Virtual reality (VR) headsets now have a large base of high-quality games, and producers are always inventing new ways to leverage technology to create incredible new adventures. We have a collection of amazing games for you to test regardless of the VR gear you have.
The World on VR Platforms
You’ll notice, if you haven’t already, that each game uses one or more of the platforms, but you may not be familiar with all of them. As for the PC, there are several different digital shop windows that sell games. When it comes to non-VR games, this usually doesn’t make much of a difference. Yet, not all headphones will work with them because the PC Oculus store and Steam’s SteamVR utilize different APIs.
For instance, you can play VR games from the Oculus shop without any problems if you’re in possession of Oculus gadgets (Oculus Rift or Oculus Quest) tied up to your PC for virtual reality. There must be a little relay between the two APIs to play SteamVR games, and this can sometimes lead to a less-than-perfect experience. If you don’t have an Oculus headset, that means you won’t be able to buy games from the Oculus store, but if you don’t have an Oculus device, you should use the SteamVR version of the game instead. Logically, some games are only available through the Oculus shop, so they won’t be available on Steam or anywhere else.
When the game is listed as having a version of Oculus Quest, it means it can be played originally on those standalone headphones without a computer. When compared to the same title running on a PC, quest versions of games are invariably reduced. Watch out for certain titles that include desktop and Quest versions. If you buy one of them, you can play the Quest version while you’re away and switch to the PC version at your desk. Of course, a Sony PSVR headset and a PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 4 console are required for the PS VR game.
The Climb
- Platforms: Oculus Rift and Quest
Avoid this game if you’re afraid of heights; if not and if you want to get your heart rate up, The Climb is a good choice. The game’s premise is straightforward. You’re a climber who has to reach the summit of each level’s peak. Finding the optimal route and maintaining limited grip endurance to avoid falling is the dare. The Climb is equally gorgeous and peaceful whether you play on PC or in Quest mode.
It’s extremely pleasurable when you reach the summit and take in the final panoramic view. Your character even lets out a delighted cry after reaching the summit. The Climb isn’t for everyone due to the dizzying heights and standing position, but if these factors are within your comfort zone, this is a game you must play.
Half-Life: Alyx
- Platforms: Steam VR
Half-Life is one of the most well-known video game franchises, with fans eagerly anticipating the third major sequel for nearly 15 years. It’s been so long since Half-Life 3 has become an online meme, and no one seriously expected the game to ever see the light of day. That is, until Valve Software stated that the new Half-Life game was in the works, causing the entire Internet to erupt. The moment it was announced that Half-Life: Alyx would be a game falling into the category of VR-only games, the displeasure was apparent. But still, it’s a fantastic VR game.
In a variety of ways, Alyx pushes the boundaries of contemporary VR game design. Storytelling and building the world is as good as in any other part of Half-Life, which means your ‘mileage’ can vary. Nevertheless, no other VR game compares to Alyx in terms of gameplay and graphic design. Set as a sequel to Half-Life 2, you play Alyx Vance, investigating the secrets of an Earth conquered by extraterrestrials after the disastrous physical experiment we first saw in Half-Life 1.
This is a first-person shooter, but Valve has solved so many problems that the FPS genre (which is, otherwise, extremely popular in the world of gaming, so much so that some games have turned into eSports where huge amounts of money are at stake, including the one that comes from sportsbooks on Bookmaker-Expert.com) meets in VR. Everything is so fluid in VR, from fleshly shooting to motion, that it’s difficult to go back to less sophisticated shooting VR games. Alyx is best experienced using the right computer and Valve Index headphones but is no less convincing using other SteamVR compatible headphones like the Oculus Rift S or Quest.
Elite Dangerous
- Platforms: Steam VR and Oculus Rift
Some of the best VR experiences are those located in the cockpit. Whether it’s car racing around the track, operating a mechanism, or flying a spaceship. Elite Dangerous is a game about the latter, and we can’t imagine playing it any other way than in virtual reality.
You start as a pilot with a shabby little ship and an even worse bank account, but over time you’ll complete contracts and create those cash reserves to become a real threat. The VR experience is absolutely immersive, even though Elite Dangerous looks and plays great on a computer monitor or television. You really feel like you’re in that cockpit. It actually gets on your nerves when cracks start to show up in your canopy during the heat of battle. Most importantly, the very scale of things is only visible in VR. When you connect with a massive space station and look up at the tall structures on its surface, you really feel like a tiny player in a very large and dangerous universe.
Superhot VR
- Platforms: Oculus Quest, Steam VR
In the realm of shooters, a non-VR edition of Superhot was a refreshing change. This exquisite puzzle shooter employs novel temporal mechanics in which the action, just like you, advances forward only. Consider it like being in the Matrix, where time freezes still and you have complete control over your actions. As you continue through the levels, more attackers will swoop at you, and it will probably take you more attempts to get through all the crazier situations. The really cool thing is that you can finally watch a replay of your running in real-time, where you can see yourself in all that superhuman, superstar action.
The VR-based version of Superhot might be a unique escapade. The game has always felt like it was intended to be played in virtual reality, and it’s confirmed to be the most effective way to do it. The Oculus Quest version is our favorite, but Superhot VR is fantastic no matter where you try it.
Resident Evil 7
- Platforms: PSVR
Speaking of PS VR exclusives, the VR version of Resident Evil 7 can only be found on a very popular Sony console. The RE 7 is scary enough on a flat screen, but if you never want to fall asleep again (figuratively, of course), the VR gameplay mode really raises the inside tension. This first-person view of the Resident Evil franchise has proven to be extremely popular.
The latest title in the series, Resident Evil Village, retains that perspective. Unfortunately, the latest title doesn’t offer a VR gameplay mode, which has changed with Resident Evil 4 VR and which is more action-oriented. But if you’re playing high-quality horror from a famous franchise in the form of virtual reality, then Resident Evil 7 is the right game for you.
Tetris Effect
- Platforms: PSVR and Oculus Quest
Tetris Effect was once a PSVR exclusive, and it’s still a wonderful game on that device. Given this, the game has now expanded to other platforms and we prefer the Oculus Quest version to the others since it allows you to play this peaceful masterwork from wherever.
At its core, this is just Tetris, and Alexey Pajitnov was the first to invent the same global phenomenon. This, however, doesn’t make Tetris Effect the same as it used to be, as this game focuses on surreal, beautiful audio-visual experiences. The name “Tetris Effect” refers to what happens when you play so many games – that you can still see them (Tetris, in this case) when you close your eyes. It’s something people first noticed with Tetris – that it’s ‘addictive’.
