There has never been a better time to be a VR gamer
With new and shiny VR headsets and a flood of high-quality VR games, 2023 is a feast for VR fans and those who want to become one.
Virtual reality is firing on all cylinders right now.
With Playstation VR 2 and Meta Quest 3, two next-generation headsets were launched this year. Playstation VR 2 offers console-level graphics, while Quest 3 delivers a well-rounded VR user experience and takes the first steps toward mixed reality.
Both devices cost more than $500, but there is a deal for the budget conscious: the old and trusty Meta Quest 2 is currently cheaper than ever at $250.
Want to buy a VR headset but don't know which one? If so, the following articles may help you:
- Should you buy a Quest 3 or Playstation VR 2?
- Should you buy Quest 2 or Quest 3 - or just wait and see?
Lots and lots of good VR games
As we all know, great hardware is worth nothing without great software, and when it comes to software, this fall and winter we are seeing an onslaught of high-quality VR games like never before.
I can't mention each and every great VR game that has come out in the last few months, but I'd like to start with the co-op title Dungeons of Eternity, which was released for Meta Quest in early October. It is a polished and incredibly fun dungeon crawler, especially when played with two or three friends. Not surprisingly, it quickly became a hit for Meta Quest.
This action title was soon followed by the atmospheric adventure The 7th Guest VR for Meta Quest, Playstation VR 2 and SteamVR compatible VR headsets. It is a VR remake of the classic 90s game of the same name and shines with its spooky atmosphere and challenging puzzles.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Justice, which puts you in the role of a Venetian vampire, was released in early November and is already one of Ben's top VR games of the year. A week later came Demeo Battles, a PVP spin-off of the successful tabletop role-playing game that features turn-based tactical battles against human and AI opponents. I play it several times a week with a friend and love it.
In mid-November, one of the most anticipated VR games of all time was released to critical acclaim: Assassin's Creed Nexus VR for Meta Quest. It's the first game in the series to be built from the ground up for virtual reality. Read Ben's review of Assassin's Creed Nexus VR to learn more about the game.
In early December, the story-driven zombie epic and co-op game Arizona Sunshine 2 was also released for all major VR platforms, as well as the VR mode of Resident Evil 4 exclusively for Playstation VR 2.
VR games of a new generation
And that's not all: This month, the PC VR surprise hit of the year, Vertigo 2, will be released for Sony's VR headset; on December 14, Racket Club will launch on all major VR platforms; and on December 15, Asgard's Wrath 2, the most ambitious game and VR RPG ever developed for Meta Quest, is coming out.
But there is also positive news to report from the PC VR world: Valve recently gave its VR platform a facelift with SteamVR 2.0, and simplified access to PC VR games with the release of Steam Link for Meta Quest. If you own a gaming PC and a Meta Quest 2 or 3, it might be worth taking a trip into the PC VR space and its vast library of VR games and apps.
Other big VR games of the year like Stranger Things VR, Bulletstorm VR, and Behemoth have been delayed until next year. Thank goodness, because no one can play so many new VR games at once!
Many of the titles mentioned here are productions from long-standing and established VR studios that are setting new standards in game design, graphics, and scope. Virtual reality has come a long way since 2016, and these titles show it. There has never been a better time to be a VR gamer.
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