Virtual reality games have come a long way since the headache-inducing first attempts in the 1980s. Today, VR games are immersive experiences that combine art and gameplay in a unique way. The top seven best VR games use high-performance personal computers and gaming consoles to produce a new way to experience gaming.
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Getting Started with VR Equipment
If you’re new to VR, there are a few things you need to get started:
- A VR headset: There are a variety of VR headsets on the market, so it’s important to choose one that’s right for you. Some popular headsets include the Meta Quest 2, the Valve Index, and the HTC Vive Pro 2.
- A VR-compatible PC: If you’re using a PC-based VR headset, you’ll need a computer that meets the minimum system requirements. You can find these requirements on the website of the headset manufacturer.
- A VR-compatible gaming space: Make sure you have enough space to move around freely while wearing your VR headset. You don’t want to trip over anything or bump into walls.
Once you have your VR equipment, you’re ready to start playing! Here are a few tips for beginners:
- Start with short play sessions. VR can be a bit overwhelming at first, so it’s best to start with short play sessions and gradually increase the amount of time you spend in VR.
- Take breaks often. If you start to feel dizzy or nauseous, take a break from VR.
- Use the comfort settings in your VR headset. Most VR headsets have comfort settings that can help reduce motion sickness.
- Experiment with different movement options. There are a variety of movement options available in VR games, such as teleporting, smooth locomotion, and snap turning. Experiment with different options to find the one that’s most comfortable for you.
Ready to dive into the immersive world of virtual reality? Our sources helped us rank the best VR games that is available today for both experts and novices. These impressive and fun titles are an enjoyable and unique new way to enjoy the best that game developers have to offer. Let us know your favorite VR titles in the comments below!
The List: Best Virtual Reality Games, According to Experts
1. “Half-Life: Alyx” (2020)
“Half-Life” is a beloved series from game developer Valve. “Half-Life: Alyx” is a smash hit game that revisits the iconic series. Rock Paper Shotgun raves, “‘Half-Life: Alyx’ is Valve’s first ‘Half-Life’ game in 13 years, and their first FPS [first person shooter] in eight, but they’ve lost none of the craft that first made them famous. ‘HL:A’ takes everything that made previous games in the series great and makes them work in VR, from headcrabs pouncing at your face to Antlions bursting when you shoot their glowing sacs.”
PC Gamer praises, “The game squeezes an incredible amount of variety into its 15 hours, from large scale firefights with Combine soldiers and moments of quiet, atmospheric exploration, to genuinely unsettling horror in the dark tunnels beneath the city. If you thought a poison headcrab leaping at you in ‘Half-Life 2’ was bad, imagine that happening in VR, in a dark room, where all you have is a tiny flashlight to find your way to safety.
MixedX exclaims, “‘Half-Life: Alyx’ is in a class of its own. Whether it’s the surprising story, exciting gun battles, or the still unbeaten attention to detail. No other VR shooter delivers such thrilling action, such likable characters, and such variety in level and puzzle design.”
2. “Beat Saber” (2018)
“Beat Saber” is a best-selling rhythm game. It combines quick scrolling puzzle game play combined with laser-wave aesthetics. “‘Dance Dance Revolution’ meets ‘Star Wars,’ ‘Guitar Hero’ meets ‘Tron;’ that’s the best way to describe ‘Beat Saber.’ This rhythm game has players slashing around glowing sabers to the beat of a musical track. It challenges players to keep up with the tune while cutting through colored blocks and dodging obstacles,” says techradar.
CNET describes, “Two lightsabers, slashing to music. ‘Beat Saber’ is a music-rhythm movement/dance game that’s done so well, it’s already in arcades. Slash blocks in particular directions, avoid bombs, duck obstacles and suddenly it’s a workout. A really, really great rave-dance VR lightsaber workout, and with its frequent music packs and upgrades, it’s become one of the all-time VR classics.”
“‘Beat Saber’ is a fast, kinetic rhythm game in which the player slashes color-coded blocks to the beat of the music playing in the background, and one of the best VR games for working up a sweat. Using two motion controllers, you’ll swipe in the air vertically or horizontally and occasionally hold your controller in a position to rack up points,” elaborates tom’s guide.
3. “Pistol Whip” (2019)
“Pistol Whip” is the descendant of classic light gun games like “Dunk Hunt” or “Time Crisis.” This modern classic features a cinematic shootout experience with a bass-thumping soundtrack. VG247 comments, “The game rewards you for shooting enemies in sync with the accompanying backing track, so I’m not joking when I say that it forces you into a rhythm. Think ‘Beat Saber,’ except you’ve got guns and some wacky environments to go wild in.”
Upload adds, “Rhythm games are a dime a dozen in VR but, for our money, ‘Pistol Whip’ is the most inventive and overall best of the lot. The focus on firing to the beat as you duck and weave through blinding neon obstacle courses makes the game a joyous assault on the senses that requires genuine skill to master.”
PC Mag details, “‘Pistol Whip’ is a superb title for VR gamers looking to add more rhythm and action to their libraries. You’ll need a sense of rhythm, and a good pair of knees to match the action on screen. It’s an excellent choice if you want a workout.”
4. “MineCraft VR” (2016)
“Minecraft” is at the height of its popularity. This game has a particular appeal to elementary-school aged players, but spans across every age group. “Minecraft” merchandise can be seen in every form from back packs to Halloween costumes. Software Testing Help explains, “The game is an exploration, survival, fun game where players mine the landscape to build whatever they wish and earn rewards by doing so. It has received support from educators looking for virtual reality games for kids or trainee adults and trainers, as well as ordinary gamers.”
Rock Paper Shotgun offers, “Minecraft’s landscapes look fantastic in VR, too. A blockworld with all those clear, cuboid edges, somehow seems so much more tangible than the photoreality others shoot for. It’s worth just booting up for the sake of looking at some scenery.”
PC Gamer states, “For a game you can easily spend a dozen hours at a pop playing, with much of that time spent hunched over crafting menus and chipping away at stone walls, we’re not sure ‘Minecraft’ is really the best fit for VR on a regular basis. But as a way to explore beautifully blocky vistas and biomes from time to time, the VR works wonderfully. Longtime ‘Minecraft’ fans will get a real thrill seeing the game they love from a whole new angle.”
5. “No Man’s Sky” (2022)
“No Man’s Sky” is a game that notoriously overpromised and underdelivered with its initial release. However, since that time it has continued to get updates and has become regarded as a masterpiece. “‘No Man’s Sky’ took a while to iron out its kinks, but now it is a game like no other. In VR, there is no game that comes this close to what it could feel like to explore actual alien planets, and that alone deserves a spot among the best VR games,” claims techradar.
CNET relates, “‘No Man’s Sky’ is a game that’s only gotten more and more spectacular with age, becoming an endless space adventure with a ridiculous amount of things to do. The entire game can be played in VR, and the results are often jaw-dropping. For sheer play value alone, this is worth adding to your VR collection. The [PlayStation] VR 2 upgrade is one of the headset’s best games at launch.”
“The famous (and infamous) space exploration game can also be enjoyed on a VR headset. You’re taken right into the heart of the new worlds you discover or can sit and truly appreciate the massiveness of space from your ship’s cockpit. And since the galaxy is so enormous, you’ll never run out of new things to see and find as you hunt for resources to improve your ship and travel even greater distances,” reviews tom’s guide.
6. “Iron Man VR” (2020)
“Iron Man” suits gamers up in Tony Stark’s famous flying suit. This title features fun arcade style action. “The VR version immerses you into a virtual environment where, as Tony Stark, your combat survival depends on your skill and ability to control the Iron Man suit in its HUD, and the ability and skill to kill enemies including a computer hacker and terrorist known as Ghost. Players can customize the suit,” according to Software Testing Help.
Take flight when Marvel’s Iron Man VR makes its way to Meta Quest 2 this fall! Wishlist the game now on: https://t.co/l1JwCgGmby pic.twitter.com/Q9J8EeMP2d
— Marvel Games (@MarvelGames) October 11, 2022
CNET asserts, “Ever dream of being Iron Man? This game will have you hovering around in a jetpack, using your hands to aim and blast through a series of missions that are surprisingly kinetic and fun. Iron Man was originally a game on the PlayStation VR, but the move to Quest 2 is far more fun because there are no wires to worry about getting tangled in.”
“Here’s one of the best, if not the best VR games for pretending you’re in ‘The Avengers.’ You take control of the Iron Man suit, staring through its familiar HUD, navigating obstacles in the environment and throwing punches and firing energy blasts to take down your foes. Back at base you can customize your suit (still in first-person), giving you a different side of the Tony Stark experience,” evaluates tom’s guide.
7. “Resident Evil 4” (2019)
“Resident Evil” is a horror survival series that more often sees players using stealth or running away as the best means for staying alive. This VR title is frightening and atmospheric. MixedX compliments, “How does a timeless horror classic get even better? By putting you as the protagonist directly into the game instead of just sitting in front of it. Seventeen years after its initial release, the hit game ‘Resident Evil 4’ has been remarkably immersive and performant adapted to the demands of virtual reality on the Quest 2.”
“Resident Evil 4 VR is an incredible remake of the classic survival horror game for the Meta Quest 2 platform. Armed with nothing but a knife, handgun, and the tools you can scavenge on the way, you’ll have to fend off parasite-infected brutes and monsters on your mission to rescue the U.S. President’s daughter,” assures techradar.
CNET articulates, “Playing the classic ‘Resident Evil 4’ in VR feels like a whole new game. The ability to use your hands, holster weapons and actually walk into creepy settings is transformative. Other than 2D cut-scenes, this feels like a native VR game.”
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