Luckys tale

March 27, 2016 xrschool

$19.99 Remastered 2021 Meta Quest 2 SteamVR PSVR VR Platformer Pioneer 2016

Playful Corp. • Originally 2016 Oculus Rift launch title • Remastered for Quest 2 / Steam 2021

Lucky's Tale

The game that launched with the original Oculus Rift in 2016, now remastered for Meta Quest 2, SteamVR, and PSVR. Guide Lucky Swiftail the fox through vibrant, coin-filled worlds to rescue his friend Piggy from the tentacled villain Glorp. The original VR platformer, refreshed.

Developer: Playful Corp. (USA)

Price: $19.99

Originally: Free pack-in with Oculus Rift (2016)

Remastered: Nov 2021 (Quest 2) • Dec 2021 (Steam)

7.5

/10

XR School Score

Recommended

88% Steam positive • Charming, accessible, all ages • Historic VR pioneer • Some reviewers find it dated • Moss is the stronger buy if budget allows one

88% Steam Positive 72 reviews • Very Positive
$19.99 • All ages

Overview

Lucky's Tale holds a remarkable place in VR history. When Oculus released the Rift on March 28, 2016, Lucky's Tale was the free platformer bundled with every headset: the first experience millions of people played in consumer VR. Developed by Playful Corp. (formerly Playful Studios), it drew immediate comparisons to Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie in its colourful, charming third-person platforming, and demonstrated that VR could host traditional game genres, not just wave-shooting galleries or rollercoaster experiences.

The 2021 remaster, released for Meta Quest 2 in November 2021, SteamVR in December 2021, and PSVR in April 2022, modernises the 2016 original with improved graphics, remastered audio, refined controls, and a new character model taken from New Super Lucky's Tale (2019). The story is simple: Glorp, a monstrous tentacled villain, kidnaps Lucky's best friend Piggy. Lucky sets off across colourful themed worlds — tail-whipping enemies, butt-stomping on their heads, collecting coins and hidden secrets — to bring Piggy home.

The Original VR Platformer: Historical Significance Before Moss, before Ghost Giant, before Astro Bot Rescue Mission — there was Lucky's Tale. The 2016 original was the first widely distributed third-person VR platformer, bundled free with the Rift and played by millions of people as their introduction to consumer VR. Hey Poor Player noted: "the VR platformer genre has seen plenty of innovation since Lucky's Tale made its debut with gems like Astro Bot and Polyarc's Moss." Lucky's Tale is where that innovation started. Studying it alongside later titles in a Media Studies or Computing context offers a genuine case study in how a genre evolves in VR.

Worlds and Gameplay

🌻

Meadowlands

Grassy tutorial world. Gentle slopes, basic enemies, coin collection introduced.

🌸

Enchanted Forest

Dense woodland with mushroom platforms and underground secret areas.

⛱

Frosty Peaks

Snowy mountain levels. Ice physics, sliding sections, cold colour palette.

🌊

Aqua Dunes

Water and sand levels. Coral formations, swim sections, bright coastal aesthetic.

🌄

Sky Kingdom

Aerial floating platforms. Wind mechanics, the highest difficulty in the game.

🐉

Glorp's Domain

The villain's lair. Final chapter leading to the boss encounter with Glorp himself.

Each level has Story Mode (completion) and Time Trial. Collecting all coins in a level within a set time unlocks a large special coin. Hidden underground areas reward exploration.

What the Remaster Adds

Remaster Improvements Over the 2016 Original The 2021 remaster is not a cosmetic update only. Playful Corp. rebuilt the game for modern VR with enhanced lighting and textures, remastered audio, refined movement mechanics, and a new Lucky character model matching New Super Lucky's Tale (2019). The original Quest-era camera system that required tilting the headset to aim has been refined. The result is a game that looks and plays meaningfully better than its 2016 origins while retaining the core platforming design. VR Grid noted it "looks good" and "holds up in 2021," though acknowledged it "does feel dated" compared to newer VR platformers.

Accessibility / ease of entry

9.2

All ages suitability

9.4

Platforming fun

7.4

Historical / genre importance

8.6

Value for $19.99

7.5

Vs Moss / Ghost Giant

5.8

Comparison with Moss: Which to Buy? Lucky's Tale ($19.99) and Moss ($29.99, regularly on sale below $10) are both third-person VR platformer adventures appropriate for all ages. Moss is significantly more acclaimed (94% Steam vs 88%, Metacritic 81 vs 64, BAFTA nominated vs none, The Game Awards nominated vs none). For schools with budget for only one VR platformer in this style, Moss is the stronger purchase. Lucky's Tale is the better choice for younger children (the simpler story and arcade-style progression are more immediately accessible), for teachers who specifically want to discuss VR genre history, or as a supplementary title once Moss has already been experienced.

What Critics Say

Hey Poor Player (Quest 2)Must-Own

"While it may not be quite as ambitious as Astro Bot or Moss, revisiting this family-friendly fox for another go-round on Quest 2 was an irresistible treat. It's a quick burn to be sure, but Lucky's Tale is pure platforming magic and a must-own addition to any fan of the genre."

Rapid Reviews UK (Quest 2)Positive

"Lucky's Tale has a playful and colourful art style which makes the game accessible to younger or inexperienced gamers. Lucky's Tale looks great and plays even better in this well-deserved remaster."

VR Grid (Quest 2)Fair

"$20 is a fair price as it delivers on charm, polish, and content value. Those who have played more recent platformers might be disappointed by how childish and dated this can feel at times, but it still holds up in 2021."

OpenCritic aggregate71 "Fair"

"Not the longest, not the deepest, but still worth a look for the groundbreaking way it brought platformers to the VR era. Lucky's Tale looks great and plays even better in this well-deserved remaster."

Strengths and Limitations

Strengths

88% Steam positive • Well-received remaster
Historical significance: launched with the Oculus Rift in 2016
Most accessible VR platformer in this batch — all ages, simple to learn
Colourful, charming art style delights younger students
Time trial modes and coin collection add replay value
$19.99 — fair price
Quest 2, SteamVR, PSVR — broad availability
ESRB Everyone — no age concerns

Considerations

Feels dated compared to Moss, Ghost Giant, Moss: Book II
OpenCritic 71 "Fair" — moderate critical reception
Original Metacritic: 64 (original 2016 Rift version)
Short: ~4 hours • limited narrative depth
Moss is the stronger purchase if budget allows only one VR platformer

$19.99

Meta Quest 2 • SteamVR • PSVR

Get on Meta Quest → Get on Steam → Get on PlayStation →

Quick Facts

Developer / Publisher: Playful Corp. (USA)
Price: $19.99
Original release: March 28, 2016 — free Rift pack-in
Remaster Quest 2: November 18, 2021
Remaster SteamVR: December 9, 2021
PSVR: April 7, 2022
Duration: ~4 hours
Steam: 88% positive (72 reviews)
OpenCritic: 71 "Fair" (remaster)
Age Rating: Everyone (all ages)
Sequel (flatscreen): Super Lucky's Tale / New Super Lucky's Tale

Verdict

The VR platformer that started it all. Lucky's Tale's 2016 launch alongside the Oculus Rift gave millions of people their first experience of VR gaming beyond tech demos, and its cheerful, accessible third-person platforming holds genuine charm in its 2021 remaster. At $19.99 with Story Mode and Time Trial levels, it delivers ~4 hours of colourful adventure appropriate for all ages. The honest comparison: Moss ($29.99, on sale often below $10) is more critically acclaimed and emotionally sophisticated, and should be the first purchase if budget allows one title. Lucky's Tale is the better choice for very young students, for schools exploring VR genre history, or as a lower-pressure second title once Moss has been played.

The XR School

The XR School

Luckys tale

Lucky's Tale