Meta’s Quest platform has cemented itself as the most popular place to play VR. The Quest 3 might not have hit the blockbuster sales figures that the Quest 2 did yet, but with almost double the onboard processing power of its predecessor, it’s undoubtedly the best place to play standalone VR games.
The library of games is vast and with entries split between the quest store and the app lab,it’s not always easy to tell the must-playfrom the must-avoid titles. This list aims to make that a little easier, collecting the best games from across the headset’s library.
This list focuses on games that can be played without linking to a PC, so don’t expect to seeHalf-Life: Alyxhere.
Asgards Wrath 2is an epic RPG with 80-100 hours of questing, looting, and fighting epic bosses. It’s one of the few examples of a VR RPG that matches its flat screen counterparts in runtime and depth. It’s certainly the only one that does it all on a standalone headset and looks great while doing it.
The technical achievement is far from the only reason to play it though. Like its predecessor,Asgard’s Wrath,this is a big-budget title with Oculus Studios at the helm. That leads to a level of quality and attention to detail that sets a consistently high bar for what Quest 3 games can achieve.
A classic entry in the survival horror franchise,Resident Evil 4walked the line between action and horror in a way the series hadn’t seen before. Unlike theResident Evil 4 Remake, which upped the graphics but changed significant events from the game,Resident Evil 4on Quest translates the original game to VR in an almost one-to-one manner.
The developers also opted for full motion controls here, meaning players can dual wield weapons and interact with puzzles, doors, and cranks with both hands in the game. There was a real love for the source material clearly present here and, for veteran players, this lendsa new level of immersion to a nostalgic classic.
Technically, this ranking is for the second game in the franchise,Chapter 2: Retribution.New players should pick up both the original and its sequel though, as they both hold must-play status.Few games go as far in giving players a sensation of weight and physical presence in the worldasThe Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners.
The games feature an enticing survival gameplay loop where players spend as much time scavenging and crafting items as fighting zombies. The maps are expansive, with secrets and collectibles to find. Both games also have competent story campaigns to pull players through the action. The stylized visuals also make the most of the Quest 3’s power with enhancements over the Quest 2 version.
Extraction shooters have become a popular multiplayer genre in recent years, thanks largely to the success of titles likeEscape From Tarkovon the flat screen.Ghosts of Taborcan be most easily described as “Tarkovin VR.”
The description is well deserved, asGhosts of Taboris ahardcore tactical shooterin its own right. The VR mechanics lean heavily towards realism, with manual reloads and low damage thresholds for players. The tense dance of getting out with all of the gear versus risking it all for more loot is as compelling as ever, if not more, thanks to the added VR immersion.
Contractors: Showdownhas become a fast favorite among competitive Quest players since its launch earlier this year. Thefast-paced battle royale FPSis reminiscent ofCall of Duty: Warzone, pitting 60 players against each other on large-scale maps where the main objective is to emerge as the last one standing.
Contractorsdoesn’t compromise on gameplay mechanics for VR. Players airdrop into maps and can run, jump, slide, and even drive vehicles. Developer Caveman Game Studio has committed to supporting the game post-release too!
Gamers have often dreamed of embodying Assassin’s Creed’sprotagonists. Why not? The games mostly take place in a simulation, some would even call the Animus device a kind of XR.Assassin’s Creed: Nexusaims to make those dreams a reality, and does a pretty good job of achieving it. The game chooses to lean on that fantasy of embodying former protagonists, giving players a chance to play as Ezio, Connor, and Kassandra from the mainline games. Their stories are told as part of an interconnected story campaign that is more or less on par with flat screen games for storytelling.
The series' signature mechanics are translated well to the VR medium too. Players will stealth and parkour their way through extensive levels, perform assassinations with the hidden blade, and leap into convenient hay piles. It’s a 10-15 hour self-containedAssassin’s Creedgame in VR.
This title has been around for so long that its sequel recently entered early access. Yet,Into the Radiushas been polished, honed, and improved so much since its own early access release in 2019, it remains the superior game, for anyone coming to it fresh.
It’s a survival FPS that shares some thematic similarities with theStalkerseries. Players take on the role of a survivor living in an exclusion zone full of anomalies, strange creatures, and hostile forces. Missions send players out from the hub zone to scavenge, fight, and research. There’sa focus on realism with the mechanicsfrom gun maintenance to keeping the character fed, which may not be for everyone. That said, the level of immersion is unparalleled for those who get invested.
Arizona Sunshineis a classic VR FPS andthis sequel improves on the originalin almost every possible way. The campaign is both more cinematic and more emotive. The shooting mechanics have been refined along with better sound and visual design. There’s a crafting system and, most importantly, there’s Buddy.
Buddy the canine companion is the star ofArizona Sunshine 2. He can help distract zombies, fetch items, help with puzzle-solving, and even carry extra grenades for dealing with hordes. He also acts as a key component of the narrative, which is a big part of whyArizona Sunshine 2is a must-play game.
Sometimes gamers don’t want to shoot, loot, or save the world. Sometimes they want to sit back and relax with the satisfaction of a job well done. That’s why PowerWash Simulator VR makes this list, by offering something other games don’t.
Players who’ve lost hours making sure every inch of aViscera Cleanup Detailmap was spotless will find thatPowerWash Simscratches that exact same itch. The maps range from the mundane to the ridiculous. The themed DLCs mean players can hose down a DeLorean, or clean Bikini Bottom. It’s a cozy, relaxing game that many will find quite engaging.
It wouldn’t be a list of VR games withoutBeat Saberfeatured in it somewhere. Many Quest veterans will have had their fill of the block-slicing rhythm game, but it would be wrong not to include the game that consistently tops sales charts across VR platforms.
That said, the game has had countless additions both to the core game and as DLC, and it’s even been enhanced visually for Quest 3 over the Quest 2 version. That means there are certainly reasons to revisit this classic as well as recommend it to new players.
