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Moss: Book II

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Moss: Book II
Information
VR/AR Virtual Reality
Developer Polyarc
Publisher Polyarc
Platform PlayStation VR, Meta Quest, SteamVR, PlayStation VR2, Pico
Device PlayStation VR, Meta Quest 2, Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR2, Pico Neo 3, Pico 4, Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 3S
Operating System PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows
Type Game
Genre Action-adventure, Puzzle
Input Device Tracked motion controllers, DualShock 4
Play Area Seated, Standing
Game Mode Single-player
Release Date PlayStation VR: March 31, 2022; Meta Quest 2: July 21, 2022; PC VR (Steam): October 20, 2022; PlayStation VR2: February 22, 2023; Pico: April 20, 2023
Price US $29.99 (Steam and PlayStation VR2 launch price); US $39.99 (Meta Quest 2, August 2022)
App Store PlayStation Store, Meta Quest Store, Steam, Pico Store
Website https://www.polyarcgames.com/games/moss-book-ii
See also: VR Apps and VR Games

Moss: Book II is a single-player action-adventure puzzle game for virtual reality, developed and published by the Seattle studio Polyarc.[1] It is the direct sequel to Moss (2018) and continues the story of Quill, a mouse whom the player guides from a fixed vantage point inside a storybook world.[2][3] The game launched on PlayStation VR on March 31, 2022, came to Meta Quest 2 on July 21, 2022, to PC VR headsets through Steam on October 20, 2022, and to PlayStation VR2 as a launch title on February 22, 2023, followed by Pico headsets in April 2023.[4][5][6][7][8]

Moss: Book II won Best VR/AR Game at The Game Awards 2022 and VR Game of the Year at the VR Awards 2022, and it holds a Top Critic Average of 85 on OpenCritic.[2][9][10] In 2026 Polyarc folded both Moss games into a flat-screen compilation, Moss: The Forgotten Relic, renamed the VR listings to distinguish them, and then closed on September 11, 2026. The VR game remains on sale.[11][12]

Reviewed 20 September 2026. Release dates and prices per platform, PSVR2 feature claims, review scores, award results, the 2026 Forgotten Relic and Polyarc closure facts, and every cited source. About review dates.

Gameplay

As in the first game, the player has two roles at once. They steer Quill in the third person with a controller, making her run, jump, climb and fight, while also acting as the Reader, a presence in the scene who can reach into the diorama-like levels to move objects, heal Quill, and grab or hold enemies. On PlayStation VR the original release tracked the DualShock 4 for these interactions; the Quest 2 and later versions use two motion controllers.[13][14][5] Each area is a self-contained scene viewed from one spot; Road to VR played the PlayStation VR version seated, and the PlayStation Store lists sitting and standing as the supported play styles.[14][3]

The sequel adds two weapons alongside Quill's sword. A heavy hammer crushes armored enemies and armored boxes, and a spirit version of it can be wielded by the Reader to break objects and drive mechanical puzzle elements.[4][15] A throwable blade (UploadVR calls it a glaive) flies long distances, sticks to walls and returns when recalled, which is used for both combat and puzzles.[14][16] Each weapon has a special power that the player triggers by holding the attack button and touching the weapon with the controller.[14] The Reader gains nature abilities that grow vine bridges between ledges and paint climbable vines onto walls, and Quill herself can now climb to reach higher ground with the player's help.[4][15] UploadVR also noted a dash move and cosmetic armor sets that carry no stat bonuses.[16]

New enemy types include the Ripper, which can be wound up and used as a wrecking ball, and the Bomber, which throws mines. Locations include the gardens outside the Arcane's castle, a conservatory and the Foundry where the Arcane's weapons are forged.[4] Reviewers put the campaign at roughly five hours: UploadVR finished in about 4.5 hours with 75 percent of the collectibles and estimated 5.5 hours for full completion, and Road to VR reported about five hours with roughly 80 percent of the optional collectibles.[16][14] Inverse reported before launch, after interviewing Polyarc's principal artist Coolie Calihan, that the story is about 50 percent longer than the original.[17]

Quill communicates with the player through gestures and, where possible, American Sign Language, and she waves back when the player waves at her.[17][18] The Steam version is localized in English and 12 further languages with subtitles.[19]

Story

The story picks up where the original left off. Quill holds a piece of the Glass, and the forces of the Arcane hunt her for it; she enters the hexed castle of the Arcane to end its rule over the land of Moss, aided by new allies and returning characters.[2][4][20] Much of the narrative is delivered through narrated book sequences between chapters. Road to VR criticized the reliance on a single narrator's voice for every character and said one central plot point was not communicated clearly enough to land emotionally.[14]

Development

Polyarc announced Moss: Book II on July 8, 2021 during Sony's State of Play broadcast, initially for PlayStation VR only.[21][20] Design director Josh Stiksma told UploadVR at the time that the game had been in production for most of the previous two years including pre-production, that it would on average be longer than the original, and that it would stay a single-player game controlled with the DualShock 4 on PlayStation VR, with no co-op or multiplayer planned.[22] A spring 2022 release window followed in December 2021, and the March 31 date was set on March 17, 2022.[20][4]

Stiksma described the world design as starting from a rough high-level map of narrative and gameplay beats, then refining individual areas and dungeons before connecting them, and said getting the connections between locations to make sense "took a long time". The castle acts as a landmark visible across the world so players can orient themselves.[23] Principal artist Coolie Calihan said the studio's goal was to make the emotional connection with Quill "stronger than ever".[17]

Jason Graves, who scored the first game, returned for the sequel. Polyarc says the score is built around solo piano with acoustic guitars and Celtic harp, plus a small ensemble of Irish whistles, flute, oboe, English horn, cello, bouzouki and oud. The official soundtrack has 17 tracks running over 140 minutes, and Graves' score was submitted for Grammy consideration in the Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media category.[5][6]

For the Quest 2 port, technical artist Tyler Walters said the team spent its time "diligently balancing all aspects of the game, across graphics and gameplay" rather than simply getting it running, and the standalone version uses a two-controller setup for reaching into the world.[5] The PlayStation VR2 version, described by designer Doug Burton, uses the headset and Sense controller haptics for damage and world events, adaptive trigger resistance when breaking objects, eye tracking that highlights interactive objects and lets Quill respond to where the player is looking, foveated rendering, and a wider field of view; Polyarc states it runs at 90 fps at 2000 x 2040 pixels per eye with improved lighting and textures.[24][7]

On September 25, 2024 Polyarc announced a free update for both Moss games timed to the Meta Quest 3S launch. For Moss: Book II it added an option to skip some or all combat encounters plus quality-of-life changes requested by players; the update went live on October 15, 2024.[25][26]

Release

Platform Release date Notes
PlayStation VR (PlayStation 4) March 31, 2022 Launch platform; announced for PlayStation VR only. Date announced by Polyarc on the PlayStation Blog.[4][3]
Meta Quest 2 July 21, 2022 Announced at the UploadVR Summer Showcase on June 9, 2022; two-controller interaction. Listed at US $39.99 on the Meta Quest Store in August 2022.[5][18]
PC VR via Steam (SteamVR) October 20, 2022 Surprise same-day release at US $29.99; supports Valve Index, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Meta Quest headsets over Link.[6][27]
PlayStation VR2 (PlayStation 5) February 22, 2023 Launch title; US $29.99, or US $39.99 in a bundle with Moss.[7][28]
Pico Neo 3, Pico 4 April 20, 2023 Pico Store listing; single player, standing or sitting.[8]
Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 3S October 15, 2024 (update) Free visual and gameplay update to the existing Quest version.[25][26]

In 2026 Polyarc released Moss: The Forgotten Relic, a flat-screen game for PC and consoles that combines Moss, Moss: Book II and the Twilight Garden DLC with new cutscenes, a follow camera and combat-skip options. It was announced on May 14, 2026 and released in July 2026.[29][30][11] To avoid confusion with the compilation, the VR games were renamed on digital storefronts; as of September 2026 the Steam listing for the sequel is titled Moss II VR, while the PlayStation page still shows Moss: Book II.[11][19][3] The Meta Quest Store, also still under the Moss: Book II name, listed the game at US $19.99 in September 2026.[31]

Polyarc cut about two-thirds of its staff in the spring of 2026 after a large unannounced project lost its funding, and on September 11, 2026 the studio announced its closure after nearly 12 years, saying "our time together has come to an end".[30][1][12] UploadVR and Engadget both reported that the studio's games remain available for purchase.[11][12]

Reception

Moss: Book II received generally favorable reviews. On OpenCritic it has a Top Critic Average of 85 and a "Mighty" rating, with 96 percent of 56 critics recommending it.[10] On Metacritic the PlayStation 4 version scores 83 out of 100 from 38 reviews, the PlayStation 5 (PlayStation VR2) version 90 from 10 reviews, and the Meta Quest version 83 from 4 reviews.[32]

UploadVR's Jamie Feltham gave the PlayStation VR version a "Recommended" verdict, praising the new weapon mechanics and the puzzle design but writing that the game "ends just as its best ideas are starting to be put through their paces" and that the platforming felt sluggish.[16] Ben Lang of Road to VR scored it 8.5 out of 10 (gameplay 8, immersion 8, comfort 9), calling each segment "a beautifully detailed diorama with masterful attention to lighting and composition". He found the standard combat easy, reporting no deaths in his playthrough, while praising the boss fights, and criticized the limited enemy variety and the narrated story sequences.[14] IGN scored the game 8 out of 10.[10]

Awards

Award Category Result
The Game Awards 2022 Best VR/AR Game Won
VR Awards 2022 VR Game of the Year Won
New York Game Awards 2023 Coney Island Dreamland Award for Best AR/VR Game Won
26th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards (2023) Immersive Reality Game of the Year Nominated
26th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards (2023) Immersive Reality Technical Achievement Nominated
26th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards (2023) Outstanding Achievement in Animation Nominated
26th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards (2023) Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition Nominated
G.A.N.G. Awards 2023 Best Audio for an Indie Game Won
G.A.N.G. Awards 2023 Best Music for an Indie Game Won
G.A.N.G. Awards 2023 Best Dialogue for an Indie Game Won
G.A.N.G. Awards 2023 Audio of the Year Nominated
G.A.N.G. Awards 2023 Best Sound Design for an Indie Game Nominated

At The Game Awards on December 8, 2022, Moss: Book II won Best VR/AR Game over After the Fall, Among Us VR, Bonelab and Red Matter 2.[33][2][19] A week earlier, on December 1, 2022, it had taken VR Game of the Year at the VR Awards in Rotterdam, chosen by a jury of more than 70 industry representatives from a field that included Resident Evil 4, Lone Echo II and After the Fall.[34][9] It won the Coney Island Dreamland Award for Best AR/VR Game at the 12th New York Game Awards in January 2023.[35] At the 26th D.I.C.E. Awards it was a finalist in four categories; Red Matter 2 won both immersive reality awards and God of War Ragnarok won animation and music.[36] The Game Audio Network Guild's 2023 awards listed it as a finalist in several categories, including Audio of the Year and Best Sound Design for an Indie Game, and it took the three indie-game categories for audio, music and dialogue.[37]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chris Kerr (2026-09-14). "Moss developer Polyarc has shut down". Game Developer. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/moss-developer-polyarc-has-shut-down. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Moss: Book II". Polyarc. https://www.polyarcgames.com/games/moss-book-ii. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Moss: Book II". PlayStation. Sony Interactive Entertainment. https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/moss-book-ii/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Josh Stiksma (2022-03-17). "Moss: Book II launches March 31, new PS VR gameplay revealed". PlayStation.Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. https://blog.playstation.com/2022/03/17/moss-book-ii-launches-march-31-new-ps-vr-gameplay-revealed/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "Moss: Book II launches July 21 on Meta Quest 2". Polyarc. 2022-06-09. https://www.polyarcgames.com/news/moss-book-ii-launches-july-21-on-meta-quest-2. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Moss: Book II now available on Steam". Polyarc. 2022-10-21. https://www.polyarcgames.com/news/moss-book-ii-now-available-on-steam. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Henry Stockdale (2022-12-07). "Both Moss Games Are Coming To PSVR 2 At Launch". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/moss-book-2-psvr-2-launch-game/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Moss: Book II". PICO Store. Pico. https://store-global.picoxr.com/global/detail/1/7164840628629848069. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Henry Stockdale (2022-12-05). "Moss: Book 2 Wins Game Of The Year At VR Awards 2022". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/game-of-the-year-vr-awards/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Moss: Book II Reviews". OpenCritic. https://opencritic.com/game/12965/moss-book-ii. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 "Moss VR Developer Polyarc Games Has Shut Down". UploadVR. 2026-09-11. https://www.uploadvr.com/moss-vr-developer-polyarc-games-has-shut-down/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Ian Carlos Campbell (2026-09-11). "Moss developer Polyarc has closed". Engadget. https://www.engadget.com/2256562/moss-developer-polyarc-has-closed/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  13. ↑ Jamie Feltham (2022-03-16). "Moss: Book 2 Is Coming To PSVR On March 31". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/moss-book-2-release-date-revealed/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 Ben Lang (2022-07-21). "'Moss: Book II' Review - A Refined & Satisfying Sequel That Sticks With What Works". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/moss-book-2-review-psvr-playstation-vr-ps5/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Scott Hayden (2022-03-17). "'Moss: Book II' is Coming to PSVR This Month, New Gameplay Clips Here". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/moss-2-psvr-gameplay-release-date/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Jamie Feltham (2022-04-01). "Moss: Book 2 Review - A Satisfying Sequel". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/moss-book-2-review/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Robin Bea (2022-03-17). "'Moss: Book II' is a huge step towards maturity for VR gaming - here's why". Inverse. https://www.inverse.com/gaming/moss-book-2-preview-polyarc-interview. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Monday Must-Play: 'Moss: Book II'". Meta Quest Blog. Meta Platforms. 2022-08-01. https://www.meta.com/blog/monday-must-play-moss-book-ii/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 "Moss II VR on Steam". Steam. Valve. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2059670/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Ben Lang (2021-12-02). "'Moss: Book II' is Coming to PSVR in Spring 2022, Trailer Here". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/moss-2-announcement-trailer-book-ii/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  21. ↑ Jamie Feltham (2021-07-08). "Moss: Book II Revealed For PSVR". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/moss-book-ii-revealed/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  22. ↑ Jamie Feltham (2021-07-08). "Moss: Book II - Polyarc On Building A Longer, Stronger Sequel". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/moss-book-ii-polyarc-interview/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  23. ↑ Ben Lang (2022-06-13). "'Moss: Book II' Behind-the-scenes - Insights & Artwork from Polyarc". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/moss-book-2-behind-the-scenes-polyarc/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  24. ↑ Doug Burton (2022-12-07). "Immersive new features give the Moss franchise a fresh look and feel on PlayStation VR2". PlayStation.Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment. https://blog.playstation.com/2022/12/07/immersive-new-features-give-the-moss-franchise-a-fresh-look-and-feel-on-playstation-vr2/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Polyarc to Celebrate Meta Quest 3S Release With Its First Visual and Gameplay Update for Moss and Moss 2". Polyarc. 2024-09-25. https://www.polyarcgames.com/news/polyarc-to-celebrate-meta-quest-3s-release-with-its-first-visual-and-gameplay-update-for-moss-and-moss-2. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Callum Self (2024-10-15). "Moss And Moss: Book 2 Receive Visual Updates For Quest 3 & Quest 3S". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/moss-book-2-quest-3-update/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  27. ↑ Scott Hayden (2022-10-20). "'Moss: Book II' Gets Surprise Release on PC VR Headsets Today". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/moss-book-ii-steam-vr-index-pc-vr/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  28. ↑ "The Game Awards "Best VR/AR Game" Nominees Moss and Moss: Book II are Launch Titles for PlayStation VR2". Polyarc. 2022-12-07. https://www.polyarcgames.com/news/the-game-awards-best-vr-ar-game-nominees-moss-and-moss-book-ii-psvr2. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  29. ↑ "Announcing Moss: The Forgotten Relic". Polyarc. 2026-05-14. https://www.polyarcgames.com/news/announcing-moss-the-forgotten-relic. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Scott Hayden (2026-05-14). "VR Platformer 'Moss' is Getting a Flatscreen Port Following Cancellation of "major project"". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/moss-vr-flatscreen-port-project-cancellation/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  31. ↑ "Moss: Book II on Meta Quest". Meta Quest Store. Meta Platforms. https://www.meta.com/experiences/moss-book-ii/4395292760584049/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  32. ↑ "Moss: Book II". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/moss-book-ii/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  33. ↑ "Celebrate the Best of VR Gaming with The Game Awards 2022 Nominees". Meta Quest Blog. Meta Platforms. 2022-11-16. https://www.meta.com/blog/the-game-awards-2022-nominees-best-vr-ar/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  34. ↑ Tomislav Bezmalinovic (2022-12-02). "Moss: Book II wins best VR game at VR Awards 2022". MIXED. https://mixed-news.com/en/moss-book-ii-wins-best-vr-game-at-vr-awards-2022/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  35. ↑ "Elden Ring and Phil Spencer win at 2023's New York Game Awards". Game Developer. 2023-01-18. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/culture/-i-elden-ring-i-and-phil-spencer-win-at-2023-s-new-york-game-awards. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  36. ↑ "26th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards - Results". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. https://www.interactive.org/awards/202326thawardsasp.asp. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
  37. ↑ "Awards Archive". Game Audio Network Guild. https://www.audiogang.org/awards/archive/. Retrieved 2026-09-20.
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