If you're looking for the best VR horror games out there, we've got you covered.
As things stand, horror is one of the best genres for games that work in VR with a heightened sense of immersion that goes along with a properly first-person perspective.
There are plenty of great titles out there, either for specific headsets like the Oculus Quest 2 and PlayStation VR, and some are even cross-platform.
So, whether you're looking for the atmospheric gameplay of Half-Life: Alyx or the complete horror package with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, we've got you covered.
Let's get into it!
Best VR Horror Games
- Resident Evil 4 VR
- The Exorcist: Legion VR
- Half-Life: Alyx
- Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul
- The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
- Blair Witch VR
- Affected: The Manor
- Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
- Until Dawn: Rush Of Blood
Resident Evil 4 VR
Resident Evil 4 VR is the newest game on our list and represents a fine port of a classic PS2 title in the world of VR, designed specifically for the Oculus Quest 2.
It isn’t the scariest game in the RE series but still features some fantastic zombie-based hand-to-hand combat, a marvellous story and a new first-person perspective that certainly places you directly into the action.
In fact, placing Resident Evil 4 into VR has arguably made it even more intense and exciting to play with you now having to reload guns manually and ready guns, but if you do want things to be quicker, there is a setting for a more traditional first-person experience in the settings menu.
All in all, Resident Evil 4 VR looks to be a brilliant horror game for VR gaming, and for it, you can read our full review here.
The Exorcist: Legion VR
Some of the best horror games out there in VR are based on equally classic franchises, and The Exorcist: Legion VR acts as a prime example of this.
What you’ll find here is one of the most frightening games available that’s packed full of some rather tense moments and chilling scenes galore, including a particularly cold one involving a possessed baby.
In addition, it’s also an episodic title and features a great and engaging story, as a proper blockbuster film does, so will certainly have pride of place in your VR games collection.
Half-Life: Alyx
Whilst it may not be the scariest VR game around, there’s no denying that Half-Life: Alyx is one of the best VR games around.
What it does have however is some of the most brooding and atmospheric gameplay that can translate into some rather terrifying gameplay that’s also packed solid with gorgeous visuals.
VR also just heightens the sense of horror with City 17 being quite a desolate setting, and there are some jump scares present which are well-placed to frighten even the most alert of players.
It's a brilliant VR game overall, and for more of our thoughts on it, check out our full review right here.
Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul
Another title with ties to a film, Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul, is a VR game for those who like quick and sharp scares.
Intriguingly, it features an adaptative scare system that can place the jump scares and items organically. What this means is that you won’t experience the same frights twice, so every playthrough is sure to keep you on your toes, which isn’t a bad thing for a horror game.
Moreover, with a large and open house to explore, there’s going to be plenty of scares to experience and its clever level design is also a major bonus.
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
Speaking of popular franchises, The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is a classic excursion into the world of zombie survival, of course now with the added immersion of VR.
There’s a marvellous melee system with some great physics and fun yet purposeful combat. Weapons look to feel weighty and require some force to use properly.
This sense of weight and feeling is crucial to the experience which also means The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is one of the more realistic VR titles out there, even if you are being greeted by hordes of zombies to send to the slaughter.
Blair Witch VR
For one of the most spine chilling VR experiences out there, don't forget to take a look at Blair Witch VR.
Being based on one of the most popular horror franchises has its advantages, and this particular title certainly is one of the best ports of the Blair Witch series out there. Its excellent sound design and dark and atmospheric setting combine to create quite a complete experience.
In addition, expect to find Bullet the dog as a handy companion on your journey through Black Hills Forest who certainly is a handy help for navigating in the pitch black.
The way this has been achieved means you only know what's immediately going to occur, which only heightens the suspense in what is a rather well-paced VR title.
Affected: The Manor
If you're looking for a handy introduction to the world of horror in VR, then Affected: The Manor looks like a great choice.
The entire game can be completed in less than an hour, but even with that short run time, there's a marvellously dark world to explore and plenty of edge-of-your-seat moments that's sure to please even the most seasoned of horror game veterans.
There are only limited controls in terms of walking and edging into rooms to look at specific items, but with the sense of suspense that the entire game is wrapped up in, little else is needed.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
If we're talking about one of the best VR horror titles out there, then including Resident Evil 7: Biohazard on this list is a no-brainer.
It's got this grand blend of some properly immersive gameplay with the usual horror tropes of well-placed jump scares mightily tense moments and a brooding soundtrack to go along with it, alongside some mind-bending puzzles and amazing, slow pacing.
You'll also find the game is a lengthy one for VR with a total campaign time of around 12 or so hours, allowing you to be truly taken into Resident Evil 7 and one of the best titles in the series for a rather long time.
Until Dawn: Rush Of Blood
Until Dawn: Rush Of Blood has been around for a good while now, but still remains one of the finest examples of a horror game in virtual reality.
You sit riding a rollercoaster, dual-wielding guns in anticipation of the enemies that approach you. They'll come from all sides, making it increasingly difficult for you to keep mowing them down, but it's on this front that the power of VR comes alive.
There's the chance to unlock new weapons like grenade launchers to make the experience that little more explosive and to increase your score multiplier, too. The rollercoaster mechanic also allows for some excellent pacing and also helps to introduce you to the game's other mechanics.
So, there you have it, that's our picks for the best VR horror games out there, and we'd strongly suggest sticking around, especially with some more powerful headsets on the way like the Meta Quest Pro and PSVR 2 which should take your VR gaming experience to another level.
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