25 Best VR Games To Immerse Yourself Within In 2025The best VR games are bound to surprise, charm, or even scare you in an array of ways. Most importantly, the best examples of VR games thrive in immersion, taking you into different worlds in the blink of an eye, or a quick gesture with your hands. Regardless of which of the current platforms you choose, there's an extensive catalog of VR experiences to discover. The PlayStation VR 2, Meta Quest 3, and Apple Vision Pro have been leading the charge in recent times with their singular advantages and compromises. Meanwhile, PC VR supports a long list of compatible headsets, including the Valve Index and HTC Vive Pro 2 to name a few, as well as the recent addition of the PlayStation VR 2. If you manage to find stock of the PC adapter, that is. Our selection has something for every player, regardless of platform and genre of choice. Our picks intersect with the 25 best horror games out there, where you'll recognize a familiar franchise. While there are some VR-exclusive games on the list, some titles originated as so-called flat versions, with a few renowned choices being part of our best PS5 games and best PC game lists. If you're undecided over what headset to pick, the list will also help you to double-check what you already have in your library that has a VR version ready to boot, before diving into our list of the best VR headsets in 2025 for additional details. If you don't want to immediately spend more money after acquiring a headset, we've also listed 15 of the best free VR games to play. The future of the VR space might seem uncertain after a taxing 2024, but creatives aren't stopping coming up with ideas anytime soon. With new games like Zombie Army VR , Sid Meier's Civilization VII , and The Midnight Walk on the horizon, there's never been a better time to start training your VR legs and enjoy a number of experiences in a way that can't be mimicked with just a TV and a controller. Beat Saber Platform : Meta Quest headsets, PlayStation VR, PlayStation VR 2, PC VR headsets Release Year : 2018 Developer : Beat Games VR Intensity : 3 Much like many of the music tracks featured in the Beat Saber catalog, classics never die. At this point, Beat Saber has become an emblem of VR, with the simple premise of giving you two virtual swords to slice through blocks at the beat of Queen, Fall Out Boy, Lady Gaga, and dozens of other artists. Beat Saber is a great option to showcase the capabilities of VR to a newcomer in a quick way without forcing their body to move too much. That being said, there's definitely a steep curve to overcome if you're up for the challenge, including different difficulties to master, multiplayer modes, and even a 360 degree variant where you're rotating in place waiting for the next row of blocks to come. You can't go wrong with Beat Saber, and hey, there are quite a few music packs available for free included with the game, so you don't have to spend additional money right away. Read our Beat Saber review . See at Steam Half-Life: Alyx Platform : PC VR headsets Release Year : 2020 Developer : Valve VR Intensity : 7 It's not easy to live up to expectations when talking about something like a new Half-Life game, but somehow, Half-Life: Alyx exceeds them. It's a different take on a beloved (and, up until its release, dormant) universe that manages to make a standout use of VR. Starring the Gravity Gloves, which are best experienced with the ever-pricey Valve Index, you're invited to fully immerse yourself in the world around you, making use of the environment and your own creativity to deal with puzzles and dangerous situations. Time will tell if Half-Life: Alyx will ever make it outside of the PC ecosystem. If you don't have a dedicated headset for desktop PC, the Meta Quest can be used to play Valve's singular experience via wired connection or wirelessly, the latter thanks to a recent update for Steam Link for Meta Quest . Performance will vary depending on your build specs, however, as well as the method of choice. But all in all, Alyx is an experience you won't want to miss--it was GameSpot's Game of the Year for 2020 . Read our Half-Life Alyx review . See at Steam The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners Platform : Meta Quest headsets, PlayStation VR, PlayStation VR 2, PC VR headsets Release Year : 2020 Developer : Skybound VR Intensity : 7 This might come as a surprise, but one of the best zombie games out there is in VR. The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is a gritty, in-depth simulation title where you need to gather scraps, craft weapons, and supplies while tending to your wounds and hunger in order to survive the apocalypse in a fictional rendition of New Orleans. There are very few VR games that balance both tension and a sense of accomplishment like Saints & Sinners does. Helping the locals with main and side missions while cautiously looking at the watch on your wrist so you can plan your escape before the night comes is a thrilling experience that's rarely replicated elsewhere, especially outside of a headset. If you have a Meta Quest 3 or a PlayStation VR 2, developer Skybound released platform-specific updates for each, offering better visuals and some quality-of-life features. See at Steam Thumper Platform : Meta Quest headsets, PlayStation VR, Playstation VR 2, PC VR headsets Release Year : 2016 Developer : Drool VR Intensity : 6 There are fever dreams and fever nightmares. Thumper definitely fits the second category. Introduced as possibly the most aggressive take on rhythm games to date, you're entrusted with a handful of actions as a space beetle going at full speed through psychedelic scenarios. Even if you've played the original version, the VR rendition amps up the intensity of the visual and sound design that permeates the whole experience. You're tasked with learning and re-learning patterns until you can make progress, and then you do it all again as obstacles get harder to surpass. Very few games give you the relief that Thumper has in store once you manage to finish a level you've been stuck in for days. Read our Thumper review . See at Steam Rez Infinite Platform : Meta Quest headsets, PlayStation VR, PlayStation VR 2, PC VR headsets Release Year : 2016 Developer : Monstars Inc., Resonair VR Intensity : 4 Rez, first released back in 2002, is the sensory overload experience that keeps on giving. Rez Infinite, an HD version released in 2016 with VR compatibility, is the definitive edition of the classic on-rail shooter. Its emphasis on providing a synesthesia effect, as well as some VR-unique capabilities, make the difference. The most notable feature is Area X, a mode made specifically for VR. In contrast to the original version--which also plays great with a headset--you're off the rail and free to move through a number of unique levels. There's an exhilarating feeling in using eye-tracking to aim at targets, as well as your own head to guide the avatar's movements as you fly and dodge projectiles while beautiful visual effects engulf you. Area X must be experienced by everyone at least once. Read our Rez Infinite review . See at Steam Tetris Effect Platform : Meta Quest headsets, PlayStation VR, PlayStation VR 2, PC VR Release Year : 2018 Developer : Resonair, Monstars, Stage Games VR Intensity : 4 Tetris Effect is excellent on every platform. Even if you aren't a fan of the original Tetris, you're bound to get lost in the immersive visuals and sounds as you slowly get better at lining up Tetrominoes. When you pair the experience with VR, however, the result is somehow even more special. While there isn't a specific level or mode tailored solely for VR like the one Rez Infinite offers, Tetris Effect adapts quite naturally to your headset. You're now bound to move your head around and fully appreciate the often breathtaking vistas up close. Plus, with the additions of the Connected DLC, there's quite a lot to see and do even if you played the original when it first released. Read our Tetris Effect review . See at Amazon Resident Evil Village Platform : PlayStation VR 2 Release Year : 2021 Developer : Capcom VR Intensity : 8 Resident Evil Village marks a big departure from the classic feel of the franchise, building upon the new foundation set by Resident Evil 7. And yet, it works wonders. Controlling Ethan Winters once more--probably one of the unluckiest protagonists in games--you're trusted into a house of nightmarish creatures, from vampires to cursed dolls. Playing Resident Evil Village in VR heightens the tension and presents the whole experience in a new light. The VR rendition of Resident Evil 7 and the Resident Evil 4 remake are worth trying on their own merits, but Village is different: It makes the best use of the newfound immersion, looks and runs great in the headset, and makes your visit to House Beneviento one you'll never forget. Read our Resident Evil Village review . See at Amazon No Man's Sky Platform : PlayStation VR, PlayStation VR 2, PC VR headsets Release Year : 2018 Developer : Hello Games VR Intensity : 8 Developer Hello Games is already busy working on its next big game, called Light No Fire , but No Man's Sky is far from being forgotten anytime soon. The past few years have seen the space sim grow in size and scope over and over, adding new ships, expeditions, and an array of mechanics that intertwine with anything from combat to crafting. No Man's Sky is one of the best Xbox Game Pass games included in the subscription catalog. If you want to experience it in a new light, however, the VR version amps up the immersion to a great degree. If you were initially underwhelmed with the PlayStation VR 2 port, don't worry, as the developer released a major update to integrate Foveated Rendering, which makes the visuals a lot clearer as a result. Read our No Man's Sky review . See at Fanatical Batman: Arkham Shadow Platform : Meta Quest 3 Release Year : 2024 Developer : Camouflaj VR Intensity : 7 It was fair to assume that Rocksteady Games had closed the curtain on the Batman: Arkham series permanently, but developer Camouflaj picked up the mantle for an unexpected return. Batman: Arkham Shadow is a Meta Quest 3 exclusive, and upon a first glance, it’s easy to see why. It's by far one of the most impressive-looking games on the platform, and thankfully, Camouflaj understood the assignment of respecting the longstanding legacy of the franchise. Set between the events of Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Asylum, you take control of the night hero in pursuit of The Rat King, who's terrorizing the city. Mixing in first-person combat that mimics that iconic Arkham system, investigative sections, and a lengthy story, Arkham Shadow is one of those rare VR experiences that come every once in a while, and deserves all the praise it gets. See at Oculus Thrasher Platform : Meta Quest headsets, Apple Vision Pro Release Year : 2024 Developer : Puddle VR Intensity : 3 The novelty of VR can’t be matched by any other technology, but the experience can be enhanced even further with the right tools and ideas. Thrasher, developed by a team formed by the artist and composer of Thumper, is a singular example of the use of hand-tracking alongside a VR headset. Controlling an ethereal eel across dozens of short, colorful levels, you use your hands to point, pinch, and swipe in the air as the creature dodges traps and confronts bosses, learning movement and attack patterns along the way. It’s as psychedelic as you’d expect from the developer behind Thumper, but with a completely different foundation to boot. See at Oculus Gran Turismo 7 Platform : PlayStation VR 2 Release Year : 2022 Developer : Polyphony Digital VR Intensity : 5 One of the most exclusive VR experiences, requiring both a PlayStation 5 and a PlayStation VR 2, happens to be one of the best VR games out there. If you enjoy the finesse and precision that Gran Turismo 7 demands, you're in luck, as experiencing the races with a headset on only makes it all better. Whether you use the DualShock controller or a racing wheel, wearing the PlayStation VR 2 increases the immersion of races, putting you front and center. Looking out the window as you catch the sunset will make every race you end in second place a lot less painful. Read our Gran Turismo 7 review . See at Walmart The Room VR: A Dark Matter Platform : Meta Quest headsets, PlayStation VR, Playstation VR 2, PC VR headsets Release Year : 2020 Developer : Fireproof Studios VR Intensity : 3 Sometimes, after a long day, all you want to do is unwind. There are plenty of VR games to distract yourself for a while or cut through floating blocks while following a rhythm. But if you want to use whatever remaining energy you have to solve puzzles instead, The Room VR: A Dark Matter will be perfect for you. The disappearance of an Egyptologist kicks off a series of events involving a police investigation. You're tasked with uncovering what happened as you interact with eerie and cryptic mechanisms. Interactivity is heightened in VR, with the downside that you won't have fast access to your phone to search for a puzzle answer unless you take the headset off. See at Steam The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR Platform : PlayStation VR, PC VR headsets Release Year : 2018 Developer : Bethesda Game Studios VR Intensity : 8 Yes, it's The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim in VR. Even though it seems safe to assume you've already played Skyrim for countless hours, it's easy to wonder whether or not you should replay Skyrim in VR . Simply put, the VR treatment of Bethesda's epic is quite a sight to behold. The PlayStation VR version might feel outdated by today's standards, especially if you're used to newer headsets, so it's recommended to opt for a PC VR headset instead. Regardless of your platform of use, you're bound to lose dozens of hours wandering around Tamriel again, if only for good old nostalgia's sake. Read our The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim review. See at Fanatical Phasmophobia Platform : PlayStation VR 2, PC VR headsets Release Year : 2020 Developer : Kinetic Games VR Intensity : 8 If you have any interest in horror or multiplayer games, you likely heard of Phasmophobia by now. Its VR iteration, however, adds a new layer of suspense that can’t be captured on the flat-screen version. The objective remains the same: Investigate an assortment of scary locales and find clues to identify the entity behind the paranormal activity within. Even in a dark room and with headphones on, the prospect is daunting. The first time you head down the stairs to look at a basement on your own in VR with nothing but a flashlight and your wits, however, is something you need to experience at least once. Fingers crossed the spirit isn’t in there with you when it happens. See at Steam Pavlov VR Platform : Meta Quest headsets, PlayStation VR 2, PC VR Release Year : 2017 Developer : Vankrupt Games VR Intensity : 8 There might not be a Counter-Strike game for VR, but Pavlov VR gets fairly close. This multiplayer shooter combines realistic reloading with fast-paced combat, making for nerve-wracking confrontations with people all around the world. As Pavlov continues to be in early access, at least on PC, the experience is frequently being updated with new maps, weapons, and features. All in all, it has a fairly approachable barrier of entry--one that only gets more complex the better you become while shooting and reloading in VR while playing with other people. See at Steam Superhot VR Platform : PlayStation VR, PC VR Release Year : 2017 Developer : Superhot Team VR Intensity : 6 If there's one premise that could be further explored in VR, that is Superhot's. Time moves only when you move, which is perfect for those who may have not built enough resistance to motion sickness yet. But that doesn't mean the experience is any less tense or strategic. Superhot VR isn't just a simple port, but rather a separate game that was redesigned from the ground up with the possibilities of VR in mind. If you haven't played the classic or you've been itching for an excuse to return to its world, this is a great opportunity to do so. This version also includes the Superhot Forever update, with adds replayable challenges and some tough endless levels. Read our Superhot review . See at Fanatical Star Wars Squadrons Platform : PlayStation VR, PC VR Release Year : 2020 Developer : Motive Studio VR Intensity : 7 Piloting a TIE Fighter in VR is a no-brainer, and Star Wars: Squadrons lets you do more than just that. Dogfighting while wearing a headset is as exhilarating as you'd expect, allowing you to get up close and personal against dozens of ships in outer space. The VR version also includes head-tracking, which can be a bit tough to parse through if you don't have a steady VR legs. But once you get used to it, you'll be wondering why Star Wars: Squadrons isn't available on PSVR 2 or the later Meta Quest headsets, considering the standout feelings that it manages to offer the moment you jump into your ship. Read our Star Wars: Squadrons review . See at Steam Blade and Sorcery Platform : PC VR headsets Release Year : 2018 Developer : WarpFrog VR Intensity : 7 If you have any interest in VR, it's likely that you've come across Blade and Sorcery at some point. This physics-driven medieval fantasy sandbox is quite complex, but at its heart, it's a hilariously crude exposure to the possibilities of VR. You can make use of melee, magic, and ranged combat in an array of violent ways. Alongside the more rudimentary maps where you fight against others in an arena, the game is regularly updated with new modes and features, including the recent addition of dungeons to plunge into. If you own a Meta Quest headset, Blade and Sorcery: Nomad is a lighter version that can offer similar thrills, if you don't mind a lower graphic quality, fewer enemies on screen, and a few other compromises. See at Steam Walkabout Mini Golf Platform : Meta Quest headsets, PlayStation VR 2, PC VR headsets Release Year : 2021 Developer : Mighty Coconut VR Intensity : 2 Walkabout Mini Golf, first released for PC VR and then ported to PlayStation VR 2 and Meta Quest headsets, does exactly what it says in the name: It's a breezy mini-golf game in VR where you partake in matches across dozens of courses. Physics play a big part in the experience, but so does the possibility of playing with others in multiplayer. If you're looking to chill or start a new Friday night routine with friends, you can't go wrong with some virtual mini-golf. See at Steam Supernatural Platform : Meta Quest headsets Release Year : 2020 Developer : Within Unlimited VR Intensity : 5+ If you're not enticed by the idea of going to the gym but still want to get some workout done at home, Supernatural is a much more fitness-focused experience than other cardio-intensive games. Yes, the gameplay is fairly similar to the likes of Beat Saber, especially with the use of licensed music. But there's more than meets the eye if you want to organize an actual routine for yourself. As you're punching the air and squatting to dodge obstacles, Supernatural uses real-world locations as a background. There are coaches who can guide you with a voice over during workouts, as well as guidance for meditation and stretching. In contrast to the rest of our best VR games list, Supernatural requires a $9.99 monthly subscription, although there's a 14-day trial that you can opt out of at any time to try it out. See at Meta Moss: Book 2 Platform : Meta Quest headsets, PlayStation VR, PlayStation VR 2, PC VR headsets Release Year : 2022 Developer : Polyarc VR Intensity : 4 The first Moss was a sensation back in 2018, inviting you to provide guidance for an adorable mouse in a thrilling adventure. The use of VR was its biggest draw, as it mixed first and third-person perspectives as you solved puzzles and helped the mouse in her quest. Moss: Book 2 expands on its predecessor's ideas, while also ramping up the combat aspect of the adventure. It also picks up right after the events of the first Moss, so if you've been looking for a chance to reunite with the tiny hero, this is your chance. See at Steam Pistol Whip Platform : Meta Quest headsets, PlayStation VR, Playstation VR 2, PC VR headsets Release Year : 2019 Developer : Cloudhead Games VR Intensity : 8 Pistol Whip is more than just "Beat Saber but with guns." The rhythm shooter has you traversing through an array of levels in an on-rail fashion as enemies show up from all sides to try and take you down. Your best defense is to fire a weapon, which can vary in type and number depending on which mode you're playing, as well as your own physical prowess to dodge upcoming projectiles. If your actions stick to the rhythm of the song in the background, you'll gain bonus points for your overall score. In practice, it becomes natural to do so, as levels are designed to fit the song, reacting to its crescendos and its beats. Depending on your difficulty of choice, however, Pistol Whip can be one of the most intense VR games out there. Make sure to have a water bottle at hand. See at Humble Before Your Eyes Platform : PlayStation VR 2 Release Year : 2021 Developer : GoodbyeWorld Games VR Intensity : 3 Before Your Eyes was one of GameSpot's best games of 2021 , and for good reason. This narrative-driven story makes use of a simple, yet masterfully implemented mechanic: You progress through the game by blinking. For PC users, this is done by using your webcam, while in mobile, the front camera becomes the main device. On PlayStation VR 2, however, Before Your Eyes uses the headset's eye-tracking to capture your blinking. The headset isn't exactly waterproof, and the story is quite emotive, to say the least, so proceed with caution. Read our Before Your Eyes review . See at Fanatical Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes Platform : Meta Quest headsets, PlayStation VR, PC VR headsets Release Year : 2015 Developer : Steel Crate Games VR Intensity : 3 One of the best co-op experiences out there is even better in VR. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes invites you to disarm dangerous devices under a time limit as another person helps you while reading a manual. If at some point you were tempted to read the manual yourself, well, that will become harder with the headset on. This VR rendition is a good example of added immersion, as you can physically move the device with the controllers, adding to the tension of trying to find the right button or mistakenly cutting something that you shouldn't. See at Humble Asgard's Wrath 2 Platform : Meta Quest headsets Release Year : 2023 Developer : Sanzaru Games VR Intensity : 7 Asgard's Wrath 2 is one of the best VR games out now. Released in December 2023, this RPG is included for free when you purchase a Meta Quest 3. It's not just a tech demo, however, but a lengthy experience filled with gorgeous set pieces and surprising depth. It's hard to describe Asgard's Wrath 2 succinctly, considering it contains a multitude of mechanics. There's wall running, a grappling hook, and swords and magic. You name it. If you're looking for an RPG that will keep you busy for long periods of time, search no further. See at Meta
Popular Content
Explore Topic
