with strangers in a social VR setting. Many reviews emphasize the immersive experience that leads to natural laughter and amusing moments, particularly during multiplayer gameplay, despite some technical issues. Overall, the game is described as hilariously entertaining, creating a surreal and engaging atmosphere.
- “I joined up one time to play pool and me and this total stranger just started hanging out and would randomly trash the bar, laughing our butts off the entire time.”
- “Aside from the playspace grid, I find myself constantly forgetting that I'm not really in a bar playing pool with a funny stranger who laughs and throws beer bottles as I attempt to line up the perfect shot.”
- “I've only played one game so far, but it was the most surreal, immersive, and hilarious game I've ever played.”
replayability
15 mentions
73 % positive mentions
13 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its strong replayability, particularly due to its multiplayer features and well-executed pool mechanics, making it a great choice for social play. However, some users feel it could be more accessible for newcomers, which may affect its long-term appeal. Despite this, many find themselves returning to the game frequently, highlighting its enduring enjoyment.
- “Great sports bar game, endless replay value!”
- “It definitely lives up to the hype and offers tons of replayability.”
- “The game felt hard to come back to for replayability.”
- “No doubt the VR is missing replay value with a lot of its titles, but this one I find myself always coming back to.”
story
14 mentions
7 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is noted for its varied environments and the inclusion of potential story modes where players can engage with crowds and compete against rival VR bots. However, technical issues with controller latency and compatibility on different headsets have impacted the overall experience, leading to concerns about future support and playability.
- “Varied environments and perhaps even a few story modes where you play in front of crowds and have rival VR bots.”
- “This game also hasn't been updated in a while, so it is possible that with future headsets, this game could lose support.”
- “Unplayable on Quest 2, especially with the ancient Vive wands controls.”
- “Doesn't work on Quest 3, just crashes on load with a DX11 error.”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users highlight the emotional impact of losing a friend as a significant drawback, indicating that it leaves a lasting trauma. Additionally, the experience of Sports Bar VR evokes feelings akin to being intoxicated, which may detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “The only con was the emotional trauma of losing a friend.”
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Players consistently find the achievements in the game to be excessively grindy, indicating that they require a significant amount of repetitive effort to complete.
- “The achievements require an excessive amount of grinding.”
- “The game is filled with tedious grinding for rewards.”
- “Progress feels painfully slow due to the constant grinding.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is highlighted by the presence of ads displayed on TVs within the environment, suggesting a reliance on advertising for revenue. Additionally, the setting includes various interactive elements like a jukebox and dartboard, which may hint at potential microtransactions or in-game purchases related to these features.