At BestDatingApps.com, we review dating websites and mobile apps to help our readers find a product that works for them as they look for love online. Now and then, we run across a platform that’s not explicitly designed to help you find dates or a romantic partner but still lets you uniquely meet new people. Rec Room is one of those platforms that could help you meet someone special!
Much like VRChat, which can be a suitable substitute for a traditional dating app, Rec Room can connect you with romantic partners as interested in gaming and social networking as you! Our Rec Room review will cover how to use the platform, which devices it’s compatible with, and how to use it to your advantage in meeting new people!
What Is Rec Room?
Rec Room is a virtual reality massively multiplayer online game*. Players can opt to use the game with or without a virtual reality headset, making it a game you can play from your phone or a game that goes all in on the immersive experience. It’s a platform people can use to meet new friends via voice chat and discover user-generated games within the hub room, a.k.a. “The Rec Center.”
It’s available for use on the following platforms:
- Xbox One
- Xbox Series X
- Xbox Series S
- Microsoft Windows
- PSVR
- Meta Quest
- PlayStation 4
- PlayStation 5
- Pico
- iOS
- Android
*A Massively Multiplayer Online Game: an online video game with many players on the same server. These usually feature a persistent open world but have various games representing video game genres.
Because the Rec Room’s setting is “The Rec Center,” where you can enter various game rooms, there’s a unique, persistent open world within each game. It gives you ample opportunity to spread out and explore. You also get to compete against other players or get to know those working with you on a team.
A few examples of games available in Rec Room include:
- Battle royale games (Rec Royale)
- Action-based quests (Golden Trophy)
- First-person shooter games (Paintball)
- Cooperative action-adventure games (3D Charades)
- Sports games (Dodgeball)
When Was It Created?
Rec Room Inc., the development studio for Rec Room, was founded in 2016 by several gaming developers, including Nicholas Fajt, the former program manager of HoloLens at Microsoft. Over the years, it has gone through several funding efforts and is valued today at $3.5 billion. As it’s privately owned and not listed on a share market, Rec Room is a unicorn startup company.
Fundraising Timeline
| Year | Details |
|---|---|
2016-2017 | $5 million is funded for the initial development of the Rec Room. |
2019 | An additional $24 million is raised through two funding rounds. |
2020 | Another $20 million is raised this year. |
2021 | After raising another $100 this year, Rec Room crosses the $1 billion mark and becomes a “unicorn” startup. Later in the year, another $145 million is raised, bringing the total value of Rec Room up to $3.5 billion! |
How to Use the App
A special thanks goes to RageElixir on YouTube for his extensive playthrough of the games on the Rec Room app.
There would be too much to include here if we went into all the details of every user-generated game available on Rec Room. The basic premise is that each room has its own unique game. Choose one you’d like to play and meet people along the way, whether working together as a team to accomplish a goal or competing against a worthy opponent.
How Much Does Rec Room Cost?
The great news is that it’s free, though you must have the hardware needed to use the platform. This could get costly if you plan on using VR goggles, but if you already own them, you can genuinely enjoy a VR-based experience of Rec Room for free!
Rec Room is available at the App Store and Google Play. It costs nothing to download the game to your smartphone or tablet.
Is It a Good Way to Meet People?
All sorts of people can join Rec Room, so many people using the app find that it’s a fun and welcoming environment to meet new friends. People typically form relationships and connect through text and voice chat, but they can also join live events, clubs, contests, or classes to meet others with similar interests.
If you’re looking for some tips and strategies for meeting new people or networking in general on Rec Room, check out these videos:
How to EASILY Make Friends in VR
Top 10 Tips to Make Friends on Rec Room!
Can It Be Used for Dating?
Much in the same way that people have been using platforms like Meetup or Meta Horizon Worlds to meet singles who’d be interested in dates or relationships, Rec Room has seen some similar trends. At the end of the day, it’s a social networking app that leaves the door open for all kinds of relationship possibilities to flourish outside the game. If you decide you want a more traditional approach to online dating, why not check out our dating app reviews page where you can find information on all the latest and greatest dating apps.
