VR is a growing platform and its doing so on the back of games that give you an experience you cannot get playing flatscreen.
FromSoftware Is Working On Several New Games But None of Them Are Elden Ring 2
While the developer can’t go into specifics, they’re working on a variety of games.
One of the biggest genres in VR currently is the shooter and while there are certainly standout games that get all the praise in the world, there are also many games that also deserve some love.
Here are some VR shooters that might not have scored big with critics, but deserve your attention nonetheless.
9Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge
The Best Star Wars Shooter Ever
Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge - Enhanced Edition
VR is the perfect place to live out our greatest nerd fantasies, and, of course, Star Wars is a perfect candidate for the VR treatment.
And with Star Wars: Vader Immortal, this VR dream became a reality. However, while solid, this was more of an experience than a full game.
The same team took another shot with Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge, and although it wasn’t a smash hit, it’s a seminal experience for any Star Wars fan.
You’ll get a fairly lengthy experience here, taking you to many famous Star Wars locales. Along the way, you’ll engage in tons of high-octane shootouts with Blasters, Grenade Longers, various laser pistols, and a variety of different grenades and accessories.
It’s thrilling stuff, and the effects are identical to those of their movie counterparts. You have the option to dual-wield as well, which feels great in motion.
The story is nothing special, but it gives you a solid push forward throughout the game. you’re able to engage in separate tales that put you in the boots of a Jedi, so those thirsting for some Lightsaber action will get a few brief moments to do so, even if it’s a less-than-fleshed-out portion of the game.
8Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond
A Heroic Effort
Medal Of Honor: Above And Beyond
Medal of Honor was the perfect game to come to VR, and it seems that players were expecting a gritty, realistic depiction of what went down in World War 2, as is customary for the series.
Instead, we got a mere peek into the hardships of war, which stillincludes plenty of action, but feels a bit more arcade-esque than many people were expecting.
That’s not to say it’s bad. It’s far from bad. It just lacks much of the VR interaction you might expect from a big-budget title, but the shooting here is incredible.
You’ll get a bunch of different guns to use, all authentic to the era, and some of the set pieces are absolutely incredible to take part in.
Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond First Impressions On The Classic FPS' Return
Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond finally drops next week. We got an early look at the beginning stages of the campaign and a few hours with multiplayer
Mid-air shootouts, thrilling escapes, and the main event taking part in D-Day itself will all leave a mark on you, and it’s hard to figure out why anyone would feel let down by this game.
The multiplayer is definitely on the poorer end of VR shooters, but if you’re here for the story, the campaign is an action-packed romp that has some real challenges at times.
There aren’t many games like this in VR, so if you’re a fan of the Medal of Honor franchise or hungry for a grounded shooter in a well-covered area of history, go grab this one; you won’t regret it.
7Tales of Glory 2
Release Date
December 1st, 2020
Blacktale Games
Tales of Glory 2 is a little-known game that started in Early Access but has since become a product much closer to the finished article.
The concept is simple: take a squad through various missions with different objectives and give you a fitting arsenal of weapons to use.
It’s not all that novel, but truth be told, there aren’t many games like this in VR. There are multiplayer variants for sure, but single-player military shooters? Few and far between.
Here, you’ve got voice commands to move your party around, which is something pretty much no other game has achieved, and yet Blacktale Games has done it seamlessly with its first two games.
The interactivity is also impressive, as you can drag injured teammates away from a firefight, grab enemies to take them hostage, and launch throwing knives with satisfying precision.
One of the best parts of the game is the stealth missions, each of which makes the game feel like a VR Splinter Cell or Metal Gear Solid, and within the medium of VR, that’s every impressive indeed.
6Guardians: Frontlines
March 9th 2023
Virtual Age
PCVR, Meta Quest
Guardians: Frontlines is the VR answer to Halo in many ways. You’ve got an insurgent alien race, characters that all look like close relatives of Master Chief, and an assortment of human and alien guns and vehicles to mess around with during gameplay.
This is much more than just being a shooter, though, as there are RTS elements that allow you to spawn your own troops and structures throughout the course of a battle.
The campaign isn’t too lengthy, but it creates some incredibly fun moments, and things can get tense when playing on higher difficulties.
If you’re not sold just yet, you’ve also got full multiplayer modes, a custom map editor to share with the community, and a co-op mode that lets you play through the campaign with a friend.
It’s a bit janky for sure, but there is some good fun to be had here, and it’s the groundwork for something that could be truly special with a bigger budget.
5The Light Brigade
VR Rogue-like Bliss
The Light Brigade
The Light Brigademight not have gotten the fanfare of heavy hitters likeHalf-Life: Alyx, but it does something unique and feels incredible in action.
This rogue-like places you in a unique-looking world and pushes you forward through each level with challenging encounters, an ever-evolving arsenal of weapons, and some of the best combat in any VR game.
You’ll be able to imbue your weapons with magic throughout the game, adding some extra complexity to the already great-feeling combat.
The weapons are an interesting mix of weapons from WW1, with some more interesting offerings that you’ll find later on. You’ve also got special abilities and the chance to constantly upgrade after each failed run.
The consistent challenge is what should grip you, and while the atmosphere is rather docile, the interesting visuals and changing levels should give you plenty of bang for your buck.
4Warhammer 40K: Battle Sister
A Focused Thrill Ride
March 8th, 2022
Soul Assembly Ltd
Warhammer 40k: Battle Sister gives you anaction-packed thrill ride from startto finish that doesn’t overstay its welcome and focuses on big battles and set pieces to get you through it.
It’s not the deepest experience, but that doesn’t take away from the oodles of fun on offer.
You play as one of the iconic Battle Sisters, donning the full armor and interacting with weapons and creatures that were merely tabletop creations for so long, which is something to behold for fans of the series.
The action here is nonstop, giving you a nice arsenal of weapons that feel punchy, and wielding a sword in one hand and pistol in the other is a power fantasy that most VR games don’t get to achieve.
you may also play through the game in a horde mode with a friend, but the meat of the game comes with the main campaign.
It’s shockingly high-budget looking, with some amazing environments and boss battles, including one against a massive mech that is both intense and visually awesome.
3Hellsweeper VR
Shooting and Slashing Action
September 21st, 2023
Mixed Realms Pte Ltd
Hellsweeper VR is a game that had massive expectations but didn’t quite pan out to be the hit intended. Coming from the fantastic Sairento VR developers, there was a lot of hype for it, and it unfortunately didn’t live up to it because of how limited in scope the experience is.
That doesn’t mean it’s not fun though, because Hellsweeper plays and looks like Devil May Cry in VR.
You’ll be blasting with guns, slashing minions from hell, and unleashing magic upon your enemies throughout your journey.
The movement is frantic and feels easy to control while offering you a ton of freedom in approaching each combat encounter.
Those encounters are somewhat limiting as they usually take place in big combat arenas, but being able to zip around, shoot, and slash through the air makes it feel great to play, at least.
The movement is just as good as it was in Sairento, allowing you to wall run, double jump, flip in the air, and it all makes you feel suitably badass without making you feel sick, which is an achievement in itself.
2Crossfire: Sierra Squad
An Arcade Military Romp
November 1st, 2023
Smilegate Entertainment
PCVR, PSVR, Meta Quest
Crossfire: Sierra Squad might pose itself asa serious, military shooter, but in reality, it’s a nearly on-rails action game that packs plenty of spectacle and plenty of content into its extensive runtime.
The graphics stand out within the genre, but the shooting is where the game really shines. The use of scopes, lasers, and other tactical attachments is unparalleled here, and you get an incredible amount of freedom in customizing your arsenal throughout the missions.
Speaking of which, there are over 60 available, all bombastic and over the top, like a 90s action movie come to life, complete with absolutely atrocious voice acting and dialogue, but that’s weirdly part of the charm here.
While the story is a big nothing, it doesn’t take away from the thrilling moment-to-moment gameplay, which is rewardingly challenging and consistently fun, thanks to the set pieces it introduces.
This is the Michael Bay movie of VR shooters. It won’t win any awards, but you will be thoroughly entertained.
Over-the-Top Action
May 5th, 2022
PCVR, Meta Quest, PSVR
Fracked is all about action and isone of the most insane gamesin VR.
It got some flack due to its runtime, and that’s understandable as it only runs about 3ish hours, but in that time, you’ll be treated to some over-the-top action that would belong in a blockbuster movie.
You play as a worker on a mountain thrust into battle against an interdimensional threat, and while the story is nonsense, the environment is unique, and fighting these enemies on a snowy mountain, complete with snowmobile chasing and all kinds of crazy set pieces, is thrilling.
The weapons are fun, the enemies are interesting, and the graphics are some of the best in the genre, so while all this action will be fun to play, it will also look incredible in motion.
The movement is also great, letting you hang from ziplines and go soaring through the air while shooting, and it has some exciting chase sequences as well.
The action is loud and constant, so you might even work up a sweat while playing it.
Although the experience is brief, it’s certainly worth a try if you’ve got a weekend to waste.
