For Meta Quest standalones, Meta has telemetry built into the operating system. While you can sideload cracked APKs, Meta can detect them. While bans are rare, Meta has the right to factory reset (brick) your device or permanently ban your Meta account. Since your Meta account is tied to your Facebook/Instagram identity, losing that means losing your legitimate purchase library forever.
If you are looking for free VR games because you are broke, there are hundreds of legitimate options that won't give you malware.
On Steam (PCVR):
On Meta Quest Store:
The Grey Area: Emulation vs. Piracy You can legally rip your own copy of Super Mario 64 and play it in VR via the Dolphin emulator. That is legal if you own the cartridge. Downloading the ROM from a website is not. Vr Cracked Games
Security firms have noted a sharp rise in malware disguised as cracked VR games. Because VR attracts a tech-savvy, high-end-PC-owning demographic, hackers target them specifically.
Common threats include:
Steam and Meta both offer a 2-hour/14-day refund policy. Use this as a legal demo. Buy the game, test performance and comfort, and refund if it makes you nauseous or runs poorly.