Virtual Reality gaming is one of the more recent success stories in the gaming world, as its explosive entrance into the mainstream gaming scene during the mid-2010s showcased decades' worth of work and experimentation finally coming to fruition. Virtual Reality can trace its technological origins all the way back to and even before the 1950s, and taking it a step further, the idea for “goggles” that let the wearer experience a virtual world was originally conceived in a science fiction story by sci-fi writer Stanley G. Weinbaum in the 1930s! This shows that the idea has been in the collective mind of humanity for quite some time now, but only in recent years have we been able to make great strides in turning that idea into a reality.
Naturally, with the advancement of this technology, we have seen a plentiful stream of games utilizing this new VR technology to create an all-new genre of incredible gaming experiences. And, naturally again, it only makes sense that we talk about some of those incredible games. So join me if you will, as we delve into this article and showcase 15 of the best VR games that are available for you to buy today!
#15: Boneworks (PC)
Boneworks - Launch Trailer
Kicking off this list as a prime example of pushing the limits of VR technology in all the right ways, Boneworks is a narrative VR action adventure that features an entirely physics-based world to play in. The advanced physics engine of Boneworks is designed entirely for consistent universal rules, meaning every object in the game’s world can be interacted with in a way that realistically takes into account the object’s weight, size, and material both when you interact with them and when they interact with one another. This same principle applies to you as well, whether you’re solving physics puzzles, engaging in physics-heavy combat using the game’s plethora of weapon options, or just dynamically exploring the narrative-driven world.
The mysterious narrative of Boneworks takes place inside the deep inner workings of MythOS, a highly advanced artificial intelligence owned and run by global conglomerate Monogon Industries, which somehow discovered a strange dimension known as the Voidway, which exists outside of time and space and contains a strange quantum particle, known as void particles, that can exist in multiple places at once. These particles allow for the Myth OS system to house the nearly infinite MythOS City simulation designed by Monogon as an endless source of virtual living space. Things quickly go wrong in the game’s story of course, as the player gets stuck inside the simulation due to a leak of void particles into the city, causing non-sentient AI workers to go violently rogue and “antivirus agents” meant to fight the damaged systems to target you by mistake. You’ll have to reset the system clock to unfreeze the simulation if you want to get out of the virtual world alive, even if you make it past all the threats standing in your way.
Unlike most VR games where the player is only represented by a floating head and pair of hands, Boneworks gives you control of a fully simulated body that uses inverse kinematics based on the location of the player's head and hands, which itself will be affected by the world around it, adding another detailed layer to the realism present in the game. Just as the game's physics engine allows the player to be affected by everything you see in the virtual world, so too can the player interact with objects and enemies however they see fit in a way that feels remarkably lifelike. The levels in the game are built with minimalistic “game logic”, allowing players to reach the end of the level through whatever means possible, and further encouraging them to progress through or replay the game as creatively as possible, taking advantage of the physical nature in any way they see fit.
The realism doesn’t stop there, as the enemy AIs that you will face in the game can also be fought back against through whatever means you choose, be it with your fists, a melee weapon, or even firearms, and in turn, these enemies are realistically wounded by your offense, with one such example being that you can break the leg of an enemy to slow them down. And even then, there are still many more ways for you to creatively interact with the world and fight against any hostile forces you find, but if I were to just stop and detail them all down, we’d run out of room in this article. So all I’ll say for now, is that Boneworks is an absolute pinnacle of VR gaming done right, and is one of the best examples we could use to open up this list. If you haven’t heard of this game until now, you should do yourself a favor and check it out as soon as possible.
Enter and regain control over the virtual MythOS City as hostile AI systems threaten to trap you inside a virtual realm outside the rules of space and time.
#14: Propagation VR (PC)
Propagation VR - Trailer
The realism focus shifts from mimicking our world’s physics to mimicking a genuine sense of fear as we now turn our attention to Propagation VR. This VR game traps you inside a dark and abandoned subway station and forces you to pick up whatever gun you can get your hands on and fight for your survival against waves of undead enemies, and far worse creatures than that. You’ll have to keep yourself calm, study your enemies for potential weaknesses, and maybe even rely on the help of other players when playing in co-op if you want to get out of Propagation VR in one piece.
Propagation VR is one of the shorter games on this list, as the game all takes place within the same area of the abandoned subway station where you will fight off hordes of approaching zombies, and potentially even multi-species hybrids that have mutated the undead into newer, deadlier monsters, along with other monstrous creatures like giant spiders, because why wouldn’t there be giant spiders? Depending on how well you can steel nerves against the undead, there are four game modes for you to try your hand at, ranging from Normal, Hard, Nightmare, and Impossible. Each round of the game generally lasts around thirty minutes, if you can survive that long, and the high score of each attempted round of Propagation is saved locally so you can constantly attempt to one-up yourself the more you play the game.
What Propagation lacks in abundance of content it makes up for with the fact that, save for the $9.99 co-op accessibility DLC, the game is entirely free. So while it’s not the most groundbreaking game in the genre, it still offers well-crafted graphical quality and a frighteningly immersive experience you don’t even need to pay for. So if you’re looking for a well-made survival horror experience, Propagation VR offers you a quick, yet highly replayable gameplay loop about fighting zombies and other horrible monsters, and it won’t even ask you for a dime. And in my book, that’s far from the worst deal out there, don’t you think?
Overcome your fear either alone or with some friends as you fight off wave after wave of undead mutant monstrosities in a nearly pitch-black subway station in Propagation VR.
#13: Into the Radius VR (PC)
Into the Radius - Launch Trailer
The Pechorsk Anomaly Zone, or “the Radius” as it has been called, is filled with miles and miles of forests, swamps, and crumbling industrial ruins for you to explore during the various missions assigned to you by the mysterious UNPSC organization. You will need to utilize stealth tactics and the technology available to you to navigate the environments located within the Radius effectively, as your lack of grace could lead you to deadly encounters with other survivalist humans within the Radius, and more often than that, the wide variety of lethal anomalies and hostile “wildlife” that seek to end your continued existence. Use planning, take care of your weapons, and try not to get yourself killed when you venture Into the Radius.
Developed by CM Games, Into the Radius can best be compared to the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series if you’re looking for an idea of what to expect when playing this game. Before you begin an expedition into the Radius you will need to plot out your route on a realistically designed map, additionally using it to scout out potential shelters and uncover loot caches, as you venture out across the Radius in search of survival supplies and valuable artifacts that your UNPSC employers desire, among other things. In order to fight off Fragments, Mimics, and other threats looming in the Radius you will need to utilize an array of classic and modern Soviet firearms that fit the game’s setting, each of which features realistic interaction like manual magazine reloading, and each requires cleaning and maintaining back at base to avoid magazine jams.
There are plenty more weapon customization features and other little details that I don’t have the room to ramble on about here, so you’ll just have to uncover the secrets of the Radius for yourself if you’re really that curious. Dozens of hours of slow-paced, high-intensity suspenseful survival action await to put your survival skills to the test when you play Into the Radius VR. If you have what it takes to endure the hostile forces that roam the Radius 24/7, waiting for the chance to let you know that you aren’t welcome, then you should certainly check out this VR title whenever you get the chance.
Step inside the mysterious and deadly Pechorsk Anomaly Zone in pursuit of consistent work and untold riches, where plenty of unnatural entities await to remind you that they hold all the power within the Radius.
#12: GORN (PC/PS4/PS5)
Gorn - Gameplay Trailer
Not to be confused with bipedal reptilians from Star Trek, Gorn is a Virtual Reality game that possesses the wonderfully simplistic goal of outlasting every enemy you encounter once you step foot inside the gladiatorial arena. This fully physics-based “Gladiator simulator” doesn’t hold your hand at any stage, instead, it just drops you into the gladiator pit and makes you fight against deadly enemy after deadly enemy, all while an audience sits from the safety of their seats cheering, booing, and laughing at the misfortunes of those of you fighting and dying below. That’s not to say you should stop trying to try and show mercy to your opponents though, because in Gorn it’s every man for himself and nobody is looking to keep you alive but yourself!
When you enter the arena in Gorn, the big-headed king up above will demand that you salute him before you, and however many other warriors you find yourself trapped with commence a fight to the death for his pleasure. Gorn proudly boasts about its status as a ludicrously violent VR Gladiator simulator and proves why it has earned this title through every moment of its savagely brutal face-smashing gameplay. You have a wide range of weapons, including swords, shields, maces, bows, spears, nunchucks, your own bare and bloody fists, and more beyond that to choose from for when it comes time to chop through wave after wave of opponents, who themselves can use those same weapons and even wear protective armor as they engage you in face-to-face physics-based combat, where the only limits to the carnage are your own imagination and decency.
Having turned seven years old this year, Gorn has left behind a bloody trail of brutality and violence that serves as a prime example of what makes the VR genre as fun as it is. Because, really, how much simpler can the fun get than bashing and stabbing your way through waves of muscled-up savages who want nothing more than to chop off your head? Until you can find an answer to that question, you should just stick to the classics and give Gorn a try if you haven’t already.
Fight for your survival against an infinite supply of poorly-animated opponents who are out for your blood, using several savage weapons to chop, stab, and bludgeon your way to the top of the food chain in the gladiator arena.
#11: Pavlov VR (PC/PS5)
Pavlov VR - Steam Trailer
Developed by Vankrupt Games, Pavlov VR is a fast-paced and action-packed first-person shooter that expertly uses VR technology to immerse its players in intense multiplayer battles across multiple game modes. The game draws inspiration from other FPS giants like Counter-Strike, giving players a variety of weapons that each use realistic mechanics for reloading, aiming, and firing, meaning that you, the player, will be entirely responsible for swapping out your weapon’s ammo magazine instead of just pressing the ‘Reload’ button if you want to stay in the fight. The Virtual Reality aspect further adds to the intensity of playing against other human players, as you will also have to be able to duck behind virtual cover to avoid being riddled with bullets, blown apart with explosives, or even torn apart by the shambling hordes of the undead. Depending on what game mode you’re in, of course.
Pavlov VR features twenty-five default maps in the game(eighteen if you don’t count the night versions of certain maps) and fourteen default game modes to play within them, which include standard FPS modes like Deathmatch, Gun Game, King of the Hill, and Search and Destroy, while also featuring more casual game modes that long-time gamers might recognize from playing games like Garry’s Mod, like Prop Hunt and Trouble in Terrorist Town, and even a ‘The Hidden’ game mode based on the Half-Life 2 mod of the same name. Pavlov also features over forty unique weapons and pieces of equipment, from shotguns, SMGs, pistols, and other expected modern weapons along with a range of WWII-era weaponry that are best used in the game’s WW II-specific game modes, though they can be used in others of course.
The precise and authentic level of detail present in Pavlov’s gunplay helps make this game not only a well-crafted VR game but a genuinely good first-person shooter experience all around. Whether you’re looking for a competitive or a more casual gaming experience, Pavlov VR’s multiplayer FPS gameplay is, so far, an unparalleled experience in the Virtual Reality market that adds an all-new to what it means to be an immersive FPS, just without having to actually know what being shot feels like. Though chances are someone out there is working on technology for that…
Whether you’re fighting in a tense 5-VS-5 Search and Destroy match, storming the ruins of a WWII village, or hiding in plain sight during a game of Prop Hunt, Pavlov VR puts you right in the action in a way that only Virtual Reality can achieve.
#10: The Thrill of the Fight - VR Boxing (PC)
The Thrill of the Fight | Oculus Quest + Rift Platform
Have you ever wanted to pursue the glamorous life of a professional boxer, but you didn’t like the idea of getting your face pummeled into looking like cottage cheese? Then The Thrill of the Fight is the game that you’ve been waiting for, as this knockout addition to the world of virtual reality has everything that you could possibly want! From rising the ranks in your dingy boxing gym to earning your right to fight for world championship gold, Thrill of the Fight is the quintessential boxing experience in VR, and perhaps any game ever made before it! Plus, playing this game might make you work up a sweat, so you can argue that this game actually has health benefits if you ever accidentally punch something in the non-virtual world. Nifty, right?
The fast-paced physicality and mechanics of a real-life boxing match are captured flawlessly in The Thrill of the Fight, as the game allows players to throw punches, block shots, and dodge and weave between incoming punches with precision allowed by the game’s intuitive VR control system. The game doesn’t offer a “campaign” mode like most games, but instead, it allows you to gradually proceed through the game’s series of challengers, each with their own unique in-ring fighting style, while also allowing the player to play training exercises in the gym using virtual boxing equipment, including a heavy bag, a speed bag, a Body Opponent Bag, and a handful of other options. The Thrill of the Fight is an excellent example of how VR can merge physical fitness with gaming while still making it fun to play, with the intense, adrenaline-pumping experience it provides making it a fan-favorite in the VR scene.
Thrill of the Fight’s remarkable realism and dedication to delivering a genuine boxing experience is what makes this game stand out from most other VR titles and on this list of games on top of that. If you can stand a bit of sweat and are looking for a game that will get your blood pumping, The Thrill of the Fight should be at the very top of your list, as not only can it be just a thrilling game about boxing, but it can also wind up being a full-body workout that actively engages you to keep pushing yourself if you choose to play it that way. And you won’t need to get your teeth knocked out or an ear bitten off in the process either!
Step into the virtual squared circle and become a megastar of the boxing ring in Thrill of the Fight!
#9: The Lab (PC)
The Lab - Trailer [VR, HTC Vive]
Coming to us courtesy of the legendary Valve Corporation, taking us into the single digits on this list is The Lab, a game that takes place in a pocket universe within Aperture Science and showcases some of the complexities that are available to experience within Virtual Reality. The Lab consists of eight separate mini-games rather than a specific story campaign or anything of the like, as Valve designed The Lab to be more of a demo showcasing their VR capabilities than a full Virtual Reality title. But don’t worry, we do eventually see the fruits of Valve’s later in a separate game later on, but for now, we’ll keep our focus on The Lab, a game that helped lay the groundwork for Valve’s further exploits into the virtual world.
Among The Lab’s mini-games, you have ‘Slingshot’, where you use a calibration machine to shoot Personality Cores from the Portal series into piles of debris and explosives to cause as much destruction as possible in a short amount of time, similar to Angry Birds, along with ‘Longbow’, where you’re tasked with using both motion controllers to use a bow and arrows to defend a castle gate from hordes of hostile enemies, who are represented by the black silhouette figures from the Portal advertisements. Other mini-games include ‘Robot Repair’ where you must repair the robot Atlas from Portal 2, and ‘Human Medical Scan’ where you can peel back layers of skin on a 3D human figure made up of numerous CT scans to examine specific biological features. There are a few more mini-games to be discovered, but I’ll leave those as a surprise in case you find yourself interested in seeing them for yourself.
Though it’s certainly not the biggest game to come out of Valve’s doors, The Lab still does all of what it sets out to do, and that's to show off a selection of well-made VR scenarios that are all fun to experience firsthand for yourself. So I fully recommend that you go and give The Lab an hour or two of your time, as any fan of VR content will not be left disappointed. And you wanna know the best part about the game? It’s completely free! So what excuse do you have not to try it, honestly?
Step foot into The Lab and experiment with various Virtual Reality scenarios, including a spaceship Bullet Hell game, exploring the human body, and even accidentally shrinking yourself to miniature size if you aren’t careful!
#8: COMPOUND (PC)
COMPOUND - Release Trailer [PC VR]
As was bound to happen eventually, COMPOUND takes the VR technology of the modern age and uses it to take us back to the past by giving players a retro tough-as-nails FPS experience that will press all the right buttons for veteran gamers or just gamers who are fans of those beloved 90s style shooters in general. While most games tend to give a more realistically immersive shooter experience to simulate what an actual gunfight might be like, Compound instead drops players face-first into a high-octane rogue-lite environment that will without a doubt wind up killing them time and time again. But like any good rogue-lite, dying hopelessly is just one small step on the road to becoming great. So the question is, are you ready to walk down that road?
Built from the ground up by solo developer Bevan McKechnie, Compound proudly boasts its status of having a ton of enemies to kill and a ton of ways to kill them. From armored humans to a variety of robots, and even surprisingly persistent attack helicopters, you will be faced down with a surprisingly deep well of enemy varieties as you explore the map, so it’s only natural that in turn you’re able to get your hands on a wide variety of weapons as well, ranging from pistols, shotguns, explosive weapons, and even a few added oddities to help spice up your roster of powerful and deadly weapons that would make any FPS fan blush. And you know what the best part about having all these enemies and weapons is? Every new game you start in Compound creates a completely new, randomly generated map that will always keep you guessing what’s around the corner, with each map having seven “Areas” that are generated within the map that each have their own unique looks and map generation. There are also a handful of selectable difficulty options and even some “mutator” upgrades to be discovered along the way.
The pixelated and low-poly graphics of Compound create a charming and distinct aesthetic that might even make some players feel a sense of nostalgia when playing while still creating a fresh and unique virtual world that truly helps this game stand out among VR titles. If you’re interested in testing your skills in VR, Compound offers a rogue-lite experience that promises to throw you into the deep end kicking and screaming, ultimately forcing you to sink or swim. To the point where the game itself warns that you might even experience motion sickness! So, y’know, be prepared for that just in case.
Explore a vibrant and violent randomly generated world filled with enemies of all shapes and sizes looking to shoot you dead in this VR shooter that harkens back to the FPS classics of the 1990s.
#7: The Room VR: A Dark Matter (PC/PS4/PS5)
The Room VR: A Dark Matter - Official Trailer
The latest addition to Fireproof Games’ award-winning “The Room” series steps foot into the virtual world with The Room VR: A Dark Matter. The year is 1908 in the city of London, where an esteemed Egyptologist suddenly disappeared without a trace from the British Institute of Archaeology, quickly prompting a Police investigation into the unknown. This immersive puzzle-adventure game transports players to a world of mystery and intrigue, forcing the player to rely on their skills of deduction as they delve deeper and deeper into this latest spine-tingling chapter of The Room, which was completely built from the ground up to maximize the uniquely immersive capabilities of Virtual Reality.
Each environment in A Dark Matter is a sufficiently cryptic location filled with enigmatic contraptions, hidden secrets you must uncover, and deceptive clues that challenge your problem-solving skills and critical thinking if you want to piece together this mystery. You will need to examine and use fantastic gadgets to uncover hidden footprints and drawings, pick up and interact with seemingly mundane objects to find a secret hidden within, and even decipher the meanings behind ancient Egyptian artifacts, among many more ways to interact with this virtual world to solve the plentiful supply of puzzles put before you. The game’s attention to detail regarding its puzzles and what items you’re able to interact with is exceptional and takes full advantage of the Virtual Reality space to brilliantly bring this hauntingly atmospheric setting to life.
The eerie and mysterious ambiance, combined with the continuously moving narrative, keeps players engaged as they delve deeper into the enigmatic story of this VR title. A Dark Matter is a perfect example of how Virtual Reality can enhance the puzzle genre, delivering an experience that's both intellectually rewarding and visually captivating. So if you think you’re up to the task of solving a seemingly unsolvable mystery deep in the heart of old-school London, then I highly encourage you to check out The Room VR: A Dark Matter if you haven’t already. Just try not to get lost if you end up too deep in the investigation, detective…
The disappearance of an esteemed Egyptologist sparks a police investigation into the unknown, and it’s up to you and your puzzle-solving intuition as the lead detective of this case to solve this mystery… and make it back out on the other side while you’re at it.
#6: Walkabout Mini Golf VR (PC/PS5)
Walkabout Mini Golf: Main Trailer (2022)
Up next at #6 is a game that will likely be the most relaxing game on this entire list, depending on how competitive you are I suppose, that game being none other than Walkabout Mini Golf VR. The name of the game says it all, as Walkabout Mini Golf makes the actual golfing aspect easy and natural to use thanks to its application of completely realistic physics and applies that principle across a wide variety of fantastic-looking courses that provide the perfect challenge for hardcore golfers and casual players alike. You can also choose to play alone, launch into 1v1 quick matches, or create a party of up to eight players to join you on your VR golfing trip, which also features full crossplay for those playing on other consoles.
Walkabout features eight courses by default in the game, with a growing selection of post-launch DLC courses available to purchase for a relatively cheap price as well. Each course is eighteen holes long, each carefully crafted to replicate that feeling of classic mini golf while playing in numerous larger-than-life VR locations, ranging from medieval castle ruins, dusty wild western towns, Japanese-inspired gardens, and more. As a bonus, each course also has an unlockable “Night Mode”, which not only switches the visuals from day to night but also shakes up the courses by altering or even completely changing certain holes along the course, making for an even more challenging experience. There are also a handful of bonus features to discover, such as over 188 different custom golf balls that are hidden across the courses, “Foxhunts” that allow you to unlock new custom putters, and a few more secrets to uncover as well.
If you’re going into VR to shoot up a room full of enemies or to survive grueling conditions, then this game likely won’t be your favorite game on this list. However, if you do enjoy a more casual, slow-paced game that you can play with friends and family, then Walkabout is a perfect game to add to your VR gaming collection. With its realistically simulated golfing physics and beautifully crafted course locations, Walkabout Mini Golf VR is what I consider to be a sleeper hit on this list, and is worth not missing out on for any VR fan out there.
Play with friends and family or go solo as you enjoy a relaxing game of mini golf across several aesthetically pleasing courses, each designed with realistic physics in mind to provide an utterly authentic experience.
#5: Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades (PC)
Hot Dogs, Horseshoes, Handgrenades Trailer E3 2019
Game #5 takes us back into the usual swing of things for VR games, but with its own unique, meaty twist added to the mix. Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades, often shortened to H3VR, is a sandbox game that’s entirely designed around using and abusing an overwhelmingly extensive arsenal of weapons, gadgets, and toys, combined with intricate firearm mechanics that make it a standout choice for those looking to explore the art of virtual marksmanship. Or maybe those who just want to seek out mindless destruction and chaos for the sake of mindless destruction and chaos. It’s your call.
As it currently stands, H3VR features nearly 500 individual firearms and 250 weapon attachments for those firearms, along with 60 melee weapons, dozens of explosive items, and over 30 “toys” that range from fireworks, noisemakers, and other goodies. On top of the hundreds of weapons, the game also features over 150 different ammo cartridges, spread across over 40 different ammo calibers, which can each be manually loaded into your weapons for an extra level of realistic detail on top of the ludicrous amount that’s already present. Additionally, along with the expected firing and demolition ranges where you can “Plink & Train” with all these weapons, the game also features a varied selection of game modes for you to play with your weapons in, which include the sci-fi themed rogue-lite “Take & Hold” mode, survival horror “Meat Grinder” mode where you must escape a fast food-themed maze while pursued by deadly animatronics, the zombie survival “Return of the Rotwieners” mode, the cowboy-themed “Wurstworld” mode, and even the “Meat Fortress” mode that’s a direct crossover with Valve’s Team Fortress 2, which includes playable TF2-like rounds where you can use every stock weapon from TF2! Of course, the only difference from TF2 is that all your enemies, like every enemy in the game, are replaced with giant sentient hot dogs. Which is normal in this game, trust me.
Although there are plenty of VR games that strive for a certain level of immersion and realism with their gunplay, very few VR games live up to the insane quality and attention to detail that developers RUST LTD. have put into H3VR. Yes, even with the giant hot dog people. The game has been out in Steam Early Access since 2016, and it's still going strong over seven years later with over a hundred updates to the game launched, hundreds of dev logs being made, and more and more guns and other ridiculous items still being added. So if you’re looking for as much developer commitment as you are content in your VR titles, then you can’t go wrong in going out and purchasing Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades today. I mean, did I mention how many guns this game has?
Wield hundreds upon hundreds of authentically realistic firearms and plenty of other weapon varieties in this constantly evolving VR weapons simulator about hot dog people and high-powered weaponry that perfectly blends realism with entertainment.
#4: Beat Saber (PC/PS4/PS5)
Release Trailer | Beat Saber
While our next game is far from the most complex game on this list, Beat Saber still stands out as one of the most popular VR games released in recent years due to its addictively simplistic gameplay style. Beat Saber is a rhythm game where you wield two “sabers” that come in two colors, usually red and blue, and use them to strike incoming blocks with a matching color to which saber you need to cut them with, and arrows on the front of said boxes that show you how you need to cut them. The main goal is to consecutively cut through as many blocks as you can without missing a swing, and as easy as that sounds, the real fun of this process comes when the difficulty is cranked and you find yourself building up a sweat as you try your best to perfect that one song you just can’t manage to master.
Beat Saber puts you in a futuristic-looking room that glows with flashing lights and lasers that change color and match the beat of the song you’re playing, making the entire world feel like one big dance party at a rave as you cut through blocks and avoid incoming damage zones during a song. Each song’s level is hand-crafted, meaning that instead of relying on random generation, each block you slice through is paired to the beats and rhythm of the song that’s playing, which in turn enhances the overall musical experience and makes your successes all the more satisfying. And of course, I would be remiss not to mention that Beat Saber includes over a hundred officially licensed songs from various artists that can be bought as DLC on top of the default selection of songs, which include songs from bands like Green Day, Queen, BTS, Linkin Park, Panic! At The Disco, Lady Gaga, and many more. Though if you don’t feel like paying $1.99 per extra song, there is a modding community that has added thousands of songs into the game through modding, so do keep that in mind.
Again, while not the biggest breakthrough for the limitations of VR technology, Beat Saber continues to have a decently sized fanbase and in turn, continues to provide countless hours of easy-to-learn, fun-to-master gameplay. And as a bonus, chopping blocks and dancing to the rhythm of the songs you’re playing is also a great way to get in some extra exercise, so talk about a win-win right? So if you’re a fan of adrenaline-pumping rhythm games fueled by a vast library of beloved songs, Beat Saber is an excellent addition to the VR world and soon to be an excellent addition to your game library.
Slash to the beat in hand-crafted levels revolving entirely around iconic songs from larger-than-life musical artists as you try to perfect your score and become in sync with the rhythm.
#3: VTOL VR (PC)
VTOL VR - Trailer (2020)
If you thought getting shot at by enemies on the ground was enough of a stressfully immersive experience in VR, just wait until you get your hands on VTOL VR. In case you don’t know, VTOL is code for “Vertical Take-Off and Landing” aircraft, making it an entirely fitting name for this near-futuristic combat flight game built specifically for Virtual Reality gaming, don’t you think? In VTOL VR, you get the illustrious privilege of being placed directly inside the cockpit of multiple combat aircraft, each with its own series of buttons, switches, and plenty of other flight controls that you’ll need to manipulate with expert precision in order to keep yourself in the air.
Some of the aircraft that you’ll be able to pilot include the AV-42C Tilt-jet Attack/Transport vehicle, the F/A-26 Fighter/Attack Jet, and the F-45A Stealth Multi-role STOVL Jet among others, with each of these vehicles featuring fully interactable cockpits via your tracked controllers that possess plenty of near realistic vehicle systems, including a heads-up display system, multi-function displays, a fully functional radar, and even an injector seat to punch out if things start going wrong out there, along with a handful of other features. Every vehicle has access to interchangeable weapons systems, from the guns to the rockets and even bombs, which will each play a part when you’re playing one of the many playable missions, which can be played in the game’s “story mode” campaign and free flight missions, along with pure dogfights between aircraft that can be played either by yourself against AI enemies or against other players in the newer multiplayer addition to the game. There are also a handful of non-fighting components to play, including air-to-air refueling missions, catapult-assisted takeoff missions, and even simulated refueling and rearmament that require you to skillfully land your vehicle. Which is far easier said than done, even in Virtual Reality.
From intense mid-air dogfights and strategic bombing runs to delicate vertical landings and aircraft carrier operations, VTOL VR’s mission variety combined with its attention to detail easily helps make it one of the best Virtual Reality flight-simulation games that you can get today. Whether you're a seasoned flight simulation enthusiast or a casual gamer looking for a unique VR experience, VTOL VR is a testament to what makes VR gaming so great. So as long as you can handle the frankly terrifying situations that being a fighter jet pilot entails, this game is well worth giving at least some of your time to.
Take to the skies alongside your wingman and engage in blood-pumping mid-air dogfights against enemy AI or even enemy players, all while managing true-to-life fighter jet controls in real-time.
#2: Blade & Sorcery (PC)
Blade and Sorcery | Official Update 10 Trailer - The Dungeons Update
Blade & Sorcery is a built-for-VR sandbox game about fighting enemies in a physics driven Virtual Reality setting, but what makes this game stand out from the other similar games on this list is the fact that Blade & Sorcery doesn’t utilize realistic handheld firearms, but instead puts players in a medieval fantasy setting. Which of course means that you will be able to wield all sorts of blades, axes, and other handheld medieval-era weaponry, alongside bows and arrows, crossbows, and perhaps most excitingly, a series of elemental magic spells that can decimate entire waves of enemies if you know how to use them. And really, who hasn’t fantasized about being an all-powerful wizard before, right?
Blade & Sorcery seeks to put an end to the “weightless wiggle-sword” era of VR combat to an end by simulating realistically designed swords and other melee weapons, alongside ranged and magic combat options, in a unique and realistically designed physics-driven interaction and combat system. With an engine built from the ground up exclusively for VR, Blade & Sorcery uses finely crafted hitboxes for every interactable object in the world, including your enemies, meaning that every movable object follows the laws of physics, giving everything an appropriately realistic weight and, if the object is an enemy, full body physics and presence that makes them feel like they’re part of the world. Alongside masterfully designed physics, the game’s realism also extends to its combat capabilities, as swords and other sharp objects realistically slash across the surface layers of an opponent’s skin and can realistically penetrate soft objects while in turn deflecting off solid objects, meaning that you’ll need to think for a moment about which part of the enemy you intend on attacking whenever you’re in combat. It should also be mentioned that magical attacks can be expertly deflected off your weapons if you have the precision for it, and certain spells can even be applied to your weapons for some added damage! Because why wouldn’t you want to use a flaming sword when the option is available?
In the end, Blade & Sorcery's expansive and visually stunning environments contribute to the overall immersion, transporting players to a rich fantasy realm ripe for exploration and combat. For fans of medieval realism and fantasy elements alike, Blade & Sorcery’s combination of realistic combat mechanics and magical elements makes it a must-play for VR fans seeking an interesting twist on the usual sandbox combat genre of most VR games. And that’s before you even consider all the potential that comes with the game’s modding community as well!
Whether you want to be a valiant warrior, a cunning ranger or an all-powerful mage, Blade & Sorcery’s medieval fantasy combat playground has everything you could want and then some out of a VR sword fighting experience.
#1: Half-Life: Alyx (PC)
Half-Life: Alyx Announcement Trailer
It might come as no surprise to those who have made it this far into this article that the game rounding us out at #1 is none other than Valve’s Half-Life: Alyx. After a thirteen-year-long gap between games, the Half-Life series finally returned in 2020 with the release of Half-Life: Alyx, which takes place five years before the events of Half-Life 2 and tells the story of Alyx Vance and her impossible fight against a vicious alien race known as the Combine who have invaded and gained total control over the Earth. Alyx must continue her fight against the Combine police state alongside fellow members of the Resistance while on a mission to rescue her father Eli from the clutches of the Combine, on top of her even loftier goal to break into the Combine vault suspended mid-air in the City 17 quarantine zone, to see if the rumor of the infamous Gordon Freeman being kept imprisoned there is true.
Half-Life: Alyx was built from the ground up to be a unique experience that features Valve’s signature attention to the little details and combines it with Virtual Reality technology, using VR to its fullest potential to enable the gameplay that sits at the heart of the Half-Life Series. The franchise’s combat, puzzle-solving, exploration, and survival horror elements are brought to an all-new level thanks to the use of VR technology, giving players a fresh perspective on the Half-Life universe as they experience Alyx’s journey across City 17, which was given meticulous attention to detail in terms of both the game’s narrative and gameplay mechanics and thus creating what feels like a truly living and breathing world for players to explore in that specific way that only Valve can often achieve.
Virtually every object in the world is interactable, encouraging players to explore every inch of every level, opening up sealed boxes and looking through every locker and drawer they come across to find that extra healing item or a clip of ammo that they might need later on, along with encouraging players to use their environments to their advantage. Learn to take advantage of a hole in a broken wall and use it to fire at enemies through cover, or put on a construction helmet to avoid getting your head eaten by a Headcrab you didn’t notice until it was too late. Whether you’re manipulating the world around you in combat or manipulating your selection of tools in order to hack alien interfaces, Half-Life: Alyx gives you all the means and encouragingly shoves you face-first into immersing yourself with all of the deep environmental interactions, puzzle-solving, world exploration, and visceral combat elements that this game has to offer.
Half-Life: Alyx sets a new standard for immersive worldbuilding in VR games, and it comes as no surprise when you consider who was behind the development of this game. From the plentiful supply of eerie, atmospheric environments, to the adrenaline-inducing combat encounters with Combine officers and terrifying zombies alike, and everything else in between, Half-Life: Alyx sets a high bar for what can be achieved in the VR gaming space by seamlessly blending the iconic elements of the Half-Life series with the immersive capabilities of VR technology. If there’s any game that you should go out of your way to get on this list, I promise you that Half-Life: Alyx will keep you hooked and leave you wanting to experience even more of what it has to offer every step of the way.
View the Half-Life universe through a new set of eyes as you take control of the young Alyx Vance in this prequel story to Half-Life 2, where you’ll bring the resistance to the Combine’s iron grip on the world and uncover the mystery of the mysterious rumors revolving around Gordon Freeman…
Conclusion
And that’s today’s list, folks. I hope you liked it, and I hope that you find yourself with some serious considerations about what VR game to splurge on next. If you do have some thoughts on this article I would love to hear them down in the comment section! But beyond that, I’ve said all I have to say here, so I’ll leave you with this incredible list of games and hope to see you in the next article.
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