VR titles are still a bit experimental. If you go into a game blindly, you never know what to expect. Will it be poorly developed? Will it be exciting? Will it be the best interactive experience of your life? It’s hard to know without some background information about the game.
So we took the guesswork out of that decision. To compile the list of the top VR games available right now, we tested various VR titles.
Here’s our top 10 best VR games:
- Half-Life: Alyx: The best VR experience for Half-Life fans
- Superhot VR: Amazing shooting and time mechanics
- Elite: Dangerous: Great spacefaring simulator
- Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes: The best VR party game
- Beat Saber: Awesome rhythm game in VR
- No Man’s Sky: One of the best open-world adventures
- Moss: Thrilling adventure in an enchanting world
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim: Epic fantasy setting in VR
- Marvel’s Iron Man VR: Best for superhero fans
- Horizon: Call of the Mountain: A tour-de-force of the PSVR 2
Virtual reality headsets are a wondrous technology. But they can also collect crucial biometric data while you use them, like your fingerprint and voiceprint. If you want to stay protected, it’s important to take some safety measures, like installing a trusty VPN. Our best pick for Windows, PS4, and PS5 is NordVPN.
In the article below we’ll touch more on how to stay safe while playing VR games, and we’ll discuss in detail the best 26 VR games in 2023.
VR games are a unique experience. They’re immersive and engaging that it’s hard to explain to someone that hasn’t tried a virtual reality headset before how fantastic they can be. For example, we’ve played a lot of horror games in the past. But we’ve never experienced the same dread as we did when we played Until Dawn: Rush of Blood on the PSVR.
Unfortunately, VR technology is still in its infancy. Despite an increase in gamers and efforts by Meta and Sony to promote VR, there are still a lot of subpar games available. So what are the best VR games you can play? We did the digging to find out.
The 26 Best VR Games to Play Right Now
We picked these VR games based on popular and critical reception. However, this isn’t just an aggregate of Metacritic scores. We also took into account what we enjoyed playing and experimenting with, as well as the quality of the graphics and how immersive our experience was.
Your top VR games might differ, so feel free to let us know in the comments if we missed any amazing titles! Without further ado, here are the best VR games you can try right now.
1. Half-Life: Alyx: The best VR experience for Half-Life fans
Platforms: Any SteamVR system
Half-Life: Alyx is probably the closest thing we’ll ever get to a Half-Life 3. It’s not a continuation of Gordon’s story but rather a VR game spin-off. You control Alyx Vance, one of the few survivors trying to fight off the Combine after the events of Black Mesa. The game chucks you between the story of Half-Life 1 and Half-Life 2, so it’s a great way to delve into this world further.
The game has great gunplay, an engaging story, challenging puzzles, enticing exploration, and an unmistakable Half-Life atmosphere. You’ll really feel like you’re fighting off an alien invasion as humanity’s last hope.
2. Superhot VR: Amazing shooting and time mechanics
Platforms: SteamVR, PSVR, Meta Quest 2
Superhot VR is a great example of what VR technology can do. It’s a first-person shooter where time stops whenever you stop moving. It’s Matrix meets Call of Duty, and it’s perfectly executed. Playing Superhot VR gives you a unique, exhilarating thrill. You feel like a highly trained assassin plowing through enemies for one moment, then as soon as you stop moving, you feel like a strategy mastermind plotting your next move.
Its visual style might not be for everyone. And it’s definitely not a high-budget production. But thanks to its unique gameplay mechanics, it’s become a staple in the VR world.
3. Elite: Dangerous: Great spacefaring simulator
Platforms: Any SteamVR system
If you have ever dreamed about jumping in a starship and exploring the galaxy, Elite: Dangerous is the perfect game for you. It puts you at the helm of a spaceship and lets you explore our entire galaxy. We mean that literally. Elite: Dangerous features a 1:1 replica of the Milky Way that you can explore to your heart’s content. And it’s not just an empty expanse. You can mine asteroids, battle other ships, and even collect bounties.
As you might expect, all of this complexity makes Elite: Dangerous a bit hard to learn. You’ll need a few hours to understand how to pilot your ship effectively. But for one of the best space games out there, it’s well worth the effort.
4. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes: The best VR party game
Platforms: PSVR, Meta Quest 2, SteamVR
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is one of the best party games you can play in VR. It’ll require collaboration, great communication, and perhaps a bit of chaos. But if you and your friends are up for a challenge, you’ll find it in Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes.
The VR puzzle game is simple: One person wears the headset, and they see a bomb they need to defuse. The other players see instructions for how to defuse that bomb without glancing at the actual device.
It’s extremely fun, it can be pretty tense, and it’s a great showcase of what VR can do.
5. Beat Saber: Awesome rhythm game in VR
Platforms: SteamVR, Meta Quest 2, PSVR
If you remember the days of Guitar Hero II with glee, you have to try Beat Saber. You’ve probably already seen this game in compilations of people doing crazy combos, and for a good reason. It’s one of the very best VR games out there.
Beat Saber is also one of the best rhythm games. It’s satisfying, pretty challenging at times, and it has an amazing track selection.
But Beat Saber doesn’t work like your average music game. Instead of playing fake instruments, you swish swords at different color-coded blocks barreling toward you, all while ducking from obstacles. Unlike most music games, it’s very active, so it makes for great exercise too.
6. No Man’s Sky: One of the best open-world adventures
Platforms: SteamVR, PSVR
No Man’s Sky had one of the most surprising redemption arcs in video game history. Their horrendous launch led to dozens of substantial updates, which turned No Man’s Sky into the space exploration masterpiece it is today. You can explore a vast galaxy, craft new items, build your base, play with friends (even cross-platform), and plenty more. If you want to explore space, No Man’s Sky is one of the best games to do it.
If you want to immerse yourself in this world even more, you can also play No Man’s Sky in VR. It doesn’t add any new content or mechanic to the game, but the feeling you get exploring these planets in virtual reality is nothing like the base game.
7. Moss: Thrilling adventure in an enchanting world
Platforms: Meta Quest 2, SteamVR, PSVR
Moss is a single-player adventure game in an enchanting world. You’re not a living critter in this one, but rather a “higher” being that can manipulate the environment from a bird’s eye view.
You’ll use these powers to help the adorable Quill solve puzzles, traverse the environment, and even defeat monsters, all in her quest to rescue her uncle. Moss is a charming adventure you can knock out in 4-5 hours. So even if it’s not a tour-de-force of what a VR headset is capable of, we highly recommend it.
If you like the game, there’s also a sequel out.
8. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR: The best fantasy setting in VR
Platforms: SteamVR, PSVR
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has become a bit of a meme for how much Bethesda re-released this title since 2011. But for all the crazy ports and legendary editions, TES: V in VR was a worthwhile re-release.
It’s nothing too special, but it is still the Skyrim we all know and love (and maybe hate a bit). You get to become the Dragonborn, join the Dark Brotherhood, explore Skyrim, and experience the iconic opening sequence. But seeing all of it in VR makes the experience that much more immersive. So while we all wait for news on The Elder Scrolls VI, Skyrim VR is a good way for virtual reality gamers to pass the time.
9. Marvel’s Iron Man VR: Best for superhero fans
Platforms: Meta Quest 2, PSVR
If you like Marvel, there’s no better VR title to delve into than Iron Man VR. If you’ve ever wanted to be a superhero, it’s as close as you can get in VR.
The game’s everything you expect. You get to play Tony Stark inside the Iron Man suit. There’s even a story (although it’s not canon to the MCU or anything else), and the feeling you get flying the Iron Man suit is exhilarating. The game’s mechanics are well-made and addictive, so you might come back to it just to fly around. If you opt to use Meta Quest 2 to play this game, you’ll definitely have an immersive experience through the enhanced graphics and strong processing power of this VR headset.
10. Horizon: Call of the Mountain: A tour-de-force of the PSVR 2
Platforms: PSVR 2
Horizon: Call of the Mountain is one of the newest VR titles, and it’s a PlayStation exclusive. So it’s only available to play on the PlayStation VR 2, which not everyone has access to.
But it’s a memorable experience. You don’t play as Aloy (although you will meet her at some point in the game). Rather, Call of the Mountain puts you in the shoes of Ryas, a disgraced soldier that’s on a quest to redeem himself.
The game’s filled with intense combat, puzzle sequences, a lot of climbing, and breathtaking views. And it’s in the Horizon world. If you loved adventuring as Aloy, you’ll feel right at home in Call of the Mountain.
If you want a showcase of what the PSVR2 can do, Horizon: Call of the Mountain is a great game. But the advanced tech of Sony’s latest VR lets it collect even more accurate data about you. For example, according to PlayStation’s privacy policy, the company collects information regarding your current location, your PlayStation console ID, your IP address, and more. Hence, we recommend using this tool with caution if you want to safeguard your privacy and stay safe online.
11. Tentacular: A fun, cozy experience
Platforms: PSVR, Steam VR
Tentacular asks what if sea monsters were real and also really nice. It’s a cozy game where you play a tentacle monster that helps the citizens of a small town in their day-to-day life by solving puzzles. But it can also be a chaotic game in which you chuck islanders as far as you can or form heart shapes out of shipping containers. Just be ready to get chastized by the unfortunate victims of your antics.
12. Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners: Visceral and fast-paced combat
Platforms: SteamVR, PSVR, Meta Quest 2
The Walking Dead games have been a hit or miss in the past. For every fantastic Telltale’s TWD, there’s a disappointing Survival Instinct out there.
Luckily, Saints and Sinners falls squarely in the former category. It’s a great VR adventure with immersive combat mechanics that can get pretty brutal at times. It doesn’t completely get rid of the janky VR feeling, but it’s engaging enough. While the fighting is this game’s strongest selling point, it also has a pretty compelling story set in New Orleans, complete with tough moral choices.
Note:
The trailer contains graphic imagery. Viewer discretion is advised.
13. Pistol Whip: A beautiful blend of rhythm and shooting
Platforms: Meta Quest, PSVR, Windows Mixed Reality
Pistol Whip is an unorthodox rhythm game that doesn’t force you into following a specific melody with your actions. Rather, the game adapts to the rhythm you create by blasting foes and dodging bullets. And that makes it one of the best VR games out there.
It’s the classic rail shooter experience mixed with upbeat music and the freedom to create your own rhythm. This makes it great for players that like the idea of rhythm games but can’t quite get the hang of Beat Sabre or Guitar Hero. Just come prepared for a workout. The game involves a decent amount of moving around your room to dodge obstacles.
14. Resident Evil 4: The quintessential survival horror experience
Platforms: Meta Quest 2
Resident Evil 4 is the quintessential survival horror experience. It pushed the series in the right direction back in 2005, and a lot of its mechanics hold up to this day.
The VR re-release brings a lot of quality-of-life improvements. And, of course, it lets you play the game in virtual reality. If you haven’t experienced the series before, it’s a good starting point.
Just be ready for dated visuals. No matter how many touch-ups this game gets, the graphics still have an early 2000s vibe to them. If you don’t want to put up with that, Resident Evil 7 and 8 are both available in VR as well. Resident Evil Village (the eighth title), in particular, is amazing to play in virtual reality.
15. Among Us VR: The Mafia game you know, but a bit scarier
Platforms: Meta Quest 2, PSVR, Windows Mixed Reality
Among Us conquered the internet in 2020. It blew in popularity with a quirky mix of Mafia-like party game mechanics and a unique setting.
Among Us is definitely past its heyday, but it’s not completely dead. And if you’re looking for more thrills and a scarier experience, you can try Among US VR. It’s the exact same game, only a bit more personal and horrifying. Hearing someone vent as you’re struggling to finish a task hits a bit differently with a Quest or PlayStation VR strapped to your head, especially when the lights are off.
16. Subnautica: Stunning environments you have to experience in VR
Platforms: Meta Quest, Oculus Rift
Subnautica is an award-winning survival crafting game with a unique setting. You’re stranded on an alien ocean planet filled with bizarre creatures and beautiful landscapes. Your first order of business is surviving. Then, you can worry about the planet’s mysteries and your future plans.
This setting is exactly what makes Subnautica great in VR. Its deep sea creatures and stunning environments are that much more exciting to discover in virtual reality. Don’t expect a serene experience, though. As beautiful as Subnautica is, it’s also the home of many horrifying creatures that see you as their next meal.
17. Star Wars Squadrons: Best VR experience for Star Wars fans
Platforms: SteamVR, PSVR, Meta Quest 2
If you’ve ever dreamed about piloting an X-Wing around Star Destroyers, here’s your chance. Like Elite: Dangerous, Star Wars Squadrons lets you hop into the cockpit of a starfighter. But Squadrons cares less about exploration. It’s more focused on epic 5v5 space battles.
You can play the game in single-player or multiplayer, as either the Rebels or the Empire. You can communicate with your teammates as you would in a real space battle, and if you have a flight stick, the experience is that much more accurate. Squadrons even has a story mode if you want to immerse yourself deeper into this world.
If your kids are big Star Wars fans too (who isn’t?), ensure they don’t get too addicted to this action-packed game. Video game addiction can be a serious issue for kids, so it’s best to be cautious when you let them play video games.
18. Gran Turismo 7: Unparalleled driving adventure
Platforms: PSVR2
Gran Turismo 7 doesn’t push the PSVR2 to its limits. In fact, you can’t even use the Sense controllers to drive your car. You’ll need to use a regular controller or a PlayStation-compatible wheel. Plus, you can only use the headset during races.
If you’re fine with that deal, Gran Turismo 7’s driving experience is unparalleled. The great physics and amazing attention to detail nearly turn this game into a driving simulator. Plus, you have a ton of car upgrades to unlock, so you can get quite a decent play time out of GT7.
19. I Expect You to Die: Zany and exciting puzzle game
Platforms: SteamVR, PSVR, Meta Quest 2
I Expect You to Die is one of the best VR games if you love spy movies and escape rooms. The puzzles are equally exciting and challenging, while the setting feels straight out of a spy flick. You’re an agent that needs to use your wits and telekinetic abilities to escape deadly situations in well-crafted environments.
I Expect You to Die is a short game. But if you love its quirks, you can play the sequel at any time. Plus, there’s a third installment on its way, with a planned release date in 2023.
20. The Room VR: A Dark Matter: Experience a thrilling murder investigation
Platforms: Meta Quest, Steam VR, PSVR
The Room VR: A Dark Matter is a scary puzzle VR game. It’s a fantastic title filled with mystery, a lot of spooky sequences, and challenging puzzle boxes. The game takes place in 1908 after the disappearance of an Egyptologist in London prompts the police to investigate.
The Room VR is part of a big franchise of mobile games, and it marks the series’ complete shift away from that scene into the VR world. And what a successful shift it was. The Room VR received almost unanimous critical acclaim. If you want to step into this atmospheric world, you can play The Room VR on pretty much any system.
21. Lone Echo: Best story-driven game in VR
Platform: Oculus Rift, Meta Quest
Lone Echo is one of the best single-player, story-rich experiences you can play in VR. You’ll control Jack, an AI robot that works together with Captain Olivia to uncover the mystery of what’s slowly destroying the space station they’re on.
Lone Echo has an engaging story, believable characters, branching dialogue options, and unique VR mechanics. The way you fly around zero gravity environments is intuitive, but it can also be very challenging at times. And if you fall in love with this world as much as we did, you’ll be happy to know there’s also a sequel already out.
22. Astro Bot Rescue Mission: A classic VR game on the PlayStation
Platforms: PSVR
Nintendo’s not too big in the VR world. But if they were, they’d probably make something very similar to Astro Bot Rescue Mission.
It’s a fantastic platformer with a clever, level design and adorable characters. Astro Bot Rescue Mission was the quintessential VR experience when it was released in 2018. And it’s still one of the best VR games out right now. If you want to rescue the cute robots to lively tunes, know that you’ll need a PSVR and a PS camera to play it.
23. Minecraft VR: Build, craft, mine, and immerse yourself even more with the VR version
Platforms: Windows Mixed Reality, Oculus Rift, Meta Quest, PSVR
Minecraft probably needs no introduction at this point. Its pixelated art style and addictive gameplay loop have made it a worldwide phenomenon. Even people that don’t play video games have probably heard about Steve and his blocky antics.
If you somehow haven’t, here’s a quick rundown. Minecraft is a survival crafting game with a unique visual style in which you create new tools, mine resources, pet cute cats, and go on any adventure your heart yearns for. It’s become a massive game since its launch in 2011, and it continues to receive new content on a constant basis.
So is Minecraft better in VR? We think it is, but that’s up to you to decide. VR hits differently for different people, especially because of motion sickness. And since Minecraft VR doesn’t add anything new to the game, it might not be up your alley. But it’s definitely worth a try, especially since you don’t have to pay anything extra for the VR version of the game.
By the way, don’t forget to check out our article on the best VPN for Minecraft to enhance your privacy and security while playing games online.
24. Project Cars 2: Best driving simulator in VR
Platforms: Oculus Rift
If you want a realistic racing sim, Project Cars 2 is the best VR game for you. It has a huge selection of accurate cars and tracks, which is standard for such a high-profile simulator. On top of that, Project Cars 2 also has realistic environments and weather effects. These not only look cool, but they also have a direct impact on the driving experience.
And if you want to go for full realism, you can disable the HUD and plug a wheel in. That’s as authentic as you get without shutting the PC down and going to the actual track. We also recommend using a wheel instead of a VR controller. These types of controllers can collect information about your surroundings in conjunction with infrared sensors that map the room you are in.
25. The Talos Principle VR: A unique, thought-provoking experience
Platforms: Any SteamVR system
The Talos Principle had a very good reception when it launched in 2014, thanks to its innovative puzzles and captivating setting. In The Talos Principle, you play a robot exploring mazes and unique environments that combine ancient ruins and advanced technology.
The Talos Principle is also hailed as a thought-provoking experience. The character itself struggles with profound questions about identity and purpose.
If you’ve already played The Talos Principle, the VR version won’t be much of a challenge. But if you haven’t tried the game yet, it’s the best version to enjoy The Talos Principle.
26. Lost Recipes: Best cooking simulator in VR
Platforms: Oculus Rift, Meta Quest
If you like cooking (or just enjoy cooking simulators), Lost Recipes is one of the best VR games you can play.
In it, you’re tasked with creating historically accurate dishes under the guiding hand of different ghosts from lost civilizations. It’s a quick and relaxing experience filled with interesting characters and actual recipes you can try in real life.
Lost Recipes has one of the best object interactions we’ve seen in virtual reality games, so it’s a worthwhile title just for that. Unfortunately, for PlayStation owners, it’s only available on the Quest.
The Privacy Risks of VR Games
VR headsets are an amazing push forward for technology. And despite their slow adoption by the general public, VR seems like it has a bright future. Between Meta pushing hard for their VR world, and Sony launching the PSVR2, there’s enough funding here to slowly kickstart this niche.
That’s why we need to be mindful of what this push forward can mean for our privacy. VR technology, and implicitly any VR game, poses several privacy risks. That’s because VR headsets collect a lot of sensitive information about you. The gear is equipped with powerful motion sensors and other data collection tools like a camera and a microphone, which can have similar privacy risks to a smart speaker, for example. These sensors can collect and process personal information like:
- Eye and finger movements
- Biometric data like fingerprints, retina scans, handprints, and voiceprints
- Any data you communicate through the headset, including login credentials, PINs, or benign details that can be corroborated to create a personal profile
These data risks are especially important to consider for VR headsets. The highly personalized experiences you have in VR make it very hard to anonymize the data collected.
Keep in mind, Meta is one of the biggest players in the space. And they don’t have a good track record of keeping user data safe. It already paid a big settlement for using biometric data without the user’s permission in Illinois. Texas is also suing Meta for the same thing.
How to Improve Your Privacy When Playing VR Games
All of the risks we outlined above make it crucial to stay protected when playing the best VR games. All of our tips to browse the web privately apply to playing VR games as well, but you can do more for your protection. Here are a few privacy-enhancing best practices to keep in mind while playing VR games:
- Don’t disclose any personal information while wearing the headset.
- Install a trusty VPN for either Windows or PS4 and PS5, depending on what you use to play the best VR games. This will hide your IP address, so it’s hard to connect the data collected by a VR headset back to you.
- Limit who can see your activity. Most VR headsets let you hide your activity. These options are usually under the privacy settings of the VR headset.
- Disable voice commands. This will ensure your voiceprint isn’t tracked while playing VR games.
Conclusion: The Best VR Games
Half-Life Alyx, Beat Saber, Elite: Dangerous, and Horizon: Call of the Mountain are some of the best VR games you can play right now. But just because we like them doesn’t mean you have to as well. With the new PSVR2 out and Meta pushing for a VR world, there are a ton of amazing titles out there.
However, even though VR games are great fun, we must always ensure we stay safe during any online activity. Biometric data, login credentials, and any other form of personal information collected during gameplay with a VR headset can compromise our privacy.
Using a VPN with devices like the PS4 or PS5, enhancing privacy settings, or disabling voice commands are some ways we can protect ourselves during VR gameplay and ensure malicious actors do not gain access to sensitive information.
What are you playing in virtual reality? What’s the best VR game for you? Leave us a comment below.
Still not sure what to play on your virtual reality headset? Let’s go over some frequently asked questions, to clear things up.
It’s hard to decide on the number one VR game. Beat Saber comes to mind as one of the first titles that got popular, and a unique experience for virtual reality. But Half-Life: Alyx, Superhot VR, Elite: Dangerous and No Man’s Sky are all worth it.
The number one VR game for you depends on what you like to play. Luckily, we have a roundup of the 26 best VR games, so you can figure out what you like.
Beat Saber is one of the most popular VR games in 2023, as it was in previous years. The sword-slashing rhythm game really took off. Phasmphobia, Superhot VR, and No Man’s Sky are up there as well.
The types of games you should get for your VR will depend on what games you like to play. If you’re into single-player adventures, try Half-Life Alyx, Lone Echo, and TWD: Saints and Sinners.
If you want thrilling simulators, you might like Elite: Dangerous, Star Wars Squadrons, and Project Cars 2 more. And if you want a chaotic party game, don’t miss out on Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes. We’ve round up more of the best VR games on our site.
The top five VR games based on our point of view are Half-Life: Alyx, Superhot VR, Elite: Dangerous, Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, and Beat Saber. But your top five might be different.
A lot of VR games can take dozens of hours to complete. But if we were to pick something we’ve sunk the most hours into, it’d probably be Minecraft. Technically, the game has no end, so you can keep playing it forever. Just make sure you do it safely with a VPN.
