A method for quasi-random placement of a virtual item in an XR space includes: accessing a previously generated spatial mapping mesh (SMM) of the XR space; compiling a record from the SMM of open spaces between surfaces of physical elements in the XR space, with corresponding positions and dimensions; selecting from the open spaces: a spawn position for a virtual character, and a random set of other positions, filtering the random set to form a subset. The method then performs a collision analysis to assign a score to each position in the subset partly based on accessibility to that position for the virtual character beginning from the spawn position; and places the virtual item at a position in the subset having a score as high or higher than all other positions in the subset. The method is carried out before user interaction with any virtual element in the XR space.