For a long time, FPS were the ultimate in immersion through a first-person perspective. Then came the Wii which revolutionized the way of consuming video games. And VR was born. If the technology is still very young, it has already given birth to real video game pearls of which we have selected the best representatives.
VR has this magic that it takes those who try it back to childhood: we want to interact with everything that comes to hand in this virtual universe that overwhelms our senses. The technology, which is still somewhat niche, continues to evolve and manufacturers and developers are constantly seeking to grow a medium with truly infinite potential. Without further ado, here are, in our opinion, the best VR games currently on the market, in terms of their gameplay, their story or what they offer through the lenses of our VR headsets.
Half-Life: Alyx (PC) - THE absolute killer app for VR
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Half-Life: Alyx
- Exceptional immersion, good moments of freaking out
- Very interesting Gravity Gloves
- Several thoughtful modes of travel
- Well-felt interventions by Russel
- Outstanding weapon handling
- Good lifespan
Impossible to start this selection without mentioning this monument of VR that is Half-Life: Alyx. If Valve only releases a few games, Gabe Newell's company has this insolent tendency to make each title a true masterpiece. And this new experience in the mythical Half-Life franchise dedicated to VR is obviously no exception.
The events depicted in this game take place five years before those of Half-Life 2 and place us in the shoes of Alyx Vance as the Cartel begins to impose its law on City 17. A young resistant, Alyx will have to thwart a plot of stature and free his father from the yoke of his oppressors.
If the latest game from Valve is today a monument of VR, it is in particular thanks to sumptuous (but greedy) graphics and gameplay that makes wonderful use of the capabilities of VR. All this by mixing different phases of play with an impressive mastery. Anyone with a helmet should buy one. No more no less.
Resident Evil VII (PSVR) - The pinnacle of horrific immersion
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See the priceResident Evil VII
- A nice use of the new first person perspective (especially in VR!)
- A playground for claustrophobia
- Many particularly horrific situations
Already present in our selection of the best horror games, Resident Evil VII continues to make headlines thanks to a VR version extremely well calibrated for the media. Exclusive to PSVR, this is without a doubt one of the must-try games today with the PS4 VR headset.
There is indeed nothing quite like living one of the best horrific experiences of recent years through the perspective offered by VR. The immersion is increased tenfold and this feeling of claustrophobia is pushed to its climax. We really have the impression of embodying Ethan Winters and being plunged with him into an endless nightmare.
Even in the fights, the tension is pushed to its maximum when we have to reload our weapon with shaking hands while a monstrous creature rushes at us to devour us. Simply one of the most visceral VR experiences.
Blade & Sorcery (PC) - A bloody and enjoyable sandbox
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Blade & Sorcery
- Ultra enjoyable gameplay
- Superbly calibrated physics engine
- Huge freedom thanks to mods
If slicing, smashing, burning, electrocuting or levitating anything that moves is your thing and you need a heart-pounding but fun workout to blow off steam after a long day, Blade & Sorcery is for you. for you ! In development for four years now, this title from WarpFrog is a real gem of VR.
While it doesn't yet have a fully told story, Blade & Sorcery still offers a myriad of ways to have fun with an immense arsenal and an incredibly compelling physics engine. You can indeed grab almost anything, even your opponents, and inflict the worst abuse on them by applying enough force to your blows.
Thanks to a very engaged community of modders, Blade & Sorcery promises a butchery of virtually endless possibilities. It's even possible to use the Force or Star Wars weapons! We can't say it enough, this title is a VR must-have for any fan of medieval-fantasy release!
Vader Immortal (PC, Oculus, PSVR) - The Force VR
Immortal Vader
- Embody a Jedi in VR... What else?
- A well-constructed story centered around Vader
- Superbly calibrated gameplay for VR
Speaking of Star Wars, the legendary franchise already boasts plenty of excellent VR-exclusive titles. Among them, Vader Immortal clearly stands out by offering us a three-part adventure centered around the legendary Darth Vader and our character in whom the Force is powerful.
All the elements are thus present to offer one of the best Star Wars experiences in virtual reality. With an emphasis on wielding the Force and a lightsaber, Vader Immortal is quite simply the most immersive Jedi experience yet.
This is obviously ensured by perfectly calibrated controls for VR, in an adventure with many twists and epic gameplay phases. Any Star Wars fan with a helmet should add Vader Immortal (priced at 30 euros in all) to their collection. And we don't need to use Force Persuasion to convince you of that.
Beat Saber (PC, Oculus, PSVR) - A dance of the senses with lightsabers
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Beat Saber
- Simply addictive gameplay
- Difficulty going crescendo
- Unlimited lifespan thanks to mods
Released four years ago, Beat Saber is undoubtedly a must-have VR game. Beat Games has managed the feat of offering an easy-to-learn and addictive rhythm game, while adapting it to virtual reality. The result is a ballet that plunges us into a real trance as we cut cubes in time with lightsabers.
If the gameplay is relatively easy to learn, Beat Saber certainly does not lack depth and the songs played will quickly increase in difficulty, putting our coordination and even our whole body to the test. In addition to being an excellent game, the title of Beat Games turns out to be a very good way to exercise.
Relatively limited in the pieces it offers natively, Beat Saber shines above all thanks to a very active community which has adapted virtually all the pieces of the creation into tracks of cubes to be cut happily. The experience is thus intended to be even more enjoyable when you perform flawlessly on your favorite songs. For all these reasons, Beat Saber is a must-have for anyone new to the small but very welcoming VR family.
Lone Echo 2 (Oculus) - Unique Zero-G weightlessness
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Lone Echo 2
- Graphically sublime
- An incredible immersion in space
- A captivating story
Space has always been the dream of earthlings camped on dry land, and VR has obviously been a platform on which the experience has proven to be the most convincing. But no title has been able to top Lone Echo and its sequel on this star-studded terrain. The second opus, exclusive to the late Oculus Rift but which can be played on the Quest 2 via Air Link, is the perfect illustration of this.
In addition to an absolutely superb plastic for a VR game, Ready at Dawn has succeeded with Lone Echo 2 to truly make us experience weightlessness in Zero-G as no other game has managed to do. Floating in space and gazing at the stars has simply never been so immersive.
In addition to being a graphic showcase and an exceptional ambassador for VR, Lone Echo 2 offers us a captivating story that gives meaning to this superb space epic. A magnificent swan song for the Oculus Rift, which therefore largely deserves its place in the pantheon of VR games.
SUPERHOT VR (PC, Oculus, PSVR) - Bullet-time and pole dance bar
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SUPER HOT VR
- Simple but devilishly fun gameplay
- Unique artistic direction
- Many mini-games
Released in 2016, SUPERHOT VR is, so to speak, part of the furniture with its relatively classic rail-shooter style gameplay. But unlike its formula on more traditional platforms, SUPERHOT Team's VR title has managed the feat of still being among the best VR games currently available.
Even if our character remains static, the construction of the levels offers us an enjoyable experience sprinkled with bullet-time giving us the impression of being a character from the Matrix. This coupled with a unique art direction where our opponents are made of crystal, and you have the ultimate in VR action gaming.
Its only downside is its extremely short lifespan, but the pleasure of killing opponents by playing with time has no equal at present. Many mini-games that spice up the experience and are conducive to scoring are also part of the game. A title to try urgently and immediately to adopt. And we have absolutely not been indoctrinated to advise you to do so. SUPER HOT!
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners (PC, Oculus, PSVR) - The Zombie Apocalypse is REALLY Happening
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The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
- Immersion that takes the guts
- Gameplay viscerally adapted to VR
- Gripping storyline with heartbreaking moral choices
The work of global success that is The Walking Dead has often been adapted into video games, and the result has rarely been convincing. The Telltale series and VR-exclusive Saints & Sinners, however, are superb exceptions. Skydance Interactive has indeed used virtual reality with rare mastery to make us experience a zombie apocalypse like never before.
Immersed in the middle of Louisiana, our character will have to find a place in a world dominated by the living dead. The stage is set for a captivating story lined with heartbreaking moral choices, and gameplay that masterfully blends action and horrific survival.
In Saints & Sinners, the pressure is constant as each level is played against the clock before an endless horde of zombies arrives. It will therefore be necessary to act quickly, to choose to help survivors or not, and to fight the undead in a realistic way as only VR can offer. An adventure that won't leave anyone unscathed, and a truly cult game that should soon get a sequel that we'll be watching very closely!
Moss (PC, Oculus, PSVR) - The magical breath of fresh air in VR
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Moss
- Refreshing gameplay for VR
- Enchanting art direction
- Cleverly constructed levels
Radical change of atmosphere with Moss, an enchanting game that offers a very original approach to VR. Far from the ultra immersive first-person action, the title of Polyarc offers us this time to lead the adorable mouse Quill in his own adventure.
Thanks to our elevated point of view, we will be able to show our cute little companion the way to follow in very intelligently constructed levels. Skilfully combining adventure with rather original combat and puzzle-games, Moss is thus a rare VR experience that is well worth the detour.
To spoil nothing, the title offers a particularly enchanting artistic direction that is aimed at young and old alike. A VR game for the whole family, therefore, which should be entitled to a sequel entitled Moss: Book II. We can't wait to find the adorable Quill for his next adventures!
BONEWORKS (PC) - VR worked to the bone
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BONEWORKS
- Graphically very solid
- VR-based gameplay
- Mind-blowingly realistic physics engine
To conclude our selection of the best VR games, we could not decently miss one of its best ambassadors called BONEWORKS. The title of Stress Level Zero bears the DNA of Valve games and presents nothing more or less than one of the gameplays that best use the unique properties of VR.
It is indeed a huge sandbox based on different test rooms asking who to solve puzzles related to physics and gravity, who to slaughter automatons with a particularly varied arsenal.
In addition to its gameplay, it's also its graphics, its artistic direction and its physics engine that make BONEWORKS a unique experience. If you're looking for the best VR has to offer, you've definitely come to the right place.
