Highlands – A Breath of Fresh Mountain Air in Somnium Space

I’ll be honest. I immersed into Highlands expecting another pretty VR nature walk. What I got was the kind of place that makes you forget you’re even wearing a headset.

Picture perfect

The second I spawned, I was standing knee-deep in the most gorgeous turquoise river I’ve seen in any Somnium world. The water actually catches the sunlight and throws it back in these soft, rippling patterns across the rocks. I spent a solid five minutes just crouching at water level, watching the reflections move. It’s one of those little details that hits different when you’re in VR. Your brain genuinely believes you’re there.

When the sun hits the mountains at the right moment, the whole valley lights up in this cool blue glow that feels alive

Pristine, turquoise water

The whole world feels like someone took the best parts of the Pacific Northwest and turned the saturation up just enough to make it magical without going cartoonish. Pine forests climb the hills, bare branches poke out here and there like they’re waiting for spring, and every few steps you catch a new angle of those massive snow-capped peaks in the distance. The creator clearly spent time on the lighting. When the sun hits the mountains at the right moment, the whole valley lights up in this cool blue glow that feels alive.

Peeking through the branches

I followed the river downstream and suddenly there it was: this perfect little wooden cabin perched on the bank. Stairs leading up, open door, log walls that actually look weathered. I stood on the porch for way too long just staring out at the valley, imagining what it would feel like to own that spot. A couple of rustic fences with lanterns strung between posts line the paths, some of them are even lit during the day, which gave me major cozy cabin-in-the-woods energy. One shot I took looked straight out of a storybook.

My storybook shot

Then there’s the meadow section with bright pink and purple wildflowers everywhere, and a dirt path that just begs you to keep walking. I found myself wandering off-trail, climbing rocks, ducking under branches, and honestly losing track of time. The scale feels right. The mountains look distant but reachable, the trees tower over you without feeling fake, and the whole place just breathes.

It’s trying to be somewhere you’d actually want to live if reality had better graphics.

Is it the most interactive world I’ve ever visited? No. There aren’t NPCs or mini-games screaming for your attention. But that’s the point. Highlands is pure atmosphere. An escape pod you drop into when you need the noise turned off. I actually sat on a rock by the river for a while with my avatar just… existing. No chat spam, no events, no pressure. Just wind, water, and those huge mountains.

My wearable wings go well with the environment

They nailed it. This isn’t trying to be the next big social hub. It’s trying to be somewhere you’d actually want to live if reality had better graphics. And honestly? Mission accomplished.

If you’re burned out on neon cities and crowded plazas, do yourself a favor and teleport to Highlands. Bring a friend, bring a camera, or just bring your peace and quiet. You won’t regret it.

About Somnium Space

Somnium Space, the company behind the VR1, also runs a blockchain-based virtual reality platform that allows users to create, experience, and monetize content and applications. The platform is committed to building a decentralized and immersive VR world that offers users a unique and engaging experience.

Web: https://somniumspace.com

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