Buying games for Meta Quest 3 or Quest 3s is exciting, but it’s also surprisingly easy to waste money if you don’t know what to look for first. Between refund limits, compatibility confusion, sales timing, and comfort considerations, there are a few things every Quest owner should know before clicking “Buy.”
Whether you’re brand new to VR or upgrading from a Quest 2, this guide will help you avoid common mistakes, save money, and make sure the games you buy are actually worth your time.
1. Use my Promo Code “TNORTHVR” to Save Money on Games/Apps Anytime
You can save on games and apps anytime on the Meta Store. And the best part, you can use it on as many games and apps as you’d like.
Use promo code TNORTHVR on the Meta Storeto get:
- 10% off games and apps
- Any time of the year
- Unlimited uses
This works whether the game is full price and sometimes is able to double up on already discounted games/apps. So there’s no reason not to use it, or at least try it!
Here is an example of where to put it in and where you’ll see the discount.
👉 Promo Code: TNORTHVR
2. Meta Quest Game Deals/Sales Tracker
There are sales on Meta Quest games often throughout the year. Meta usually has a designated sale about once a month and developers will put their games on sale at other random times.
To help keep track, I’ve created a Meta Quest Sales/Deals Tracker on my website. I update it daily so it stays current with the best deals for you to find.
Bookmark it so you can easily make reference to it!
Meta Quest Sales/Deals Tracker
3. Understand Meta’s Refund Policy (This Is Critical)
Before buying any Quest game, you should understand Meta’s refund rules, because once you go past the limit, there are no exceptions.
Meta Quest Refund Rules:
- You must request a refund within 14 days of purchase
- You must have less than 2 hours of total playtime
- Refunds apply to apps and games, not in-game purchases
This means you should:
- Test games immediately after buying
- Avoid “letting a game sit” in your library
- Stop playing the moment you’re unsure about it
If you pass the 2-hour mark, even by a few minutes, your refund will almost always be denied.
Don’t delete the game before requesting a refund. Meta uses the data on your headset and game to determine if you are eligible. Once your refund is accepted, the game will automatically be deleted from your library.
💡 Pro Tip: Use the first 30–45 minutes to test comfort, motion, visuals, and performance. If it doesn’t click early, it probably won’t later.
If you’re looking to request a refund, check out this video:
4. Always Check Game Info/Specs
Reading the specs about the game you are looking to purchase is just as important as if the game looks cool or not.
Here are the key things to look for:
Supported Platforms
This will tell you what headsets the game will work on. This is especially important if you have a Meta Quest 2 still.
Comfort Levels
The Comfort Level tells you about the type of movement and intensity of the game. Here is what Meta has to say about each level:
Comfortable experiences are appropriate for most people, although this rating doesn’t mean that an experience is going to be comfortable for everyone. These experiences generally avoid camera movement, player motion, or disorienting content and effects.
Moderate experiences are appropriate for many but certainly not everyone. These experiences might incorporate some camera movement, player motion, or occasionally disorienting content and effects.
Intense experiences aren’t appropriate for most people, especially those who are new to Meta Quest. These experiences incorporate significant camera movement, player motion, or disorienting content and effects.
Unrated experiences may contain intense content, which may not be right for most people, especially those who are new to Meta Quest. If you experience motion sickness or other effects from an unrated experience, you should select another unrated experience, or try an experience in the Store that’s rated for your comfort level.
Source: Meta.com
Supported Player Modes
This will show “Standing, Room scale, or Sitting”. Basically telling you how you can play the game. For a more relaxing game, you’ll want to make sure sitting is an option.
Supported Platforms
Supported platforms simply tells you what headset the game will work on. Make sure your headset is listed there before purchasing.
Space Required (Size of Game/App)
This will tell you the size of the game or app. make sure you have enough storage space (or can free enough up) to handle the game. If you don’t know how to check your storage, follow my video here: https://youtu.be/jbNajerVLcM
Languages
Most games are produced in English. So if you speak a different language and need it to be in that language
Internet Connection
Some games require you to have an internet connection to play while others don’t. Great to check out if you plan to use you VR in a place where you won’t have internet access.
Things to Watch For:
- Some older games run fine but aren’t optimized for Quest 3 visuals
- Mixed Reality (MR) features may only work fully on Quest 3
- Performance and clarity can vary depending on optimization
Just because a game runs doesn’t mean it takes advantage of your headset’s strengths.
5. Read Reviews the Right Way
Star ratings alone don’t tell the full story.
When reading reviews:
- Sort by Most Recent
- Look for comments about performance, not just hype
- Watch for updates that broke or fixed the game
- See if the Developer has responded to reviews
Pay attention to repeated complaints, especially about bugs, crashes, or abandoned updates. I’ve found games that were good to start, but then got buggy over time. However, I’ve also found games (like Civilization VII) that had a ton of complaints about crashing, bugs, etc., but I bought it anyway and I’ve had no issues with it. So even take reviews with a grain of salt.
If you see the developer responding to reviews, this is a good sign. It means that they are active and looking to improve their game. Silent developers are a bad sign.
6. Know When Not to Buy — Sales Matter
Meta runs sales constantly, and paying full price is often unnecessary.
Types of Meta Sales:
- Seasonal sales (Holiday, Summer, Back to School)
- Publisher-specific sales
- Flash and Daily Deals
- App Lab discounts
Unless a game just released, there’s a good chance it will be discounted within a few months. The biggest sales usually come around Christmas.
Stay subscribed to my channel and website so you don’t miss the latest sales. I’ll always post them as soon as they are available!
Final Thoughts: Buy Smarter, Play More
Meta Quest 3 and 3s offer some of the best VR experiences available, but knowing how to buy can not only save you money, but make sure you have a good experience with the games.
To recap:
- Always use a promo code like TNORTHVR to save
- Check out my Meta Quest Games Deals Tracker to always get the best deals
- Know the refund rules
- Check the game/app specs
- Read reviews carefully
- Wait for sales when possible
A few minutes of research can save you money, and make your VR experience far more enjoyable.
