“It was an amazing project because we made it without any expectations,” said Doucet, talking about the fun experimentation that the studio was able to partake in during the development of Astro Bot Rescue Mission. “All we wanted was to do the best possible evolution of that prototype and help VR show people VR can do this, this, this, and that. We were trying to come up with as many original ideas as possible.”

“We had no idea it would actually be a profitable game and even take us some awards,” he continued. “So that was really, really nice.”

Doucet also spoke about working on the next Astro Bot title: Astro’s Playroom. “We made some demos once again and showed them to the world, same kind of thing,” said Doucet.

He also recently revealed in an interview with Famitsu that one of Astro Bot‘s most beloved features – its VIP Stages – were originally planned to be mini-stages. For context, VIP stages are the ones that feature characters from classic PlayStation franchises, like God of War’s Kratos and the monkeys from Ape Escape.

Astro Bot Rescue Mission was essentially the debut of the franchise. Released in 2018 exclusively for the PS4’s VR headset, PlayStation VR, the game was a showcase of just about every kind of gameplay trick possible with the unique medium.

The whole game was designed around the DualShock 4 controller and the VR headset and allowed players to experience a third-person platformer game from a unique perspective. Players would interact with the game’s environment in unique ways as well, such as smashing walls with headbutts.

Astro’s Playroom, on the other hand, was designed as a simpler 3D platforming experience, this time around showcasing the various features of the PS5. All its levels were designed around one of the PS5’s features, including its internal hardware and the DualSense. Despite essentially being a tech demo, Astro’s Playroom got quite a bit of praise for being a genuinely fun and accessible platformer.

More recently, Astro’s Bot has been incredibly successful developer Team Asobi. The PS5-exclusive title was well-received and even ended up being the highest-rated game on Metacritic for 2024. Check out our own review for more details about the title.

Before we move ahead, do keep in mind that calling a game AA or AAA isn’t a measure of its popularity or quality so much as it is a measure of the scope of its production and its development budget, which means we might also talk about AA experiences made by companies that usually operate in the AAA sphere. With that out of the way, let’s dive right in.

DISCO ELYSIUM

You could call Disco Elysium a CRPG, and on paper, technically, you would be correct, but that would also be an incredibly reductive way to describe this masterpiece. From its surreal setting to its heavily flavoured and thematically dense writing, from its complete lack of combat to how bizarrely yet ingeniously it uses its RPG mechanics in conjunction with its storytelling, Disco Elysium is a singular game that’s unlike anything else out there.

Beat Saber 

Beat Saber is all about slashing your lightsaber to rhythmic beats, and while that might sound pretty simplistic at first – it makes for an incredibly fun time. A lot of what makes it so addictive boils down to the visuals and audio, which feature some clean neon-heavy visuals and catchy electronic beasts respectively. It’s a great example of how something so simple can be made so addictive with the right design choices – and Beat Saber will easely keep you hooked for hours on end.

Half-Life – Alyx

Half-Life: Alyx is a sequel to what is one of the most respected franchises of all time, so it’s obvious that it had some pretty big shoes to fill. But it’s safe to say that Valve confidently stood up to those expectations, and Alyx manages to capture the spirit of Half-Life in a new dimension. Everything from the compelling narrative to the brain-tickling puzzles and frenetic combat works flawlessly, making Alyx easily one of the best VR games that you can play right now.

Superhot VR

Superhot operates on a simple principle – time only moves when you do. That singular mechanic is what makes the moment-to-moment gameplay so good, allowing for some amazing action sequences where you dodge past bullets, throw bottles at enemies, and knock someone else out in just a few seconds. Superhot VR adds that extra level of immersion to the whole affair, making that action all the better and those time-defying stunts all the more personal.

Horizon Call of the Mountain 

Horizon Call of the Mountain was a launch title for the PSVR2, so it had to be a great experience if it wanted to drive sales for such an expensive add-on for a console. Set in the titular post-apocalyptic world of the franchise,Call of the Mountain excellently translates that open-world mechanic into a bunch of carefully curated roller coaster sequences that make this VR title an absolutely thrilling experience.

The London Heist 

London Studio’s The London Heist is a VR adventure where you get to experience some high octane chase sequences, thrilling firefights, and a constantly twisting story that keeps you at the edge of your seat at all times. It boasts some impressive production quality, and the gameplay also manages to keep things interesting with memorable chase sequences and high fidelity graphics which makes it a game worth seeing through to the end.

No Man’s Sky

No Man’s Sky might not have started life out on the best foot, but Hello Games was able to turn the game’s fates around for the better with a constant influx of meaningful content updates post-launch. One of these updates also included the ability to enjoy the game in VR, which adds an extra level of immersion to the galactic exploration. Witnessing the beauty of procedurally generated planets is a consistently enchanting experience, and is a must-try for fans of the genre.

Gran Turismo 7

Despite some initial balancing issues, Polyphony Digital’s Gran Turismo 7 has morphed into a big hit, and for good reason. The simulation gameplay at its core is complex in all the right ways, and that coupled with the immaculate attention to detail makes it a worthy sequel to this long-running franchise. And if you are a gearhead, you have to check out the VR mode that quite literally transports you to the driving seat of your favourite supercars  – allowing you to live out your racing fantasies to the fullest.

Resident Evil 7

Resident Evil 7 made some really big changes to the horror genre, and it’s safe to say that those changes were for the better. The shift to a first-person perspective makes the survival horror experience even more immersive, and those horrors become even more defined through the VR mode. The slow pace of gameplay and the renewed focus on survival horror works surprisingly well in VR, and it’s inarguably the best way to see what the Baker Mansion has to offer.

Hubris

Hubris is a story driven sci-fi action game that utilizes the cutting edge technology of VR to make you experience an intriguing story set on a distant planet. Hubris features a fun movement system where you can climb, jump and swim through a wide array of diverse environments along with great shooting mechanics and simple crafting systems. It’s a surprisingly vast game for the VR platform, and fans of action adventure games should definitely try it out.

Lone Echo 2

Lone Echo 2 starts off from where the first one left off. The sequel puts you in the shoes of Jack, an Android working on a mining station on Saturn who is tasked with helping a crew member when an unknown anomaly appears and everything starts to go haywire. Lone Echo 2 gives you this surreal feeling of dread where you have to navigate through an empty space station and complete objectives in zero gravity whilst in VR. The game features some fluid mechanics along with interactive environments, which makes Lone Echo 2 a pretty thrilling experience.

Walkabout Mini Golf

Walkabout Mini Golf is a great game to play alone, against other players online or with your friends that lets you enjoy the sport in a wide array of distinct golf courses. It features some pretty sophisticated physics systems that makes it a game where you can really sink your teeth into, and that pursuit of perfection is duly rewarded with a steady stream of unlocks including but not limited to customization options for your avatar.

Pistol Whip

Dodging bullets and killing bad guys all the while vibing to your favorite might just be the best description for Pistol Whip. It’s a rhythm shooter with fast and frenetic gunplay where you must sync your shots perfectly to the tune of backing tracks. It pays a ton of attention to the visuals and audio, and the stylish combat along with its cool selection of stages makes this game a must-try on VR.

Red Matter 2

Developed by Vertical Robot, Red Matter 2 serves as a sequel to the original in every sense with better graphics, puzzles, environment details and improved physics. Set during a dystopian cold war era, players take on the role of a Cosmonaut trying to uncover the mystery behind the Red Matter which revolves around exploring a Lunar Base on Saturn and solving brain teasing puzzles. What makes it special is its ability to keep you engaged with its atmospheric design and engaging gameplay, which makes it a game that’s worth trying on the VR platform.

Astro Bot Rescue Mission 

Sony Japan’s Astro Bot Rescue Mission is a wonderfully imaginative platformer that puts you in the robotic shoes of the titular protagonist as you hop and glide through carefully crafted levels in VR. It’s a simple game with a solid set of mechanics, but what makes it special is the level of care and attention that has gone into each aspect of the experience.

Blaston

Blaston thrusts players into a deathly duel of careful dodges and strategic throws against the backdrop of a neon drenched world. It’s created by Resolution Games, and expertly manages a surprisingly deep set of gameplay mechanics with a fast and frenetic pace of gameplay to create an experience that’s really hard to put down once you get the hang of it. Blaston is also free to play, so there’s literally no excuse for you to not try it out if you have a compatible VR set.

Asgard’s Wrath 2

Asgard’s Wrath 2 thrust players into a world where they need to explore to unravel the mysteries this world holds. The gameplay revolves around solving puzzles and fighting vicious battles through its fast and frenetic action combat. Asgard’s Wrath 2 is an ambitious open-world game which excellently balances elements like exploration, combat, and progression. Asgard’s Wrath 2 is available on Meta Quest VR and comes free if you purchase a Quest 3, which makes it a must have for platform owners.

inFamous: Second Son

The inFamous series peaked during the PS3 days with inFamous 2, and while inFamous: Second Son was well-received by critics – it didn’t really have the same magnitude of an impact as its brothers. And that’s quite a shame because Second Son is a well-made game that makes good use of the PS4’s capabilities to render a beautiful open world alongside some solid gameplay mechanics.

The Last Guardian

Fumito Ueda is widely considered to be a video game auteur thanks to his work on Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, and The Last Guardian is a project that had been in development for a long time. But when it was released in 2016, the game was met with a divisive critical reception – primarily because the companion dog would refuse to listen to your instructions at times, which made it a really frustrating experience at times. To be honest, those aren’t technical problems but a conscious decision on the developer’s part – and that combined with the unique world and themes of the story makes The Last Guardian a truly special game that deserves to be experienced by a lot more people.

Days Gone

Days Gone was Sony Bend’s take on a post-apocalyptic open-world game, and it turned out to be one of the more disappointing first-party games of its time. It would be an utter lie to state that Days Gone is a spotless masterpiece, but it’s also a game that perhaps got a lot more hate than it deserves. The bike riding mechanics are pretty good for the most part, and the Freaker horde mechanics are fun to interact with – even though the game holds that particular part hostage until the very end. It’s not a life-changing game by any means, but it is a fun open-world nevertheless.

No Man’s Sky

Hello Games’ CEO Sean Murray created a lot of headlines with his brief on how No Man’s Sky would be a game of endless possibilities, but those claims were turned to dust when the game finally came out in 2016. No Man’s Sky took place in a bland world where there wasn’t anything interesting to do, and the procedural generation of planets felt like a faint shadow of the big promises that he made pre-release. Fans were understandably upset which made it a disappointing game back then, but the team has put in the hard work to turn the game into a much better version through consistent content updates and overhauls. As it stands now, No Man’s Sky is easily one of the best space exploration games on the market – and is absolutely unmissable for genre fans.

Gravity Rush 2

Gravity Rush 2 thrusts players into a fantastical world and takes them on a journey like no other, and an interesting gravity shift mechanic sits at the epicenter of everything you do. It’s a beautiful game that excels in more aspects than one, but it’s a shame that not many people actually played it in the first place. A lot of that could be blamed on the incompetent marketing by Sony, and that limited exposure ultimately turned Gravity Rush 2 into a cult classic.

Sniper Elite 4

Sniper Elite 4 puts us back in the shoes of Karl Fariburne as he embarks on increasingly difficult missions behind enemy lines. The series has always never been so polished in terms of its mechanics or story, which is perhaps why Sniper Elite 4 never really got much mainstream attention. But if you are able to look past those flaws, you will find a truly dynamic stealth game where you can make some really creative use of your toolset and come up with unique solutions for your problems.

Just Cause 3

The Just Cause series has been in a downward spiral following the success of Just Cause 2, and Just Cause 3’s rather tepid commercial reception is proof of that theory. Just Cause 3 did a good job of building upon the concepts of prior games, and critics generally liked the game. But many fans weren’t really interested in its brand of chaos-driven open-world gameplay, and that’s disappointing news because creatively wreaking havoc in this game continues to be an extremely satisfying activity even after dozens upon dozens of hours.

Astro Bot Rescue Mission

Astro Bot Rescue Mission is a game built to showcase the capabilities of PSVR, and you might be forgiven for discarding it as a glorified tech demo of sorts. But that’s not really the case, because Astro Bot Rescue Mission is a really polished and fun platformer that is more than the sum of its parts. It makes good use of the VR capabilities to really immerse you in its world, and there are plenty of smart touches peppered throughout this adventure that makes it so charming.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes

Supermassive Games’ The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes follows a group of soldiers exploring an ancient temple, and coming face to face with the many horrors that lie within. The story is well-written, and it can take some sharp turns depending on the choices that you make at critical points in the adventure. Between this flexibility and a strong visual presentation, The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is a very solid horror game that fans of the genre should definitely check out.

Concrete Genie

Developed by PixelOpus Studios, Concrete Genie is a charming game about using your creative powers to bring a murky town back to life. The gameplay is simple yet works well within the context of the experience, and that combined with the wonderful story makes it a game worthy of your attention. It’s a sad state of affairs that it never got the audience it deserves, and a lot of that can be blamed on poor marketing from Sony.

Alienation

Alienation comes from Housemarque, the team that recently released Returnal to some excellent critical and commercial acclaim. Alienation is a twin-stick shooter that tasks you to control different kinds of supersoldiers – each with their different sets of strengths and weaknesses. The gameplay is an absolute blast through and through, and the developer has done a good job of adding even more content to the experience.

The Surge 2

The Surge 2 takes what worked in the original, and cranked it all the way up to eleven – which resulted in an experience that’s big in almost every regard. The Surge 2 takes players to wonderfully well-realized locales and pits them against brutal bosses, but the game wasn’t really able to capture much of an audience when it released in 2019 – most likely due to an oversaturation of Souslikes at that point. If you were one of the people who skipped it back in the day, give it another try and you might be really surprised.

Yakuza 0

The Yakuza series has started to gain a lot of traction in the West, and recent entries like Yakuza: Like a Dragon have been widely praised by fans. Yakuza 0 didn’t get the praises of the same intensity, and that’s a shame because it is a really great open-world game that condenses a ton of varied content within a rather small virtual district. It seamlessly switches between serious moments and goofy antics at the flip of a button, and that adds a really distinct charm to it all.

What Remains of Edith Finch

What Remains of Edith Finch is a moving tale about the tragedies that happened to the Finch family. It’s a simple game that looks like a walking simulator on the surface, but it features some really interesting level design that expertly uses mechanics and visual imagery to tell its engaging stories. It’s also a really snappy experience that doesn’t waste much time with exposition or filler, so you could blast through it all in just a couple of hours.

Infamous First Light

inFamous First Light is a surprisingly fleshed-out standalone expansion that puts players in the shoes of Abigail Walker from the base game. The gameplay is largely based on the same foundations as Second Son, which is to say it’s an absolute blast through and through. It’s a great excuse to explore the many corners of this beautifully recreated fictional Seattle, and it’s unmissable for fans of the franchise.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Is Red Dead Redemption 2, one of the greatest games of all time, really the best Xbox One and PS4 title? Yes, it is, because even with the hardware limitations, Rockstar Games delivered an excellent open-world action-adventure. The story is fantastic; the characters, especially protagonist Arthur Morgan, are fantastic; and the gameplay, while not for everyone, is realistic and incredibly detailed with a wide range of activities.

That’s as per XboxEra co-founder Nick Baker. In a tweet referring to Sony’s recent trademark filings for Astro Bot, Baker said that based on what he’s heard, a PlayStation VR2 port of Astro Bot Rescue Mission is in the works. In a follow-up tweet, he added that he hasn’t heard anything about a new Astro Bot title for the PS5.

That, of course, doesn’t have to mean that one isn’t in the works. Developer Team Asobi confirmed through job listings in 2021 that it had started development on an unannounced PS5 title, and has gone on to describe the project as its biggest and most ambitious to date. Sony, meanwhile, has said that studio’s next game is in “a franchise for all ages with global appeal.”

Not sure it’s related but I’ve heard they’re doing a PSVR2 port of Astro https://t.co/G8BYf2y3PP

— Balatro Nick  (@Shpeshal_Nick) August 29, 2023

Yeah I think it’s Rescue Mission being ported. I’ve heard nothing on a sequel to the PS5 one. I wish though.

— Balatro Nick  (@Shpeshal_Nick) August 29, 2023

Half-Life: Alyx

Half-Life: Alyx was a dream come true for legions of fans, but when Valve announced that it was a VR-only game – there was an element of skepticism associated with anticipation. But when Half-Life: Alyx was finally released, fans were elated with joy and all those skepticism washed away. In so many ways, Half-Life: Alyx is the perfect example of how to craft a AAA game for the VR platform – thanks to a potent combination of a meaningful story and well-designed gameplay ideas that leverage the capabilities of the platform to the fullest.

Over on Reddit, a user claims that Sony is planning a new PlayStation Experience event for December, for which several announcements are planned. One of this is the formal reveal of a new studio that was set up in Japan, along with an announcement of what it’s working on. The next-gen PSVR headset will also supposedly be revealed, alongside announcements for a new Astro Bot game, as well as a WipEout revival (which has been previously rumoured as well), both of which will allegedly be PSVR exclusives.

It’s worth noting that previous reports have suggested that Sony no longer wants to focus on exclusive VR games, and instead wants its major AAA releases to also be playable in VR, so the mention of exclusive games for the new headset is a little interesting. Meanwhile, Astro Bot developer Asobi Team also seems to be in the early stages of its new game’s development, so it’s worth asking whether it’ll be ready for an announcement in just a few months.

Also on the docket, according to the leak, is the announcement of a game that has supposedly been in the rumour mill for a long time, but the leaker doesn’t mention what it is. They do, however, say that December’s PSX will be much larger in scope than the recent PlayStation Showcase, with Sony having allegedly held back several big announcements so they could instead focus on third party games as well.

This should always go without saying, but this should be taken with a grain of salt. The leaker claims to have accurately leaked previous recent Sony announcements, including the Housemarque acquisition and the date of the PlayStation Showcase, but there’s no way to verify the legitimacy of their claims here.

We will keep an eye out for new any new details, so stay tuned for more updates.

Earlier in the year, Sony announced they would be bringing back their Play at Home initiative. This month saw the company giving out 2016’s Ratchet and Clank, the latest game in the franchise ahead of the new Rift Apart releasing this June. But they are clearly just getting started, as for the remainder of this month and into April they will give out a whooping 10 titles free of charge.

As announced on the official Twitter and blog, there will be a total of 10 different titles given out over the course of the next month. It’s a mix of big titles, indies and VR games. Probably the big headliner of the bunch is Horizon: Zero Dawn Complete Edition next month. After that the next high profile game is the VR hit Astro Bot: Rescue Mission. Then you have Rez Infinite, Abzu, Enter the Gungeon, Subnautica, and The Witness. Then the next group is PS VR exclusive titles Moss, Paper Beast and Thumper.

Horizon: Zero Dawn will be available starting April 19th up until May 14th. All the other titles will be free starting March 25th and running to April 22nd. They will redeemable free of charge, even without PS Plus, on PS5 and PS4. Those marked with VR below will require a PS VR to play.

#PlayAtHome update! PlayStation is offering 10 free games to download this spring, including PS4 indie gems, PS VR games, and Horizon Zero Dawn.
Full details and timeline: https://t.co/dF694JqWcs pic.twitter.com/mTAP9dKhmc

— PlayStation Europe (@PlayStationEU) March 17, 2021

Sony has announced a spotlight on PlayStation VR titles for this week, starting today from 7 AM PST and lasting till Friday. There will be announcements and news for a number of different PlayStation VR titles, though the focus is on previously revealed games. This spotlight coincides with a PS VR promotion on the PlayStation Store stating on September 9th.

Some of the titles that will see discounts in the sale include Arizona Sunshine, Blood and Truth, Astro Bot Rescue Mission, Borderlands 2 VR, Farpoint, Superhot VR, Tetris Effect and more. The promotional sale will be available until September 23rd, 11:59 PM PST. Of course, the obvious question is: What about updates on the PlayStation 5?

Sony noted that there would be no PS5-related news for the week, which is a bummer. Nevertheless, with rumors stating an event happening sometime in mid-September, we may see something announced for next week. This would be in line with UK retailer SimplyGames’ emailing customers about pre-orders going live “any day now.” As always, stay tuned for more information in the coming days.