ARC Raiders
ARC Raiders
Game
Game2017
Space Pirate Trainer
Developer I-Illusions
Space Pirate Trainer is a virtual reality (VR) first-person shooter developed and published by I-Illusions. It was one of the earliest wave shooters utilizing the VR game-play environment. The game was released alongside the HTC Vive and featured in VR arcades. In 2018, it was also released digitally through the PlayStation Store. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
187 reactions from 3 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Lemmy) · newest Oct 20, 2026 · last updated Oct 20, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
88
LovedLoved
149 positive · 20 negative
95% range 82–92%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 149 | 20 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 4 | 1 | 9 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 0 | 4 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
2,312 of 2,444 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
89% recommend · 151 yes, 18 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 169 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (2,694 of 2,856 positive).
Players describe it as a VR version of Space Invaders that is physically demanding and fun. [1][2][3] Some note it lacks a tutorial and has limited content, but remains a classic arcade experience. [4][5][6]
Liked
Representative posts
- [17]
I was excited about the new update for space pirate trainer because I have owned this game since it came out. I was excited to FINALLY get an update after all this time. So imagine my surprise when I find out that they have abandoned pc vr and only the quest users get the new update. Are you kidding me? 0/10 . I would never support such a scummy developer.
- [1]
There's a reason why they call this Space Pirate Trainer and not Space Pirate Chillfest... It's a workout disguised as a VR version of Space Invaders! If you want to get anywhere in this game you're going to need to dodge, duck, and move around fast. It is physically demanding and I love that about it. This game is SO FUN! I even at one point jumped over an array of lasers that were fired at me forgetting my feet …
- [4]
My overall review of Space Pirate Trainer VR… Space Pirate Trainer remains one of the most effective pure arcades in VR: tight, physical, and endlessly replayable for score hunters, but limited if you’re after long campaigns, narrative depth, or couch‑friendly play. __No Tutorial – This was a big issue for me. Other then more possible graphics changes in the settings, not having a proper tutorial I think is a big …
- [2]
This game is old now, but it's still a good go-to game when you want to stick a VR headset on someone and say "THIS IS WHAT VR FEELS LIKE!" 21st century Space Invaders. Love it.
- [3]
VR Space Invaders. As an old fart, I love it!
Summarised from 34 of the 187 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 12, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Space Pirate Trainer sits at 88% positive across 169 opinionated reactions from 3 sources. Fresh or rotten — where do you land?
Critics, per Wikipedia
Space Pirate Trainer received "mixed or average reviews" from critics according to Metacritic. During the 21st Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Space Pirate Trainer for "Immersive Reality Game of the Year.
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 187 · most liked firstAlso surprised that Facebook allows some of these Quest games to run as poorly as they do. Even old stuff like Space Pirate Trainer was choppy at first, like it's compiling shaders during gameplay. Seems like a bad move to have any part of a game chop up since that's just going to make people sick?
negative · AI labelView post →My highlights from Steam Next Fest, June 2026. The June 2026 edition of Steam Next Fest is now over! Participating in Next Fest is like searching through a giant pile of sludge, but I like getting my hands dirty. And now I'd like to share some of the cool games I tried over the past week. ## Bunderkin: The Ocular Eclipse This is a 3D platformer with a focus on stealth. You play as a young, mischievous dragon caught in a time loop as a major festival takes place in town. You supposedly take…
neutral · AI labelView post →There's a reason why they call this Space Pirate Trainer and not Space Pirate Chillfest... It's a workout disguised as a VR version of Space Invaders! If you want to get anywhere in this game you're going to need to dodge, duck, and move around fast. It is physically demanding and I love that about it. This game is SO FUN! I even at one point jumped over an array of lasers that were fired at me forgetting my feet aren't tracked. Wave 1 starts out with 1 bot you have to shoot and every wave…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Half Life: Alyx, Beat Saber, Superhot, Budget Cuts, Space Pirate Trainer, Waltz of the Wizard etc. are all great VR games. If you like horror games, the FNAF series, The Forest, etc. also has some great VR games. There are other tangentially fun things to do with VR, too. I watch movies in BigScreen with friends and family sitting on a virtual couch together. VRChat is fun to just meet and chat with people. This headset also plays 2D games, which I'm intrigued by, both on headset and…
neutral · AI labelView post →I mean no disrespect to any other VR games because it's hard to top Citizen Kane but also for such a young art form how is Space Pirate Trainer STILL the best VR game ever created? When people ask me what to play first my answer hasn't changed for a fucking decade.
positive · AI labelView post →I was excited about the new update for space pirate trainer because I have owned this game since it came out. I was excited to FINALLY get an update after all this time. So imagine my surprise when I find out that they have abandoned pc vr and only the quest users get the new update. Are you kidding me? 0/10 . I would never support such a scummy developer.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →All wave shooters are repetitive and boring. This one is no exception. Youre going to buy at least a few wave shooters before that really sinks in. If this is one of the ones you buy on the way to wisdom, pay $4 tops. I guess there are cool guns, levels and enemies, but the gameplay is so boring there is nothing that could save it.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I bought the Oculus Dk1 Cv1 and Valve Index. I think I’m done with VR. I had fun but the games just aren’t there. Half Life Alyx is the singular AAA game and it can be fun to fire up Beat Saber and Space Pirate Trainer. But spending $1k just have that small part of gaming be better yeah, I’m good.
neutral · AI labelView post →I bought this game over eight years ago. I was going through my VR library to see what games I had played, and what I hadn't. Saw this game only had about 30 mins of play. Figured I'd give it another go, as I remembered it positively from the early days of VR. The game seems to have changed a bit, IIRC. Seems to be a bit more fleshed out. It's definitely fun. Cool weapons, defensive options, and power ups. There are four different modes to play. I went through one round of each, just to see…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is old now, but it's still a good go-to game when you want to stick a VR headset on someone and say "THIS IS WHAT VR FEELS LIKE!" 21st century Space Invaders. Love it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I know why you're here. You're probably looking at a cheaper sale price here than the copy on the Meta Store and are trying to figure out whether this non-DX version (at the time of this review, at least) is worth it. Firstly, let me note that, from what I read on the discussion boards here, the devs aren't intentionally trying to make the Meta Store's version superior; they're just unable to deal with SteamVR-specific problems when it comes to integrating their approach to multiplayer here.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →seemed fun, which it was but just not my kind of game afterall. Space invaders in VR
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →New article up. I've played some GREAT roomscale VR like Eye of the Temple & of course Space Pirate Trainer. At least in this demo, The Amusement doesn't feel like it needs roomscale. That aside, a strong demo for a narrative based puzzle game. Love these games in VR. Give it a go!
neutral · AI labelView post →VR Space Invaders. As an old fart, I love it!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →So I cleared out the living room to make a big area for the kids and I to play VR games for the next few days and I had forgotten what a blast Space Pirate Trainer is when you can really move. It's still a masterpiece, and understood the platform better than any other game.
positive · AI labelView post →gift this to people you want to sabotage by getting their VR headset soaked in sweat
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I do not understand why it is so recommended. I tried to play it and got bored fairly quickly. In comparison to that I enjoyed pistol whip and blade and sorcery very much. Some details: * You have no body presence. YOu're floating hands, again. * No height offset for seated play. If you're in a chair, you'll be shooting from the height of the chair. * You have a shield, and while projectiles do not pass thorugh the shield, you can absolutely stick your gun through it. * There's no locomotion…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of the first VR games I bought. Is it the cutting edge of VR? No. It's a good game that is well fleshed out for the type of game it is. It holds up pretty well considering it's age. I'd say it's well worth full price, but if you can get it on sale, that's even better.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is the game that made me buy a VR system. Played it in a mall and went directly to the store. Feels like being inside Galaga. You shoot drones with a variety of handguns, with laser-bats and transparent shields for defense. Buy it!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Exactly 8 years ago I took a break from creating a (procedural) snowboard game to do something cool in VR. This was the first screen I posted. I would have never believed that this Space Pirate Trainer game would go so hard it kickstarted a -way better- snowboarding game called Shredders
neutral · AI labelView post →Great game worth every penny, love the ability to whip enemies into the ground and explode them.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →My overall review of Space Pirate Trainer VR… Space Pirate Trainer remains one of the most effective pure arcades in VR: tight, physical, and endlessly replayable for score hunters, but limited if you’re after long campaigns, narrative depth, or couch‑friendly play. __No Tutorial – This was a big issue for me. Other then more possible graphics changes in the settings, not having a proper tutorial I think is a big miss. I started the game spending a while just to figure out who to change…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Turn it on, hit play and have fun. The better you get the higher the score, the more the fun. Works fine in a small space, but I imagine a large space would be a blast. Worth Every penny.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is one of the games I recommend to everyone with VR
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →my first steam VR game... still awesome even today
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Absolutely awesome game for casual players. Works really well and is very intuitive. No messing about, no setting up just play. I've played for 9 hours - have I changed my mind? Yes. It gets better. The more you play the more the challenges open up, the more fun it is. It's never impossible but makes you work. Music fits really well with the action. All in all I think this is a brilliant game for VR.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Blast space pirates out of the sky like an 80s arcade game except... you're actually in the game in a 3D world. You get a shield, weapon options, power ups, different game modes, and more. Banger music, guns go pew pew, and space pirates that you need to save the universe from. What more could you want? Tip - If you have a Rift S or similar headset you will likely want to go into Steam settings and disable haptics for this game. Due to the Rift S design, your headset tracking has to compete…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Really fun for about 15 minutes at a time, but then again, so are the arcade cabinets that this game is set inside
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →best introductory VR game ever
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →this game only gets updated on quest now which kinda sucks, but it's still a fun game so I would recommend it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of the best VR games you can buy. Its a must have for your VR.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Elite Dangerous's VR mode will blow your nuts off provided you have several dozen - several hundred hours in the game AND you have a HOTAS. The original Boneworks was also quite good. Hotdogs Horseshoes and Handgrenades and Space Pirate Trainer are great, along with the Museum of Other Realities. Other than those, VR has been trapped in amber since about 2021. I have an index and will continue to dust it off occasionally. VR kinda died as valve stopped publishing and Facebook did...well...…
neutral · AI labelView post →I wish the Steam version had multiplayer like the Quest version. Still one of the best VR games.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This man is playing Space Pirate Trainer
neutral · AI labelView post →one of the first VR experiences i ever had was playing this on vive at an event, this is so easy to pick up and play, very fun arcade-style experience
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I just bought this again, as I had no idea it was on Steam ... I got all the way through it a couple years ago on Quest 2 standalone. Boy, the PCVR version is so epically much better visually, and sounds better too! One question I can't seem to find the answer to is how to turn off the hit scores. I don't play for points, I play for fun, to blast waves of droids. THe scores popping up all over the pace when they explode is distracting and annoying. How to fix? Absolutely recommend any…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Picked up a Meta Quest 3. I’ve been wanting a portable VR headset not tied to a PC for a while (having had a Vive, PSVR, and Index in the past). This hit the price and feature set, and the AR mode is pretty decent (far better than the others). And Space Pirate Trainer remains a S-tier VR game.
positive · AI labelView post →Great party game and a must have for any VR setup.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I still play this kind of VR arcade game on a regular basis, really well designed and works well with my HP Reverb G2. I like the graphics, the environment and all weapons, the combat is pure fun and rewarding increased difficulty. The fog effect would be lovely but I keep it disabled as it's blurry and not properly blended in the environment. I wish there were more combat platforms or environments to choose from instead of only one, nevertheless I definitely recommend this game, a must have!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Its fun, for an hour or so
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →fun easy to get into quick endless fun get good have fun move yourself around. secret powers
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →6/10 - acceptable. wave shooter, was interesting back in 2017. will get shelved fast, collecting dust only after few tries. only get it at extreme discount.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →From the Space Pirate Trainer studio comes BAM, a new mixed reality multiplayer game hitting Quest 3 next month. www.uploadvr.com/bam-quest-mi...
neutral · AI labelView post →I pirated this game it did not help.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's a great game lots of fun and you can get a bit of exercise with this as it requires a lot of movement. Don't expect some kind of campaign from it though its just a wave based space invaders type shooter it's just simple fun and awesome robot techno music, the full asking price is a little high for this so wait for an offer if you can. If you go into it knowing these facts then I'm sure you will have a great time.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is definitely going to be one of the most prolific VR games ever. It puts you right into a modernized version of Space Invaders. If you're on the fence about purchasing it... just get it. You won't regret it!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →No coop on Steam but Oculus has it? I think you guys could do better and add that to steam too lol, understandable why arena isn't added to steam. Kind of need the mobility for that. I still recommend it for both steam and Oculus, but would appreciate it if the developer also added the things that make sense to steam if added to Oculuss.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of the best VR games available.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great Game. Fun
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The only thing that can be kind of difficult to use is switching back and forth between a blaster and the laser shield by reaching behind your back. This didn't always work for me as intended and would frequently trigger in seemingly different locations. Other than that, this game is fantastic!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →What old school VR game do you still dip back into for fun? I'll start: Space Pirate Trainer
neutral · AI labelView post →There's a bunch of things to consider. Getting off the couch to play a game is a hassle for many, creating a game that actually considers physicality, like Space Pirate Trainer, is apparently complicated for devs and while the tech has come along, we're still a decade or two out from Ready Player 1.
neutral · AI labelView post →You played duck hunt as a kid..... this isn't it, It's actually BETTER! In most aspects
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →amazing game :)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I mean, I played most of my library in that space. I 'S' ranked plenty of Beat Saber maps on Hard. Played Space Pirate Trainer a few times. The Lab. Phasmophobia. Etc. You can genuinely easily play most VR games seated if you really wanted to, even if it's not as nice as having standing room
neutral · AI labelView post →I am playing "Arena" mode from VR game Space Pirate Trainer with a friend on sort of mini football field regularly and its one of best gaming experiences. It is like being inside Quake in 10x10m arena. Super niche but awesome for people with Quest headset and friend with Quest 👍
positive · AI labelView post →It's very well made
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A great starter game for VR an arcade stand in place game where you shoot down robots
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →What it does it does pretty well... unfortunately there is very little of it. There are a couple different modes but they're basically the same thing (it's just do you want to die after 3 hits, 1 hit, or slowly regenerate health). You stand in the same spot and shoot drones that appear while dodging their fire. That's it. There are some upgrades and you do get some different enemies, but the basic gameplay stays the same and after 15 minutes I already felt like the game was just repetitive and…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This was pretty good a few years ago when the VR was mostly wave shooters. I don't think I can recommend this anymore because it's basically just the arcade light gun games with the added ability of dodging shots.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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