Sony's PlayStation VR has been on the market for months now, offering gamers a wallet-friendly virtual reality alternative to the pricey Oculus Rift or HTC Vive. If you own a PlayStation 4 or PS4 Pro, you can buy a PlayStation VR set for $399 and dive right into the virtual world of your choosing.
Sure, the console's VR library isn't as robust as what you'd find on PC, but the lower price point and ease of use makes PlayStation VR a worthwhile pickup. With the lineup of PC ports and Sony exclusives growing steadily, PlayStation VR's library only gets stronger as the year goes by.
As a result, we've decided that it's time to separate the wheat from the chaff. We examined several PlayStation VR games and highlighted the 20 coolest titles that are worth your time and money. Please keep in mind that these VR titles are full games, not tech demo-like "VR experiences."
The VR games run a wide gamut of genres, including adventure, survival horror, and sports. PlayStation VR has something for everyone to enjoy, so read on to learn what your options are before you head out to buy a headset. We also encourage PlayStation VR aficionados to share their favorite virtual reality games with us in the comment section below, especially if you think there are deserving games that we overlooked.
100ft Robot Golf
$19.99
This game offers 100-foot-tall robots playing golf and not much else. But that's all you really need—especially if you are a fan of giant robots. What distinguishes this game from other golf titles is that it's more about speed than keeping your stroke count low. It's better to hit the golf ball in the general direction you want it to go and then fly after it instead of going for a precise strike. 100ft Robot Golf may not live up to its potential, but at least it isn't trying to mislead anyone.
Batman: Arkham VR
$19.99
Probably the most popular of the launch-day PSVR titles, Batman Arkham VR lets players become The Dark Knight like no other game ever has. Instead of focusing on action, Arkham VR is a mystery game where players have to search for clues in order to solve a murder. Despite its pedigree, this title could be considered disappointing since it is only about an hour long. However, it does make one feel like Batman, and that alone could be a selling point for most.
Battlezone
$59.99
This is an updated version of the classic arcade game, and it does a nice job of capturing everything that made the original great while still feeling modern. Unlike a lot of games for Sony's peripheral, Battlezone is exceptionally challenging. Though the game does feature a good number of weapons to use, it can become somewhat repetitive since there isn't much to do besides blowing up everything that moves.
Bound
$19.99
Bound is a unique platformer that incorporates ballet into your character's movement. You play as a princess within a surreal world who must dance and jump to protect her kingdom from a marauding beast. Bound makes heavy use of ever-changing environments and geometry, dazzling your eyes with wondrous alien vistas. PlayStation VR support lets you guide the princess with head movement via the headset, or simply look around and ogle the world.
Driveclub VR
$39.99
Sony's 2014 racer has received the PlayStation VR treatment. This re-release not only comes with most of the original game's content, but also a few new tracks. The VR headset gives you an amazing view of your car's cockpit, so you can enjoy every heart-pounding turn as you cling to the edge of the driver's seat. Driveclub VR's resolution has taken a hit to accommodate the virtual reality hardware, but it's still a game that racing aficionados should take for a spin.
Eagle Flight
$39.99
This gives you a literal bird's-eye view of a post-apocalyptic Paris. You play as an eagle who explores the wasteland by soaring through the skies and streets. You guide your eagle, controlling its movement with your PlayStation VR headset, as you explore and build nests across the city's districts. Eagle Flight also offers a three-on-three competitive mode that tasks you and two teammates with carrying food back to your nest while fending off the opposing team.
EVE: Valkyrie
$59.99
If you've ever wanted to gun down ships across the vastness of space, EVE: Valkyrie is the game for you. Set within the EVE Online universe, Valkyrie is a multiplayer-oriented dogfighting space shooter. The game offers eight-versus-eight PvP missions, as well as exploratory levels if you feel like immersing yourself and taking in the sights of deep space.
Harmonix Music VR
$14.99
Harmonix Music VR is essentially a playable version of those music visualizations that PC monitors used to have back in the early 90s. The game has some modes that let you interact with the music via puppets or paint brushes. There are also modes where you can sit back and relax to the in-game music or tracks that you upload. This game is something to play/experience when you're just hanging out alone at home.
Headmaster
$19.99
Headmaster is one of the strangest games among PSVR's lineup since it doesn't require players to use a DualShock 4 or Move controller. Instead, one has to use their head...literally. Though hitting soccer balls with one's noggin' may sound mundane (not to mention uncomfortable), this is actually a fun title that manages to have a good deal of variety despite its simplistic gameplay.
Here They Lie
$19.99
Those who want to indulge in something less sunnier may enjoy Here They Lie. This isn't exactly a horror title, but it does have a decidedly darker atmosphere when compared to other PSVR launch games. Players will navigate through a twisted world in search of a loved one while trying to escape enemies and solve puzzles. This one has been known to cause motion sickness, so it may not be for everyone.
PlayStation VR Worlds
$39.99
PlayStation VR Worlds features five different games that focus on one specific aspect of VR. These games are meant to be short, but this also means they are on the shallow side. The London Heist, Scavenger's Odyssey, VR Luge, Danger Ball, and Ocean Descent are good for what they offer but individually they aren't exactly deep experiences. Still, this package is good for demonstrating what VR can do.
Resident Evil VII
$59.99
Resident Evil VII is a tense, grotesque, and campy return to form for Capcom's iconic survival-horror franchise. You explore a condemned mansion as Ethan Winters, a distraught widower searching for clues about his wife's mysterious disappearance. Resident Evil VII steps away from the series norm, delivering its action and frights exclusively through a first-person perspective. With PlayStation VR, the experience is much more immersive (despite a few quirks), putting you directly in the midst of the horrors that haunt the Baker Estate.
Rez Infinite
$29.99
Rez was one of the better Sega Dreamcast games back in the day, but it seems to have truly reached its potential in virtual reality. One of the trippier experiences on PSVR, Rez does a fantastic job of immersing players in a sea of color visuals and intense music. You won't need to go out clubbing if you have this game.
RIGS Mechanized Combat League
$49.99
If you ever wanted to pilot a mech robot, RIGS is about the closest you'll get to living out that fantasy. This was made to be played at eSports events and it shows. This is a fast-paced, aggressive shooter/sports game that is unlike anything out there. RIGS is not for the faint of heart and only those with strong constitutions need apply as the game demands a lot from players, physically and mentally.
Robinson: The Journey
$59.99
Robinson: The Journey is a slow-paced title that places you, a stranded space traveler, on a planet still ruled by dinosaurs. It's a puzzle and exploration game at heart, so you collect items and find solutions as you explore, rather than fight to survive as you might expect. If immersion and adventure are what you want for your PlayStation VR setup, take a stroll through the lost world that is Robinson: The Journey.
Thumper
$19.99
Thumper blends a lot of disparate gameplay styles and ends up being a very unique title. This can be considered a racing game, but it is also equally a rhythm game and an endless runner. Thumper's fast speed may seem overwhelming at first, but after some time, it all becomes second nature. This is also an extremely gorgeous looking game, which is always nice.
Tumble VR
$9.99
Like Battlezone, Tumble is getting a new lease on life in VR. Here, the player builds or destroys towers of blocks that come in various shapes, sizes, and even densities. The challenge comes from figuring out which blocks to use in order to create specific towers. Things get even harder later in the game when you have to stack blocks on moving platforms or with fluctuating gravity. The controls for this game may not be all that precise but the overall package is still enjoyable.
Until Dawn: Rush of Blood
$19.99
Unlike Here They Lie, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood is a full-on horror title meant to scare the living daylights out of players. Unfortunately, everything that made the original Until Dawn great on PS4 is missing in its VR incarnation. Instead of being a cool action-horror title, Rush of Blood is an on-rails shooter. Yes, it does have moments that are meant to scare you, but they feel forced and somewhat cheap. This is probably the most disappointing PSVR game only because it could have been so much more.
SuperHyperCube
$29.99
The goal of this odd puzzler is to fit a three dimensional stack of cubes through a two dimensional hole in an encroaching wall. The challenge is to orientate the cubes to match the opening before it is too late. If not, you'll lose points. This is the type of game you can play for a few minutes or many hours.
Super Stardust Ultra VR
$19.99
The Stardust games have always been among PlayStation fans' favorites so it's not surprising to see one get brought over to PlayStation VR. The basic premise of flying around a planet and shooting asteroids into little chunks of colorful debris hasn't changed, but the game takes on a whole new dimension in VR where it is decidedly more immersive. The luminant colors, numerous power ups, and enjoyable shooting mechanics make this one a winner.