6 co-op VR games to play with friends who don't own a VR headset
Got a VR headset, but your friends don't? Here are some of the best cooperative VR games you can play together.
Note: The following list only includes co-op titles and does not include games optimized for asymmetric gameplay.
Do you know of other titles that should be on this list? Write in the comments or send an email to tomislav@mixed.de.
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Escape Simulator
Escape Simulator is an escape room game originally released on the PC that has sold over two million copies.
A VR mode for the PC version was released in the spring of 2024, and a standalone VR-only version for Meta Quest followed in the fall. The game supports cross-play between all three platforms: PC, PC-VR, and Meta Quest. Up to ten players can join an escape room, but Escape Simulator is optimized for three people.
The VR port is rock solid and can be played comfortably while seated. The sheer number and variety of escape rooms will keep you busy for many hours.
Escape Simulator and its VR mode are available on Steam and as a VR-only version in the Horizon Store for Meta Quest.
Demeo
Demeo combines the social experience of tabletop gaming with virtual reality. The turn-based fantasy RPG allows up to four players to explore dangerous dungeons. There are six character classes to choose from: Guardian, Mage, Hunter, Assassin, Bard, and Barbarian. Each class has special strengths and abilities that must be used effectively in the fight against dangerous creatures such as goblins, wizards, and trolls.
The dungeon unfolds before you like a 3D game board and can be easily rotated and zoomed in to experience battles up close. Players take turns moving their characters and selecting their next action from action cards. You are encouraged to use voice chat to discuss next steps and strategies. Teamwork is required to overcome the challenges and bosses.
Demeo is available for a variety of platforms, all of which support cross-play.
You can find Demeo in the Horizon Store for Meta Quest, in the Pico Store for Pico headsets, in the Playstation Store for Playstation VR 2, in the App Store for Apple Vision Pro and on Steam for SteamVR-compatible headsets. Cross-play is supported between these VR versions and the PC version, the PS5 version and the Mac and iPad versions.
No Man’s Sky
In No Man's Sky, you explore a nearly infinite, procedurally generated universe. Each planet looks different. Gather resources, discover new species, develop technologies, and buy better spaceships.
Since its bumpy launch in 2016, developer Hello Games has regularly provided the game with updates. The content and features have grown significantly since then.
The PC and PSVR 1 versions of No Man's Sky received a VR mode in 2019. On Playstation VR 2, No Man's Sky has been available since the launch of the VR headset.
No Man's Sky and its VR mode is available on Steam and the Playstation Store. Cross-play is supported between these VR modes and all other platforms for which No Man's Sky is available, except Nintendo Switch.
Payday 2
Payday 2 is a cooperative first-person shooter that puts you in the shoes of professional criminals on a dangerous heist. Set in the fictional Crime.net underworld, you and up to four friends can rob banks, steal valuable items and complete missions.
The game features an extensive progression system, customizable weapons, and a variety of approaches and strategies, from stealthy infiltrations to fierce gun battles with the police.
Payday 2 and its VR mode are available on Steam. Crossplay is only supported between the PC and PC VR version.
Phasmophobia
Phasmophobia is a co-op horror game that puts you in the role of a ghost hunter. The action takes place in abandoned places such as houses, schools, and sanatoriums. The goal is to identify the ghosts that haunt these places. You will need to use tools such as cameras, EMF readers, and spirit boxes.
Originally released for PC, Phasmophobia has featured an experimental VR mode since its early access launch in 2020. In the fall of 2024, Phasmophobia was released for Xbox Series S/X and Playstation 5, with the latter version featuring a VR mode for Playstation VR 2.
Phasmophobia and its VR mode is available on Steam and the Playstation Store. Cross-play is supported between the following versions: PC, PC-VR, Playstation 5, Playstation VR 2 and Xbox Series S/X.
The Forest
The Forest is a survival horror game.
After a plane crash, you are stranded on a mysterious island. You must gather resources, craft tools and weapons, and build shelters to survive in the wilderness. As you explore the island, you will encounter mutated creatures and uncover dark secrets about the island's inhabitants.
The PC game, which was released in early access on Steam in 2018, received an experimental VR mode early on.
You can find The Forest and its VR mode on Steam. Cross-play is only supported between the PC and PC VR versions.
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