Oculus Rift S PC-Powered VR Gaming Headset: The Complete 2026 Guide for Gamers

The Oculus Rift S launched in 2019 as Facebook’s answer to accessible, high-quality PC VR gaming, no external sensors, sharper optics, and a price point that didn’t require selling a kidney. Fast forward to 2026, and the landscape has shifted dramatically. Meta discontinued the Rift S in 2021, pivoting hard toward standalone Quest headsets. But here’s the thing: thousands of gamers still run Rift S units daily, and the used market is flooded with them at tempting prices.

So what’s the deal? Is this discontinued headset still a viable entry point into PC VR, or should you skip it entirely for newer options? This guide breaks down everything you need to know, from specs and setup to performance tweaks and how it stacks up against current competition. Whether you’re considering a used Rift S or already own one and want to maximize its potential, we’ve got you covered.

What Is the Oculus Rift S and Why Does It Matter?

The Oculus Rift S is a tethered VR headset designed exclusively for PC gaming. Unlike its predecessor (the original Rift CV1), the Rift S ditched external tracking sensors in favor of inside-out tracking via five built-in cameras. It features a single LCD panel running at 1280 x 1440 per eye (2560 x 1440 combined) with an 80Hz refresh rate, modest by today’s standards, but a noticeable upgrade from the CV1’s dual OLED setup.

Meta officially discontinued the Rift S in September 2021, redirecting focus to the Quest line. But discontinuation doesn’t mean obsolescence. The headset still works flawlessly with SteamVR and Oculus PC software (now rebranded as Meta Quest software for PC). Game compatibility remains excellent, and driver support hasn’t been dropped.

Why does it still matter in 2026? Three reasons: price, simplicity, and library access. Used Rift S units sell for $150–$250, making them one of the cheapest ways to access the full PC VR ecosystem. The inside-out tracking eliminates the hassle of mounting sensors around your room. And since it connects to a gaming PC, you get access to SteamVR, Meta’s PC store, and even third-party platforms like Viveport, no standalone hardware limitations.

The Rift S occupies a weird spot now: it’s legacy hardware that still performs the job it was designed for. If you’re chasing cutting-edge specs or wireless freedom, look elsewhere. But if you want a no-frills PCVR experience on a budget, it’s still in the conversation.

Key Features That Define the Rift S Experience

Improved Optics and Display Technology

The Rift S uses a single fast-switch LCD panel instead of the dual OLED screens found in the original Rift. This switch brought a significant bump in resolution, 1280 x 1440 per eye versus the CV1’s 1080 x 1200, resulting in a sharper image and reduced screen-door effect. Text in VR becomes legible, and distant objects in games like DCS World or Microsoft Flight Simulator are noticeably clearer.

The trade-off? LCD means lower contrast and less vibrant blacks compared to OLED. Horror games lose some of that inky darkness, and colors don’t pop quite as much. The 80Hz refresh rate is another compromise, it’s smooth enough for most users, but competitive players and those sensitive to motion might notice the difference compared to 90Hz or 120Hz headsets.

The Rift S also features adjustable IPD (interpupillary distance) via software only, with a fixed lens spacing of approximately 63.5mm. If your IPD sits far outside that range (below 60mm or above 68mm), you might experience blurriness or eye strain. There’s no physical adjustment slider like you’d find on the Quest 2 or Valve Index.

Inside-Out Tracking Without External Sensors

This is where the Rift S made its biggest leap forward. Five built-in cameras, two on the front, one on each side, and one on top, handle all positional tracking. No base stations, no wall mounts, no finicky sensor placement. The system tracks your headset and controllers in a roughly 10-foot cube around you, which covers most home VR setups.

Oculus Insight tracking works surprisingly well for most games. Room-scale experiences like Blade & Sorcery or Beat Saber feel responsive, and the system recovers quickly if you temporarily leave the tracking volume. The main weakness? Tracking loses accuracy when controllers move outside the camera’s field of view, reaching behind your back or holding a bow at full draw in archery games can cause momentary drift.

Lighting matters more than you’d think. The cameras struggle in dim environments or spaces with blank walls. You’ll want ambient lighting and some visual features (posters, furniture, patterns) for the system to lock onto. Direct sunlight can also cause issues, washing out the camera feeds and introducing tracking glitches.

Ergonomic Design and Comfort Enhancements

The Rift S introduced a halo headband design borrowed from PlayStation VR and Windows Mixed Reality headsets. Instead of velcro straps pulling against your face, the weight distributes across a rigid ring that sits on your head. A dial on the back tightens the fit, and the front display hovers in front of your face rather than pressing against it.

For extended sessions, this is a game-changer. The halo design reduces pressure on your cheeks and forehead, making 2–3 hour VR marathons far more tolerable. The trade-off is less adjustability, if the halo doesn’t conform to your head shape, you’re stuck with a loose or uncomfortable fit. The stock facial interface foam is also relatively thin, which some users find uncomfortable.

The headset weighs approximately 560 grams, slightly heavier than the CV1 but lighter than the Valve Index. Cable management is straightforward: a single DisplayPort 1.4 and USB 3.0 cable runs to your PC. The 5-meter cable gives you enough slack for room-scale movement, but it’s not detachable, if it breaks, you’re hunting eBay for replacement parts.

PC Requirements: What You Need to Run the Rift S

Minimum vs. Recommended Specifications

Oculus (now Meta) lists official minimum specs, but these are bare-bones figures that’ll leave you with a janky, stuttering experience. Here’s what you actually need:

Minimum Specs (for basic functionality):

• GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti / AMD Radeon RX 470
• CPU: Intel i3-6100 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200
• RAM: 8GB
• Ports: 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x USB 3.0
• OS: Windows 10 or 11

Recommended Specs (for smooth 80Hz performance):

• GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1660 Super / AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT or better
• CPU: Intel i5-9400F / AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or better
• RAM: 16GB
• Ports: DisplayPort 1.4, USB 3.0 (3.1 Gen 1 preferred)
• OS: Windows 10 or 11 (latest updates)

The minimum specs will technically boot the headset and run simple experiences like Beat Saber, but demanding titles like Half-Life: Alyx or Microsoft Flight Simulator VR will drop frames constantly. If you’re buying or building a PC specifically for Rift S, aim for the recommended tier or higher.

Graphics Card and CPU Considerations

Your GPU does most of the heavy lifting in VR. The Rift S renders two eye buffers at 1280 x 1440 each, then applies lens distortion correction, adding significant overhead. A GTX 1660 Super handles most games at native resolution, but newer AAA VR titles benefit from something in the RTX 3060 / RX 6600 XT range or above.

Many experienced PC builders reference hardware benchmark data when selecting GPUs for VR setups, as frame timing matters more than raw FPS. Consistent frame delivery prevents judder and motion sickness, so a midrange card with stable performance often beats a high-end card with erratic frame pacing.

CPU matters more in VR than flat gaming, especially for physics-heavy titles or simulation games. Games like Boneworks or Pavlov VR tax the CPU with real-time physics calculations and multiplayer netcode. A modern 6-core CPU (Ryzen 5 5600 or i5-12400) provides headroom for background processes like Discord, OBS, or performance monitoring tools.

One often-overlooked factor: USB controller compatibility. Some motherboards have finicky USB 3.0 controllers that cause the Rift S to disconnect randomly or fail to initialize. If you experience this, try different USB ports (prioritize rear panel I/O) or pick up a dedicated PCIe USB 3.0 card like the Inateck KT4006.

Port requirements are strict: you need a DisplayPort connection, not HDMI. Adapters exist, but they’re hit-or-miss and often introduce latency or compatibility issues. If your GPU only has HDMI (unlikely on modern cards), you’ll need to use a monitor with HDMI while running the Rift S on DisplayPort, or upgrade your GPU.

Setting Up Your Oculus Rift S: Step-by-Step Guide

Hardware Installation and Cable Management

Setting up the Rift S is straightforward, no base stations, no sensor placement, just plug and play. Here’s the process:

1. Unbox and inspect all components: headset, two Touch controllers (require one AA battery each), cable, and any documentation.
2. Connect the headset cable to your PC. Plug the DisplayPort connector into your GPU (not motherboard) and the USB 3.0 connector into a rear panel USB port. Front panel USB can work but is less reliable.
3. Power on the headset. The status LED near the cable should turn white when active.
4. Install batteries in the Touch controllers. The left controller uses the menu and grip buttons: the right has the Oculus button.
5. Secure cable routing. Use adhesive cable clips or velcro ties to run the cable overhead or along baseboards. Avoid letting it dangle, tripping hazards are real, and yanking the cable can damage the headset or your GPU port.

Common hardware pitfall: if the headset isn’t detected, swap USB ports. Some motherboards have multiple USB controllers: the Rift S is picky. You can check which controller a port uses in Device Manager under “Universal Serial Bus controllers.”

Software Setup and Oculus App Configuration

Once hardware is connected, it’s time for software:

1. Download the Meta Quest PC app (formerly Oculus app) from Meta’s official site. Don’t use third-party mirrors, version mismatches cause headaches.
2. Run the installer and follow the on-screen setup wizard. You’ll create or log into a Meta account (Facebook login requirement was dropped in 2022, thankfully).
3. Configure your play space. The app will prompt you to define your Guardian boundary. Choose either Stationary (seated/standing in one spot) or Room-scale (full movement). For room-scale, trace your play area by pointing the controller at the floor and walking the perimeter.
4. Adjust headset fit. Put on the headset, tighten the rear dial, and adjust the position until the image is sharp. Use the IPD slider in the settings menu to match your interpupillary distance (measure it with a ruler or use a smartphone app).
5. Run the sensor check. The app shows a live view of what the five cameras see. Make sure your room has adequate lighting and visual contrast.
6. Pair the controllers. Hold the Oculus button and lower trigger simultaneously until the LED flashes, then release. Repeat for the second controller.
7. Complete the tutorial. Don’t skip this, it teaches you the button layout and tests tracking quality.

Once setup is complete, you can launch games from the Meta Quest PC app or install SteamVR for access to the Steam library. SteamVR requires a one-time setup where it detects your headset and runs a room setup (you can skip this if you’ve already done Guardian in the Oculus app).

Best VR Games to Play on the Rift S in 2026

Top Horror VR Experiences for Thrill Seekers

VR horror hits different, there’s no looking away when the monster is inches from your face. The Rift S handles these titles well, though the LCD’s weaker blacks soften some of the dread compared to OLED headsets.

• Phasmophobia: Ghost hunting co-op that’s equal parts terrifying and hilarious. Voice recognition adds immersion when you’re whispering the ghost’s name into the darkness.
• Resident Evil 4 VR: Originally Quest-exclusive, but the PC VR mod scene brought it to Rift S via unofficial workarounds. Check community forums for current installation methods.
• The Exorcist: Legion VR: Five-chapter anthology with some genuinely unnerving moments. Each chapter is short (20–30 minutes), perfect for those who can’t handle prolonged terror.
• Alien: Isolation (MotherVR mod): Not official VR, but the MotherVR mod makes it one of the most intense horror experiences available. Expect some jank, it’s a mod, not a native port, but the atmosphere is unmatched.
• Affected: The Manor: Short but effective haunted house experience. Great for introducing friends to VR horror before you traumatize them with something heavier.

Competitive and Multiplayer VR Titles

The Rift S’s 80Hz refresh rate is its weakest link in competitive play, but these games are still plenty playable:

• Pavlov VR: Counter-Strike in VR. Active playerbase, community servers, and endless custom maps. The Rift S’s inside-out tracking keeps up fine in firefights, though reloading behind cover can occasionally cause controller drift.
• Population: One: Battle royale with verticality, climb buildings, glide between zones, and squad up. Crossplay with Quest users keeps lobbies populated.
• Beat Saber: Rhythm game royalty. The Rift S tracks fast swings accurately up to Expert+ difficulty, though some players report the 80Hz refresh makes reading hyper-speed note streams slightly harder.
• Onward: Mil-sim tactical shooter. Slower-paced than Pavlov, with realistic gun handling and team-based objectives. Communication and positioning matter more than twitch reflexes.
• Contractors: Sits between Pavlov and Onward on the arcade-to-sim spectrum. Mod support adds custom maps and game modes.

Immersive Single-Player Adventures

This is where the Rift S shines, single-player campaigns that prioritize atmosphere and storytelling over competitive performance:

• Half-Life: Alyx: The VR killer app. If you own a Rift S and haven’t played this, stop reading and download it now. Valve’s level design, physics interactions, and environmental storytelling are unmatched. Runs beautifully even on midrange hardware.
• Lone Echo / Lone Echo II: Zero-gravity narrative adventures with some of the best VR locomotion mechanics ever designed. Story-driven, gorgeous visuals, and intuitive hand-based movement.
• Asgard’s Wrath: Oculus exclusive, so it’s free if you activate your Rift S before the promotion ended (check your library). Norse mythology action-RPG with 30+ hours of content.
• The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners: Survival crafting in the zombie apocalypse. Melee combat feels weighty, and resource management adds tension. Both chapters are worth playing.
• Moss and Moss: Book II: Third-person puzzle-platformer where you guide a tiny mouse hero. Charming, accessible, and a nice break from first-person intensity.

One key advantage: because the Rift S is tethered to a PC, you have access to the full Steam VR catalog, which dwarfs standalone headset libraries. Older titles and indie experiments often go on deep discount during seasonal sales.

Rift S vs. Other VR Headsets: How Does It Compare?

Rift S vs. Meta Quest 2 and Quest 3

The Quest line is Meta’s current focus, and for good reason, standalone functionality is a massive convenience. But how do they stack up against the Rift S for PC gaming?

Quest 2 (now often called Quest 2 even after the Meta rebrand):

• Resolution: 1832 x 1920 per eye (higher than Rift S)
• Refresh rate: 60Hz, 72Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz (adjustable)
• Standalone: Yes, runs games natively without a PC
• PC VR: Yes, via Meta Quest Link (wired) or Air Link (wireless)
• Price: $299–$399 depending on storage (as of 2026)

The Quest 2 beats the Rift S on specs and flexibility. But, compressed video streaming when using Link/Air Link introduces latency and artifacts that native DisplayPort doesn’t have. Competitive players often notice the difference. If you already own a gaming PC and plan to play PCVR exclusively, the Rift S’s direct connection delivers slightly better image quality and lower latency.

Quest 3 (released late 2023):

• Resolution: 2064 x 2208 per eye (significantly sharper)
• Refresh rate: 72Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz
• Pancake lenses: Thinner profile, larger sweet spot
• Mixed reality: Full-color passthrough for AR experiences
• Price: $499+ (as of 2026)

The Quest 3 is objectively superior in nearly every metric. Pancake lenses eliminate much of the edge blur that plagues the Rift S. Higher refresh options make fast-paced games smoother. But you’re paying $500+ for a new unit versus $150–$250 for a used Rift S. For budget-conscious buyers, that $250–$350 gap buys a lot of games.

Rift S vs. Valve Index and HTC Vive

Valve Index (released 2019, still sold as of 2026):

• Resolution: 1440 x 1600 per eye (slight edge over Rift S)
• Refresh rate: 80Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz
• FOV: 130 degrees (vs. Rift S’s ~110 degrees)
• Tracking: Lighthouse base stations (external, highly accurate)
• Controllers: Advanced finger tracking
• Price: $999 (full kit)

The Index is a generational leap in experience but costs 4–6x a used Rift S. If you’re serious about VR and have the budget, it’s worth it. The 120Hz+ refresh rates make motion feel buttery smooth, and the wider FOV increases immersion noticeably. Lighthouse tracking is also the gold standard, no occlusion issues, rock-solid precision for competitive play.

The downside? Those base stations need mounting (drill into walls or buy tripods), and setup is more involved. Comparisons on tech hardware sites consistently rank the Index at the top for PCVR, but the value proposition depends on your budget and commitment level.

HTC Vive (original and Pro):

The original Vive is essentially obsolete in 2026, lower resolution than the Rift S and heavier. The Vive Pro (1440 x 1600 per eye) is closer in spec to the Index but equally expensive. Unless you need enterprise features or already own Lighthouse base stations, skip these in favor of newer options.

Performance Optimization Tips for the Best VR Experience

Graphics Settings and Supersampling Tweaks

Out of the box, the Rift S runs at its native resolution with some headroom left over on most GPUs. Here’s how to squeeze more visual fidelity or performance depending on your hardware:

Supersampling (rendering above native resolution, then downscaling):

• In Oculus Debug Tool: Navigate to C:Program FilesOculusSupportoculus-diagnostics and run OculusDebugTool.exe. Adjust “Pixels Per Display Pixel Override” to 1.3–1.5 for sharper image quality. Values above 1.5 tank performance on anything below an RTX 3070.
• In SteamVR: Open SteamVR settings > Video > Manual Override. Slide the resolution scale to 120–150% for similar effect. Keep an eye on frame timing in the SteamVR performance overlay (Settings > Developer > Display Frame Timing).

In-game settings:

• Prioritize texture quality and antialiasing, these have the biggest visual impact in VR.
• Drop shadows to medium or low. You’re moving fast in VR: you won’t notice the difference.
• Disable or reduce motion blur and depth of field. Both can worsen motion sickness and add unnecessary GPU load.
• Asynchronous Spacewarp (ASW) in Oculus software and Motion Smoothing in SteamVR artificially smooth low framerates. They work in a pinch but add artifacts. Better to lower settings and hit native 80Hz.

NVIDIA/AMD control panel tweaks:

• Set Power Management Mode to “Prefer Maximum Performance” for VR games.
• Disable V-Sync in the GPU control panel (VR runtime handles frame synchronization).
• Low Latency Mode (NVIDIA) or Anti-Lag (AMD) can reduce input latency slightly.

Reducing Latency and Motion Sickness

Latency is the delay between moving your head and seeing the corresponding image update. The Rift S has roughly 40–50ms motion-to-photon latency under ideal conditions, acceptable but not cutting-edge.

To minimize latency:

• Close background apps. Discord, Chrome, and streaming software all steal GPU cycles.
• Use wired internet if you’re streaming or playing multiplayer. Wi-Fi jitter adds network latency on top of rendering latency.
• Disable integrated graphics in BIOS if your CPU has one. Occasionally the system tries to route the Rift S through the iGPU instead of the discrete GPU, causing issues.

Motion sickness (aka VR sickness or sim sickness) hits new users hard. Your inner ear and visual system disagree about whether you’re moving, and your brain interprets this as poisoning, hence the nausea.

Mitigation strategies:

• Start with stationary or teleport-based games (Beat Saber, Superhot VR, Moss). Avoid smooth locomotion until you’ve built up your VR legs.
• Take breaks. First-time users should limit sessions to 15–30 minutes until acclimated.
• Keep framerates stable. Dropped frames are nausea fuel. If you’re getting judder, lower settings until you hit consistent 80Hz.
• Enable comfort options in games: vignetting during movement, snap turning instead of smooth turning, cockpit/frame of reference in driving/flying sims.
• Point a fan at yourself. Airflow helps your brain reconcile sensory mismatch and keeps you cool during active games.
• Ginger supplements or anti-nausea wristbands help some users, though results vary.

If you start feeling queasy, stop immediately. Powering through doesn’t build tolerance faster, it just makes you miserable and can create negative associations that make VR sickness worse long-term.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting Solutions

Even with straightforward setup, the Rift S has a few recurring issues. Here’s how to fix the most common ones:

“Can’t Reach Oculus Runtime Service” error:

• Restart the Oculus service: Open Services (Win + R, type services.msc), find Oculus VR Runtime Service, right-click, and restart.
• Run the Oculus app as administrator.
• Reinstall the Oculus app if the issue persists, sometimes updates corrupt files.

DisplayPort not detected / black screen:

• Reseat the cable on both ends (headset and GPU).
• Try a different DisplayPort connector if your GPU has multiple.
• Update GPU drivers, old drivers sometimes lack proper DP 1.4 support.
• Check for damage on the cable. The Rift S cable is notoriously fragile: sharp kinks or pets chewing it can cause failures.

Tracking jitters or controller drift:

• Add lighting. The cameras need enough ambient light to function.
• Add visual features to blank walls, posters, furniture, anything with contrast.
• Clean the camera lenses on the headset with a microfiber cloth. Dust and fingerprints degrade tracking.
• Replace controller batteries. Low batteries cause erratic behavior before they die completely.
• Check for reflective surfaces (mirrors, glossy monitors, large windows). These confuse the tracking cameras.

Audio crackling or cutting out:

• The Rift S has notoriously unreliable built-in audio (a downgrade from the CV1’s excellent headphones). Most users replace it with earbuds or over-ear headphones plugged into the 3.5mm jack on the headset.
• Update audio drivers in Windows.
• Set the Rift S as the default audio device in Windows Sound settings.

USB device not recognized:

• Try every USB 3.0 port on your motherboard. Front panel ports are often lower quality.
• Disable USB power saving: Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus controllers > right-click each USB Root Hub > Properties > Power Management > uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.”
• Some motherboards have incompatible USB controllers. A PCIe USB 3.0 expansion card (Inateck KT4006 is community-recommended) solves this.

Software update failures:

• Uninstall the Oculus app completely, delete C:Program FilesOculus and C:Users[YourName]AppDataRoamingOculus, then reinstall fresh.
• Temporarily disable antivirus, some flag Oculus files as false positives and block updates.

Lens fogging:

• Let the headset acclimate to room temperature before use (especially if stored in a cold room).
• Use anti-fog wipes designed for glasses or VR headsets.
• Improve ventilation by slightly loosening the headset fit or using a USB-powered fan clip.

Is the Rift S Still Worth It in 2026?

Let’s cut through the noise: the Oculus Rift S is outdated hardware, discontinued since 2021, with no future support or updates on the horizon. If you’re chasing the best possible VR experience, it’s not the answer. The Quest 3, Valve Index, and even the aging Quest 2 all outperform it in meaningful ways.

But “worth it” depends entirely on context. Here are the scenarios where the Rift S still makes sense:

You’re on a tight budget and already own a VR-ready PC. Used Rift S units go for $150–$250. That’s half the cost of a Quest 2 and a quarter the price of a Quest 3 or Index. If that extra $200–$700 goes toward GPU upgrades or games instead, you might get more overall value.

You prioritize wired PCVR over wireless convenience. The Rift S has a native DisplayPort connection, eliminating the compression and latency of wireless streaming. For sim racers, flight sim enthusiasts, or competitive players who notice every millisecond, that direct connection matters.

You want simplicity. No external sensors, no base station mounting, no wireless router optimization. Plug in, run setup, play games. For users who don’t want to tinker, the Rift S is more approachable than Lighthouse-based systems.

You’re trying VR for the first time and don’t want to overcommit. Dropping $150 on a used Rift S to test whether VR clicks for you is a low-risk experiment. If you love it, upgrade later and sell the Rift S for roughly what you paid. If you don’t, you’re not stuck with a $500 headset collecting dust.

You’re building a dedicated sim rig. Seated experiences (racing, flight, space sims) play to the Rift S’s strengths. You don’t need room-scale tracking, and the halo headband is comfortable for long sessions. The lower refresh rate is less critical when you’re not whipping your head around in fast combat.

Where the Rift S doesn’t make sense:

• You want standalone gaming. The Rift S is tethered, period. No PC, no VR.
• You’re building a new PC from scratch. The added cost of a VR-ready build often pushes the total over the price of a Quest 3 plus a less powerful PC for flat gaming.
• You need the latest features. No wireless option, no hand tracking, no color passthrough, no higher refresh rates. The feature set is frozen in 2019.
• Your IPD is outside 60–68mm. The fixed lens spacing will cause discomfort and blurry visuals you can’t fix.

The Rift S is a relic of the pre-Quest era, but it’s a functional relic. It won’t blow your mind with cutting-edge tech, but it’ll get you into Half-Life: Alyx, Beat Saber, and the rest of the PCVR library without very costly. Just go in with realistic expectations about what you’re buying.

Conclusion

The Oculus Rift S occupies a strange place in 2026, a discontinued headset that still delivers solid PCVR experiences for those who know what they’re getting into. It’s not the flashiest option, and it’s not future-proof, but for budget-conscious gamers with a capable PC, it remains one of the cheapest entry points into high-quality VR gaming.

If you’re picking one up used, inspect the cable carefully (they’re fragile and expensive to replace), test all tracking functionality before finalizing the purchase, and make sure your PC meets the recommended specs, not just the minimums. Pair it with the right games, optimize your settings, and the Rift S will serve you well until you’re ready to upgrade to whatever comes next in the VR landscape.

The platform may be legacy, but the experiences it unlocks, exploring City 17, slicing beats at impossible speeds, or diving into the horror of a haunted asylum, are as compelling as ever. Sometimes good enough is exactly that: good enough.