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VR gaming is on a slow and steady climb and if the wind blows favorably, Apple’s foray into VR headsets might give the platform its much-needed push. Of course, the best VR games also have a bearing on that. Their immersive innovations won’t just justify the need for more expensive gaming hardware, but should also convince anyone that it’s the next step forward.
Hence, we bring you some of the best VR games to play in 2024 if only to see just how far the platform has come.
Resident Evil 4 Remake
As if the original Resident Evil 4 Remake wasn’t scary enough. Here’s a VR version.
Resident Evil 4 Remake VR (via the DLC) is like stepping into a horror movie. You’ve got all the intense moments from the original game, but now they’re right in your face, literally.
Zombies, pitchforks, crazy cultists – it’s all there in stunning HD gore, and you can feel every gunshot and explosion thanks to the haptic feedback. There are some weird transitions to third-person (especially during cutscenes) and not being able to interact with stuff as much.
Still, despite its flaws, it’s a novel way to experience whatever nightmare Leon Kennedy considers his regular Tuesday.
Resident Evil Village
If you thought the cutscene transitions for Resident Evil 4 Remake were jarring or out of place in a VR game, then perhaps Resident Evil Village might be preferable. This game was made with the first-person view in mind, so it was a low-hanging fruit for the VR platform.
You get to be chased by a nine-foot-taller vampire lady from a more personal perspective. Just don’t expect the same level of jumpscares and zombie horror as Resident Evil Village has a notable change in its creative direction. Still, it’s one of the best horror games of the decade, and something you ought to experience in VR.
Gran Turismo 7
But enough about horror (for now). Grant Turismo 7 with its VR capabilities is a game you’ll want to play if you like the rush but without the scares. It’s one of the most realistic racing sims right now, complete with 4K HDR.
Naturally, the headset feedback offers maximum immersion and will work hard to ensure you feel like you’re in the driver’s seat. The game’s VR mode also takes good advantage of eye-tracking so you don’t feel too much vertigo even at 200 km/h.
Vertigo 2
Speaking of Vertigo, here’s Vertigo 2 and it’s only one of the strongest contenders for VR capabilities in the past year. It’s apparently right up there with Half-Life: Alyx in terms of leveraging VR’s capabilities which won’t always translate well into the traditional mouse-and-keyboard setups.
The Vertigo 2 diverse campaign spans 18 chapters filled with unpredictable missions, boss battles, and a plethora of enemies. It apparently lacks puzzles, but its cartoonish style and dynamic gameplay ensure hours of entertainment, albeit with potential comfort concerns for sensitive VR users due to the fast-paced gameplay.
Synapse
Synapse, the eagerly anticipated PSVR2 exclusive from nDreams, is sure to captivate with its blend of high-octane gunplay, telekinetic powers, and a monochromatic art style accented with vibrant colors.
It draws inspiration from Inception and the narrative thrusts players into a mind-bending journey through the subconscious of a rogue colonel. Synapse’s polished presentation extends from its sleek user interface to its superb audio design, leveraging PSVR2’s features for immersive gameplay.
Besides, any game that takes a Nolan movie as its inspiration is sure to blow your mind.
Propagation: Paradise Hotel
While on the topic of inspiration, Propagation: Paradise Hotel is not ashamed of borrowing some tricks from other horror games. Drawing inspiration from the iconic Resident Evil series, you are thrust here into a relentless battle for survival within the confines of a desolate hotel.
What sets Propagation apart is its novel gameplay mechanics, including unconventional tactics of incapacitating zombies. And while there might be minor setbacks in interactivity, Propagation excels in delivering a visually stunning and adrenaline-fueled horror game experience that should leave you clamoring for more.
Asgard’s Wrath
Stepping into Asgard’s Wrath is like being transported by Heimdall into the heart of Norse mythology in VR. The graphics are not the most realistic, but they do the job of making you feel like you’re part of the world while keeping its own cartoonish charm, and the soundtrack adds this extra layer of immersion that just sucks you in.
What’s really cool is how you get to play different characters, each with their own story to uncover. And the combat? It’s as satisfying as seeing Thor splat Frost Giants with Mjolnir. There are some quirks here and there (such as the strict platform requirements), but overall, it’s an epic journey that you won’t want to miss if you’re into VR gaming.
Breachers
Breachers emerged as one of Quest 2’s strongest titles, benefitting from extensive testing for a polished launch. It was developed by Triangle Factory, and we can safely say that it surpasses their previous game, Hyper Dash, with refined combat emphasizing strategy and verticality.
Breachers offers two modes and four maps, Bomb Defusal stands out for its intense gameplay, requiring teamwork and caution. Weapons handling is as satisfying as it can be in VR, and the game’s visuals impress even with minor flaws.
While the lack of competitive play at launch is disappointing, updates have addressed it and it’s now more or less a complete experience. Breachers is a fluid VR shooter experience reminiscent of Rainbow Six: Siege or even Counter-Strike, especially in co-op mode.
Horizon: Call of the Mountain
The Horizon series are beautiful games, no doubt, and they feature some of the most detailed environments you can climb and parkour into as Aloy. Now, you can experience Aloy’s adventure through her eyes with Horizon: Call of the Mountain.
Horizon: Call of the Mountain for PlayStation VR 2 condenses the Horizon experience into a spectacle-driven adventure, emphasizing combat and breathtaking vistas over narrative depth. The game showcases the PS VR2’s capabilities with its immersive combat and breathtaking vistas.
The gameplay can feel repetitive due to excessive climbing segments and a linear story (not really the same RPG experience as the mainline Horizon games). Still, Call of the Mountain can have its moments and serves as a promising debut for Horizon in VR.
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2
You might have noticed that some of the best VR games we recommended were mostly in horror format. It can’t be helped as horror best demonstrates the beauty of this platform. Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2, for that matter, is at the forefront of this technological marvel.
The VR immersion intensifies the horror, as expected, with well-crafted jump scares and a relentless atmosphere that you ought to be familiar with by now. The game’s simplicity also shines in VR, offering an anxiety-inducing experience.
Background lore adds depth, while the Quest version maintains quality. It’s a must-play for horror fans and something you should try out after a night out at the pizzeria.
