The Games

Finally, what you must have really been waiting for. Hardware and front-end software is all nice and good, but what about the actual games? As a first time VR user, are there any that really make the VR investment worthwhile? The answer resoundingly is a definite YES!

Before we delve into what games we played, let us remind you that for the SteamVR titles, you do require a VR-Ready PC, and whilst mines is not really top of the line anymore, it is still rather beefy for VR. The PC Specs used were as follows:

CPU: Intel i7 6700K @ 4 GHz (4 Core CPU with 8 Threads)
GPU: Nvidia GTX 980 TI – 6GB Vram
RAM: 32GB DDR4 2133MHz Memory

We recommend you use SteamVR to test out if your PC is VR Ready, and our PC was able to come up as way above average, so do keep that in mind. Titles that are Oculus native from the in-built store, on the other hand, do not require a PC whatsoever and you can play them on your headset on their own.

With that out of the way, let’s talk about all the games we played and what we thought!

In Death: Unchained

Format: Native Quest 2 Version

In Death: Unchained was the first VR title I tried out on the Quest 2 and was also the first VR game we ever covered on the site, so it is only fitting that we start with that.

This game is easily the reason I was quickly sold on the potential of the headset, and I couldn’t have picked a better first title to try VR by myself. It is certainly a very well presented title, with the atmosphere and combat pacing reminding me a lot of the presentation from Dark Souls. 

You play as an archer in this game, so the main weapon you use is your bow and an assortment of different arrows. The game gives you some features like shield handling that let you survive enemy attacks.

The controls are really intuitive, and it is so much fun to mimic pulling a bow and arrow and get the same response. It’s always satisfying to get that well placed critical hit, which makes you want to play more.

We played both the original Quest version as well as the upgraded Quest 2 one, and the experience was markedly improved! The textures and model quality saw quite a jump in both clarity and abundance, and a lot more effects looked and felt better! It really showcases just how much of a leap in technology power there is from Quest 2’s predecessor.

Blair Witch

Format: Native Quest 2 Version

I was a huge fan of the original release and fell in love with the great characters, memorable music and expertly-timed horror sequences that Bloober is known for. So, I was curious to see how this was adapted to the VR space.

Even without the VR, the original game had a lot of interactive elements, especially with your dog Bullet on top of the mobile phone and camera you could use. These mechanics work so well in VR where you can physically hold and operate these tools.

The best thing, of course, is finally being able to pet Bullet, who is easily the star of the game, with a strong AI that really makes him behave and feel like a real dog. VR also puts the scale of places and characters in perspective, making them even more effective.

Because of this, it is scarier through VR. Most commendably, rather than make it a 1:1 port, Bloober has refactored the gameplay areas, especially those with supernatural encounters to make good use of the targetted format. This extra dedication is a good reason to double-dip with VR or try out the game for the first time.

Beat Saber

Format: Native Quest 2 Version

There was no way I was not trying out Beat Saber, especially as it’s often called one of the strongest reasons to buy a VR headset. After playing it for a bit, I can see why that is.

By being a native Quest 2 app, Beat Saber on Oculus Quest 2 is the most liberating way to play the game as you are not tied by wires and can freely move around in your set space. This wireless feature really helps you get into the songs and their movement.

The game generally is tons of fun to play, and makes innovative use of VRs strength, making it an essential for Quest 2.

Arizona Sunshine

Format: SteamVR – Oculus Link

Before getting the game, there was so much I had heard and seen about the game, everything about it looked fun and exciting. So, when the game was cheap during the Halloween Sale on Steam, I jumped at the opportunity to get it.

There is a Quest 2 version of the game available on the Oculus Store as well, but the lower price and more PC powered features helped me seal the deal with Steam, and let me tell you this game has been so engaging, that I doubt my experience would have been hindered with the Quest 2 version.

If there is one thing this game has shown me, is that whilst I would never be able to survive a Zombie-pocalypse, I would probably go out having a blast. It is unbelievable how free a VR experience can be, getting to point your gun and shoot at zombies is basically everyone’s dream.

The game generally features great level design, but there is a mine section that you come across early on where you have to use one hand to light your way, and another to shoot. It becomes eerily tense and makes the experience memorable. You get a choice of guns to use, and can even dual-wield freely to take care of your enemies. It is a unique rush of adrenaline being in a virtual space in such a physical manner.

The low-res issue I mentioned before does stand out here with the Quest 2 headset, but you quickly get so used to the game and its world that it’s easy to forget about that. Whilst the game allows for free-movement, I used the teleport method instead, since free-movement still easily disorients me after a while.

Basically, this is definitely a game to get if you love action games, and are longing for a good shooter in VR where your reflexes will get tested. Not to mention, the voice acting and writing is quite good, and it really paints the picture of the desperate, lonely character you play as.

Batman Arkham VR

Format: SteamVR – Oculus Link

This was the first Steam VR title I tried through Steam Link, and it was such a strong starting point! You see, I am a huge fan of the Arkham series, and this title further reminded me why I love it so much.

Just to set some expectations, this isn’t an active action title where you are punching bad guys and taking down enemies, as this focuses more on the detective mechanics of the Arkham games, where you analyse items and crime scenes to find clues. It felt like a cool mix of Batman’s tech and Jayden’s glasses from Heavy Rain.

The game overall works well in VR, as it provides a lot of interactivity with its systems and the world, giving you lots of things to fidget with. The Batcave is especially great in this regards, as you have tons of buttons and levers you can interact with, really making you feel like you are in control of the legendary Bat Cave.

Where it really excels, however, is the cinematic storytelling. The setting is based more around the final game, Arkham Knight where Batman is suffering from the side-effects of Joker’s blood, making him hallucinate and see things that he normally shouldn’t.

The experience really puts you in his shoes, as the world around you crumbles and changes and you can’t tell what’s real or not. The climax was especially engaging and scared me quite a few times. I genuinely forgot how good the horror in the Arkham games was.

The game isn’t expensive nor long, so you should definitely pick it up to see what VR can really do if you have a compatible PC.

Phantom: Covert Ops

Format: Native Quest 2 Version

With stealth at its core and visual style reminiscent of the classic Metal Gear Games, as well as featuring David Hayter himself in an antagonistic role, the game had caught my eye long before I got Quest 2.

The games that I find the most interesting are those that take the limitations of VR and make it their strength. By providing an experience that you can play by sitting down and moving your arms alone, it is easier to get immersed.

You play as an elite soldier who has to use his Kayak to infiltrate a flooded area to take down some stereotypical army shooter bad guys. It’s the game’s reliance on stealth and interesting interactivity with weapons that really makes the whole experience stand out.

Hellsplit Arena

Format: SteamVR – Oculus Link

This is the game that probably got the most workout from me, as well as motion sickness. The game is unbelievably fun and visceral to play. A lot of the actions I thought I could perform, I was actually able to!

The game is wave and arena-based, where you can equip weapons or shields in each hand and fight enemies of varying difficulty. It really feels like you are in a gladiator arena of sorts, and it’s all about thinking quick on your feet to get the best critical hits to bring down your enemies quickly.

This is one game that really needs the Guardian feature, as it’s easy to get carried away and start running around too much. It’s still impressive to see this level of room tracking without external equipment. I moved around in the virtual space quite a bit trying to dodge and attack.

Once you knock down your enemies, you can even grab them from different body parts, and I usually found myself holding my enemies head in one hand, whilst punching their face in with the other or slitting their throat more easily once they were down.

It’s exhilarating as much as it is aggressive! I hope the developer Deep Type Games considers a Quest 2 native version as the wire does limit your movement a bit at times. Even though the graphics might need to be toned down, wireless freedom will more than makeup for it.

Written by

Haris Iqbal

Haris is a games designer, consultant, and critic with over 10 years of experience across game development and games press. He has shipped multiple products and helped teams improve their games through thoughtful, iterative feedback. His writing blends hands-on design experience with clear, honest criticism.

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