VR gaming is key to the industry right now, and the industry has responded with some amazing titles. They’re journeys to places you’ve only imagined. They get you off your feet and moving to the music. All this can be yours at an affordable price and a little extra room in front of the sofa. The right game is out there for you. Here are some of our favorites. The gameplay is intuitive, yet challenging. There’s a mix of puzzle-solving and combat which keeps even the average player interested from start to finish. The game stays true to the Half-Life lore as well, fleshing out the story of its protagonist to an immensely fulfilling climax. Of course, playing in a world like this requires a lot of power, so a portable headset like the Oculus Quest won’t do the trick unless you’ve tethered it to a powerful PC. Overall, as long as you have the equipment you need, this is an amazing adventure that will keep you thrilled through multiple difficulty levels. If you are a fan of Half-Life, this is a must-play. Even if you’re not a fan, there’s enough background here to allow you to follow the story, without regretting a single step along the way. Platforms: HTC Vive, Valve Index, Oculus, Windows Mixed Reality | Install Size: 67GB This is one of the staples in VR gaming because of its simplicity and its addictive nature. All genres of music are available, from Hip Hop to Rock, and the game includes popular artists such as BTS, Imagine Dragons, and Green Day. Most popular music packs cost extra, so this game can quickly get expensive. Plus, while you can sideload alternative music packs, doing so halts game updates, making things like multiplayer mode incompatible until you sideload again. If you don’t sideload, you’re limited to the 100 or so songs that you can buy. Beat Saber is the quintessential VR game that needs to be on every VR headset. It’s not the coolest experience, but it’s one of the easiest and most fun that anyone can learn. Bring an Oculus Quest to a party, fire up Beat Saber, and you’ll have hours of entertainment. Platforms: HTC Vive, Valve Index, Oculus, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, PSVR | Install Size: Approximately 2GB The game lets you choose from one of five environments including the desert, a tropical cliffside, or even the city. There are only 15 levels in The Climb 2, but there is some re-playability, and challenges gamify repeat plays. The levels are challenging and exhilarating. The environments are rich in scenery and even some culture. You can climb and jump from handhold to handhold. There are some unexpected surprises, such as poisonous plants and precipitous drops standing in your way of attaining the top of your climb, at which point you are treated to some extra fun, intense, and sometimes dizzying views of everything around you. Platforms: Oculus, Oculus Quest | Install Size: Approximately 4.5GB This adventure sees a smuggler and his droid assistant get caught in a tractor beam and pulled down onto the planet Mustafar. From there, Darth Vader himself recruits you to assist him in retrieving an artifact. It turns out you are the descendant of an ancient Jedi who can control an artifact that Vader needs. The story’s three volumes take you through the complete adventure. Along the way, you learn how to use the force, wield a lightsaber, and fire a blaster. You need to purchase all three volumes, which is a downer, but the volumes are inexpensive compared to the average game. You’ll also need to be using an Oculus-branded headset since this was built by the Oculus team. Re-playability is about on par with watching the same movie over and over, it depends on your taste. But, for the chance to stand toe to toe with Darth Vader, who is terrifying in person, it’s worth it. Platforms: Oculus, Oculus Quest, PSVR | Install Size: 2.7GB The graphics are not the sharpest, though. They actually come off as a little cartoony, lacking realism. Then again, you’re piloting a starship through the Alpha quadrant, so maybe realism isn’t the right feel. All the same, don’t expect it to look the same as an episode of TNG. But being able to pilot a starship and battle it out with foes while working together with your friends makes this game a must for fans of the show, while still being fun for everyone. Platforms: HTC Vive, Valve Index, Oculus, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, PSVR | Install Size: Approximately 1.5GB But there is a fairly steep learning curve as you learn the tools and their functions, and what tools to use to create which shapes. It can be intimidating, but there’s even a Discord community to help you out. SculptrVR is also a better way to create solid structures and characters. It works the way our brains want it to work—more solid and almost tangible. So if you’ve been looking to unlock your creativity, this is a great game for you. Platforms: HTC Vive, Valve Index, Oculus, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, PSVR | Install Size: Less than 1GB Of course, like any free chat room open to the public, you can encounter some unfriendlies. It’s not a dire situation at all, but it’s important to know who you or your children are talking to when playing. There are also tools in the game to block people you don’t know. Many find the ability to create their own games quite freeing, and to see others enjoying those games is an amazing amount of fun. Platforms: HTC Vive, Valve Index, Oculus, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, PSVR | Install Size: Approximately 1GB Jump scares reign in this game. You can play it sitting on your couch if you like, but that does lead to one problem—none of the areas in the game are explorable. There’s no way to move around and see what’s behind corners. That’s a little limiting for a VR game, but it works. Also, the tasks you need to perform can get repetitive at times. But if you’re the kind of person who loves to get your blood pounding, Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted will definitely do that for you. Platforms: HTC Vive, Valve Index, Oculus, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, PSVR | Install Size: Approximately 2GB Updates and new songs are generally free, including the most recent 2089 update which transports you into a future where robots have taken over the world and only you can stop them. This was a free add-on to an already great game. Pistol Whip sees active development, and it’s fun for all skill levels. The one thing we would caution you against is, if you are prone to motion sickness, this game might get to you. The game will have you constantly moving forward as if you’re on a conveyor belt, and it can be disorienting. You will also be ducking and stepping side to side, and it can get to you, so be warned. Platforms: HTC Vive, Valve Index, Oculus, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, PSVR | Install Size: Approximately 2GB If you don’t have a powerful headset or computer, it’s hard to go wrong with Beat Saber (view at Oculus). It’s an addictive game that is easy to learn, but exceptionally hard to master. There are multiple ways to play including multiplayer, solo quest, and 360 mode which send blocks flying in from all directions. Re-playability is quite high as each time you play you get a little bit better. It’s simply a must-have for any VR aficionado.
What to Look For in a VR Game
Compatibility - If you already own a headset, it’s easy to tell if a game is compatible by checking the store. If you’re still shopping for a VR headset and you want to know whether a game will work on it, most VR game stores have a website you can check as well. Re-playability - Some games can be played and played again. Others have a more narrative quality that can really be enjoyed only so much before they start to get stale. It’s a good idea to read reviews of a game to make sure you’ll enjoy it for a long time before putting down your hard-earned money. If you get only one play-through, you’ll want to make the most of the experience. Locomotion - VR headsets have several different methods of moving around to take into account. There’s sitting, swinging your arms, room scale, and more. How you play a game will generally determine how much space you need. Therefore, the space you have available will dictate the types of games you’ll be able to play. For example, The Climb 2 would be difficult to play in a confined space.
