While it may not be happening with the sort of breakneck speed many had anticipated, virtual reality is still very much expected to become gaming's next big thing. The idea of VR has been on the table for years, but it's only been relatively recently that the medium has emerged as a viable commercial proposition.
At the cutting edge of this cresting wave is the Meta Quest 2 (formerly known as the Oculus Quest 2), the virtual reality headset developed and produced by Meta's (formerly Facebook's) Reality Labs division. There are so many games in all shapes and sizes that are suited to VR, but as it's still a relatively niche market, many of the IPs will be unfamiliar to the casual gamer. With that in mind, it can be hard to know what's what in a world that can feel as overwhelming as it is impressive.
Resident Evil 4 Is a Masterpiece on Any Platform
Resident Evil 4 is widely considered to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, video games ever made. Initially debuting on the GameCube, Capcom's 2005 release has become a cross-platform phenomenon, finding a home on the PC, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360 and the Wii.
The iconic horror third-person shooter has now found its way to the Meta Quest 2, a transition that feels like a perfect fit for the cutting edge of VR technology. If ever there was a medium well-suited to the pulsating, often terrifying thrill of the Resident Evil series, it's virtual reality. The revered title has shown no signs of age or getting lost in translation as it ports to another platform to collect yet more critical acclaim. Wherever and however players experience it, Resident Evil 4 is a mandatory play for gaming fans.
Trover Saves the Universe Is Self-Referential Fun
From the mind of Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland comes Trover Saves the Universe, a humorous, deeply self-referential VR adventure that debuted in 2019.
A mix of action, puzzling and platforming, Trover Saves the Universe follows the adventures of the main protagonist, in other words, the player, as they look to retrieve their kidnapped dogs from the clutches of the game's all-powerful antagonist Glorkon. Accompanying them on their adventures is Trover, a Morty-esque purple being voiced by Roiland who can be commanded to run, attack, jump and perform the necessary actions for players to achieve success. As a sly commentary on the nature of gaming itself (like the fact that players sit down while their avatar does all the work), Trover is a uniquely hilarious VR experience.
Few Games Are as Exhilarating as Pistol Whip
Pistol Whip is described on Steam as "an unstoppable VR action-rhythm FPS." It's an apt description, as it thrusts players into a relentless world of bullets, motion and a relentlessly excellent soundtrack that gives an almost unparalleled sense of kinetic fun and breakneck action. A thrilling, colorful and competent shooter, Pistol Whip is the sort of game that VR was built for -- it's an utterly immersive experience that makes the most of the medium while benefiting greatly from its application.
With its burgeoning reputation built on a dreamy visual palette, innovative gunplay and full player immersion, it's little surprise that Pistol Whip has become one of the most popular and recommended VR titles in recent memory. As far as VR FPS games go, Pistol Whip is pretty much the gold standard.
I Expect You To Die 2 Expertly Blends Classic Spy Tropes
The I Expect You To Die series of games may sound like another entry into the generic FPS canon, but Schell Games' spy adventures are anything but run-of-the-mill. While the first game in the series built a fantastic foundation, its sequel offers even greater immersion, a wider narrative scope, more characters and even greater stakes.
Both games have players take on the role of an elite secret agent tasked with eliminating Zoraxis Industries, an unscrupulous organization with plans for global domination. Taking the form of an escape-the-room puzzler, I Expect You To Die 2 is a delightful, meticulously crafted piece of work that takes influence from classic mind-stretchers like Monkey Island to create brainteasers that immerse as much as they intrigue. Both titles are fantastic, but I Expect You To Die 2 gives a more up-to-date sleuthing experience.
In A Fisherman's Tale, All Is Not as It Seems
Though it may have a relatively innocuous title, there's a lot more to A Fisherman's Tale than simply angling for trout or sailing the seas in a weather-beaten trawler.
A Fisherman's Tale is in fact a hugely inventive VR puzzle adventure game from Innerspace VR and Vertigo Games that plays with the format to great effect. Players assume the role of Bob, a fisherman puppet living in an isolated cabin. Players must reach the top of his lighthouse and turn its light when a storm alert threatens the safety of the ships outside. Nothing is as it seems, however, and it isn't long before the laws of physics and reality are bent and broken in the most surreal, often disturbing ways. Very odd and utterly unique, A Fisherman's Tale is unlike anything else in the market today.