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Red Matter 2

The XR School › Puzzles › Red Matter 2
$29.99 on Meta Quest Vertical Robot Sci fi puzzle adventure Meta Quest 2, 3, 3S, Pro • SteamVR • PS VR2
Released 18 August 2022 • PS VR2 version 18 May 2023 • Rated 4.8 from about 2,800 Quest ratings • Rated Teen

Red Matter 2

The sequel to Red Matter continues the alternate Cold War story with even more striking visuals. Your controllers become sci fi multi tools for grabbing, scanning, hacking, fighting and flying through low gravity worlds.

Developer: Vertical Robot (Spain)
Price: $29.99 on Meta Quest
Platform: Meta Quest, SteamVR, PS VR2
Subject: Problem solving • Science fiction
6.0
/10
XR School Score
Worth a Look
Some of the best graphics on Quest • Puzzles plus action • Overwhelmingly Positive ratings • Rated Teen • Includes combat • Entertainment first
4.8 • Meta store About 2,800 ratings
Overview

Red Matter 2 is the sequel to Red Matter, developed and published by the Spanish studio Vertical Robot. It released on 18 August 2022 for Meta Quest 2 and SteamVR, and on PlayStation VR2 on 18 May 2023. On Meta Quest it costs $29.99 and is rated 4.8 from about 2,800 ratings, an Overwhelmingly Positive score. It carries a Teen age rating.

The game continues the story of the first game's alternate Cold War between the Atlantic Union and Volgravia. Your controllers act as sci fi multi tools: you grab and scan objects, hack systems, fight and fly through low gravity environments. When it was announced, Vertical Robot promised the best graphics on mobile VR, and it is widely regarded as one of the best looking games on Quest. Compared with the first game, it adds more action, including combat.

A Showcase for Standalone VR Red Matter 2 is often used to show what a standalone headset can do. For students interested in game development, it is a striking example of how lighting, materials and careful design can create detailed worlds on mobile hardware.
What You Do
✋
Grab and scan
Use multi tools to pick up and analyse objects.
💻
Hack
Break into systems to progress.
🧶
Fly
Move through low gravity areas with a jetpack.
⚔️
Fight
Face hostile threats as the story unfolds.
Before Using It Red Matter 2 is rated Teen and includes combat, and like the first game it has a dark, unsettling story. It is best for older students in a club setting. Playing Red Matter first helps the story make sense.
Red Matter 2 vs Red Matter
Feature
Red Matter 2
Released
18 August 2022
2018 (Quest 2019)
Gameplay
Puzzles, hacking, flying and combat
Mainly puzzles and exploration
Age rating
Teen
Check your store
Quest rating
4.8 from about 2,800
Metacritic 84
Classroom Value
Problem solving
7.0
Visual quality
9.5
Curriculum links
3.0
Ease of setup
8.0
Suitability for school
4.5
Strengths and Limitations
Strengths
  • Outstanding graphics on standalone Quest
  • Inventive multi tool interactions
  • Overwhelmingly Positive player ratings
  • Continues an intriguing story
  • Good example of game design and art
Considerations
  • Rated Teen, with combat
  • Dark, unsettling themes
  • $29.99 per copy
  • Entertainment, not curriculum content
  • Best played after the first game
For Teachers: Game Design and Computing Clubs Use Red Matter 2 in a KS4 or KS5 computing or game design club to analyse how developers achieve high quality visuals on limited hardware, or how puzzles are signposted. It is not suitable for younger students or general lessons.
$29.99
Meta Quest 2, 3, 3S and Pro • Also SteamVR and PS VR2
Get on Meta Quest → More puzzle apps →
Quick Facts
Developer
Vertical Robot (Spain)
Release
18 August 2022
PS VR2 release
18 May 2023
Price
$29.99 (Quest)
Rating
4.8 from about 2,800 ratings
Age rating
Teen
Prequel
Red Matter
Verdict
Red Matter 2 is a beautifully made, highly rated sci fi puzzle adventure and one of the best looking games on Quest. With combat, a Teen rating and dark themes, it is for older students in a game design or computing club rather than lessons, where it is worth a look.

Gareth Griffiths

Gareth Griffiths is a scientist and the founder of World of Teaching, a free library of over 1,000 teacher made PowerPoints. He set up The XR School to help teachers, schools and parents find virtual and augmented reality apps that genuinely help young people learn, and to give an honest view of what each app teaches, which headsets it needs and what it costs.