Virtual Realityhas come a long way since the days of Nintendo’s Virtual Boy. Thanks to cheaper headsets like therecently released Meta Quest 3S, VR gaming has become more accessible than ever, and to capitalize on that gradually increasing installed base, developers have continued to release a wealth of VR experiences.
2024 has seen more than its fair share ofVRgames released across the Meta Quest, PSVR2, and PC VR. The following ten(listed here alphabetically)are some of the best VR titles of the year, ranging from fun platformers and riveting shooters to truly groundbreaking experiences that are a must-play for all VR headset owners.
Attack on Titan VR: Unbreakable
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Originally released in early access back in July,Attack on Titan VR: Unbreakablehas since launched its Complete Edition, which brings its previously released Part 1 and its newly released Part 2 together under one roof. InAttack on Titan VR,players join the ranks of the Scout Regiment to fight alongside Armin, Eren, Mikasa, and the rest of the anime’s cast. Some fluid ODM swinging mechanics, the large scale of its hulking enemies, and the authentic scenery makeAttack on Titan VR: Unbreakablea dream come true for fans of the beloved anime and manga series.
WHERE TO PLAY
Prepare for combat with Omni-Directional Mobility Gear and fly head-first into battle! Defy all odds and eliminate the Titans! Attack on Titan VR: Unbreakable, the first-person action-adventure VR platformer based on the highly acclaimed manga “Attack on Titan” and the latest installment of the VR series.Join the Scout Regiment as an aspiring recruit and help defend mankind from the Titan invasion.Omni-Directional Mobility GearUtilize the Omni-Directional Mobility Gear to maneuver through the air and combat the onslaught of Titans!The Titan ThreatTitans rely on their instincts to hunt humans and satisfy their insatiable appetites. Overcome the fear of death and lay waste to the Titan army!Distinct WeaponsEach weapon offers unique characteristics that can alter the course of battle and how it is approached!
Batman: Arkham Shadow
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Undoubtedly one of the most impressive VR games of 2024,Batman: Arkham Shadowsuccessfully translates Rocksteady’sArkhamformula into virtual reality, providing a thrillingArkhamprequel storyin the process. Glide between buildings, perform inverted takedowns from gargoyles, leap through the air to perform the final move in a Freeflow Combat chain, and do all manner of other trademarkBatman: Arkhamactivities, all from a brand-new, incredibly immersive perspective.
Become Batman in this official new entry into the Arkham franchise.It’s the Fourth of July, and Gotham City is under attack by a new threat: the mysterious Rat King and his cultish devotees. As widespread rioting engulfs the city, Batman races to prevent this so-called “Day of Wrath” before it all goes wrong.Experience the World of Batman Like Never Before:Immerse yourself in all the grit of Gotham City with the power of VR, and take down its most notorious criminals.Hard-Hitting Arkham CombatRealized exclusively for VR—choose from fan favorite gadgets and bold fighting styles reimagined from the beloved Arkham franchise.Friends, Foes and Other Familiar Faces:Meet Dr.’s Quinzel and Crane before they became Harley Quinn and Scarecrow, as well as other iconic characters including Harvey Dent, Jim Gordon, and Ratcatcher.
Originally released in November 2021 for the Meta Quest,Blade & Sorcery: Nomadwas a more limited port of the innovativephysics-based PC VR game,Blade & Sorcery. Over the last few years, developer Warpfrog has continued to add content toBlade & Sorcery: Nomad, bringing it closer to its PC VR counterpart with each update. In November,Blade & Sorcery: Nomadfinally received its 1.0 update, bringing it almost on par with the PC version by adding the Crystal Hunt story mode, skill trees, and a wealth of quality-of-life upgrades.
Blade & Sorcery: Nomad
Blade & Sorcery: Nomad is a medieval fantasy sandbox like no other, focusing on melee, ranged and magic combat that fully utilizes a unique and realistic physics driven interaction and combat system. Built exclusively for VR, collisions are dictated by fine hitboxes, objects have weight and follow the laws of physics, creatures have full body physics and presence, and blades can be used to penetrate soft materials or deflect magic. In Blade & Sorcery: Nomad, the combat is limited only by your own creativity. Choose your weapon, choose your stance, choose your fighting style; Be the powerful warrior, ranger or sorcerer you always dreamed of becoming!
Behemoth
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Offering one of the best grappling hooks in VR,Skydance’s Behemothhas players using their environment as a weapon, alongside an assortment of trusty medieval swords and axes. After clearing a few arenas of enemies,Behemothwill then present players with one of its eponymous bosses, some of which feel like VR versions ofShadow of the Colossus' memorable boss fights.
Skydance’s Behemoth
Skydance’s BEHEMOTH is an original story set in the Forsaken Lands, a fallen kingdom haunted by tragedy. Play as an outland warrior, Wren the Hunter (the player), and embark on a perilous quest to end the curse that plagues yourself and your village. Your only hope is to slay the unslayable, the monstrous Behemoths.A Dark Fantasy Adventure in VR: A bold new vision from the developers of The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners. Skydance brings its in your face - “Virtual Physicality” - to this fully immersive experience, allowing the player toA Dangerous New World: Survive the four biomes of the Forsaken Lands. From snowy tundras to swampy marshlands, the harsh environments may seem uninhabitable, but they hide swarms of traitorous marauders and something much, much worse.Brutal Violence Solves Everything: Use your superstrength in bone-crunching, flesh-cleaving ways to cut down, maim, sever, break and rip apart your enemies.Behemoths Loom Large and Dangerous: To defeat these gargantuan threats you’ll not only need all your strength, you’ll also need every skill in your arsenal to battle them on the ground, in the air, and in the clouds.
Max Mustard
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One for all theAstro Bot Rescue Missionfans out there,Max Mustardis a VR platformer that carries forward the energetic level design and vibrancy of classic mascot platformers with a unique VR twist. As players control the titular hero with one hand through the game’s 40 levels, they’ll use their other hand to blast enemies, launch objects, and interact with the environment to complete puzzles.Max Mustardhones in on what VR is all about: pure, unadulterated fun.
Immerse yourself in the world of Max Mustard, a made for VR platformer meticulously crafted to deliver top-notch gameplay and unforgettable experiences.Combining the best of first-person power-ups with the timeless charm of classic third-person platforming, Max Mustard offers an irresistible blend that will keep you hooked from the moment you step into its virtual world.Embark on a heroic quest alongside our fearless protagonist Max to rescue adorable mudpups from the clutches of the devious Stubbins.Journey through immersive landscapes, facing tough challenges, unexpected twists and moral dilemmas, forcing you to make difficult decisions that will shape the course of your journey.Max Mustard is a thrilling odyssey paying homage to the classic platformers of yesteryears while offering a fresh and innovative gaming experience.With 40 hand crafted levels, each bursting with surprises, inventive mechanics, and endless variety, Max Mustard is an epic adventure that will capture your imagination and keep you coming back for more!
Maestro
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Hand-tracking techhas come a long way in the last few years, and the recently releasedMaestrodoes an excellent job of using that tech to the fullest. A rhythm-based game akin toGuitar Hero,Maestrosees players moving their controller-less hands to conduct a virtual orchestra or jazz band. Iconic music from Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and many more is present inMaestro, all offering distinct challenges that test the player’s dexterity and timing.
Step into a gorgeous opera house with Maestro, the VR orchestra conducting rhythm game that’s the essence of elegance, control, and high-society French sophistication.
Metro Awakening
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The firstMetroentry since 2019,Metro Awakeningis a prequel storythat details the origins of the mysterious wandering mystic known as Khan. As Serdar/Khan, players go on a perilous journey to find their missing wife Yana, a journey that will take them through the mysterious metro network and will bring them face to face with an array of mutants and bandits.Metro Awakeningcaptures the atmosphere and themes of its flat-screen counterparts incredibly well, and is a must-play for fans of the series.
Metro Awakeningis a story-driven first person adventure built exclusively for VR that blends atmospheric exploration, stealth and combat in the most immersive Metro experience yet.The year is 2028The survivors of nuclear Armageddon cling to existence in the buried subways of the Moscow Metro – civilization’s last refuge and tomb, where ghosts and spirits haunt the living in this man-made purgatory.You are Serdar, a doctor braving the darkness, crippling radiation and deadly threats of the Metro in the search for your wife and the medication she so desperately needs. As your courage and sanity are pushed to the limit you must learn to walk the line between life and death, the spirit and the material world, and awaken the being you will become…Features:• Lose yourself in a journey of spiritual awakening in this chilling, supernatural origins story from Metro creator Dmitry Glukhovsky• Experience Metro’s tense, heart-pounding gameplay in VR for the first time as you put on your mask, ammo and filters run low and your torchlight flickers and dies in the darkness• Wield a signature arsenal of hand-made weapons, don your gas mask, and venture into the depths of the Metro where desperate bandits, mutants, and worse haunt your every step.
Metal: Hellsinger VR
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A VRadaptation of 2022’s rhythm-based FPS,Metal: Hellsinger VRsees players blast their way through hell, matching their gunshots to the rhythm of the metal beat. For seasoned VR users,Metal: Hellsinger VRcan offer a frantic, thrilling shooter experience like no other game out there, but VR newcomers might find themselves quickly overwhelmed by the game’s fast pace and the onslaught of on-screen enemies and particle effects.
Become the DemonStep into the half-demon body of The Unknown and feel the pulse of metal rage through you.Metal: Hellsinger VR redesigns the acclaimed rhythm shooter from the ground up, placing its infernal arsenal straight into your hands and the fires of Hell at your feet. Experience an unparallelled state of flow as you move, dash, and aim in full VR.Enjoy a range of features from the original game, including the full epic campaign, Archdevil difficulty, Torment Challenges, and Beat Assist Mode, reimagined for VR.Make Hell Fear the BeatShoot to the beat to make the music unfold and your power grow. See the world around you pulsate to the rhythm and be unburdened by a traditional interface.Multi-Award Winning Original SoundtrackComposer duo Two Feathers have created a thunderous original score, with vocals by metal icons such as Serj Tankian (System of a Down), Randy Blythe (Lamb of God), Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy), and more!
Swarm 2
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Officially described as “Spider-Man with guns,“Swarm 2is a roguelike shooter that has players swinging around environments, blasting away at an array of robotic foes, and upgrading weapons and abilities. It’s a slightly less brutal FPS thanMetal: Hellsinger, butSwarm 2might still give VR newcomers a bit of a tough time due to its focus on fast-paced movement and swinging mechanics. VR veterans, on the other hand, are sure to enjoy the increased freedom of movement.
Vendetta Forever
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A new take onSuperhot’s time-slowing premise,Vendetta Foreveris a shooter that sees players teleport to a new position when they grab an opponent’s weapon. Much likeSuperhot,Vendetta Forever’s campaign is spread across 60 bite-sized levels, all of which offer a unique scenario, fresh challenges, and new weapons. On top of some really great core gameplay,Vendetta Foreveris also packed to the brim with homages, withIndiana Jones,Wanted,John Wick, and more receiving levels inspired by their source material.
