BONELAB casts the player as an outcast sentenced to death who escapes into a hidden underground research facility. Its story unfolds through discoveries in the lab and in locations across MythOS city, where collecting items, avatars, and clues helps advance a mystery. This gives exploration a narrative purpose beyond simply moving between challenges.
Physics is central to the design: the game builds on Boneworks’ realistic physics systems, while combat lets players use ranged, melee, and exotic weapons in encounters with enemies. Custom avatar importing also changes how a character looks, with physical stats that match the chosen avatar. Together, these systems frame BONELAB as a VR action-adventure built around interacting with a responsive world, rather than a conventional menu-driven sequence of fights.
The locations include arenas, obstacle courses, tactical trials, sandboxes, experimental modes, and user-generated levels, providing several formats for play alongside the story. Its varied challenges and physics-based interaction define the game’s distinctive appeal.
