6 Best Games for HTC Vive

1. Best Budget: Gorn

Gorn is an absolute bloodbath of a game focused on gladiator combat. The game is certainly not for the squeamish among us, but the gore featured in Gorn is at least mitigated to an extent by a somewhat cartoon-like art-style.

Genre

Gorn is very much an action game, focused on brutal combat and fights to the death with other gladiators. For this reason, we don’t recommend the game to those who are faint of heart. However, if you are looking for a game you can get stuck into quickly, Gorn offers that in spades.

Key Features

Brutal gameplay aside, Gorn offers a rather unique experience, giving you the opportunity to fight like a gladiator in a virtualized space. Its simplistic nature makes it a very enjoyable game to play right from the get-go. However, over time Gorn can become somewhat repetitive due to the fact that gladiator battles are about all that is on offer.

Despite this, Gorn has become a very popular VR game, with many players enjoying the fact that you can jump on and play without needing to commit a lot of your time. On the other hand, it would be nice to see some future updates to this game to spice things up a bit and add a bit more in terms of gameplay or game modes.

The main gameplay involves taking on waves of enemies as a gladiator inside an arena. The arena is, of course, filled with an array of weapons, as you would expect, and you are pretty much given free rein to kill anything you want with whatever you want.

This means that Gorn is bereft of any meaningful storyline, as you would find in most games. Instead, you put on your headset, enter the arena, and have at it.

There are, however, some elements of progression in the game. For instance, as you improve, so too will your weapon choices. At the start, most of the weapons you will be using are very much focused on blunt force trauma, with maces a common option. Further along, you will be given the option to use both swords and axes, which are slightly different from the cruder weapons you get at the start. However, they are every bit as brutal.

Release Date & Where To Buy

Gorn was released back in July of 2017 for PC making it one of the newer games in this guide. This means that the popularity of the game is still holding strong, while the gameplay also feels very polished and in-keeping with modern standards.

Gorn is available in a number of places. However, PC users will be pleased to know that it can be purchased on Steam at a competitive price. The game is also available on the Oculus Store, as well as several other online retailers.

Rating: 4.6/5.0

Gorn is a fun, whacky take on gladiator battles, offering an action-packed experience and providing plenty of enjoyment. The game does lack a little bit in the features department, but if you are simply looking for an easy-to-play, exciting VR game, Gorn is a good option.

2. Top Pick: Beat Saber

Beat Saber has become a reason to buy a VR headset in of itself for some people, with its various gameplay videos propelling the game into the VR stratosphere. Like Gorn the game features fairly simple gameplay, making it an easy game to pick up and play even for newbies. That, however, is where the similarities end for these two games, as Beat Saber offers an entirely different gaming experience to Gorn, as you will now discover.

Genre

Beat Saber falls into the rhythm genre of games, joining classics such as Guitar Hero and Rocksmith. Unlike these two games, which focus heavily on guitars, however, Beat Saber creates an all-new experience in which you slice various blocks with what can only be described as lightsabers.

Key Features

Beat Saber’s number one feature is arguably its gameplay. Not only is it extremely immersive, but it is also very fast-paced, almost forcing you to get focused as soon as a song starts. This coupled with the games simplicity makes it a joy to play, as it creates a gaming experience that anyone can dive into.

While the gameplay itself is fairly simple to understand, there are a few things you will want to be aware of in order to get a higher score on each song. For starters, hitting the blocks in a precise manner will earn you more points. On top of this, streaks also earn you more points, thanks to the multiplier mechanic which doubles after a number of consecutive hits.

Another great aspect of Beat Saber is the fact that new songs are regularly added to the game, meaning things are less likely to become stale. These songs usually require further investment from you, however, which is a bit of shame. Although, the base game isn’t too expensive, which is a bonus.

The game also features various game modes, including options to play with one or two hands, as well as with the option of not failing a song. You also set the game to left-handed if necessary, as well as swap the colors of the blocks.

There are also a number of different difficulty options in the game, giving you a way to progress as you improve. Each time you complete a song, you will be given a final score for that song, which could be put on the leaderboard depending on other performances.

Beat Saber has also proved to be a decent option for an exercise session. While we don’t recommend using Beat Saber as your sole form of exercise, there is no doubt that a solid Beat Saber session can help burn calories, especially if you play at a high level of difficulty.

Release Date & Where To Buy

Beat Saber was released for PC in May of 2018, which means it is the newest game in this guide. The game has since received several updates on both platforms, as well as various DLC packages containing new songs. The game can be found on Steam, as well as on the Oculus store and a variety of other retailers. However, a number of other retailers will also stock it so be sure to shop around.

Rating: 4.8/5.0

Beat Saber might be a fairly simple game on the surface, but it offers hours of fun and competitive experience that is unlike many other games. It is also a hugely popular choice among VR gamers, giving it a large following and community.

3. Best Value: Elite Dangerous

The next game in this guide is Elite Dangerous, a title all about space piracy and exploration. Before its release, the game was hyped up for its large virtual world and the fact that it features a 1:1 model of the Milky Way galaxy. The game has also been praised for its ability to provide huge amounts of excitement, with space battles proving to be particularly fun.

Genre

Elite Dangerous is a simulation game that also falls into the genres of Sci-fi and combat. This makes it a potential hit for a wide audience within the gaming community, offering an experience many can enjoy. The game also does well to avoid spreading itself too thin despite its diverse classification, and this is thanks to the sheer amount of effort that has clearly gone into making this game a success.

Key Features

Elite Dangerous’ most notably feature is, of course, the fact that it features a model of the Milky Way galaxy. However, the game is far from a one-trick pony, offering a space sim experience that is hard to find elsewhere.

The space battles, as mentioned, are highly enjoyable, as is the level of exploration available to you, with over 400 billion star systems reported to be in the game. There is also an abundance of planets to explore, as well as various starships you can use to travel through space as you go about your business.

The aim of the game is to essentially explore the Milky Way as a space pirate, smuggling goods and plundering other starships. The game also features bounty hunting, which involves accepting contracts and then carrying out a certain task. These contracts vary in difficulty, with some of the most lucrative ones involving the assassination of a high-level target located somewhere in the galaxy.

For the most part, this makes Elite Dangerous very exciting, as you are thrown into a virtual space where you can pretty much do as you please, within the mechanics of the game. Despite this, however, some players have found the game to get boring after a while, as the lack of a clear campaign can leave them flying around the galaxy with little direction.

Visually, Elite Dangerous is stunning, providing you with a space-faring experience like no other. The fidelity of each planet is highly impressive, and the mechanics of space travel and dogfighting are exquisite. Each ship is also modeled with great attention to detail, as are the various other elements of space, such as rocks and debris.

For a long time, the game was in beta, as Frontier worked to improve aspects of the game through user feedback and other information. This is no longer the case, however, as the company has announced that the beta is now finished. This means that if you pick up the game now, you will be getting the proper Elite Dangerous experience that the developers want you to have, making it a more reliable buy than it was at the start.

Release Date & Where To Buy

Elite Dangerous was released on PC back in December of 2014. However, this was a beta release, with the game improving a lot since then. That improvement still continues today, meaning that despite the game’s age, it continues to be a popular choice for gamers, with a strong community and plenty of fanfare.

Elite Dangerous can be picked up from Steam, as well as on the O. By shopping around, you might be able to find a better deal on the game. However, for reliability in the age of internet scams, we recommend using a trustworthy retailer.

Rating: 4.8/5.0

Elite Dangerous is one of the most advanced VR games currently available. Its immersive virtual space, coupled with its expert modeling and simulation features makes it an incredible game to play, with the title only showing signs of further improvement moving forward.

4. Doom VFR

Doom has become a timeless classic in the gaming world, with even the original games still receiving playtime even today. Doom VFR attempts to take things to the next level, giving you the opportunity to experience the franchise in a virtual reality space. As you can imagine, this game has been received with a rather large helping of fanfare, and by digging deeper into the game it is clear to see why.

Genre

Doom VFR, as you would expect, is a first-person shooter. This particular genre of gaming has become arguably the most popular over the last two decades, with titles such as Halo and Call Of Duty, becoming household games of the modern era. Doom, on the other hand, had become somewhat forgotten about during this time, but now it’s back, looking to claim a stronghold in the VR space, with a high-intensity, action-packed shooter like no other.

Key Features

Doom VFR isn’t the most advanced first-person shooter in terms of game mechanics, but it does provide a relatively smooth and responsive gaming experience nonetheless. The game also features some of the best graphics within the VR space at the moment, making it quite a visually appealing spectacle, despite the hordes of demons you will encounter.

Another great feature of Doom VFR is the nostalgia. This was always going to be a major selling point for the game, but seeing some of the iconic weapons and enemies really takes you down memory lane, provided you are familiar with the older games.

The updated gameplay of Doom VFR is also a refreshing addition, as it helps to modernize the franchise and bring it properly into the current day. Another refreshing addition is the new areas available within the game, such as the UAC Martian Research Facility.

An important thing to mention with this game is that unlike Skyrim VR, which was essentially a conversion of the original game, Bethesda has worked to create Doom VFR from scratch. This has resulted in a much better gaming experience overall, as the game feels less like an adaptation and more like the standalone game it should be.

The game also retains the fast-paced movement which has become a hallmark of the Doom franchise. This was something fans were concerned about before the game’s release, as many VR shooters fail to employ decent movement mechanics, due to the motion sickness gamers can often suffer as a result. With Doom VFR, however, this isn’t the case. Bethesda has managed to implement some excellent movement mechanics, including options for smooth walking and turning, a teleport feature, as well as the ability to jump short distances.

Release Date & Where To Buy

Doom VFR was released for PC back in November of 2017, making it a few years old, but no less of a quality game. Like the other games in this guide, Doom VFR can be found on Steam, as well as the Oculus Store. As always, however, we recommend shopping around before buying. However, be sure that you can trust any online retailer before parting with your cash.

Rating: 4.6/5.0

Doom VFR is a modern, exciting take on the franchise, offering excellent gameplay and some versatile movement controls. The game does lack some depth though, with the campaign completable in only a matter of days.

5. Raw Data

Raw Data is a wave shooter offering great graphics and some incredible gameplay. The game features a futuristic environment in which you take on machines of varying abilities and strength. The game also features a decent storyline, making it a decent option for those who enjoy a good campaign.

Genre

Raw Data is a first-person shooter, meaning it has plenty of competition including the likes of Doom VFR. However, thanks to its sci-fi setting and wave shooter gameplay, Raw Data is diverse enough to provide a rather unique experience, despite the abundance of first-person shooters that are out there.

Key Features

Raw Data has a lot going for it as a VR game. However, few of its key features include its in-depth storyline, various characters, vast world, and polished gameplay. Each of these elements comes together to form what is a truly fantastic game, and one that can be enjoyed for hours on end.

The story follows you as the main character, as you attempt to infiltrate a large corporation that appears to be committing various atrocities towards its employees and other civilians. As you can probably guess, your job as the main character is to uncover information and stop them.

In total, there are 10 missions for you to work your way through, where you will be tasked with fighting waves of enemy machines. It’s simple enough, but the game manages to provide enough depth thanks to its intricate world-building to remain interesting throughout.

Another interesting aspect of the game is the various weapons and abilities available to each character. These abilities include Timewarp, which slows time to allow for better shooting accuracy, as well as Telekinesis, which allows you to lift multiple enemies and then either crush them or throw them. As for the weapons, these are also very diverse, including the likes of a bow that can fire tracking shots, and a katana that can be thrown at enemies.

The characters available in the game are all unique, with varying backgrounds and classifications. Each character also has their own weapon loadout, meaning abilities are also specific to each character.

Release Date & Where To Buy

Raw Data was released back in July 2016 for PC gamers, meaning it has been around for a few years now. Despite this, the game continues to remain a popular choice for VR gamers, having received various updates along the way.

Raw Data can be purchased on Steam, as well as the Oculus Store and Amazon. A number of other online retailers will also likely stock the game. However, as always, we recommend buying from a trusted seller.

Rating: 4.7/5.0

Raw Data is a fun and exciting wave shooter, offering plenty of action and a diverse assortment of weapons and other abilities. As a wave shooter, it lacks the immersion of the more movement-focused titles, but the game remains a great buy for fans of first-person shooters.

6. Superhot VR

Superhot VR, like Beat Saber, has become something of a VR phenomenon, fast becoming one of the most popular VR games available today. It’s simple gameplay, coupled with an eerily possible storyline, has made it a compelling title in the VR space, which is no small feat considering the game is an independent production.

Genre

Superhot VR is a first-person shooter unlike any other. The game features very unique mechanics, as well as very polished gameplay not often found with independent games. The storyline is also rather different from what you would find in most first-person shooters, adding a degree of mystery and uneasiness to the game.

Key Features

Superhot’s main feature is its gameplay, which blends both first-person shooting mechanics with puzzle-based mechanics to create a trippy, time-manipulating experience. The main thing to note here is that time only moves when you do. This simple but effective mechanic is enough to add a completely new dimension to first-person shooters, forcing you to essentially solve puzzles through the use of various weapons and movement.

It’s this fresh take on first-person shooters that has made Superhot such a hit amongst gamers. However, looking more deeply into the game, you begin to realize that it is also backed by a rather compelling but simple storyline in which you are essentially in a simulated reality confronting and defeating enemies.

By itself, this isn’t particularly impressive. However, when you couple in the fact that you will be playing it in VR, the whole dynamic changes. Suddenly, you are completely immersed in the game, with the sensation that you really have just entered a simulated reality. The whole experience is expertly crafted, and it is almost surprising that more games haven’t attempted something similar.

The art-style is also simplistic, composed of white backgrounds, red enemies, and black weapons. This makes it very clear the entire time that you are in a virtual world. However, that appears to be very much intentional and it works well for the style of game that this is.

Release Date & Where To Buy

Superhot VR was released back in December of 2016 and quickly became one of the most popular VR titles available. Today, its popularity continues, and despite other VR games coming along and drawing some gamers away, Superhot VR remains a staple of many VR enthusiasts gaming libraries.

The game can be found on Steam, as well as the Superhot website and the Oculus Store. Once again, we recommend shopping around for the best deals. Although, we recommend that you buy from a reputable site to better ensure security on your purchase.

Rating: 4.8/5.0

Superhot is a simple, yet highly enjoyable game, with excellent mechanics and immersive gameplay. The game is also an independent production, making the final product even more impressive and a true gem within the VR space.