No Man’s Sky

Hello Games’ No Man’s Sky might not have started life on the best foot forward, but it has quickly grown into one of the best space exploration games on the market over the course of many significant updates. No Man’s Sky features a huge open world filled with all sorts of planets to discover and things to do, and the VR edition adds another layer of immersion to it all – making it the definitive way to experience what it has to offer.

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.

Released in May 2019 for PlayStation VR and PC, Beat Saber sees the player using motion-controlled sabers to slice glowing blocks to the beat of the music. Along with different positions for blocks to hit, requiring adjustments to the slicing angle and direction, one must also move physically to avoid walls and bombs. Various new mechanics were added over the years, including a Level Editor for players to create stages.

As of February 2021, Beat Saber has sold over four million copies. It’s also sold over 40 million songs through paid DLC. Though Meta currently owns Beat Games, the developer remains independent. Stay tuned for more details on the PlayStation VR2 version in the coming weeks.

https://twitter.com/BeatSaber/status/1610813767130152961

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.

Check out the previous part here.

Shadow Warrior 3

The one where Wang gets a grappling hook. Shadow Warrior 3 does away with its predecessor’s wide array of melee weapons and focuses on one single constant – the Dragontail katana. Being able to quickly whip it out and slice an opponent feels more intuitive, and each slash feels more responsive. Upgrades also allow for directional inputs to call down lightning, shoot fire or unleash a wave of water which is also nice.

The publisher also shared details on its top five most-played PlayStation VR titles, namely Rec Room, Beat Saber, PlayStation VR Worlds, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim VR and Resident Evil 7: biohazard. Region-wise, Rec Room dominated North America and Europe. In Japan, it was Resident Evil 7: biohazard that topped the charts.

This move could potentially mean a stronger push for VR gaming in the future. Sony has already confirmed next-generation PlayStation VR hardware for the PS5 with controllers that have adaptive triggers and finger touch detection. Rumors claim the headset will launch in holiday 2022. In addition to this, Firesprite Studios recently joined PlayStation Studios and is rumored to be working on a VR title in the Horizon franchise.

The Steam Winter Sale 2019 has no doubt been a bountiful time for many players. However, the sale is coming to a close later today at 10 AM PST. If there’s any last minute purchases, you’d best make them now especially since the next major sale likely won’t be till Spring.

Pretty much every title has been discounted on the store, including Steam’s Game of the Year 2019 winner Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. A Plague Tale: Innocence, Gris, Mortal Kombat 11, Beat Saber, and other award winners have been similarly discounted. You can also earn Festivity Tokens which can be cashed for a Winter Sale coupon for further discounts.

Unfortunately, the Winter Sale coupon can only be acquired once. Any leftover tokens will need to be spent on the various chat stickers, chat room effects and whatnot that are available. The next significant sale will likely be in February for Valentine’s Day, offering discounts on various co-op titles, so stay tuned for more details.

It feels like we’re entering a period of serious consolidation in the game industry as many smaller studios are getting bought up by the major corporations that are either part of it already or coming into the business. Facebook is one such latter entity as they’ve beginning to muscle into the industry with their Oculus VR initiative.

It was announced via Facebook itself along with a FAQ explaining the situation that Beat Saber’s studio, Beat Games, is now under their umbrella. It’s interesting in and of itself, but what’s more interesting is probably that the FAQ explicitly states that more acquisitions will be coming soon with an almost ominous statement at the end.

“We’re exploring many ways to accelerate VR, and we think next year is going to be an incredible one of VR game launches and announcements. We are thrilled to have Beat Games join our team. This is just the beginning.”

Microsoft has purchased a lot of studios, with Sony also getting in on that with the recent purchase of Insomniac Games. Right now it seems that Facebook is mostly regulating itself to the VR business, but who knows what this “beginning” this will lead to.

In what is a landmark for a VR game, Beat Saber, the popular rhythm saber game, has crossed a milestone and sold 1 million copies worldwide, the developers confirmed today.

“In February we reached 1 million sold copies across all platforms,” said Michaela Dvorak, Head of Marketing at Beat Games in a statement to UploadVR.

Beat Saber is available on Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR; but lots of other games are too, and they have not reached this milestone. What made Beat Saber stand out is its overwhelmingly positive reception from critics, followed by very positive word of mouth from players. Indeed, word of mouth has often been attributed as a driving force for the continued success of Beat Saber, coupled with a thriving mod scene on PC, which allows players to load custom tracks to the game.

It is unclear if Beat Saber is the first VR game ever to reach 1 million units sold—it is entirely possible that Skyrim VR may have beaten it to the punch (though UploadVR reports that Bethesda has declined to comment on that either way). Nonetheless, it’s a great achievement, so congratulations to Beat Games.

If you’re looking to take a dip into the burgeoning PlayStation VR, December might be a good time to do so. Sony has announced that it will be releasing a new bundle for the PSVR on December 14, which will come packaged with two excellent games.

Those two games are Borderlands 2 VR – which itself releases on that very day – and the excellent rhythm title Beat Saber. The bundle will include download codes for both (no physical copies), the PS VR headset itself, two PlayStation Move controllers, a PlayStation Camera, and a demo disc, in case you want to try out other experiences beyond the two that the bundle already comes with. It will be sold at a retail price of $349.99 in the US and $449.99 in Canada.

Borderlands 2 VR probably needs no introduction- Gearbox’s looter shooter has a whole host of adoring fans already, and the opportunity to play it in VR is an exciting prospect in and of itself. Beat Saber is a unique rhythm game that sees you using two PlayStation Move controllers to slash oncoming musical beats with sabers in each hand. All in all, it’s a pretty sweat deal, so if you’re interested, give it a look.