The Patcher is a virtual reality (VR) game that features 6 degrees of freedom (6DOF) movement, allowing the player to move in all directions. It is a first-person shooter (FPS) game and features several game modes to play, including the classic deathmatch mode.

Unlike other VR shooters, such as Half Life: Alyx, this game places less emphasis on narrative and focuses instead on the combat element of the game. Still, there is a narrative to be experienced for players who are interested.

A virtual reality shoot-em-up

At its core, The Patcher is a relatively standard first-person shooter. Beyond that core, however, the game adds a number of novel and interesting game mechanics, including the virtual reality aspect. The 6DOF movement is perhaps one of the biggest features, allowing the player to move in all directions as though they were floating or flying.

Multiplayer combat and cooperation

The game forces the player to choose between two factions—Junkmol and Skymagg—and will be online with other players in these factions. While the game centers around combat with various monsters, players will invariably encounter other players and must cooperate with them or fight them depending on whether they are in the same faction. Defeating “boss” monsters gives the player a chance to get a rare item drop.

Impressive bosses, average gameplay

The design of some of the larger monsters in the game is quite impressive, especially as they can be seen in their full imposing size through a VR headset. While the game looks impressive, it doesn’t offer a new take on shooters, unlike similarly themed games like Deep Rock Galactic.