The best VR games intend to take your gaming experience one step further, bringing the dream of stepping into your favorite games to life. But, with the number of titles on the market, it can be hard to know which ones are worth your time and energy, so we've pulled together the best of the best so you know which adventures in VR are worth embarking on.
VR technology is becoming better, too – headsets are becoming more ergonomic, and developers continuously improve reaction times and measures against nausea so that your time playing feels smooth and you can concentrate on having fun. Because of this, VR gaming is becoming more accessible to a wider audience, making it even more important to be playing the best games on the platform.
By now there are not only a lot of games to choose from, but also different headsets to consider – if you haven’t made your choice yet, let us help you find the best VR headset with our definitive list. Whether you’re playing on a Meta Quest 3, Valve Index, or PSVR 2 headset, this list has games for any kind of VR platform. If you’re looking for something more specific, check our lists of the best Meta Quest 2 games, best VR fitness games, and best VR horror games.
Best VR games 2024
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"The gameplay is superb, the story is engaging (I’ll stay light on spoilers in this piece), and every time I slip on my Meta Quest 3 I’m left with this giddy excitement that leaves me unable to stop saying “I’m Batman.” Because more so than with any other game before it, with Arkham Shadow I am Batman." - Hamish Hector, TechRadar Gaming Contributor (Batman: Arkham Shadow is the Meta Quest 3 game you’ve been waiting for).
Available on: Meta Quest 3
Batman: Arkham Shadow landed exclusively on Meta Quest 3, and while this does provide a barrier to entry, it's well worth seeking out. Serving as a sequel to Arkham: Origins, this fully fledged VR title sees players donning the cape once more, though this time around there's a new flow to the combat. You'll swing in real time, landing punches, blocking and dodging as you slowly dispatch enemies. There's stealth too, which is a real highlight in VR.
The first person perspective isn't new to the Arkham series, but in Arkham Shadow it definitely helps make character interactions stand out. The story is a dark and twisted affair that stars a lesser known villain, and there's plenty of collectibles to track down as well. Give this one a go, as it's currently the Meta Quest 3's main must-play game.
Thumper is an absolute blast, and is still one of the best rhythm games you can pick up on a VR headset. It's intense, loud and chunky, using huge drums and atmospheric synths to create a vibe that's wholly its own.
Available on: PSVR2, PSVR, Meta Quest (all headsets), HTC Vive, Oculus
Thumper came out all the way back in 2016, and it certainly made a huge impression when it landed. All these years later, it's still one of the most unique games you can play on VR, even if it is, at its core, just a rhythm game. By offering up an original and genuinely bombastic soundtrack, Thumper has heaps of personality, matching its weighty, beat-based gameplay perfectly.
You can pick up Thumper for very cheap these days, and you absolutely should. Stick some headphones, and buckle up for a white-knuckle ride set to pounding drums and veering synths.
With Astro Bot Rescue Mission, you’re not only in control of Astro Bot himself, but you too have a presence in the world. As a looming overseer, you’re tasked with scanning the game world for the optimal, safest route for the Wall-E like robot, leaning in and around obstacles to make sure Astro Bot can come through unscathed. This adds a whole new twist to the 3D platforming genre, in a way that could only have been done in VR.
Available on: PSVR
Astro Bot Rescue Mission is a milestone game in VR's now over a decade-long journey. It's perhaps the best example of how the new medium can add fresh twists on existing genres. 3D platforming is one such genre, one that, for all intents and purposes, had been stagnating. With Astro Bot Rescue Mission, a new perspective is added, and you, the player, are a part of the action, using your giant body to break walls and guide Astro through levels.
While being available on more platforms would certainly have gotten this game higher up on our list, we really can't recommend Astro Bot Rescue Mission enough. It's charming, genuinely clever, and proof that you can indeed teach an old dog new tricks.
Arizona Sunshine 2 takes everything that made its predecessor great, and improves upon it. Fluid gunplay combines with awesome gore effects to great effect, making the game a must-play for those with a VR headset.
Platforms: PSVR 2
For fans of the best zombie games, Arizona Sunshine 2 is a must-play. You'll need to optimize the tactile gunplay the game offers while facing off with hoards of the undead, making for a fast-paced frenzy of zombie slaying. It's intense, but the gameplay feels so fluid that you can really lose yourself in its content. Plus, you can pet the dog - and that's always a good sign.
In addition, the environment of Arizona Sunshine 2 is enough to sell it alone. As you'd expect from one of the best VR games, a solid setting helps enhance the experience, which Arizona Sunshine 2 definitely delivers.
Beat Saber has become an absolute VR staple over the years, with flashy rhythm-based gameplay that still packs one heck of a punch. Thanks to a constant flow of music packs, the game continues to feel fresh, with songs from Daft Punk, The Weeknd and Billie Eilish all available to download.
Platforms: Meta Quest 2, Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, PSVR
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.
This game was one of the first VR titles to hit mainstream notoriety, because it looks so much fun to play, and it’s still one of the best VR games today thanks to an impressive library of DLC tracks that expand the song selection. Hooking up external headphones (our list of the best headphones can help you there) is a must so you can enjoy tracks from Billie Eilish, Skrillex, and Beat Saber's genre mixtapes to the fullest extent.
I Expect You to Die 2 allows you to play out your super spy fantasies, as you work through clever escape room puzzles, avoid laser beams and pull off careful assassinations. This is very much classic Bond, with all of the camp and humor you'd expect from a 60's spy caper.
Platforms: Meta Quest 2, Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift
I Expect You to Die 2 is the perfect James Bond simulator, putting you into the shoes of a bonafide international superspy on a mission to take down a criminal organization no matter what convoluted traps stand in your way.
During this escape room-like experience, you’ll have to deflect hidden lasers, avoid heat-seeking missiles, and serve drinks so you can thwart the criminal mastermind before their plan comes together. The traps can leave you feeling more like Austin Powers than 007, but even when you fail the game is full of humor to keep you entertained. With its delightful characters – including the brilliant voice acting of Wil Wheaton – and spy-cliché story, I Expect You To Die 2 delivers a VR experience that will have you feeling like a super spy.
Keep Talking and No-One Explodes is the perfect party game, as it combines a real-world game manual with in-headset bomb refusal to hilarious effect. Communication is key to success, though failing is also an absolute blast in this inventive VR puzzle game.
Platforms: Meta Quest 2, Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, PSVR
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is the new Mario Party, at least in the sense that it will make your friends hate you. Developed by Steel Crate Games, this game requires careful attention from a recommended 2 to 6 players. While one player works to defuse a bomb, the others have to provide clear instructions on how to do so, but neither team can see what the other is looking at.
Demanding some intense cooperation from your peers, Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a fun game with the right group of people, and one of the best VR games thanks to how well it translates.
Cooking games are a dime a dozen on VR platforms, but Lost Recipes manages to stand out thanks to its fun historical leanings. You'll learn as you cook historically accurate dishes, in this meditative and relaxing game.
Platforms: Meta Quest 2
A lot of the best VR games are somewhat frantic, but they don't always have to be. Lost Recipes is a wonderfully relaxing cooking simulator that's a great pick whether you've been playing games for as long as you can remember or are a complete newbie. Each level tasks you with creating a historically accurate dish using a variety of cooking methods and ingredients to please a ghost NPC who is guiding you through the process. It's a weird, yet excellent, blend of Assassin's Creed Nexus VR and Cooking Mama in VR.
Schell Games combines elements of these games with approachable VR gameplay, charming NPCs, and highly detailed VR object interaction to create a concoction that is greater than the sum of its parts. Because of this, Lost Recipes is an excellent entry point into the world of VR gaming, that will also entertain experienced users with its meditative gameplay and historical tidbits.
No Man's Sky continues to go from strength to strength, with several major updates made recently that only improve upon the base space exploration experience. The game's gorgeous planets and space generation are a sight to behold in VR, and flying your ship in first person is a real joy.
Platforms: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index, PSVR
No Man's Sky took a while to iron out its kinks, but now it is a game like no other. In VR, no game 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.
Fight aliens, build your base, or explore planets – the freedom in No Man's Sky can feel daunting, but it's also exhilarating. Traversing and discovering its generated worlds is already one epic adventure many gamers would gladly immerse in. However, Hello Games has taken it to the next level by making No Man’s Sky’s VR experience better than most other developers have on their games.
Resident Evil 4 still holds up as one of the best horror games ever created, and it's even better in VR. Updated controls, redesigned specifically for VR, offer precise shooter combat, and updated visuals breathe new life into the infected-filled village that serves as the game's setting.
Platform: Meta 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.
Thanks to the great array of comfort options available, this is a game that will leave you frightened instead of queasy. The immersive controls are awesome, too: you’ll really feel like Leon S. Kennedy as you stare down a horde of angry villagers trying to tear you limb from limb – it’s enough to get your heart racing. it would make sense that one of the best survival horror games would also make one of the best VR games.
If you own a PSVR headset, why not try out Resident Evil 7: Biohazard? This game features a lot of what’s great about Resident Evil 4 in VR, facing you off against equally terrifying odds as you try to escape the ranch of the wicked Baker family.
It's Skyrim in VR, you know the drill. Well, perhaps not, given just how fun the game is when translated into this new medium. The Bethesda jank shines through here, somehow made funnier by VR controls and a new perspective. Surely you've got just one more playthrough of Skyrim in you?
Platforms: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index,PSVR
At this point, Skyrim should need no introduction as a game that's been rereleased more times than we can count. This time, it’s come to the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR, and, in doing so, it offers one of the biggest adventure games we’ve ever seen in VR.
Not only do you get to re-live the entire base game of Skyrim in VR, but the game includes the Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn DLC as well. Even if Skyrim VR isn’t one of the best VR games on a technical level, with its dated graphics (that can be improved with mods) and slightly rough translation to VR, it’s still an adventure easily worth diving into – especially if you're an Elder Scrolls fan.
Superhot is another staple of VR gaming, and one of the best recommendations we can give for those looking to pick up games for a new headset. It's a shooter, but also more of a puzzle game, playing out in slow-motion. Perfect for beginners, and for those looking for a more action-packed title to play, without some of the discomfort that can come with other titles.
Platforms: Meta Quest 2, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index, PSVR
Super addictive first-person shooter Superhot has come a long way since its humble beginnings one of the best free web browser games in 2013. It's found its natural home on VR headsets, where it makes the most of 360-degree tracking by having enemies flank you from all sides.
Because time moves in slow motion when you do, Superhot VR benefits from the flexibility of a bigger play space. As the difficulty ramps up, you'll need every inch of cover to dodge incoming fire, bullet-time style, while crushing faceless enemies using guns, shurikens, and – most satisfyingly –your clenched fists.
Tetris Effect VR comes from the minds behind Rez, and continues the studio's penchant for triggering powerful emotions from relatively simple gameplay. Light and music combine with one of the most iconic games of all time to create something that feels entirely new.
Platforms: Meta Quest 2, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index, PSVR
It's hard to put the Tetris Effect experience into words. Fundamentally, you’re playing a regular game of Tetris, except that the environments you're playing in change - it's trippy as heck.
Each level has its own distinct flavor, with music and visuals tailored to its theme. For example, you can play an underwater level and hear soothing underwater noises, while sparkling whales float around your head.
It's a psychedelic and hypnotic experience, and one that everyone should have the privilege to play especially if you're looking for one of the best VR games that gives you a more meditative VR experience to enjoy.
Walkabout Golf is a competent golf-simulator with some seriously fun courses to play through. The great thing about the game is its variety of worlds, ranging from outer space to more classic offerings. One to check out for fans of golf games, especially those played with motion controls.
Platforms: Meta Quest 2, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index
Walkabout Mini Golf is an excellent golfing simulator, offering you eight varied courses (plus DLC) set in unique locations from a pirate cove to outer space.
Its expertly crafted golfing mechanics make it feel like you're playing the real thing – and whether you're a more cautious or brazen golfer you'll find that your playstyle will be perfectly translated into this virtual world.
While it might not be the most mind-blowing offering on this list Walkabout Mini Golf is no less deserving of its place here – it is without a doubt one of the best VR games we've played and you should absolutely give it a try.
If you're craving some action-packed sorcery, look no further than Wands Alliance. It blends magic with multiplayer shooter modes, elevating it above some of the more classic offerings soon the platform. Definitely one to check out for those that want to test their competitive edge, while enjoying a unique setting.
Platforms: Meta Quest 2
If you're after a competitive multiplayer shooter set in VR, then look no further than Wands Alliances: it's quite possibly the best example of the genre on Quest 2. As a member of either The Ministry or The Watchers, you and two teammates will do battle on the streets of a steampunk London as you use your spells and unique abilities to arm or disable a magical explosive – or eliminate your opponents.
The magical tricks at your disposal and the way they are used in combat both offensively and defensively make this so much more than a reskinned Call of Duty, and the tactical movement gives Wands Alliances an almost chess-like quality. It can be a lot to take in, but you'll be eased into the game gently thanks to an in-depth, yet quick tutorial. Wands Alliances is a must-play VR game that everyone with a Meta Quest 2 headset should play.
While its barriers to entry are admittedly quite high, Half Life Alyx is the best VR game around, even a few years after its launch. It shows Valve at its best, proving the potential for VR gaming, while pushing it forward in the process. Combat, character performances, and graphical fidelity absolutely shine here. Here's hoping it ends up on other platforms eventually.
Platforms: SteamVR
Half-Life Alyx wasn't quite the game many had been expecting when it was announced, but it more than proved itself upon launch. The thing is, Half-Life and VR is a marriage made in heaven, with the new platform giving the developers more space to innovate and try out new types of mechanics. Playing it is genuinely transformative, as you peak from cover, manipulate objects from afar, and get into tense shootouts.
Absolutely worth trying if you have a headset to play it on. Here's hoping it's ported to be a bit more widely available though, as many simple don't have the hardware to run it.
Best VR Games: FAQs
Which VR games are right for you?
To find the best VR games, your choice will mostly be down to preference. Only you know whether you find shooting games or space exploration games or mystery puzzle games fun. But there are some other factors to consider, too.
The most obvious is finding out whether the game you have your eye on works with your virtual reality system. To help you out we've listed what platforms these games are on under their entry with links to their storage.
Another consideration is whether the game allows you to both sit and stand. If you have a lot of room and want to play a high-energy game, it might be a no-brainer that you'll want to stand up and move about. Those with smaller spaces who aren't playing action games might want the option to stay seated and stationary though.
If you're prone to motion sickness, you might also want to check whether there are accessibility controls to change movement settings. Most people get used to VR after a few plays, but some people can still experience a lot of dizziness if they move quickly in VR or have to fly, hover or spin.
What is the best VR game?
All the games featured in this guide are well worth your time, but what the best VR games ultimately depends on your personal tastes. there are many more VR games out there for you to try, take this list as inspiration and once you know which of these experiences you like best, it's time to look for more.
How we made our best VR games list
The team at TechRadar Gaming spend a lot of time testing out the best VR titles, and with hundreds of hours spent across different headsets, so we know exactly which titles are worth recommending.
Our experience with VR gaming, alongside the time we have spent within the games themselves, mean we have opinions you can really trust when it comes to recommendations.
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