If you've equipped yourself with a VR headset and are looking for some of the best games to dive into the action with, we've got you covered.
Virtual reality is a continually evolving technology, with a ton of standout headsets available and even more on the way such as the PSVR 2, Meta Quest 3 and Project Cambria.
Plus, with so many games to choose from, on a wide variety of VR headsets, it can be a little tricky narrowing down a select few titles that stand out as the greatest.
We've rounded up some of our top picks for virtual reality gaming right here and if you stick around to the end we've also highlighted some exciting upcoming releases.
Plus, if you're specifically looking for a brilliant multiplayer VR game or want to jump out of your skin in a fantastic VR horror adventure, we have dedicated lists on each of those too.
Table of Contents
Let's take a look!
Best VR Games 2022
- Resident Evil 4 VR
- Population: One
- Lone Echo II
- Sniper Elite VR
- Blade & Sorcery
- Wraith: The Oblivion - Afterlife
- Demeo
- Beat Saber
- Skyrim VR
Resident Evil 4 VR
Capcom's ported Resident Evil 4 to (almost) every system going, but a VR edition was unexpected.
Launched exclusively for Meta Quest 2, Armature Studio has brought us a significant transformation, implementing a first-person perspective, motion control support and a new combat/inventory system.
Read More: The Best VR Horror Games
Playing as special agent Leon S. Kennedy, we'll once again be rescuing Ashley Graham, the U.S. President’s daughter who's been kidnapped by a strange cult.
The main storyline remains perfectly intact and for a GameCube-era game, it holds up well despite showing its age. You can find our full review here.
Population: One
One of the best games on the Oculus Quest 2, is the exclusive VR battle royale style game, Population: One.
While this idea emulates that of games such as Fortnite and Warzone, playing on VR should add that extra level of immersion while playing.
Set in a near-future world, you're able to climb, fly or build to survive and attempt to make it to the end.
Read More: Best Meta Quest 2 Games
Lone Echo II
Lone Echo was an early VR gaming success back in 2017. Playing as an android nicknamed Jack, we worked with Captain Olivia Rhodes aboard Saturn's Kronos II mining station in 2126, seeking to repair damages from a spatial anomaly.
Earning strong reviews for its zero-gravity mechanics and story, developers Ready at Dawn soon announced a sequel.
Four years later, Lone Echo II has finally arrived, marking Facebook's (now Meta) last ever Oculus Rift-exclusive on PC.
If you're familiar with the first game, Lone Echo II's biggest problem is that it's more of the same, set 400 years later as Jack and Olivia find a new space station. However, Lone Echo II is easily one of VR's most polished productions yet.
Read More: Oculus Quest 2 Vs Oculus Rift S: Which should you go for?
Sniper Elite VR
Rebellion’s got history with VR following Battlezone and Arca's Path, but Sniper Elite VR marked the first time their iconic series made the leap.
Dropping the third-person gameplay for a first-person approach to better suit this medium, VR's story took us to Southern Italy in 1943, working with the resistance as a Partisan.
Featuring a ten-hour campaign, 18 new missions, semi-realistic weapons handling and those brutal X-Ray kills, there are numerous comfort settings to avoid motion sickness too.
It can feel a little overwhelming during combat - and if you're playing on PSVR, I'd strongly suggest avoiding the PS Move Controllers - but Sniper Elite otherwise transitioned into VR wonderfully.
See More: Best PSVR Games: Our Top Picks
Blade & Sorcery
If you're looking for a fantastic yet somewhat silly combat experience, then Blade & Sorcery is a marvellous choice.
What you're getting is a cool blend of medieval combat with axes, flails, broadswords and more and the ability also to wreak havoc on your enemies with all manner of intriguing and fun spells.
If the variety of weaponry in the vanilla game isn't enough, then you'll be pleased to know there are also plenty of amazing Blade & Sorcery mods that can add everything from guns to lightsabers to the game and turn you into a Sith, if you so wish.
Read More: Best VR Mods: Our Top Picks
Wraith: The Oblivion - Afterlife
World of Darkness has seen mixed success with Vampire: The Masquerade and Werewolf: The Apocalypse adaptations, so venturing towards Wraith: The Oblivion was an interesting choice.
One of the franchise's more obscure entries, Afterlife sees you playing as photographer Ed Miller, who's been summoned to Barclay Mansion to photograph a séance.
Read More: Best VR Headsets
Beginning with Ed's death, you've become a Wraith after dying during said séance with everyone else, retaining no memories of the actual incident.
Rather than use continual jump scares, Afterlife takes a psychological approach, and Barclay Mansion is a perfectly creepy setting. It's a little slow at points, but survival horror fans will find an excellent pick here.
Demeo
Resolution Games recently announced Ultimechs, but they've made a name for themselves as one of VR's best developers.
Perhaps best known for developing Blaston, the award-winning Demeo is easily their strongest effort yet, offering up a Dungeons & Dragons-styled experience.
Working like a tabletop RPG, Demeo brings a cooperative adventure for up to four players, which thankfully includes cross-play support across Meta Quest and PC.
You can play alone, but its strength comes from that social aspect. If you've been missing those tabletop sessions this last year, you'd do well to take a look.
Read More: Best Multiplayer VR Games
Beat Saber
Of course, we could hardly have a top VR games list without mentioning the highly popular Beat Saber.
This innovative game brings the likes of Guitar Hero, Dance Dance Revolution and Star Wars in a challenging musical reactive experience and workout in one.
Alongside the base game, there are also plenty of paid and free music packs you can download to add even more content, including the upcoming OST 5 pack, which looks to allow Beat Saber to return to its electronic roots.
See More: Best VR Indie Games: Our Top Picks
The Climb 2
The Climb 2 is an excellent, vertigo-inducing climbing simulator.
You're able to explore breathtaking landscapes and ascend anything from mountains to skyscrapers.
It is also a great game to compete with your friends on as it includes leaderboards and multiplayer modes.
Skyrim VR
Of course, you're likely familiar with Skyrim, but the VR version of the game is a great way to experience this highly-acclaimed title from an entirely new perspective.
You should be able to explore dungeons, battle dragons and navigate the vast world of Skyrim like never before.
Plus, there are a ton of excellent mods for Skyrim VR available which keep the game interesting and add another layer of fun to the experience.
Read More: Best PSVR Games
Honourable Mentions
Of course, I couldn't fit all of the best VR games into this list, so I'd like to give honourable mentions to a few more.
If you're after further options, take a look at Arashi: Castles Of Sin, Disc Ninja, Larcenauts, Fracked, I Expect You To Die 2, Maskmaker, Solaris: Offworld Combat, Viro Move, Winds & Leaves, and Zombieland VR.
While VR isn't the game's primary focus, I'd also recommend Hitman 3 from earlier in the year.
Best Recently Released VR Games
The Last Clockwinder
The Last Clockwinder is a standout VR game that was released in June 2022.
The game consists of building your own 'clockwork' contraptions out of your own clones.
The game takes place in a sci-fi world where you're on a mission to repair an ancient clock tower.
Best Upcoming VR Games
While there are a ton of excellent games already available on VR, here are some of the best upcoming games that you'll want to check out.
Ghostbusters VR
A new Ghostbusters VR game from Sony Pictures Virtual Reality and nGames is coming to Meta Quest 2.
The game was first announced at Meta's Gaming Showcase event on 20 April. While there is currently no confirmed release date, we'll be sure to update you once announced.
Read More: Best Oculus Quest 2 Accessories
Among Us VR
The Among Us VR adaptation is one of the most highly-anticipated titles making its way to Oculus, PSVR and SteamVR.
While we don't have an official release date as of yet, Among Us VR is expected to arrive sometime in the holiday season of 2022.
Read More: Oculus Quest 2 Vs PSVR
Ziggy’s Cosmic Adventures
Ziggy's Cosmic Adventure is also set for release sometime in 2022.
This immersive space adventure features intense arcade-style combat and a series of challenges as you travel throughout the universe and fight to survive.
Vertigo 2
Vertigo 2 is an upcoming single-player VR adventure expected to release later this year.
Vertigo 2 is said to build upon the original game released in 2016 and continues the dangerous adventure to find your home.
Encounter strange aliens from other universes and deadly android security forces that seek to eliminate all life within the reactor.
Read More: Best VR Puzzle Games 2022: Our Top Picks