How one can discover and obtain App Lab video games for Oculus Quest 2

By Tristan Hales On Feb 20, 2021

With the v25 Quest 2 update, Oculus added App Lab, a new way for developers to sell beta experiences through the Oculus Store so that users can access these apps without a sideload or developer access. By lowering the hurdles for the Quest Store, smaller studios or indie developers can launch demos, pre-releases, or fully paid experiences without meeting Facebook’s strict quality standards. Quest 2 App Lab games are not visible in the Oculus Store. So we explain how to find and install them on your computer, through the app, or while wearing your headset.

Quest 2 App Lab Where to Find Games

Before starting the App Lab, you needed to know how to sideload apps on the Oculus Quest. This guide is still very useful as there are hundreds of SideQuest games out there compared to only a dozen or so games in App Lab. Among the best SideQuest games for Oculus Quest 2, many of them will likely never get into the App Lab due to legal restrictions, especially mods or ports from other platforms.

Many Quest 2 owners don’t want to bother with this whole process, but would still like to expand their library. Thankfully, finding App Lab games isn’t difficult once you know where to look. With the partnering of Oculus and SideQuest, developers have the option to list their game on SideQuest with the “App Lab” tag to make it easier for players to find and purchase.

Go to the desktop SideQuest websiteScroll down to find the sidebar and make sure that Games & Apps: App Lab and Platform: Quest are selected.
- You can also change your search to search only Free or Paid App Lab games.
Source: SideQuest
to open one of those games.
You should see a button labeled immediately to the right of the game title App eye. Click it.

Source: SideQuest
You will be taken straight to his Oculus Store page link. There you can view details about the game, including price, customer ratings, controller or space scale mode support, download size, and more.
- You can’t currently give away App Lab games or redeem a gift code for one, although this option may be added in the future.
Source: Oculus
Make sure you are logged into your account.
Click the blue button to download or purchase the game.
Open that Eye mobile app.
Open your Library by tapping on the book icon in the top right.
Tap the App Lab game that you just downloaded.
Tap Install on the headset. It now appears in the middle of your official games on the Oculus Quest 2!

Find App Lab games on your phone or headset

You can also Search directly for App Lab games in the Oculus StoreIt’s easier to do if you want to find it right in the Oculus app or on your headset. Remember, you will need to use the exact name of the game to find it.

For example, if you search for “Crisis VRigade,” you’ll see an App Lab search result advising you that the app may be “experimental or still in development” and an option to “view the app” with which will take you to their hidden store page. However, Crisis VRigade 2 does not show up in the results because you did not search for “2”. If you search for “Puzzling Places” you won’t find it either, because the name is technically “Puzzling Places – Beta”.

Finally, developers can distribute direct links to their Oculus Store pages that you can simply click to access. For some reason, some developers added their games to App Lab without adding them to SideQuest, making them hard to find. If you want to cut out the middleman and just start adding App Lab games to your headset, we’ve rounded up every App Lab game available on Oculus Quest 2 for you to download or purchase.

If you’re looking for more free Quest 2 experiences, check out our selection of the best free games for Oculus Quest 2.

Our favorite Quest 2 accessory

Modify your quest 2

Quest 2 Elite Strap

Make your App Lab experience more convenient

The Quest 2 Elite Belt replaces the standard belt that comes with the headset. The Elite Strap is more ergonomic and has a fitting wheel that allows you to rotate the headset for a nice, comfortable fit.

PC VR compatible

Oculus Link

Another way to build your Quest 2 library

This 16-foot PC VR cable lets you enjoy Rift games or sideload SteamVR games. So you have enough length to move comfortably in your living room.

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Official Oculus Beta Games

Here is every App Lab game available on Quest 2 (so far)

Oculus allows indie games to live in the Oculus Store, but they are not visibly listed and can only be found by searching for the exact name of each game. There are some hidden gems and fun free demos without having to load them off the page. So use our list of all the App Lab games available and see which VR game is calling you!

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Protect your Oculus Quest 2 from sweat and dirt with these face covers

The Oculus Quest 2 standard face surface has plenty of foam padding. However, this material is a magnet for sweat, bacteria, and acne-causing dirt. Yuck! For this reason, we recommend investing in one of these leather, silicone, or flannel face covers that are easy to remove and clean, making your VR game worry-free and more hygienic.