It's 2019 and it feels like VR is hitting its stride. With PlayStation VR, HTC Vive (don't forget the Pro too) and Oculus Rift out alongside cheaper headsets like the Oculus Go, Samsung Gear VR, Google Daydream View and Cardboard, you have yourself a huge selection of both high-end and mobile games to choose from.
There are more game developers than ever before learning the ins and outs of VR development, meaning there's an influx of games hitting the arena. After playing our fair share across the different headsets, we've rounded up the most exciting VR games you must check out now. Keep checking back though – we can barely keep up with all the new stuff.
Top HTC Vive games
For our full list of picks for HTC's headsets, check out our comprehensive best HTC Vive games round-up. Below are some highlights with a range of free and paid-for titles to try.
Beat Saber
If you've ever had the desire to be a Jedi Knight that loved to DJ colorful raves at night, then dream no more. This game is essentially that, and will have you chopping oncoming blocks with lightsabers to the beat of music. It's fun, addicting, and strangely therapeutic to watch.
, Steam
Rec Room
A fantastic multiplayer game, Rec Room puts you in a social club where you can join other players partaking in a range of activities from paintball to disc golf. The lively animations and customisation options make this feel like the Wii Sports of VR games right now.
Free, Steam
Star Trek: Bridge Crew
There is no game that better shows off the cooperative possibilities of VR than Ubisoft and Red Storm's Star Trek: Bridge Crew. You and a group of friends get together to command a ship that's run into some trouble. You'll battle with Klingons and boldly explore the final frontier.
, Steam
Audioshield
Audioshield combines exercise and gaming as you hit glowing orbs racing at you, played to your favourite tunes. There are different difficulty settings, various kinds of shields and you can even upload your own music. Highly addictive.
, Steam
Fallout 4 VR
Fallout in VR. The dream is finally here. Now, apocalyptic Boston is free to explore at your leisure. That's right, you'll be able to go through the entire game in virtual reality. If you've ever played Fallout 4, you know how massive this game is. The biggest game in VR, literally.
, Steam
Knockout League
Published by Vive Studios, this one is an arcade-style boxing game where you'll go through a series of goofily-named boxers that have special tendencies and styles. While it's a blast to play, it's also one helluva workout. Prepare to sweat, and prepare to get tired. It's a wonderful way to get your cardio in as you play games. Eat your heart out, DDR.
, Steam
Best Oculus Rift games
Check out our best Oculus games list for a whole bunch of options or have a read of a few choice picks below.
Marvel Powers United
With 16 Marvel heroes to play with and even more combos to unleash on your enemies, there's plenty of fun to be had with Marvel Powers United. A word of warning: It can get a bit repetitive after a while. Our advice is to get some friends together and play co-op. It makes for a much more enjoyable game.
Lone Echo/Echo Arena
Also known as the game that had Mark Zuckerberg so excited he posted about it on Facebook, Lone Echo sees you play a robot helping an astronaut solve a mystery in a space station near the rings of Saturn. There's also the multiplayer component, called Echo Arena, which is equally as excellent - if not better. It's also a free add-on to Lone Echo.
$39.99, Oculus Store
Minecraft
You should already know what Minecraft is, but you haven't really played it until you've strapped on a VR headset. It's still the same blocky world of course, except now you really get to wield a diamond sword while killing baddies in the Nether.
Free beta, Oculus Store
Edge Of Nowhere
A third-person VR game from Insomniac Games, this one is intense for very different reasons – it's downright spooky. Make your way across the frigid environment to rescue a missing expedition. The story is more like a traditional Uncharted or Tomb Raider-style console game with its epic snowscapes, eerie caverns and supernatural creatures flying overhead.
Robo Recall
This one is easily one of the funniest, and most fun, games on the Rift. Sure, you're shooting robots, but you also get to tear off their limbs, use them as shields and hop onto the backs of bigger, meaner robots to steal weapons. Why are you even still reading this? Get playing.
The Climb
The Climb, a Rift exclusive from Crytek, is well, VR climbing. More fun than it sounds, the game combines gorgeous, hyper-detailed scenery with immersive thrills. It's compatible with both Xbox One and Oculus Touch controllers.
Catan VR
What happens when you take one of the most beloved board games of all time and convert it to VR? Well, you get the great fun that is Catan VR. You'll be able to play against players from all around the world. Even better, it's cross compatible with every Oculus device out there.
Best PlayStation VR games
You know the drill. Have a gander at the games below but for the full shebang, head on over to our best PlayStation VR games piece for more recommendations.
Astro Bot: Rescue Mission
Sony's Playroom VR software featured a mini-game called "Robot Rescue" that had a cute little robot. That robot is now named Astro and it has it's own game. It flips the traditional platformer on its head, and you'll have to rescue other robots who have been kidnapped and transplanted into a far away world. It feels like you're a giant helping these little guys out. Plus, it's great for the whole family.
Farpoint
This space marine arcade shooter isn't the lengthiest, considering the price, but if you're about quality not quantity, we throughly recommend it. Farpoint is the launch game for the new motion sensing, haptic-feedbacking PS VR Aim Controller, which in itself is super fun to use, and will be compatible with more games in the future.
Resident Evil 7
Capcom brings the scares in the latest episode of the Resident Evil franchise, and with a VR mode now in the mix it's quite possibly the most terrifying one yet. The game can be played from start to finish with the PS VR headset on, and unless you're worried about ruining your new pair of pants, we suggest you do.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR
You can practically play Skyrim on any video game device out there, but have you tried it in VR? Virtual reality brings an entire new dimension to climbing snowy peaks, exploring scary caves and dueling giant dragons. Fus ro dah!
The Inpatient
A prequel to Until Dawn, The Inpatient puts you in everyone's favorite place: a sanatorium in the 1950s. Good luck surviving this terrifying and tension-packed survival horror adventure. You'll also get to choose from two ways to play, either the DualShock 4 or Move controllers.
Superhot VR
Previously available on Vive and Rift, Superhot VR takes a unique concept and transfers it to VR. Everything is happening in slow motion when you stay still, but as soon as you start moving things speed up to real-time.
Headmaster
If you want a 'quick go' of something and you're into football/soccer, you'll probably find yourself as addicted to Headmaster as we are. It's a simple task of heading balls at or around (sometimes moving) targets, bombs, goalies etc, which gets trickier. One of the easiest VR games to pass around with friends.
Moss
Developer Polyarc really uses VR to the maximum here for world building, upping the stakes. You're a little, adorable mouse with a sword exploring an enchanted wood. It's hard not to fall in love with Moss' charm, it's even harder not to appreciate how it diversifies the PSVR lineup.
Doom VFR
Doom VFR wisely builds on the originals frenetic gameplay by adopting a hybrid locomotion system of both teleportation and short leaps. That, plus PSVR Aim support means you're able to still have a great time blasting demons back to hell. Get some.
Best Samsung Gear VR & Oculus Go games
It's worth noting that Oculus' content strategy is more unified than it appears. Oculus Go apps and Gear VR apps are hand-in-hand, so you shouldn't have a problem using these games on both. We've also compiled a pretty epic list of the best We've compiled a pretty epic list of the best Samsung Gear VR/Oculus Go apps and games so don't miss that.
Micro Machines VR Racing
An addictive table-top racer from a god's eye view, Micro Machines comes to VR with this Gear VR port. Race over everything – and we mean everything – with five modes: classic race, escape, overtake, countdown and time trial. Much fun.
Along Together
Star Wars: Droid Repair Bay
You're a child's imaginary friend. Rishu, the kid's dog, has gone missing and it's up to you to help guide your best buddy to finding their best buddy. You'll be able to use your status as an imaginary friend to move objects out of the way of your friend, like boulders and trees.
$9.99, Oculus Store
Blade Runner 2049: Replicant Pursuit
A rogue replicant has murdered two people and it's up to you to hunt them down. You'll be piloting a spinner and exploring futuristic Los Angeles. Good way to relieve some excitement after watching the latest movie. Ryan Gosling not included.
Free, Oculus Store
Hitman Go: VR Edition
Hitman Go is a third-person, turn-based strategy board game that's a lot more fun and addictive than it sounds. Because it's a board game, it's a natural fit for VR, which'll let you more easily look around the board and plan your moves in a 3D environment, rather than simply watching a 2D one.
Land's End
Our only criticism of ustwo's first Gear VR game is that we wish there was more of it. Without spoiling too much, you play through a series of puzzles in blocky but beautiful environments, and will end up in a kind of lovely VR trance as a result.
Virtual Virtual Reality
A narrative-focused comedy adventure game, VVR takes place in a world where AI has completely taken over the way we live. It's gotten so bad that humans have to break out to find out what it's like to be human again. It's all done in a fun, witty way, natch.
$9.99, Oculus Store
Best Google Daydream games
The newest kid on the block, devs are still getting on board with Google's second VR platform. Still, we've rounded up the best Google Daydream apps and games, with a taster below.
Mekorama
Like Minecraft? Like Monument Valley? Right, that covers everyone. Now go download this charming puzzler for Daydream that will definitely remind you of one of those two smash hits. Use your handheld controller to guide the bot, named B, around the obstacles.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
It's embarrassing how much we recommend this but it's also embarrassing how much goddamn fun it is. A true multiplayer, 'get the family gathered round' VR game, one person wears the headset and has to diffuse a virtual bomb, the rest frantically try to give them instructions. Also for Rift, Vive, Gear VR and PS VR.
Coloring VR
Is colouring a game? If it isn't, we don't care. This is a seriously relaxing Daydream title that does what you expect. It's no 3D, futuristic Tilt Brush but then again you won't want it to be. Designed for adults.
Free, Google Play
Hunter's Gate
Try this dungeon crawler if you're in the mood for some demon killin'. You play as a gunslinger or a mage (natch) with plenty of spells, kits and weapons as upgrades. The game uses the Daydream controller's trackpad to move, but if you prefer you can aim by turning your head. A bit of a bargain.
The Arcslinger
While we're not likely to get a Time Crisis remake for Daydream, this will have to do. This one is a surprising amount of fun, letting you use the controller to blast away your enemies. Yeehaw.
Google Cardboard
With Daydream making its way to people's homes, we've found Cardboard support starting to dry up. Still, there's some good stuff on offer. Before you head on over to our full list of best Google Cardboard apps and games, here are a couple of downloads, from horror to arcade, to get you going.
VR Street Jump
Basically Crossy Road, VR Street Jump makes the leap to Cardboard – no judgement from us if you spend hours playing the non-VR versions. For the uninitiated, you've got to get across a bunch of roads without getting hit. Just try it.
Free, App Store or Google Play
Wizard Academy VR
Learning is fun amiright? This nice download combines well, wizarding, with educational games. Plus as a bonus you can make a DIY controller (by downloading the free kit) to act as your wand – a fun weekend activity for the family.
Free, App Store or Google Play
Essential reading: The best Google Cardboard apps and games
Proton Pulse
50 levels of arcade-style brick-breaking gameplay is what you get for your with Proton Pulse. It's a slick, fast-paced 3D game of paddleball with a few neat mechanics like the Space Time Dilator, which slows the action down.
ZeroTransform is also working on a VR title called Vanguard V, available as a demo, so they're charging for Proton in order to help fund the development.
Additional words by Henry Winchester.
How we test
By Husain Sumra
Husain joined Wareable in 2017 as a member of our San Fransisco based team. Husain is a movies expert, and runs his own blog, and contributes to MacRumors.
He has spent hours in the world of virtual reality, getting eyes on Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Samsung Gear VR.
At Wareable, Husain's role is to investigate, report and write features and news about the wearable industry – from smartwatches and fitness trackers to health devices, virtual reality, augmented reality and more.
He writes buyers guides, how-to content, hardware reviews and more.