Skip to main content
PC Gamer PC Gamer THE GLOBAL AUTHORITY ON PC GAMES
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
  • Games
  • Hardware
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Video
  • Forum
  • More
    • PC Gaming Show
    • Software
    • Movies & TV
    • Coupons
    • Magazine
    • Newsletter
    • Community guidelines
    • Affiliate links
    • Meet the team
    • About PC Gamer
PC Gamer Magazine Subscription
PC Gamer Magazine Subscription
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe to the world's #1 PC gaming mag
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$32.49
View
Popular
  • Amazon Prime Day Deals
  • Essential Hardware
  • Microsoft
  • AI
  • PC Gaming Show
Recommended reading
A still from the 1999 film eXistenZ.
Movies & TV David Cronenberg says eXistenZ wasn't about predicting modern gaming, but if the 1999 sci-fi thriller did do that, 'that's lovely'
Blippo+ character Poly Pixel pulls a funny face with glancing away from the camera
Sim Blippo+ is an uncanny, Hypnospace Outlaw-style game where you must flick through an alien off-cable TV network full of 'cloned opera stars and spooky raconteurs'
A smiling man in a subway station corridor
Movies & TV Don't worry, they're not just adapting blockbusters: this trippy Japanese walking simulator you can get for $4 on Steam has been made into a movie, too
The best VR headsets from Meta on a grey background with the PC Gamer Recommends badge in the upper right corner.
VR Hardware Best VR headset in 2025: my top picks for stunning virtual reality experiences
A shadowy figure looks out of a neon-lit cyberpunk city
AI Google Veo 3 users long to immerse themselves in the worlds of their AI-generated videos, seemingly forgetting entire videogame genres already exist
Shiftly origmami powered device can change shape
VR Hardware This origami-powered shape-shifting device could provide VR gamers with unique tactile feedback
Thief VR reveal
VR Thief VR producer says 'VR is a natural fit for an immersive sim'
  1. Movies & TV

Exploring films and TV in VR

Features
By Andy Kelly published 19 May 2015

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Do you ever watch a film and think, well, this is great, but I want to go there. I want to be in Westeros. I want to be aboard the USS Enterprise. No? Oh, fine. But I do, because reality is boring, and that’s one of the reasons I love VR.

Oculus Rift’s commercial release is a long way off, and we still have a while to wait for Valve’s offering, but there are already hundreds of demos, games, and experiments out there for anyone lucky enough to own a developer kit. And some of the best are the ones that let you explore famous locations from film and TV.

A lot of these were made by hobbyists, and as such the production values aren’t that hot, but it’s an enticing glimpse into a future where Hollywood studios and networks like HBO use VR to let people step into their worlds. Just imagine what some of the following examples would be like with a triple-A budget.

If you’re wondering why some of the screenshots are split into two, it’s because they were taken through the Oculus Rift headset.

Page 1 of 13
Page 1 of 13
The Shining

The Shining

Now you can literally play with the eerie Grady twins forever and ever and ever and ever. This demo, based on Kubrick’s horror masterpiece, sits you in the tricycle of young Danny as he pedals around the ominous corridors of the Overlook Hotel. Coming face to face with the girls is genuinely a bit unsettling.

DOWNLOAD

Page 2 of 13
Page 2 of 13
Sunshine

Sunshine

Danny Boyle’s sci-fi about scientists attempting to reignite the dying Sun has some great sets, especially this observation deck, which you can now experience for yourself. In hindsight, calling your ship, whose mission is flying towards the Sun, ‘Icarus’ wasn’t the best idea. A relaxing VR experience.

DOWNLOAD

Page 3 of 13
Page 3 of 13
The Matrix

The Matrix

This series of short demos lets you relive moments from The Matrix, including the scene where Morpheus reveals the truth to Neo after he chooses the red pill, and the fight on the rooftop where he dodges the bullets—which you actually do yourself. The production values aren’t great, but it’s still pretty fun.

DOWNLOAD

Page 4 of 13
Page 4 of 13
Spirited Away

Spirited Away

This demo recreates Kamaji’s boiler room from Studio Ghibli animated film Spirited Away. Creator Nick Pittom did a remarkable job translating a 2D location into an explorable 3D space, and it’s really convincing, despite the stylised, hand-painted textures. I interviewed Pittom about its creation last year.

DOWNLOAD

Page 5 of 13
Page 5 of 13
Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones

If you’ve ever wanted to piss from the top of The Wall like Tyrion Lannister, now’s your chance. Although you might get your carpet wet. This demo lets you explore an eerily quiet Castle Black before ascending Bran the Builder’s mighty ice wall. You have to crane your neck to see the top of the thing.

DOWNLOAD

Page 6 of 13
Page 6 of 13
Star Trek

Star Trek

There are a lot of Star Trek VR demos, but this is my favourite of the lot. It recreates the Next Generation-era Enterprise’s main engineering bay, and it absolutely nails the atmosphere. The hum of the engines and the realistic lighting give you a convincing feeling of presence. I never wanted to leave.

DOWNLOAD

Page 7 of 13
Page 7 of 13
My Neighbour Totoro

My Neighbour Totoro

Another demo by Nick Pittom, this time based on Studio Ghibli classic My Neighbour Totoro. This demo lets you experience the famous rainy bus stop scene, and it’s all wonderfully animated. It’s only when you stand next to the friendly forest spirit and look up that you realise just how big he is.

DOWNLOAD

Page 8 of 13
Page 8 of 13
Star Wars

Star Wars

As with Star Trek, there are a number of Star Wars-themed VR demos floating around the internet. But if you’re after a bit of excitement, this one lets you take part in the Battle for Endor. It’s no Elite: Dangerous, but it does a good job of capturing the feel of the scene. And the Death Star is bloody massive.

DOWNLOAD

Page 9 of 13
Page 9 of 13
South Park

South Park

You wouldn’t think the paper cut-out town of South Park would make for a good VR experience, but this works pretty well. The streets are filled with characters from the show, including Saddam Hussein. I can safely say that this is the first time I’ve encountered the Iraqi dictator in a VR game.

DOWNLOAD

Page 10 of 13
Page 10 of 13
Seinfeld

Seinfeld

Ever wondered what the wall behind the TV in Jerry’s apartment you never see looks like? Wonder no more. This 3D recreation of the comedian’s New York digs isn’t that pretty to look at, but the dimensions are spot-on. It’s genuinely surreal to explore such a familiar place in three dimensions.


DOWNLOAD

Page 11 of 13
Page 11 of 13
Batman

Batman

This demo, called The Cave, isn’t officially a Batman thing, but it basically is. Look at it! It lets you explore the Batcave, and I love the moment when the holographic map of Gotham City, or wherever it’s supposed to be, floods the room. An impressive tech demo, but there’s no DK2 version yet, sadly.

DOWNLOAD

Page 12 of 13
Page 12 of 13
Rear Window

Rear Window

And here’s another VR game that’s heavily inspired by a film, this time Rear Window, Alfred Hitchcock’s brilliant ‘50s thriller. Private Eye sees you playing as a housebound detective overlooking an apartment building, trying to piece together a crime through a pair of binoculars. Very clever concept.

DOWNLOAD

Page 13 of 13
Page 13 of 13
Andy Kelly
Andy Kelly
Social Links Navigation

If it’s set in space, Andy will probably write about it. He loves sci-fi, adventure games, taking screenshots, Twin Peaks, weird sims, Alien: Isolation, and anything with a good story.

Read more
A still from the 1999 film eXistenZ.
David Cronenberg says eXistenZ wasn't about predicting modern gaming, but if the 1999 sci-fi thriller did do that, 'that's lovely'
Blippo+ character Poly Pixel pulls a funny face with glancing away from the camera
Blippo+ is an uncanny, Hypnospace Outlaw-style game where you must flick through an alien off-cable TV network full of 'cloned opera stars and spooky raconteurs'
A smiling man in a subway station corridor
Don't worry, they're not just adapting blockbusters: this trippy Japanese walking simulator you can get for $4 on Steam has been made into a movie, too
The best VR headsets from Meta on a grey background with the PC Gamer Recommends badge in the upper right corner.
Best VR headset in 2025: my top picks for stunning virtual reality experiences
A shadowy figure looks out of a neon-lit cyberpunk city
Google Veo 3 users long to immerse themselves in the worlds of their AI-generated videos, seemingly forgetting entire videogame genres already exist
Shiftly origmami powered device can change shape
This origami-powered shape-shifting device could provide VR gamers with unique tactile feedback
Latest in Movies & TV
Black Mirror's creators have left Netflix, leaving the sci-fi anthology's future in question
Special Agent Dale Cooper giving a thumbs up under a PC Gamer recommended badge on pink background
Enough messing around: The objectively best PC gaming Prime Day deal is this boxed set of all three seasons of Twin Peaks and Fire Walk With Me for $45
Character holding up a camcorder
'Night City lives on'—Cyberpunk: Edgerunners season 2 teaser trailer may give us our first glimpse at the series' next protagonist
Cyberpunk Edgerunners 2 promo image
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, the anime so good it made Cyberpunk 2077 cool again, is getting a sequel
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 12: Neil Druckmann attends the AFI Awards at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on January 12, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AFI)
Neil Druckmann leaves The Last of Us HBO, alongside Part 2's co-writer Halley Gross, despite there still being 2 more seasons to go
Director Denis Villeneuve wearing a jacket and tie in 2024
Dune director Denis Villeneuve will direct the next Bond film for Amazon MGM, despite already being attached to four other upcoming films, including Cleopatra
Latest in Features
A screenshot from Everdeep Aurora showing the cat protagonist in the chambers of a regal rabbit
Five new Steam games you probably missed (July 14, 2025)
Fallen London
I've swapped modern live service games for a browser game that's been running since 2009
Four people in armour stand atop a desert landscape. The far left one faces away from camera in black armour, a barbarian with their face covered by a mask stands next to them. A female with medium-length brown hair and white shimmering armour duel wields guns, one held up and one pointing out to her right. Below her outstretched gun an archer crouches, their face obscured by an elaborate headdress.
These 15 PC games died for our sins—can you even remember their names?
Player doing a kickflip in the waterpark map in Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 + 4
I would've loved Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 a lot more if it hadn't made the mistake of rolling out time limits for every level
Lea, from Lies of P: Overture, clutches a locket to her chest and tries to maintain her composure.
Lies of P isn't my favourite soulslike, but Overture is one of the best DLCs in the whole genre
Marvel Rivals Season 3 customisation issues: An upper-body shot of Phoenix with her arms out to the side.
If Marvel Rivals doesn't want to reward me with fancy skins for my hard work, then I hope it'll at least give me some of Season 3's new customisation features
  1. Nvidia RTX 5090 and XFX RX 9070 graphics cards
    1
    Best graphics cards in 2025: I've tested pretty much every AMD and Nvidia GPU of the past 20 years and these are today's top cards
  2. 2
    Best gaming laptop in 2025: I've put the best of this new generation head-to-head and we have a winner
  3. 3
    Best gaming chair in 2025: I've tested a ton of gaming chairs and these are the seats I'd suggest for any PC gamer
  4. 4
    Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads
  5. 5
    Best graphics card for laptops in 2025: the mobile GPUs I'd want in my next gaming laptop
  1. A Mecha Break pilot in a white and pink suit standing before the head of her mech of the same color
    1
    Mecha Break review – Mech fans deserve better than this
  2. 2
    Mycopunk Review: Long live wacky co-op shooters.
  3. 3
    Persona 5: The Phantom X review – More of the same, for better or worse
  4. 4
    NZXT N7 Z890 review
  5. 5
    NZXT N9 X870E review

PC Gamer is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...