Build Rube Goldberg machines in VR and XR

Rube Goldberg Workshop is available for Quest 2 and Quest Pro. Build crazy machines in virtual and mixed reality.

Rube Goldberg Workshop has been available for Meta Quest 2 and Quest Pro since May 18th. The price is $9.99. The VR game is about building crazy machines that are essentially a series of chain reactions.

Rube Goldberg Workshop features over 80 components. Players can use the parts to build machines in a VR view or switch to a mixed reality view and place their constructions in physical space. Players can use VR controllers or hand tracking.

The game was made possible through a licensing deal between Free Range and the Rube Goldberg Institute, brokered by its licensing agency Brand Central.

The Institute is dedicated to carry on the work of the famous cartoonist, who created a series of popular works featuring wacky and incredibly complicated machines that carried out a ridiculously simple task. The Rube Goldberg Institute for Innovation & Creativity operates as a “museum without walls” introducing people of all ages to the rewards of engaging in the Arts and Sciences. The Institute offers LIVE, Cartooning and Minecraft Contests, while exhibitions, books, licensing, merchandising, customized curriculum, and entertainment properties continue to grow and enhance the brand.

This latest program combines the physics and wacky inventiveness of Rube Goldberg machines with the hyper realism of Virtual Reality, and players can build a limitless number of machines using over 80 different components in this sandbox building game.

The concept was named after Reuben “Rube” L. Goldberg, an American cartoonist who drew comic strips featuring overly complicated machines.

Rube Goldberg Workshop welcomes players to push the boundaries of their imaginations; for example, dropping bowling balls from the top of their bookshelf, setting off fireworks in their kitchen, or turning their desk into the ultimate pachinko machine.

“We are proud to be partnering with The Rube Goldberg Institute for Rube Goldberg Workshop,” said Free Range Games CEO, Chris Scholz. “As game developers, we’ve all at some point have drawn, watched or built a hilarious Rube Goldberg machine.

“The works of Rube have made an impact on every one of our lives,” added Scholz, who’s a bit of a super fan. “What’s a video game level if not an elaborate Rube Goldberg machine? With Rube Goldberg Workshop we’ll be continuing to make an impact on future generations of builders, inventors, and game designers while bringing the Rube Goldberg brand into a new frontier of technology.”

Jennifer George, the Chief Creative Officer at the Institute and Rube Goldberg’s granddaughter, says her team was captivated by the idea of creating a virtual reality version of a Rube Goldberg machine, and seeing some of the developers’ previous work sealed the deal.

“We were so impressed with the Jenga AR game that we knew Free Range Games would be the perfect partner to create Rube Goldberg Workshop, the ultimate Meta Quest VR Rube Goldberg experience,” George explained. “Being able to build a Rube Goldberg Machine out of thin air, in any size room – or even in the confines of your own bed – is one of the many miracles of the digital age. You can even build your machine around your dog, kids, the fridge or pet hamster! I know my grandfather would be gobsmacked!”