What the ‘Some Assembly Required’ Content is
Some Assembly Required (SAR) is a commercial VR sandbox game, not built by Avantis or ClassVR, in which players design and build robots from snap-together parts to complete themed challenges ("Build robots, help humans, cause chaos!"). It is developed by Filament Games, a 17-year-old educational game studio based in Madison, Wisconsin. SAR began life as a flatscreen PC game called RoboCo (2022) before being rebuilt as a VR title.
Interacting with the tablet and building a robot
- The virtual tablet holds all the tools and settings needed to build a robot. Grab its handle with the trigger button to reposition it in space.
- Use the trigger to "tap" buttons on the tablet to select options.
- Each campaign begins with a guided tutorial to help build a robot and complete that level's challenge.
- Tapping the question-mark button on the tablet opens the Hints menu, split into Edit Mode (building) and Live Mode (testing the robot) — Filament/Avantis recommend completing the tutorial and this Hints menu before attempting complex campaigns.
- Pressing the play button enters Live Mode and activates the robot.
Full control list
| Action | Control |
| Rotate camera | Hold grip and use the joystick |
| Change scale (of self, position, or rotation) | Squeeze grip on both controllers |
| Reset camera | Hold grip and press the (B) button |
| Context menu | Hover over an element — commands appear on your hand |
| Detach a part | Hold grip while grabbing the part |
| Duplicate a part | Hold the part and use the joystick radial menu |
| Translate / Rotate a part | Use the Translate Tool / Rotate Tool (global or local space) |
| Resize a part | Pull a resizable part with both hands, or use the Resize Tool |
| Laser pointer (interact at a distance) | Press (B); press again while holding a part to summon it; use the joystick to push/pull it |
| Change a joint's type | Hover/select the joint and use the Joint Tool with the joystick |
| Delete a part | Drag it to the trash |
| Place a duplicate while placing a part | Move the joystick left |
| Select / multiselect / select-connected parts | (A) to select/deselect; hold to multiselect; double-tap to select all connected parts |
| Box select | Hold the select button and the trigger |
| Group / ungroup a selection | Hover over the selection and use the joystick |
In-app initial tutorial
The in-headset initial tutorial walks a new player through building their first robot (grab the tablet, open the Constructs panel, place and resize a base to 12x3x9 or bigger, attach left and right wheels, place a head, then enter Live Mode and drive the robot forward with the joystick).