We picked these VR games based on popular and critical reception. However, this isn’t just an aggregate of Metacritic scores. We also took into account what we enjoyed playing and experimenting with, as well as the quality of the graphics and how immersive our experience was.
Your top VR games might differ, so feel free to let us know in the comments if we missed any amazing titles! Without further ado, here are the best VR games you can try right now.
1. Half-Life: Alyx: The best VR experience for Half-Life fans
credits: steampowered.com
Platforms: Any SteamVR system
Half-Life: Alyx is probably the closest thing we’ll ever get to a Half-Life 3. It’s not a continuation of Gordon’s story but rather a VR game spin-off. You control Alyx Vance, one of the few survivors trying to fight off the Combine after the events of Black Mesa. The game chucks you between the story of Half-Life 1 and Half-Life 2, so it’s a great way to delve into this world further.
The game has great gunplay, an engaging story, challenging puzzles, enticing exploration, and an unmistakable Half-Life atmosphere. You’ll really feel like you’re fighting off an alien invasion as humanity’s last hope.
Half-Life: Alyx Announcement Trailer
2. Superhot VR: Amazing shooting and time mechanics
credits: steampowered.com
Platforms: SteamVR, PSVR, Meta Quest 2
Superhot VR is a great example of what VR technology can do. It’s a first-person shooter where time stops whenever you stop moving. It’s Matrix meets Call of Duty, and it’s perfectly executed. Playing Superhot VR gives you a unique, exhilarating thrill. You feel like a highly trained assassin plowing through enemies for one moment, then as soon as you stop moving, you feel like a strategy mastermind plotting your next move.
Its visual style might not be for everyone. And it’s definitely not a high-budget production. But thanks to its unique gameplay mechanics, it’s become a staple in the VR world.
SUPERHOT VR Release Trailer
3. Elite: Dangerous: Great spacefaring simulator
credits: steampowered.com
Platforms: Any SteamVR system
If you have ever dreamed about jumping in a starship and exploring the galaxy, Elite: Dangerous is the perfect game for you. It puts you at the helm of a spaceship and lets you explore our entire galaxy. We mean that literally. Elite: Dangerous features a 1:1 replica of the Milky Way that you can explore to your heart’s content. And it’s not just an empty expanse. You can mine asteroids, battle other ships, and even collect bounties.
As you might expect, all of this complexity makes Elite: Dangerous a bit hard to learn. You’ll need a few hours to understand how to pilot your ship effectively. But for one of the best space games out there, it’s well worth the effort.
Elite Dangerous Oculus Rift Game Trailer
4. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes: The best VR party game
Platforms: PSVR, Meta Quest 2, SteamVR
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is one of the best party games you can play in VR. It’ll require collaboration, great communication, and perhaps a bit of chaos. But if you and your friends are up for a challenge, you’ll find it in Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes.
The VR puzzle game is simple: One person wears the headset, and they see a bomb they need to defuse. The other players see instructions for how to defuse that bomb without glancing at the actual device.
It’s extremely fun, it can be pretty tense, and it’s a great showcase of what VR can do.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes – Cinematic Trailer | PS VR
5. Beat Saber: Awesome rhythm game in VR
credits: steampowered.com
Platforms: SteamVR, Meta Quest 2, PSVR
If you remember the days of Guitar Hero II with glee, you have to try Beat Saber. You’ve probably already seen this game in compilations of people doing crazy combos, and for a good reason. It’s one of the very best VR games out there.
Beat Saber is also one of the best rhythm games. It’s satisfying, pretty challenging at times, and it has an amazing track selection.
But Beat Saber doesn’t work like your average music game. Instead of playing fake instruments, you swish swords at different color-coded blocks barreling toward you, all while ducking from obstacles. Unlike most music games, it’s very active, so it makes for great exercise too.
6. No Man’s Sky: One of the best open-world adventures
credits: nomanssky.com
Platforms: SteamVR, PSVR
No Man’s Sky had one of the most surprising redemption arcs in video game history. Their horrendous launch led to dozens of substantial updates, which turned No Man’s Sky into the space exploration masterpiece it is today. You can explore a vast galaxy, craft new items, build your base, play with friends (even cross-platform), and plenty more. If you want to explore space, No Man’s Sky is one of the best games to do it.
If you want to immerse yourself in this world even more, you can also play No Man’s Sky in VR. It doesn’t add any new content or mechanic to the game, but the feeling you get exploring these planets in virtual reality is nothing like the base game.
7. Moss: Thrilling adventure in an enchanting world
credits: steampowered.com
Platforms: Meta Quest 2, SteamVR, PSVR
Moss is a single-player adventure game in an enchanting world. You’re not a living critter in this one, but rather a “higher” being that can manipulate the environment from a bird’s eye view.
You’ll use these powers to help the adorable Quill solve puzzles, traverse the environment, and even defeat monsters, all in her quest to rescue her uncle. Moss is a charming adventure you can knock out in 4-5 hours. So even if it’s not a tour-de-force of what a VR headset is capable of, we highly recommend it.
If you like the game, there’s also a sequel out.
8. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR: The best fantasy setting in VR
credits: playstation.com
Platforms: SteamVR, PSVR
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has become a bit of a meme for how much Bethesda re-released this title since 2011. But for all the crazy ports and legendary editions, TES: V in VR was a worthwhile re-release.
It’s nothing too special, but it is still the Skyrim we all know and love (and maybe hate a bit). You get to become the Dragonborn, join the Dark Brotherhood, explore Skyrim, and experience the iconic opening sequence. But seeing all of it in VR makes the experience that much more immersive. So while we all wait for news on The Elder Scrolls VI, Skyrim VR is a good way for virtual reality gamers to pass the time.
9. Marvel’s Iron Man VR: Best for superhero fans
credits: playstation.com
Platforms: Meta Quest 2, PSVR
If you like Marvel, there’s no better VR title to delve into than Iron Man VR. If you’ve ever wanted to be a superhero, it’s as close as you can get in VR.
The game’s everything you expect. You get to play Tony Stark inside the Iron Man suit. There’s even a story (although it’s not canon to the MCU or anything else), and the feeling you get flying the Iron Man suit is exhilarating. The game’s mechanics are well-made and addictive, so you might come back to it just to fly around. If you opt to use Meta Quest 2 to play this game, you’ll definitely have an immersive experience through the enhanced graphics and strong processing power of this VR headset.
Marvel’s Iron Man VR – Announce Trailer | PS VR
10. Horizon: Call of the Mountain: A tour-de-force of the PSVR 2
credits: playstation.com
Platforms: PSVR 2
Horizon: Call of the Mountain is one of the newest VR titles, and it’s a PlayStation exclusive. So it’s only available to play on the PlayStation VR 2, which not everyone has access to.
But it’s a memorable experience. You don’t play as Aloy (although you will meet her at some point in the game). Rather, Call of the Mountain puts you in the shoes of Ryas, a disgraced soldier that’s on a quest to redeem himself.
The game’s filled with intense combat, puzzle sequences, a lot of climbing, and breathtaking views. And it’s in the Horizon world. If you loved adventuring as Aloy, you’ll feel right at home in Call of the Mountain.
If you want a showcase of what the PSVR2 can do, Horizon: Call of the Mountain is a great game. But the advanced tech of Sony’s latest VR lets it collect even more accurate data about you. For example, according to PlayStation’s privacy policy, the company collects information regarding your current location, your PlayStation console ID, your IP address, and more. Hence, we recommend using this tool with caution if you want to safeguard your privacy and stay safe online.
Horizon Call of the Mountain – Launch Trailer | PS VR2 Games