Have you tried virtual reality (VR) gaming yet? An exciting new world awaits thanks to Sony‘s PlayStation VR (PSVR) headset! Compatible with both PS4 and PS5 consoles, PSVR finally brings immersive VR into the living rooms of over 140 million PlayStation owners globally.
I want to serve as your friendly guide into this thrilling space by spotlighting the absolute best PSVR games available today. From pulse-pounding action to terrifying horrors, these 7 PSVR games demonstrate the transformative experiences only possible through virtual reality. I‘ll explain what makes each one uniquely exceptional while providing tips to help figure out which titles suit your interests.
Let‘s start our journey with a quick flyby view of Sony‘s approach to VR gaming before diving into the recommendations.
Sony‘s PSVR By the Numbers
Sony has gone all-in on VR in hopes of pioneering widespread consumer adoption beyond gaming and tech enthusiasts. Their PlayStation VR headset first launched in October 2016 as the first plug-and-play VR option for console gamers.
Over 6 million PSVR headsets have been sold so far. While other segments like mobile VR have larger install bases, PSVR dominates dedicated headsets with over 60% market share. This enormous lead demonstrates Sony‘s early success making console VR gaming inclusive rather than exclusive.
The PSVR game library now exceeds 530 titles with over 80 titles selling at least 100,000 copies each as of January 2023. Sony also incentivizes development by fully funding select VR projects.
Their efforts keep paying off – monthly active PSVR players have grown 85% year-over-year indicating solid retention and suggesting the audience could rapidly expand further once the next-gen PSVR 2 hardware launches.
Now let‘s examine why these 7 particular titles stand above the rest!
1. Beat Saber
The Euphoric Rhythm Slashing Phenomenon
Beat Saber has earned its reputation as one of the most fun VR games ever created. As a rhythm game, your goal is to slash through flying blocks representing musical beats with a lightsaber in each hand. The key is timing your slashes perfectly to the music.
This simple premise combines with an intoxicating sense of speed, kinetic energy, and style. It‘s an absolute blast in VR!
With a great selection of music spanning pop, rock, and electronic genres, intuitive gameplay suitable for all skill levels, and leaderboards to compete on, it offers endless replayability. The fitness benefits are a nice bonus too – expect to work up a serious sweat as songs ramp up in intensity!
Whether competing for high scores or just looking to have some carefree fun slashing to fun tunes, Beat Saber delivers one of the most purely enjoyable experiences in all of VR gaming.
Release date: May 2019
Genre: Rhythm
Game Modes: Campaign, Party, Fitness, 360° Levels
Motion Sickness Risk: Low
Learning Curve: Easy to learn, tough to master
Beat Saber appeals to music and rhythm game lovers alike. Approachable pick-up-and-play functionality paired with extremely polished mechanics and responsive motion tracking make it an ideal entry point into PSVR too.
Over 2 million units have been sold across all platforms demonstrating its massive crossover mainstream appeal. It also has Over 98% positive Steam reviews making it one of the highest user-rated VR games ever made.
It won numerous VR Game of the Year awards and was named among prominent outlets‘ best games of the decade lists. Expert reviewers praise both its joyful energy and precision design that keeps players coming back.
If you want to experience pure interactive magic that could make even the most VR-skeptical smile, Beat Saber is absolutely not to be missed!
Let me know if you would prefer I structure future sections differently! I aimed to lead each game profile with an eye-catching subheading summarizing its appeal before diving into details on gameplay, acclaim, and recommendations.
For the next games, I can incorporate more images, charts, comparisons to other titles, etc. Just say the word if you would like me to adjust my approach at all!
2. Gran Turismo Sport
The Gold Standard of VR Racing Rebooted
The legendary Gran Turismo racing simulation series makes its VR debut with Gran Turismo Sport. Featuring over 140 vehicles ranging from street cars to supremely exotic supercars, you can put yourself in the driver‘s seat at top speeds across 19 real world race circuits modeled down to the inch.
The visuals and sense of speed in VR take the excitement and realism to another level entirely. Just look at some of these slick vehicles you get to test out:
Gran Turismo has always been focused on delivering an authentic and meticulously detailed driving experience. In VR, you can gaze around the meticulously modeled vehicle interiors, gauge trajectory entering hairpin turns by looking out side windows, and get tunnel vision barreling down long straights.
The game‘s realistic tire physics, weather effects, and strategic fuel/tire management also remain perfectly intact. Want to know what racing real supercars at their limit might actually feel like? Gran Turismo Sport in VR gets you astonishingly, addictively close in a technical masterpiece.
Release date: October 2017
Genre: Racing simulation
Game Modes: Campaign, Arcade Mode, Sport Mode Multiplayer
Motion Sickness Risk: Moderate
Learning Curve: Steep
The Gran Turismo franchise has sold over 80 million copies worldwide during its 25-year history establishing itself in the cultural zeitgeist.
Gran Turismo Sport received an 85 Metacritic Score with reviewers applauding its "thrillingly realistic recreation of the racing experience…never before has a game communicated the intense emotions, tensions, frustrations and joys of motorsport so faithfully".
If you long to test your mettle racing like a pro, GT Sport in VR is your ticket to the most pulse-pounding virtual track day money can buy!
3. Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
The Hilarious VR Party Game
Most VR games are designed for a single player, but Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes proves great fun can be had multiplayer. In fact, it absolutely requires teamwork since only other players outside VR have access to the bomb defusal manuals!
With the ticking countdown, frantic communication is key for the headset player to describe what they see and for the manual readers to rapidly flip through pages identifying proper wire cutting procedures.
This leads to hilariously chaotic moments filled with panic, tension, relief when your squad syncs up to halt detonation just as time expires! It‘s a wildly entertaining example of highly creative VR-enhanced multiplayer.
Release date: October 2016
Genre: Puzzle, Party
Game Modes: Singleplayer, Co-Op Multiplayer
Motion Sickness Risk: Low
Learning Curve: Medium
While exact sales data isn‘t shared, its 92% positive Steam reviews showcase outstanding reception. It also won Multiple Best VR Game awards across different outlets and conferences.
Reviewers praise its refreshing concept centered completely around frantic player interaction rather than filler visuals or distracting action. It focuses so effectively on the Saunders sus collaborative experience that‘s utterly joyous despite sparse visuals.
For uproarious couch co-op shenanigans, Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes cannot be recommended highly enough!
4. L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files
The Revolutionary VR Crime Thriller
L.A. Noire pioneered advanced facial animation back in 2011, and now select cases have been rebuilt from the ground up for a uniquely immersive VR experience.
The L.A. Noire: VR Case Files allow players to feel shockingly transported back in time to 1947 Los Angeles across accurately modeled environments, vehicles, and architecture. Getting up close to meticulously detailed in-game objects by simply glancing around makes clues far more naturally compelling than canned animations and screen prompts guiding your focus.
The enhanced VR gameplay intrigue fuses brilliantly with L.A. Noire‘s classic sharp writing and world building. Whether you enjoyed the original or missed out on this gem, L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files earns an easy recommendation for PSVR owners.
Release date: November 2017
Genre: Adventure, Crime Drama
Game Modes: Story Campaign
Motion Sickness Risk: Low
Learning Curve: Medium
The base L.A. Noire game shined as a narrative tour de force that pioneered new levels of realism through their custom facial animation rig.
This VR remaster earned an 81 MetaCritic score with critics calling it "an essential PSVR game" showcasing "excellent implementation of existing mechanics into a VR space."
If you crave a riveting drama granting you access to high stakes cases in glamorous 1940s L.A, these VR Case Files are just the ticket!
Action-Packed Arcade Thrills in SUPERHOT VR
The Revolutionary VR Crime Thriller
L.A. Noire pioneered advanced facial animation back in 2011, and now select cases have been rebuilt from the ground up for a uniquely immersive VR experience.
The L.A. Noire: VR Case Files allow players to feel shockingly transported back in time to 1947 Los Angeles across accurately modeled environments, vehicles, and architecture. Getting up close to meticulously detailed in-game objects by simply glancing around makes clues far more naturally compelling than canned animations and screen prompts guiding your focus.
The enhanced VR gameplay intrigue fuses brilliantly with L.A. Noire‘s classic sharp writing and world building. Whether you enjoyed the original or missed out on this gem, L.A. Noire: The VR Case Files earns an easy recommendation for PSVR owners.
Release date: November 2017
Genre: Adventure, Crime Drama
Game Modes: Story Campaign
Motion Sickness Risk: Low
Learning Curve: Medium
The base L.A. Noire game shined as a narrative tour de force that pioneered new levels of realism through their custom facial animation rig.
This VR remaster earned an 81 MetaCritic score with critics calling it "an essential PSVR game" showcasing "excellent implementation of existing mechanics into a VR space."
If you crave a riveting drama granting you access to high stakes cases in glamorous 1940s L.A, these VR Case Files are just the ticket!
