Comparison

[Greymane]

Just from where I am coming from:I already own both Beat Saber and PowerBeats VR.

This looks very similar to PowerBeats but with more slide following and not requiring punching the incoming orbs. I am liking the music in it though I am seeing in some videos (went to school in 80s!). Is there any other real differences to Powerbeats that should push me over the edge into getting this?

Thanks in advance.

[PrimeSonic]

I haven't played either game very much but here's my take.

PowerBeats VR feels like I'm following a video workout while listening to music.
Synth Riders feels like I'm dancing.

Hand-crafted tracks will always feel better to play than auto-generated ones.
Which is why playing PowerBeats VR definitely feels more like an workout game than a rhythm game.

Both are good exercise.
PowerBeats VR because it's designed to make you move in ways to give you a workout.
Synth Riders because the songs are so fun that you can be compelled to move your whole body and dance even if you don't have to.

[Kyrah Abattoir]

Punching is possible if you want it, as the game has two main scoring modes:

Rythm mode: score is based on how precisely you hit orbs.
Force mode: score is based on controller speed.

The main reason I got Synth Riders instead of beat sabers was that I didn't want a game that would rely too much on muscle memory and would let me "move" on my own when playing.

Synth riders notes seem more focused on "dance flow" and fun (you're not gonna learn to dance here tho but it certainly feels like it) than Powerbeats VR which really markets itself as a VR workout, but i find some similarities between the two titles when using force mode at lower difficulty levels. (I do not own Powerbeats, this is just based on what I can see on youtube)

Leg & core workout only happens at higher difficulty levels in Synth riders (in my opinion) because there isn't a lot of obstacles in songs until you get to hard/expert, which are also levels where force mode "punching" becomes a bit unuseable for me.

(Which is why i wish the devs would add a setting to increase walls at lower difficulties)

Synth riders also let you configure the height and width of your playspace which effectively affects note spacing, it does recommendations based on your height but you can effectively make it force you to move as much as you want.

That being said Synth riders has a song editor, and so far the most workout-like song in my library is user made.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jndSeo9bq1c really makes you work those arms without being completely ridiculous, as a lot of user made songs tend to be.

Synth Riders has been my main daily workout for about a month now and I strongly recommend it.

[Greymane]

Thanks to you both for your detailed feedback. This helps a LOT in understanding!

[Mrozek]

Originally posted by Kyrah Abattoir:

(Which is why i wish the devs would add a setting to increase walls at lower difficulties)

Same. We need more walls!

[Astral Projection]

Soundtrack of Synth Riders is way better.