25 Best VR Games To Play in 2026 for Every Type of Gamer
The best VR games offer something more than the basics of catapulting you into a make-believe world. Instead, they offer immersive gameplay, deep stories, fun, and impressive graphics to match.
I’ve looked at a ton of virtual reality games, but not all of them made my list. After all, not every title takes full advantage of your VR headset’s power to deliver a stunning gaming session.
Below, you’ll find a list of the best VR games and what makes them truly special.
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Our Top Picks for VR Games
Whether you’re a fan of survival horror games, love space exploration, or would rather slay medieval enemies, I have something for you. Some of the best virtual reality games weren’t even released this year, showing how well they stand the test of time.
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Buy nowBeat Saber 2019Channel your inner Jedi in an endless, music-filled, fun slashing experience.
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Buy nowNo Man’s Sky 2016Take space exploration to a whole new level in this immersive and endless VR title.
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Buy nowSuperhot 2016Be the hero of your fate and time, moving through a minimalistic space to slay enemies with style.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg, though. My research uncovered many gems across multiple gaming genres. Why not keep reading to find the next best VR game that’ll keep you happily engaged for hours?
25 Best VR Games That’ll Glue You to Your Headset
Whether you’re into mind-bending puzzles, world-building adventures, or heart-pounding first-person shooters, my comprehensive review list has the perfect VR game to match your style.
Dive in and discover your next favorite experience!
1. Beat Saber
- Platforms
- Meta Quest, PS VR/VR2, Oculus, HTC Vive
- Release Date
- 2018
- Genre
- Rhythm
- Best For
- Music lovers who want a workout disguised as a game
- Developer
- Beat Games
- Publisher
- Beat Games
- Features
- Lightsaber block slicing, licensed music packs, 360-degree levels, online multiplayer
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You don’t need to be an action-packed Star Wars game fan to enjoy Beat Saber, but you’ll love it more if you’ve ever dreamed of wielding a lightsaber to the beat of adrenaline-pumping music.
What I like most about this VR game is how it makes you work out by accident. That makes it a great option for those who spend much time sitting at their desks. With Beat Saber, you get to stretch your back, open up your shoulders, and get into a wide range of movements.
On top of that, I love Beat Saber’s extensive music catalogue and selection. There’s something for everyone.
GAMES LIKE BEAT SABER
2. No Man’s Sky
- Platforms
- PS VR/VR2, HTC Vive, Steam VR
- Release Date
- 2019
- Genre
- Action/Adventure
- Best For
- Explorers who want to step onto alien worlds firsthand
- Developer
- Hello Games
- Publisher
- Hello Games
- Features
- VR cockpit flight, procedurally generated planets, base building, cross-platform saves
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If you’re looking for the most immersive survival games on VR, then you should start with No Man’s Sky.
You get to explore space, interacting with creatures and objects, following a more-than-decent story mode, and visiting thousands of planets. In short, you can’t see it all on No Man’s Sky, and the developer is still adding new updates to expand the worlds.
On top of that, this title is connected across other gaming platforms. So, you can start playing No Man’s Sky on your PC, continue your saved progress on your Xbox, and finish it up on your VR!
GAMES LIKE NO MAN’S SKY
3. Superhot
- Platforms
- Oculus, PlayStation, HTC Vive
- Release Date
- 2019
- Genre
- First-person shooter (FPS)
- Best For
- Players who like slow-mo puzzles disguised as shootouts
- Developer
- Superhot Team
- Publisher
- SUPERHOT Team
- Features
- Time moves only when you move, minimalist red-and-white look, weapon throwing
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Most strategy games try to do so much all at once, but Superhot isn’t one of those. Instead, this stunning indie game adopts a minimalist approach, using a combo of mostly red and white to ensure everything stands out the right way.
I also like the simplicity of the gameplay, making it an enjoyable and immersive experience. However, you need space to play Superhot.
Unlike No Man’s Sky, which allows you to jump through space, you’ll need some room for all the crouching, grabbing, and other movements in Superhot.
GAMES LIKE SUPERHOT [VR]
4. Resident Evil Village
- Platforms
- PS VR2
- Release Date
- 2023
- Genre
- Survival horror
- Best For
- Horror fans brave enough to meet Lady Dimitrescu up close
- Developer
- Capcom
- Publisher
- Capcom
- Features
- Full campaign in VR, hands-on weapon reloading, seated or standing play, adaptive triggers
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Resident Evil Village is one of the best single-player games in VR, especially if you have a PlayStation VR 2. Like the PC and console versions, no expense was spared in making this life-like. You even get to interact with most of the intuitive graphics, immersive details, and life-like objects. Seeing the true height of characters like Lady Dimitrescu in 3D increases her fear factor, making the whole thing feel almost real.
Given that this is one of those games you can play for hours, I like that you can do so both while standing and sitting.
GAMES LIKE RESIDENT EVIL
5. Demeo
- Platforms
- Oculus Quest, PS VR2
- Release Date
- 2021
- Genre
- RPG
- Best For
- Tabletop fans who want D&D-style dungeon crawls in VR
- Developer
- Resolution Games
- Publisher
- Resolution Games
- Features
- Turn-based card and dice combat, 4-player online co-op, multiple adventures, cross-play
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Demeo offers multiple campaign modes, single and multiplayer options, and great replay value with tons of different characters who bring something new to the table. Therefore, it’s not surprising that it’s my most preferred RPG game in VR.
In short, Demeo is excellent if you naturally love Dungeons and Dragons but want a more immersive experience.
It takes about 30 minutes to an hour to complete the entire game in some campaign modes on solo gameplay. This can easily climb up to 3 hours if you’re playing with a group.
6. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Platforms
- PS VR, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive
- Release Date
- 2017
- Genre
- Action RPG
- Best For
- RPG fans who want to feel a dragon's true scale
- Developer
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Publisher
- Bethesda Softworks
- Features
- Full Skyrim in VR, all three DLCs, motion-controlled spellcasting, free or teleport movement
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If nothing else, the sheer scale during VR gameplay makes it better than what you get on PC and traditional consoles. It’ll all be worth it from the first time you see a dragon in games like Skyrim.
For improved immersion, I found that free movement is better than teleportation. However, you’ll have to be constantly mindful of your while noting that this might cause motion sickness for some gamers.
GAMES LIKE THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM
7. DOOM VFR
- Platforms
- PSVR, HTC Vive
- Release Date
- 2017
- Genre
- FPS
- Best For
- Shooter fans craving fast, frantic demon-slaying in VR
- Developer
- id Software
- Publisher
- Bethesda Softworks
- Features
- Teleport dash movement, telefrag kills, UAC research facility, classic Doom arsenal
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DOOM VFR offers a variety of guns, different story modes, multiple campaign levels, and a plethora of demons waiting to be slayed. It’s already established as one of the best FPS games on consoles and PCs, but it makes a perfect trifecta with its VR component.
PC and console players may quickly notice that DOOM VFR’s graphics are slightly turned down in the VR mode. I’ve found that this only affects the environment, as the demons and other objects you’ll interact with maintain high image quality.
8. Fallout 4
- Platforms
- Oculus Rift, HTC Vive
- Release Date
- 2017
- Genre
- Action RPG
- Best For
- Wasteland fans eager to walk the Commonwealth in person
- Developer
- Bethesda Game Studios
- Publisher
- Bethesda Softworks
- Features
- Full Fallout 4 campaign, wrist-mounted Pip-Boy, 3D V.A.T.S. targeting, settlement building
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Fallout 4 VR is a more than 7-year-old masterpiece that wasn’t stable at first, but has gotten a lot of upgrades to make it one of the best Fallout games over time. Of course, it still feels like an old game, but it makes up for that with a tight storyline, nostalgic scenes for those who already love the Fallout franchise, and a beautiful introduction for newbies.
For an older game, Fallout 4 VR stands the test of time and compares to some newer releases. Overall, I recommend a low difficulty setting till you’re comfortable with the gameplay.
9. Elite: Dangerous
- Platforms
- Oculus Rift, Steam VR
- Release Date
- 2024
- Genre
- Flight simulator
- Best For
- Would-be pilots who want true-scale flight from the cockpit
- Developer
- Frontier Developments
- Publisher
- Frontier Developments
- Features
- 1:1 Milky Way galaxy, manual docking, trading and bounty hunting, planetary landings
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Elite: Dangerous gives No Man’s Sky a run for its money, featuring even crisper images and a highly immersive gameplay. Anyone playing this game for the first time wouldn’t know that it’s up to a decade old already – it’s that good!
You’ll love the ability to view the sheer size and details of your ship. Maneuvering the ship and making warps is also as intuitive as can be. And if you want the full-scale experience, I recommend doing things like fueling your ship and landing it yourself.
GAMES LIKE ELITE DANGEROUS
10. Batman Arkham
- Platforms
- Oculus Rift, Valve Index, HTC Vive
- Release Date
- 2017
- Genre
- Adventure
- Best For
- Batman fans who want to see Gotham through the cowl
- Developer
- Rocksteady Studios
- Publisher
- Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
- Features
- Crime scene reconstruction, utility belt gadgets, Batcave exploration, first-person story
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To be honest, Batman Arkham [VR] isn’t really a game. Instead, I find it to be a very fine way for hardcore Batman fans to relive the experiences of Gotham’s mighty hero through their own eyes.
If you’ve played other Batman titles before, you’ll quickly find that the storyline in this roughly 1-hour title isn’t new. However, it still offers new takes on some angles, such as the human side of Batman and the emotional side of his parents’ passing. Adding the unique detective angle from which you’ll play, you’ll find it to be one of the best stealth games on this list.
GAMES LIKE BATMAN: ARKHAM
11. Half-Life: Alyx
- Platforms
- PC-compatible VR
- Release Date
- 2020
- Genre
- FPS
- Best For
- Anyone wanting the gold standard of VR storytelling
- Developer
- Valve
- Publisher
- Valve
- Features
- Gravity gloves, physics-based puzzles, manual weapon reloading, multitool hacking
It still surprises me how a well-designed VR game like Half-Life: Alyx can keep its detail and performance on nearly any kind of headset. In my experience, titles like this would only perform best on the most high-end headsets.
Half-Life: Alyx’s in-game mechanics are impressive. On immersion, I like how the game retains all the terrains and environments we’ve come to love in the Half-Life series, from undergrounds to industrial areas and alien nests.
Finally, the story is well-thought-out, evenly paced, and logical till the end – complete with tense standoffs, clever twists, and the satisfying thump of machine guns echoing through the chaos.
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12. Arizona Sunshine 2
- Platforms
- Meta Quest, PS VR2, Steam VR, Pico 4
- Release Date
- 2023
- Genre
- FPS
- Best For
- Zombie hunters who want a canine partner in the chaos
- Developer
- Vertigo Games
- Publisher
- Vertigo Games
- Features
- Buddy the dog companion, co-op campaign, physical weapon reloading, horde mode
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Arizona Sunshine 2 improves on the first title in the series in areas like gameplay itself, graphics quality, and campaign mode.
It’ll take about 17 hours to get through the campaign mode. Alternatively, there’s a story mode you can play (solo or multiplayer) to get a feel of things.
If you’ve played the first version, you’ll quickly notice a dog that does more than just be a prop. It can pin down zombies, maul wounded ones, or even help you carry two extra guns on its battle jacket. Who needs a friend when they’ve got Buddy the Dog?
GAMES LIKE ARIZONA SUNSHINE 2
13. Minecraft
- Platforms
- PS VR, HTC Vive
- Release Date
- 2017
- Genre
- Sandbox & survival
- Best For
- Longtime builders keen to rediscover their blocky worlds
- Developer
- Mojang Studios
- Publisher
- Mojang Studios
- Features
- Immersive first-person mode, Living Room mode, hands-on block building, survival mode
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Minecraft VR remains a great title for fans of the franchise, like me. However, it wasn’t designed from the ground up for the VR experience. So, you might get a few lags from time to time, even if you’re using a powerful headset.
Even so, this doesn’t impact gameplay. Instead, you’ll appreciate being in the 3D Minecraft world and building real-world things using your own hands, rather than a mouse. In fact, watching the Minecraft rainfall was a pretty special experience.
Grab this if you’ve been playing Minecraft for a while and want to rediscover your love for one of the best sandbox games out there.
GAMES LIKE MINECRAFT
14. Ghost Giant
- Platforms
- Oculus Quest, PS VR
- Release Date
- 2019
- Genre
- Puzzle
- Best For
- VR newcomers and kids after a calm, heartfelt story
- Developer
- Zoink
- Publisher
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Features
- Diorama-style town of Sancourt, gentle hands-on puzzles, story of a boy named Louis
After spending some time on this one, I believe Ghost Giant is best suited to extreme VR newbies or kids. However, it could also be a relaxing experience for core VR gamers who want to take a break from fast-paced titles.
In all, I love the story mode here since it follows a unique, logically laid-out path. In some instances, it feels like I’m watching a nice movie since the human interactions aren’t many.
So, you get a laid-back, immersive, and entertaining VR gaming session that truly calms the nerves.
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15. Space Pirate Trainer
- Platforms
- HTC Vive, PS VR
- Release Date
- 2017
- Genre
- FPS
- Best For
- VR beginners wanting arcade action without the queasiness
- Developer
- I-Illusions
- Publisher
- I-Illusions
- Features
- Wave-based drone shooting, swappable blaster modes, energy shield, online leaderboards
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Like Beat Saber, Space Pirate Trainer is one of the best titles for someone new to VR. I like its wide range of motions and immersive gameplay without inducing motion sickness or being overwhelming. That offers the right balance of fun and challenge, ensuring any newbie gamer is never bored during their session.
You should also check out its catalogue of excellent music, perfectly curated to match the gameplay’s tempo and keep you enjoying the virtual world for hours on end.
16. All on Board
- Platforms
- Quest VR, Steam VR
- Release Date
- 2023
- Genre
- Strategy
- Best For
- Board game fans who want friends around a virtual table
- Developer
- The Game Kitchen
- Publisher
- The Game Kitchen
- Features
- Licensed board games like Istanbul, online multiplayer, hands-on virtual pieces
Fan of engaging board games? All on Board brings everything you might expect from a tabletop adventure with a bunch of friends.
Unlike Demeo, this title doesn’t introduce too many visual effects that detract from the traditional nature of board games.
You have access to fully licensed versions of board games like The Hunger, Escape the Dark Castle, Rallyman, Istanbul, and more. What are you waiting for?
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17. The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
- Platforms
- PS VR, Oculus Quest 1/2, Oculus Rift
- Release Date
- 2020
- Genre
- FPS
- Best For
- Walking Dead fans after brutal, physical survival horror
- Developer
- Skydance Interactive
- Publisher
- Skydance Interactive
- Features
- Physics-based melee combat, scavenging and crafting, moral choices, day-night cycle
Both people who enjoy horror games and fans of The Walking Dead will definitely get their money’s worth with Saints & Sinners, thanks to its surreal depictions, compelling storyline, and hyper-realistic combat.
You wouldn’t even know that it’s not a recent title, making it an easy rival for the greatest survival horror games launched recently.
This horror title is less monotonous than Arizona Sunshine 2, increasing its replay value. You’ll have no issues going at it for hours.
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18. Phasmophobia
- Platforms
- PSVR, Steam VR
- Release Date
- 2020
- Genre
- Survival horror
- Best For
- Ghost-hunting crews who'd rather scream together
- Developer
- Kinetic Games
- Publisher
- Kinetic Games
- Features
- 4-player co-op, voice-reactive ghosts, EMF and spirit box gear, evidence deduction
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Yet another survival horror VR game, Phasmophobia differs from the rest I’ve reviewed in that it depends on playing with 3 other people.
This idea made sense to me, considering how scary the gameplay was. Trust me, you’ll jump even if you’re a hardcore fan of horror titles. The sense of having my friends with me made every ominous scene or jump scare less scary.
You’ll be hard pressed to find a title that does horror like this one. But if you will, that’ll most likely be Resident Evil.
GAMES LIKE PHASMOPHOBIA
19. Until You Fall
- Platforms
- PSVR, Oculus Quest
- Release Date
- 2020
- Genre
- Hack and slash
- Best For
- Fighters who want a sweaty, sword-swinging VR workout
- Developer
- Schell Games
- Publisher
- Schell Games
- Features
- Roguelite runs, physical block and dodge combat, upgradeable weapons, neon synthwave style
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Fancy a workout in the middle of a fighting game? Then, Until You Fall is the right title for you. You get a huge variety of cool medieval weapons to choose from.
What about the workout part? The game allows you to dodge, duck, block, and attack based on your situation. In other words, you unlock your inner warrior while slaying enemies in private battles.
20. Gran Turismo 7
- Platforms
- PS VR2
- Release Date
- 2022
- Genre
- Car Racing
- Best For
- Racing fans who want a real seat behind the wheel
- Developer
- Polyphony Digital
- Publisher
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Features
- Nearly every race playable in VR, detailed car cockpits, VR Showroom, racing wheel support
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Gran Turismo 7 solves a huge problem of most VR car racing games: keeping your attention. Most racing VR games are poorly optimized to keep your attention past a few races, at most. However, GT 7 is so fluid and well-optimized that it makes the adrenaline of being in a real race seat course through your blood.
When you lose a race, you want to try again to win. When you win, you want to repeat it. That’s how good this title gets.
GAMES LIKE GRAN TURISMO
21. Medieval Dynasty
- Platforms
- Quest VR
- Release Date
- 2021
- Genre
- Action & Adventure
- Best For
- Survival fans after a calm, hands-on rural life
- Developer
- Render Cube
- Publisher
- Toplitz Productions
- Features
- Village building, farming, hunting, villager management
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Most survival titles feature aliens, firefights, hand-to-hand combat, and the whole nine yards. You can take a break from all that with Medieval Dynasty, thanks to its more natural approach to survival games.
Here, you’re building your life and surviving every day in a rural setting. So, you’ll farm the land, hunt animals for food, build your own home, and participate in some communal living exercises.
It may sound slow compared to other stunning medieval games you may have experienced. Once you get into this game, though, you’ll see it for the addictive gem that it is.
GAMES LIKE MEDIEVAL DYNASTY
22. Little Cities
- Platforms
- Quest VR, PS VR2
- Release Date
- 2024
- Genre
- Strategy
- Best For
- Budding city planners who like hands-on, bite-sized builds
- Developer
- Purple Yonder
- Publisher
- nDreams
- Features
- Island city building, road planning, citizen happiness management, budget balancing
Little Cities entices me for the same reason I enjoy titles like Bob the Builder and SIMs. The first part of your task is building up little cities into habitable zones. However, that’s not as challenging as maintaining these cities, ensuring they have a reliable road network, improving city dwellers’ happiness, and so much more. All this, while managing a budget.
Think you’ve got a real estate developer in you? How about we find out in this fantastic city building game?
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23. Pavlov
- Platforms
- Quest VR, PS VR/VR2
- Release Date
- 2017
- Genre
- Shooter
- Best For
- Counter-Strike fans who want tactical shootouts in VR
- Developer
- Vankrupt Games
- Publisher
- Vankrupt Games
- Features
- Search and Destroy mode, realistic manual reloading, community mods, team deathmatch
Do you already play Counter-Strike and wish there were a VR version of it? Grab Pavlov right now while it’s hot.
This one doesn’t need much talking about. It brings all the fun, strategy, and choices that come with navigating a landscape of enemies and hostiles while staying alive. You get multiple weapons and a ton of upgradeable stuff all around that’ll improve the gameplay. And on top of that, there’s an active gaming community always developing mods to make your Pavlov experience even better.
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24. Assassin’s Creed Nexus
- Platforms
- Meta Quest 2/3/Pro
- Release Date
- 2023
- Genre
- Action & Adventure
- Best For
- Assassin's Creed fans eager to freerun in first person
- Developer
- Red Storm
- Publisher
- Ubisoft
- Features
- Play as Ezio, Kassandra or Connor, parkour climbing, hidden blade stealth, Leap of Faith
Assassin’s Creed Nexus was designed to capture the very heart of what makes the entire Assassin’s Creed franchise so good. This intentional effort at greatness reflects in everything, from the gameplay to the mechanics. In fact, you get into the whole parkour vibe of the game, which is something we’ve come to love about the best Assassin’s Creed games.
For all that, Assassin’s Creed Nexus’s controls were kept simple. So, they won’t overwhelm even a newbie to the series, and console/PC pros will feel right at home.
25. Horizon: Call of the Mountain
- Platforms
- PS VR2
- Release Date
- 2023
- Genre
- Action & Adventure
- Best For
- Adventurers who want to scale cliffs and hunt robo-beasts
- Developer
- Guerrilla Games, Firesprite
- Publisher
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Features
- Hand-over-hand climbing, bow combat against machines, tool crafting, Aloy cameo
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Not many VR games come complete with an entire climbing experience like you get on Horizon: Call of the Mountain. It presents absolutely stunning graphics to take full advantage of the PlayStation VR 2. It makes battling the robotic elements extra fun.
The only gripe I have with this title is that the story could have used a bit more depth. Besides that, though, it’s one of the best PlayStation VR titles I’ve checked out.
FAQs
Which VR headset do I need to play the best VR games?
Most VR games support Meta Quest, PlayStation VR/VR2, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive. Be sure to always double-check compatibility for each game before getting it.
What are the best VR games for beginners and casual gamers?
Yes! Games like Beat Saber, Demeo, and Batman Arkham VR are easy to pick up and enjoy, even for first-time VR users. They offer intuitive controls and short play sessions ideal for casual play.
What are the best VR games for core and hardcore gamers?
You can’t go wrong with games like Resident Evil Village, No Man’s Sky, and Fallout 4 VR. These games focus on immersive experiences, long campaigns, and high replayability that both core and hardcore gamers will appreciate.
