“BEAST ARMS” is a VR game developed by “Bazooka Studio,” a small, in-house game brand operated by MyDearest. It’s a VR game where you battle with animal buddies, and it was just released in June 2026.
This article will explore the current state of VR gaming through the experience of playing “BEAST ARMS.”
A competitive action shooter from Bazooka Studio.
“BEAST ARMS” is a VR game that offers player-versus-player battles. When the game starts, players receive three animal characters called “buddies,” and use these buddies as weapons to fight on the battlefield.
For example, a crocodile-like buddy fires a charged shot, while a bat-like buddy shoots an arcing beam, each with different effects. As your buddy’s level increases, their weapons become more powerful. When an attack hits, your opponent is knocked back and may fall forcefully off the field. The key to victory is how much damage you can inflict on your opponent while staying off the stage yourself.
The game gives the impression of a Super Smash Bros.-like battle game where you fight using shooting skills in a 3D space. It also has a more casual feel compared to the company’s flagship title, “Blazen Blaze.” It’s free to play, each game lasts only a few minutes, and there are currently only two stages available, making it a small-scale game. However, its appeal lies in its lightheartedness, with pop-style visuals and responsive controls that make it easy for even children to pick up and play.
Furthermore, a PvE (player vs. CPU character) mode is expected to be added in a future update.
The gameplay feels good, and you can hear the sounds of children playing while you play.
I actually tried playing the game. Upon entering the lobby, you start by selecting a buddy, and at this point, you hear the voices of children speaking English. In Japan, the VR game market is generally considered to be for teenagers and adults, but when you try this game, you’ll be surprised by the difference.
Basically, this game works by obtaining food using rewards earned in battles, and then feeding it to your buddy to help them grow. You can also acquire new buddies and complete daily missions.
Of course, you can change the outfits and avatars themselves as you like. The overall look is toon-style and pop, so you can dress them up in a cute way that suits your own taste.
First, I tried playing the versus mode with the editorial staff. Fighting in a 3D VR space might sound daunting, but once you try it, you’ll find it’s intuitively playable. For example, the bow weapon is held in one hand and drawn with the other to fire, but the mechanics themselves are easy to understand and make for a user-friendly experience. Fighting in the 3D space is also less likely to cause motion sickness, attacks are easy to land, and movement isn’t too slow—it’s just right.
While multiple movement methods are available, the button-based controls made jumping and air dashing the easiest to understand. Even though it’s aimed at children, the ease of use exceeded expectations.
On the other hand, when I joined a random online match, I could constantly hear the voices of children during the game. It seemed they had been strengthening their characters, as the top-ranked player had a very flashy appearance, buddy, and attacks. The initial buddy is not very strong in terms of combat power, but you can get rewards by repeatedly playing matches. Rather than being strong, it seemed that the main goal was to have fun and be lively with others.
A VR space as a “special playground just for children”
This game has already garnered significant attention, with 7,488 ratings and a 4.8-star rating, and 1,950 reviews (as of July 15th). The majority of these ratings are from English-speaking audiences. This suggests that the forefront of VR gaming is currently centered around the young teenage demographic in North America.
After playing through the game, I realized that the children seemed to be using the VR game in the same way they would use a park. The sight of the children running around and shouting loudly was exactly like being in a park, and the lobby itself felt like it was serving as a public square.
In fact, the following points were discussed in the conversation between CEO Kishigami and the editor-in-chief of MoguLive:
Sunkubo: That’s amazing. Is the enthusiasm among teenagers in North America high?
Kishigami: It’s very high. Among the players of the online gaming platform “Roblox,” children seeking a more immersive experience are shifting to VR. They spend an incredible amount of time playing.
Sunkubo: With talk of a successor to the Nintendo Switch and other things, will you ever move away from VR?
Kishigami: On the contrary, the number is increasing. When I spoke with an American investor, he said, “The MetaQuest is about half the expected price of the Nintendo Switch 2.” While the new Switch model is expected to cost around $450, the Quest 2 and 3S can be purchased for around $200-$300. For kids in America, the MetaQuest is one of the cheapest gaming consoles available.
Sunkubo: I see, so it has price competitiveness.
Kishigami: In addition, in America, due to safety concerns, the culture of children playing outside after school is fading. Parents also prefer their children to play at home. In this context, VR spaces are being chosen as a place where children can gather with their friends. Games like ‘GorillaTag’ are fulfilling the role of a park after school. I think the reason for its enthusiastic support is that it has become a “sanctuary” for children only, without adults around.
From “MyDearest x Mogura Business Integration Discussion [Podcast Mogura Radio Summary]”
MyDearest×Mogura経営統合を語る【Podcastもぐラジオ要約版】
XR/メタバース/VTuber専門メディア「MoguraVR」は毎週、Podcast「もぐラジオ」を配信中。「テック・コンテンツ業界の最前線を掘る」というコンセプトのもと、すんくぼ（MoguraVR編集長）とゆりいか（M […]
もぐラジオ2026.02.19
The discussion revealed that Meta Quest is a valuable device in the North American market because it is affordable and helps allesafety concerns. Furthermore, it seems that, like GorillaTag and Chained Escape, the VR space functions as a special place for children
However, the challenge lies in the fact that simply providing a park-like space doesn’t necessarily guarantee success. In GorillaTag, players push off the ground with their arms to move forward, and in BEAST ARMS, players jump around while shooting at each other. It seemed that physically enjoyable movements that children could get engrossed in were crucial.
The success of “BEAST ARMS” is largely linked to the North American market, and its high praise is interesting because it shows that the forefront of VR gaming lies in North America. Due to the game environment, it seems difficult for Japanese adults to enjoy it from the same perspective as children, but the game itself is well made, and it seems that it could be enjoyed in Japan as well if game communities such as Discord servers are utilized.
Several years have passed since Meta began handling VR devices, and as the company’s strategy has changed, the VR market is also beginning to pass the baton to the next generation of players. It will be interesting to see what new VR content will blossom from here.
BEAST ARMS is available for download here (Quest Meta).
https://www.meta.com/ja-jp/experiences/beast-arms/26809008098700102/
