Video games already make us feel like we’re in another world, but VR takes it to the next level. Button presses become sword swings and even the most mundane horror becomes heart-stopping. One of the first big VR hits, Job Simulator was a launch title for almost every headset. This quirky sandbox game makes players work at jobs including auto mechanic, chef and convenience store clerk.
1. Resident Evil 7
With a focus on player agency and decision-making, this VR game provides a post-apocalyptic experience that feels alive to explore. Whether you are looking to find safe spaces to hide or searching for supplies to stay alive, this title makes it clear that every action has an effect in the world around you.
Fans of the franchise will enjoy this VR update that allows them to experience one of the best open-world games of all time in a whole new way. The addition of virtual reality accentuates the game’s massive world and exhilarating combat while offering a more immersive gameplay experience that is truly unique to this genre.
2. No Man’s Sky
While not a direct sequel to Gordon Freeman’s Half-Life, this VR spin-off game re-imagines the world of Black Mesa and brings you back to Alyx Vance. It boasts great gunplay, a compelling story, challenging puzzles, and an unmistakably Half-Life atmosphere.
Explore planets teeming with life, dogfight in space, study xenobiology, command massive starships, build bases and more in this mesmerizing open-world experience. The qwirkle game has seen numerous expansions since a rocky launch, which further enhanced its huge universe.
Few games scream “VR” quite like this one, but that doesn’t stop it from being an exhilarating ride. Your heart will race as you hurtle down impossibly steep drops and dreadfully slow corkscrews.
3. Astro Bot: Rescue Mission
Astro Bot: Rescue Mission is a delightfully charming, thoroughly fun showcase for the VR capabilities of Sony’s PSVR platform. It takes a tried-and-true genre and makes it feel genuinely fresh thanks to its clever level designs.
You can scout the landscapes of each world from all sides thanks to the headset you wear, and lean in and peek around corners to discover secret collectibles. The game also boasts a number of gorgeous, eye-catching locales, from underwater depths to mystic mountaintops.
It also contains a host of fearsome bosses to battle, from a giant robot gorilla that will have you pulling teeth to a horny corseted lady spider that is no match for Astro’s fists.
4. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
A re-release of an already popular game, Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a smart entry point into VR. It challenges headset-wearers to work together to disarm a bomb while other players read off complex instructions. It’s tense, satisfying and accessible to people of all skill levels.
Those looking for a more relaxed experience will find it in Superhot VR. This first-person shooter makes you feel like Neo or Max Payne as you dodge bullets and whittle down enemies.
Roller coaster simulations are a perfect fit for virtual reality and few do it better than No Limits 2. The jigsaw puzzle was designed specifically for this, which minimizes stomach-churning motion sickness.
5. Beat Saber
Beat Saber is the most famous VR game of all time, and it’s a perfect example of how you can combine a cardio workout with music. It’s also a great showcase for what VR can do when it comes to motion-controlled games.
It’s the first game on this list that requires VR to play, and it’s a must-try for any PSVR owner. It’s a unique, tense game that has players disarming a bomb while reading instructions on a screen that only the headset wearer can see.
This Valve epic takes full advantage of the PlayStation VR, putting you in the shoes of protagonist Alyx Vance in stunning detail. It’s as thrilling as it is immersive.
6. Horizon Beyond
Half-Life fans probably thought their dreams of a new entry in the franchise would never come true, but Valve bucked that trend with this incredible VR spin-off. It’s not a full-on continuation of Gordon Freeman’s story, but it does a great job of immersing players in the world of Alyx Vance and her battle against the Combine.
The game’s intuitive controls and attention to detail make it a standout. The fact that you can use the environment as a weapon further adds to the appeal. Beat Saber takes rhythm games to the next level by elevating songs you think you know into vibration-led sensory experiences.