Parents' Guide to Everest VR

Though not really a practical simulation, this virtual reality experience does, at times, make you feel like you're high atop the mountain. After learning how to use the game's controls -- which are fairly standard for VR but still new to most people -- you'll go on a virtual tour up the mountain. This not only involves navigating some rather narrow cliffs but also walking across a ladder that's been precariously placed over a small ravine. It's during the latter instance, and similar moments, that this short but sweet experience really shines. When crossing that makeshift bridge or flying over the mountain as a narrator delves into the history of people who've climbed Everest, you really will feel like you could plummet to your death. (Though you can't. Trust me, I tried. Walked right off a ledge and everything.)

But while there are times when it works well, there are others where it comes up short. Climbing a ladder, which you do by moving your hands up and down, doesn't feel real. Also, while this looks amazingly realistic when you're looking at the beautiful vistas, examining anything up close is a quick reminder that this is more virtual than reality. It's also rather short (only about 45 minutes from base camp to the top), and there's no reason to make the climb twice, which makes it a bit pricey. Still, for those curious about the mountain or what it's like climbing it, Everest VR will kind of make you feel as if you've gone where few people have gone before and survived to tell the tale.