Players looking for engaging VR games have no shortage of titles to choose from these days. What was once a gimmicky, proof-of-concept playground has turned into a burgeoning marketplace full of immersive experiences and the best VR headsets.
The HTC Vive is home to many of these games, and it offers users an expansive library of virtual reality experiences. If you’ve just picked up the Vive — or you’re a veteran VR player looking for your next adventure — you can’t go wrong with any of the following games.
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Until You Fall
76%
Platforms
Windows Mixed Reality, SteamVR, PlayStation VR, Meta Quest, Meta Rift, Meta Quest 2
Genre
Adventure, Indie
Developer
Schell Games
Publisher
Schell Games
Release
September 29, 2020
Until You Fall is a roguelike action game where you run the same gauntlet of enemies over and over, upgrading your weapons and skills as you go. Although the enemy models and environments can get a bit repetitive, the gameplay is anything but. Until You Fall utilizes both of the motion controllers with a weapon in each hand. Instead of flailing your arms around and hoping for the best, Until You Fall features a fast parrying and blocking system. In many ways, it feels like a rhythm game. Each enemy type attacks in different ways, and you’ll need to anticipate each upcoming move. As you block and dodge, you’ll slowly work chip away at your opponents’ defenses, opening up the opportunity for a devastating combo. Until You Fall not only showcases how well swordplay works in VR but also how intricate it can be.
Gorn
80%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, SteamVR, PlayStation VR
Genre
Fighting, Simulator, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Indie
Developer
Free Lives Games
Publisher
Devolver Digital
Release
July 18, 2018
Gorn is a VR gladiator simulator game from the developer of Broforce. The game doesn’t take itself too seriously, going so far as to call the enemy animations “poor” on the Steam page. As with many VR titles, Gorn occasionally feels broken but in a charming way and remains endlessly fun to play. Ruthlessly violent, you can dispatch of foes any way you see fit, be it with swords, maces, knives, war hammers, and more at your disposal. It’s fully physics-driven, too, so you can interact with the game world and your enemies in a multitude of ways. You can plant a mace in an opponent’s head or use a sword to chop off a limb. Even with how blood-ridden and violent as Gorn is, it never gets too overwhelming. The cartoon graphics and constant jokes are enough to make the brutality of its subject matter feel digestible.
Swords Of Gargantua
50%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Meta Quest, Meta Quest 2
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Thirv
Publisher
Thirv
Release
June 06, 2019
Virtual reality’s motion controllers are perfect for emulating sword fighting, and Swords of Gargantua is one of the best ways to live out your fantasies as a monster-slaying warrior. With 100 single-player missions and 30 included weapons, you won’t run out of enemies to kill anytime soon. With haptic feedback support for swords, it will feel like you’re really swinging a weapon. If you get tired of playing alone, you can battle waves of enemies in four-player cooperative play, and it’s a cross-platform game giving you more potential teammates. At a reasonable price, it’s one of the best values on Vive right now.
Raw Data
80%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Meta VR, SteamVR, PlayStation VR
Genre
Shooter, Strategy, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Indie
Developer
Survios
Publisher
Survios
Release
July 14, 2016
One of the best action games available in VR, Raw Data transports you into the future to take down an evil conglomerate. Eden Corporation controls the world, but as an operative from the underground hacking group SyndiK8, you go straight into the walls of the corporation to decimate the operation from within, siphoning as much data as possible. The sci-fi setting is wonderfully realized, and the action-oriented gameplay puts you in total control of a wide range of weapons and nanotech powers. Raw Data is a challenging game that rewards players who take advantage of their entire arsenal of abilities. You can play solo or with a friend to uncover the true motives of Eden.
Eagle Flight
50%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4
Genre
Shooter, Simulator
Developer
Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher
Ubisoft Entertainment
Release
October 18, 2016
Showing off VR’s explorative strengths, Eagle Flight lets you take control of an eagle soaring over the streets of Paris. In this world, humans went extinct 50 years ago, and animals now have dominion over everything. Eagle Flight gives you a breathtaking vantage point over historic landmarks left behind such as the Eiffel Tower. The action comes in as you swoop down to fight off other animals trying to hone in on your territory. The aerial dogfights are exciting, but perhaps most interesting when enjoyed via the game’s competitive multiplayer mode. Part of the appeal of VR is having experiences you otherwise couldn’t, and Ubisoft’s Eagle Flight does just that.
Thumper
76%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, SteamVR, PlayStation VR, Google Stadia, Meta Quest, Meta Rift, Meta Quest 2
Genre
Music, Racing, Indie, Arcade
Developer
Drool
Publisher
Drool
Release
October 10, 2016
Part of what makes virtual reality so exciting is its ability to dominate the player’s senses in a way that screens simply cannot. No game better exemplifies this than Thumper, a so-called “rhythm violence” game that puts players in control of a metallic beetle racing along a psychedelic highway to confront gigantic monsters. Players use simple, intuitive commands to avoid obstacles along the track, lean into turns, and hop over rails. The hazards sync with the game’s soundtrack consisting of militant drums and ominous soundscapes. Even with the distance granted by a monitor, Thumper feels oppressive, but in virtual reality, it becomes a grinding descent into hell. While the game’s environments look great in VR, the boss fights are truly awe-inspiring. Massive, cosmic horrors are rarely as menacing as they are in VR.
Beat Saber
85%
Platforms
Windows Mixed Reality, SteamVR, PlayStation VR, Meta Quest, Meta Rift, Meta Quest 2
Genre
Music, Sport, Indie
Developer
Hyperbolic Magnetism
Publisher
Hyperbolic Magnetism
Release
May 21, 2019
While not an officially licensed Star Wars game, it’s easy to see where the inspiration for this great rhythm game came from. Wielding a pair of HTC Vive controllers, you smack at blocks with lightsabers to the rhythm of catchy instrumental tracks. Slashing through these blocks may not be as satisfying as slaying a Stormtrooper, but it’s pretty darn close. The game has only grown more impressive throughout the years, with several high-profile names (such as Green Day and Billie Eilish) lending their songs to the ultra-popular game. Half rhythm game and half workout simulator, Beat Saber is arguably one of the best VR games ever made.
Elite: Dangerous
80%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows Mixed Reality, SteamVR, Meta Rift
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Frontier Developments
Publisher
Frontier Developments
Release
December 16, 2014
Elite Dangerous’s starfighter cockpit is a great way to justify a seated VR experience. Frontier planned to port the game to VR since the Oculus DK1, and that level of iteration shows in the final product’s polish. Elite has a first-mover’s advantage of being one of the Vive’s launch titles longest in development with a successful, multi-platform release already under its belt. This open-world space game will be a natural starting point for gamers who want a polished, proven experience.
BONEWORKS
76%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Meta VR, SteamVR
Genre
Shooter, Puzzle, Simulator, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Stress Level Zero
Publisher
Stress Level Zero
Release
December 10, 2019
Boneworks is a narrative-driven first-person shooter from Stress Level Zero, the same studio behind Duck Season. In many ways, the game feels like a tech demo of what VR is capable of. Using an advanced physics engine, you’re tasked with solving puzzles, dispatching enemies, and traversing the sci-fi world in creative ways. You can interact with nearly everything in the game world, too, bringing a level of immersion that no other VR title has been able to capture. Outside of the Half-Life-inspired narrative, which is worthy of a mention in its own right, it’s the interactions in Boneworks that stand out most. If you see something, you can interact with it in the way you think you can. For instance, you can use a crowbar to open a locker door or stuff a flying enemy into a trash can and close the lid. Much like how Half-Life 2 showed how much physics can affect normal games, Boneworks shows how it can affect VR titles.
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
70%
Platforms
Windows Mixed Reality, SteamVR, PlayStation VR, Meta Quest, Meta Rift, Meta Quest 2
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Skydance Interactive
Publisher
Skydance Interactive
Release
January 23, 2020
Outside the Telltale titles, The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners is easily the best Walking Dead game ever made, and it just happens to be in VR. Saints and Sinners takes place in New Orleans, but rather than the city filled with excellent food and party beads many are familiar with, this version is dilapidated and overrun with zombies. To make matters worse, there are warring factions within the city, and you’re caught in the middle. If the subject matter didn’t stress the point enough, you send your character to sleep each night using a flask. Saints and Sinners captures the dark, moody tone of the TV series excellently and provides compelling combat on top of that. Like Boneworks, Saints and Sinners showcases how powerful VR can be for gaming.
Pistol Whip
79%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Meta VR, SteamVR, PlayStation VR, Meta Quest, Meta Quest 2
Genre
Shooter, Music, Indie, Arcade
Developer
Cloudhead Games
Publisher
Cloudhead Games
Release
November 07, 2019
Pistol Whip is technically a shooter, though it’s fairer to call it a rhythm game. You automatically move down a linear corridor with only a pistol, shooting, dodging, and punching like you’re John Wick in an over-saturated tech demo. Although the shooting is fun on its own, Pistol Whip sets its stages to music, and the more you time your attacks to the beat, the higher the score you’ll get. Like Beat Saber, Pistol Whip fits perfectly into the VR experience. Unlike other rhythm games, however, which force you into a set beat, Pistol Whip allows you to shoot to your own tune. Locking into the pulse-pounding EDM tracks and sending bullets through the air is where Pistol Whip shines.
SUPERHOT VR
87%
Platforms
Windows Mixed Reality, SteamVR, PlayStation VR, Meta Quest, Meta Rift, Meta Quest 2
Genre
Shooter, Puzzle, Indie
Developer
SUPERHOT Team
Publisher
SUPERHOT Team
Release
December 06, 2016
Superhot VR turns an already innovative and exciting shooter puzzler into an even more memorable experience on the Vive. The stop time mechanic responds to movement from the player’s hands wielding the Vive controllers. Thanks to the precise tracking system offered by the Vive, fluid and precise movements can be made with little frustration. The goal of Superhot VR is the same as the original — work your way through white rooms by dismembering foes with calculated movements. Superhot VR gets your adrenaline pumping and truly showcases how immersive VR can be. For that, it’s arguably the best experience available on Vive.
Rez Infinite
59%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, PlayStation 4, SteamVR, Daydream, PlayStation VR, Meta Quest, Meta Rift
Genre
Shooter, Music, Indie
Developer
Enhance Games
Publisher
Enhance Games
Release
October 13, 2016
A remake of the 2001 cult classic Rez, Rez Infinite is a pitch-perfect VR adaptation that makes us feel as though Rez was always meant for VR. Rez Infinite is still the on-rails shooter that takes players through a hazard-filled computer network, but the all-encompassing chaos and enemies you must aim and shoot at pop when in VR. There’s also something about the way the shifting environments — the lines, polygons, and bright flourishes — come alive when strapped into a headset. Combine the fast and enticing gameplay with the rhythmic soundtrack, and it’s easy to get fully immersed in the HTC Vive. Rez has aged remarkably well, but Rez Infinite in VR is the best way to play the iconic game.
Serious Sam VR: The First Encounter
80%
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows)
Genre
Indie
Publisher
Devolver Digital, Croteam
Release
March 30, 2017
Expanding on the surprise success of Serious Sam VR: The Last Hope, The First Encounter delivers a faithful remaster of the 2009 HD remake of the original entry in the series. Supporting both full locomotion and teleportation movement, The First Encounter lets you enjoy the fast-paced experience however you see fit. The 15 campaign levels are even more fun than in the original thanks to the immersion of VR. You can also play cooperatively or in an arena-style competitive mode online. There’s also a horde mode that lets you link up with up to 15 other players to battle through waves of enemies. Featuring full trackpad controls on Vive, Serious Sam VR: The First Encounter successfully replicates controller play while giving you increased precision.
Arizona Sunshine
62%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, SteamVR, PlayStation VR, Meta Quest, Meta Quest 2
Genre
Shooter, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Vertigo Games, Jaywalkers Interactive
Publisher
Vertigo Games
Release
December 06, 2016
According to your radio, there are survivors of the zombie apocalypse other than yourself, and it’s your job to go on the grueling journey through the southwestern heat to reach humanity. Yes, Arizona Sunshine is yet another game filled with flesh-devouring zombies, but it’s in VR. Getting chased by the undead becomes a lot less blasé when you feel like you’re really there. When exploring the game’s vast, barren world, a pack of zombies is never far behind. Arizona Sunshine‘s campaign is playable solo and cooperatively. When you’re done, there is a proper horde mode to get at with up to four players.
Space Pirate Trainer
90%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation VR
Genre
Shooter, Arcade
Publisher
I-Illusions
Release
April 05, 2016
Space Pirate Trainer stands out from the mass of shooting galleries on the Vive with its tight controls and gorgeous presentation, which gives players an experience straight out of an ’80s sci-fi film. The game largely takes place on an isolated platform. Players hold the Vive controllers in their hands, each one acting as an in-game gun. These guns can be set to perform a variety of actions, allowing you to fire in bursts or using powerful charged shots. Increasingly difficult waves of robotic enemies emerge, and you must shoot them down while dodging their attacks. This simple gameplay is surprisingly fun, however, as it gets you moving and multitasking. There are few VR experiences more thrilling than twirling around incoming lasers and firing back, guns akimbo.
Hover Junkers
50%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows)
Genre
Shooter, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Stress Level Zero
Publisher
Stress Level Zero
Release
April 05, 2016
While many of the titles currently available seem more like proofs of concept than anything else, Hover Junkers is a fully-realized and exciting multiplayer experience that has us hooked. It solves the problem of moving in a limited space by turning your small play area into the deck of a hover ship that you use to fly around the battlefield, collect junk, and trade blasts with your opponents. Collected junk can be used to bolster your defenses, creating walls for you to crouch behind. Shooting and reloading are handled with natural gestures. Piloting around, ducking behind cover, and popping up to shoot at your enemies is as intuitive and immersive as any first-person shooter we’ve ever played, so Hover Junkers serves as a fantastic ambassador for the genre.
DOOM VFR
80%
Platforms
Windows Mixed Reality, SteamVR, PlayStation VR
Genre
Shooter
Developer
id Software
Publisher
Bethesda Softworks
Release
November 30, 2017
Few first-person shooters have ever been as smooth, outrageous, and downright fun as 2016’s Doom reboot. Capturing everything great about the original two games, it felt like a direct response to the overly serious and methodical tone of modern AAA titles. Doom VFR — yes, the “F” means exactly what you think it does — adapts the speedy experience of thrill-killing demons for VR, with a new tale of a “cybernetic survivor” tasked with fending off a demonic invasion on the Mars-based research facility.
Duck Season
60%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows)
Genre
Shooter, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Stress Level Zero
Publisher
Stress Level Zero
Release
September 14, 2017
Duck Season takes you back to the summer of 1988. Your mom comes home with a stack of games for your Kingbit Entertainment System, many of which mimic classic NES games. Among the lot is a Dunk Hunt clone, and unlike the other titles, you’re transported into a virtual world to, well, hunt ducks. There, the iconic dog from the original game still taunts you, but it seems more menacing than before. Clearly, it’s someone dressed in a dog costume, and the character becomes increasingly involved in the boy’s life, eventually transitioning out of the game world. It should be clarified that Duck Season is a horror title, so be warned. That’s all we’ll spoil about it, however. Featuring multiple subplots, various mini-games, and seven unique endings, Duck Season is a creative, narrative-driven experience built from the ground up for VR.
Fujii
70%
Platforms
Meta VR, PlayStation VR, Meta Quest, Meta Quest 2
Genre
Simulator, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Funktronic Labs
Publisher
Funktronic Labs
Release
June 27, 2019
Take a break from the violence and lifelike combat found in so many Vive games and instead relax in the tranquil world of Fujii. Part narrative adventure and part gardening simulator, you’ll explore the colorful, peaceful areas of Fujii and gradually restore life to its biomes and interact with plants. As you travel and collect seeds, you can then plant them in your own home garden for a custom creation unlike anyone else’s. Much of the joy in Fujii comes from its gorgeous environments, which range from lush greenery to abstract white gardens and ponds topped with lily pads. The plants you grow will even contain musical elements, and you can bring back animals and smaller insects to their new home in your garden.
Trover Saves the Universe
80%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation VR, Meta Quest, Meta Rift, Meta Quest 2
Genre
Puzzle, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Squanch Games
Publisher
Squanch Games
Release
May 31, 2019
From the bizarre and eccentric mind of Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland comes Trover Saves the Universe. Completely separate from the hit show but featuring the same art direction and sense of humor, Trover Saves the Universe is an adventure game loaded up with different gameplay opportunities, including platforming and combat. All throughout, you’ll be treated to Roiland’s unique brand of sarcasm, and you can upgrade Trover to help on your adventure. Trover Saves the Universe has also released plenty of new content for free–making it a great time to dive into the hilarious adventure. The game is fully compatible with Vive, or you can play it on a traditional display.
ADR1FT
83%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre
Puzzle, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Three One Zero
Publisher
505 Games
Release
March 28, 2016
If you watched Gravity and thought, “Gosh, I’d love to see how terrified I would get if I were stranded alone in space,” Adr1ft gives you the chance to find out. At the start of the game, you wake up completely alone in the vast silence of space. Remnants of your destroyed space station float around you, but you don’t really understand the significance of that event because you have no memory. Even worse, your oxygen suit is gradually failing, constantly threatening death by suffocation in the void among the nameless stars. The main draw of Adr1ft ends up being its stunning visuals. You truly will feel as if you are there. Throughout the roughly four-hour experience, you will mostly be gazing at the environments while slowly trying to save yourself. Admittedly, the controls can be rough, but as a visual display, Adr1ft is certainly worth checking out.
Moss
81%
Platforms
Windows Mixed Reality, SteamVR, PlayStation VR, Meta Quest, Meta Rift
Genre
Platform, Puzzle, Adventure
Developer
Polyarc Games
Publisher
Polyarc Games
Release
February 27, 2018
Many virtual reality games commit to the first-person perspective and have you embody the character you’re controlling, but Moss takes a different approach. The action-adventure game tasks you with controlling a small mouse from a third-person perspective, engaging in combat, and moving throughout the world much like you would in a traditional game. The world itself, however, is controlled by you, and you can use this to your advantage as you solve puzzles and clear obstacles. Moss’ storybook-like tale and the setting are also perfectly suitable for younger players, provided they can handle VR.
Job Simulator: The 2050 Archives
78%
Platforms
Windows Mixed Reality, SteamVR, PlayStation VR, Meta Quest, Meta Rift
Genre
Simulator
Developer
Owlchemy Labs
Publisher
Owlchemy Labs
Release
April 05, 2016
Life is rather boring in 2050. Every job has replaced humans with robots, and now you’re feeling a bit underwhelmed. To keep yourself busy, you strap on a VR headset and see what it was like to work menial jobs. In Job Simulator: The 2050 Archives, you can work as a convenience store clerk, a mechanic, a chef, and an office worker. As mundane as that may sound, it turns out that everyday tasks are much more enthralling in VR. It helps that Job Simulator has quirky humor, but for the most part, the experience excels because almost everything you see is a point of interaction. Simply picking up, moving, and throwing things in VR is a joy.
Vacation Simulator
80%
Platforms
Windows Mixed Reality, SteamVR, PlayStation VR, Meta Quest, Meta Rift, Meta Quest 2
Genre
Simulator, Adventure
Developer
Owlchemy Labs
Publisher
Owlchemy Labs
Release
April 09, 2019
If you’re getting tired from the work you’re doing in Job Simulator, Owlchemy Labs still has you covered with Vacation Simulator. The game takes the adventure to sunny beaches and snowy mountaintops as you play ball, grill delicious meals, swim in the pool, or just goof around. You can even go hiking, but without the bug bites and dirt that usually ruin such an experience. There usually aren’t robots hanging around when you take a real vacation, either. Vacation Simulator is a lighter VR game, and it is less likely to cause sickness issues than more intense offerings. Owlchemy Labs’ sense of humor shines through in the new setting, and it’s a game that can truly only exist within VR.
Star Trek: Bridge Crew
80%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Windows Mixed Reality, SteamVR, PlayStation VR, Meta Quest, Meta Rift, Meta Quest 2
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Simulator
Developer
Red Storm Entertainment
Publisher
Ubisoft Entertainment
Release
May 30, 2017
The closest you will come to living out your dreams on the Enterprise, Star Trek: Bridge Crew does an exceedingly good job at capturing the essence of a Star Trek space battle in VR. You explore the stars and universe with a team of four aboard your spaceship. One pilots the ship, another serves as an engineer, and another makes tactical choices. The fourth teammate is the captain looking over all of the work at a global level. As a team-oriented experience, Bridge Crew is at its absolute best when you have three friends to play with. If you’re remotely interested in Star Trek and have someone to play with, you shouldn’t miss it.
Accounting+
70%
Platforms
SteamVR, PlayStation VR, Meta Quest, Meta Rift, Meta Quest 2
Genre
Simulator, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Crow Crows Crows
Publisher
Limited Run, Crow Crows Crows
Release
December 19, 2017
Is virtual reality a good medium for comedy? Accounting, a short adventure game written by Rick and Morty creator Justin Roiland, makes a strong case for it. Navigating through many colorful, deranged layers of reality, players can grab and move objects in the world, and, for the most part, the only thing they have to do is fiddle with their surroundings. While the mechanics may not be memorable, the writing certainly is. Populated by bizarre characters who speak in rambling, absurd dialogue, fans of the show, or animated comedy in general, will undoubtedly love this short but memorable VR vignette.
Silicon Valley Inside the Hacker Hostel VR
The HBO show Silicon Valley gives you a look into the world’s most dysfunctional technology company, Pied Piper, and with the free Silicon Valley: Inside the Hacker Hostel game, you can be a cog in the barely-oiled machine. The game features several of the show’s biggest characters, including Jared, Jian Yang, Big Head, Richard, Dinesh, and Gilfoyle, as well as a fully functional bong, in case you need something to give you a little creative inspiration.
Fallout 4 VR
60%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows)
Genre
Role-playing (RPG)
Developer
Bethesda Game Studios
Publisher
Bethesda Softworks
Release
December 12, 2017
Fallout 4 is one of the most ambitious role-playing games of all time, combining an improved combat system with Bethesda’s legendary world-building and quest design. Fallout 4 VR throws you into the game to live our your vault-dwelling dreams in virtual reality — not just a small section of the game, but the entire experience. With the stop-and-go V.A.T.S. combat system and a slower movement speed than comparable virtual reality titles, Fallout 4 VR can be played for long stretches of time, and given the size of Bethesda’s world and the amount of content it holds, that is a very good thing.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR
80%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Bethesda Game Studios
Publisher
Bethesda Softworks
Release
November 17, 2017
Nobody can create an open world quite like Bethesda Game Studios, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim just might be the developer’s masterpiece. In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR, you can experience the entire game in virtual reality, and it looks even better on HTC Vive than it does on platforms like PlayStation VR. Traveling throughout Skyrim and battling Draugr in secret caves feels more immersive than it did in the original game, and you can truly become the character you’ve created. Every decision has a newfound sense of weight and meaning, and every battle feels that much more important.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
87%
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows Mixed Reality, SteamVR, Daydream, PlayStation VR, Meta Quest, Meta Rift, Gear VR
Genre
Puzzle, Simulator, Indie, Card & Board Game
Developer
Steel Crate Games
Publisher
Steel Crate Games
Release
July 16, 2015
Virtual reality headsets seem like an isolating experience at first, and though it’s possible to mirror the visuals to a screen for the sake of people around you, there is no way to convey the same experience you’re having. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a unique multiplayer experience that offers a way for people not wearing the headset to participate. The game tasks the player wearing the headset with disarming a bomb with input from other players. The problem? Only the player wearing the headset can see the bomb. In order to disarm it, the main player must describe the various modules on the bomb, while the other players consult a lengthy manual that offers instructions on what to do. The result is a tense (and often frantic) experience as players shout at each other while the clock ticks down. The modules that appear on the bomb appoint players with various tasks, such as translating morse code or playing memory games, and communication is vital; it can also break down quickly. The asymmetric gameplay of Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is great fun and provides a much-needed template for socially-oriented VR games.
Fantastic Contraption
70%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4
Genre
Puzzle, Simulator, Strategy, Indie
Developer
Radial Games, Northway Games
Publisher
Radial Games, Northway Games
Release
April 05, 2016
The Vive’s motion controls and use of actual, physical space opens up some exciting possibilities for games that really let you get your hands dirty, and Fantastic Contraption is a perfect example. Based on a flash game from 2008 of the same name, Fantastic Contraption tasks you with using simple components such as wheels and rods, to construct devices that move a goal object through the level and into the goal area. It’s conceptually reminiscent of the old Incredible Machine series, but with simpler components and a greater focus on physics. Unlike its predecessor where you simply used the mouse to connect parts and construct 2D contraptions, now you manipulate components directly with your hands in full 3D. The concept translates beautifully into the new medium, and getting down on your hands and knees to tinker with your contraption is gratifyingly immersive.
Tetris Effect
87%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, SteamVR, PlayStation VR, Meta Quest, Meta Rift
Genre
Music, Puzzle, Arcade
Developer
Resonair, Monstars Inc.
Publisher
Enhance
Release
November 09, 2018
A sublime and wholly original take on the classic puzzle game, Tetris Effect shows just how important a game’s visual and audial cues can be to shaping the experience. At its most basic level, Tetris Effect is still classic Tetris, but Tetris Effect uses crescendos and your own moves to shape the game’s soundtrack. As you continue to clear lines and make your way through different stages, the pieces will change design, as will the environments behind them. Tetris Effect gets its name from the phenomenon of players seeing pieces wherever they look — even in their dreams — even after putting the game down. For this reason, the HTC Vive is the perfect place to experience the game as you’ll be sure to still watch blocks fall when you close your eyes.
Richie's Plank Experience
80%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Meta Quest
Genre
Simulator, Indie, Arcade
Release
September 19, 2016
Many people are at least a little afraid of heights, particularly when they’re near the top of a skyscraper without a barrier to prevent them from falling. In Richie’s Plank Experience, you can attempt to overcome that fear by walking on a narrow plank of wood 80 floors up in the air. The developers even suggest using an actual wooden plank in your playing space, and you can customize the in-game plank’s dimensions to match the one you’re using in real life.
Rec Room
80%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Meta Quest, Meta Rift, Meta Quest 2
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Sport, Adventure
Developer
Against gravity
Publisher
Against gravity
Release
June 01, 2016
A social VR experience, Rec Room gives players the ability to hang out and play colorful mini-games with other players. As you control an avatar, you can play basketball, soccer, paintball, disc golf, charades, and more, and all of it is played with room-scale VR that really immerses you in the action. Rec Room is one of the more relaxed experiences available on the HTC Vive, and there are plenty of mini-games to keep you entertained and coming back for more. As it stands, Rec Room is free to download and play, making it a no-brainer for HTC Vive owners.
Tilt Brush
80%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows)
Genre
Simulator
Publisher
Google
Release
April 05, 2016
Tilt Brush for Vive isn’t exactly a game, but it’s an app that will keep you engaged for hours. A Google-owned application, Tilt Brush uses virtual reality to let you paint on a 3D canvas. One motion control is your paintbrush, and the other is your palette. It’s easy to master Tilt Brush, and it lets you create works of art even if you don’t consider yourself a creative person. While it doesn’t create 3D images or even geometric designs, it does deliver a believable and enthralling 3D experience. Beginners hoping to get accustomed to virtual reality will love the app, but more skilled artists might get bored of the simplicity of its basic features. However, using the virtual reality experience to practice techniques could lead to a deeper appreciation of the app. Despite being an enjoyable, straightforward game, Tilt Brush isn’t a simple port of an existing game, making it an exciting addition to HTC Vive’s library. This app is an artistic way to experience virtual reality as a creative outlet. Ultimately, Tilt Brush’s painting capabilities could open the door for new opportunities on the HTC Vive and similar devices.
