Lone Echo

Lone Echo is a narrative adventure game consisting of both exploration and using tools and objects to solve puzzles. Of particular note is the game's locomotion system, which allows players to grab almost any surface, and either move themselves along or push off of the environment to float in a given direction. The player is also given wrist-mounted thrusters that can be used to change or finesse a trajectory.

Players can pick up and move objects, as well as manipulate switches and control panels. In addition they are given a data scanner that can interface with machinery, and a plasma cutter than can cut through certain surfaces. As a service android, the player must repair damaged or inoperable systems, as well as aid and protect the station's sole human crew member, with whom they interact using dialogue trees.

Set in the year 2126, Lone Echo casts players in the role of an "ECHO ONE" service android nicknamed "Jack", aboard the Kronos II mining station orbiting Saturn. Jack serves under the command of the human crew member Captain Olivia Rhodes, who is to be reassigned by her employer "The Atlas Initiative", leaving Jack behind as the sole crew member of the facility. When a mysterious spatial anomaly knocks out some of the station's vital systems, Jack and Olivia work together to repair the damage and investigate the mysterious phenomenon.

While the two investigate the anomaly, a massive unidentified ship appears and Kronos II is destroyed by flying debris. When Jack reawakens after being temporarily decommissioned, he notices that Olivia is no longer on or around the station. In a message left in an emergency beacon, Olivia states that she had to abandon the facility due to power failures and loss of life support, and that she would take her chances aboard the unknown vessel. Jack follows her to the ship to find out if she's still alive.

Development began in 2015, when the first prototypes of the Oculus Touch were made available to developers. A small team created VR prototypes, while Ready At Dawn was finishing The Order: 1886. Inspired by footage of astronauts moving aboard the International Space Station, the team completed a demo weeks after receiving Oculus Touch development kits. After demonstrating an early prototype showcasing the locomotion system, Oculus came on board as publisher to produce a full game. The team was expanded to 15 people, and eventually grew to 60 at its peak.

About a year into its development, Ready At Dawn held an internal game jam, which resulted in an early prototype of Echo Arena. The decision was made to split the team, and develop both Lone Echo and Echo Arena alongside each other.

Prior to its launch, Lone Echo won the Game Critics Award for Best VR Game at E3 2017.

Upon its release, Lone Echo received positive reviews. As of August 4, 2017 it had an average score of 89 on review aggregator Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews". UploadVR awarded the title an 8.5/10, calling it "a landmark achievement in three key areas of the VR experience: locomotion, UI, and interaction," but criticized the game's deliberate pacing and abrupt ending. In his review, GameCrate's Leo Parrill called it "one of the best VR experiences I've had the opportunity to enjoy," while noting the presence of some frustrating bugs and glitches. Road to VR awarded the game a 9/10, with particular praise given to the storytelling and the relationship between Jack and Olivia.