The Best VR Games of 2024 – Our Game of the Year Picks

As we enter another year, the world of virtual reality (VR) continues to evolve and redefine what is possible in gaming, creativity, and connection. Over the past decade, VR has grown in both subtle and significant ways, proving to be a medium that refuses to stand still.

2024 has been a year of milestones for VR, with highly-anticipated titles and ambitious indie projects showcasing the potential of the medium. Developers are focusing on refinement, leveraging lessons learned to enhance the comfort, immersion, and accessibility of VR experiences. From groundbreaking mechanics to unforgettable narratives, 2024 has offered a lot to celebrate and look forward to.

With that in mind, here are Road to VR’s 2024 Game of the Year Awards:

Skydance’s Behemoth

Developer: Skydance Games

Available On: Quest, PSVR 2, PC VR

Release Date: December 5th, 2024

PC VR games offer power users the ability to maximize their hardware capabilities and visual experiences. Immersion in VR goes beyond visuals, encompassing world-building, authentic NPCs, enveloping soundscapes, and captivating set pieces. Skydance’s Behemoth exemplifies these qualities, drawing on lessons learned from past VR experiences to create a truly immersive and engaging game.

Behemoth integrates physics-based melee combat and immersive world-building, setting a new standard for VR design. With a focus on player skills and exploration, the game offers a diverse range of weapons and challenges, culminating in a must-play VR experience.

Batman: Arkham Shadow

Developer: Camouflaj

Publisher: Oculus Studios / Meta

Available On: Quest

Release Date: October 21st, 2024

Batman: Arkham Shadow defies expectations by delivering a VR experience that captures the essence of the Arkham franchise while introducing innovative gameplay mechanics. The game challenges players to rethink traditional combat strategies, offering a fresh and engaging VR adaptation of the beloved series.

Camouflaj’s attention to detail and commitment to staying true to the Arkham universe make Batman: Arkham Shadow a standout title for the Quest platform. The game’s combat system, which combines motion and locomotion, provides a thrilling and immersive experience that sets a new standard for VR gaming.

Metro Awakening

Developer: Vertigo Games

Available On: PSVR 2, Quest, PC VR

Release Date: November 7th, 2024

Metro Awakening brings the immersive and post-apocalyptic world of the Metro series to life in VR. Despite its gritty setting, the game offers a captivating and enjoyable experience, thanks to Vertigo Games’ expertise in creating immersive VR environments.

The game challenges players to explore a bleak and desperate world, showcasing the potential of VR to transport players to unique and engaging settings. Metro Awakening stands out as one of the best VR games of the year, offering a compelling and immersive experience for players.

Similar to the success of Batman: Arkham Shadow, the developer demonstrated a deep understanding of the essence of a Metro game and successfully translated that into a VR experience. The game introduced new, interactive weapons such as the crossbow and shotgun, designed to fit seamlessly into the Metro universe. These weapons not only look cool but also feel satisfying to use, especially when taking down enemies with precision.

The game’s enemies are both threatening and fragile, adding to the thrill of combat. The immersive experience is further enhanced by a clever inventory system that uses a diegetic approach, allowing players to access their weapons and key items through backpacks on their shoulders. This system adds a realistic touch to the gameplay, making it more engaging.

Additionally, the game’s ambient noise and visuals create a creepy atmosphere that keeps players on edge, increasing the overall immersion. These elements, along with the uniquely interactive weapons and threatening enemies, contribute to the game’s Excellence in Immersion award.

In a similar vein, Starship Home by Creature stands out as a mixed reality game that pushes the boundaries of what is possible in the medium. By incorporating room-sensing capabilities of VR headsets like Quest 3, the game creates a truly immersive experience that blends ship management and plant gardening in a quirky and fun way. This game marks an important step towards making mixed reality an essential component of gaming, rather than just an add-on feature.

Lastly, UNDERDOGS by One Hamsa receives recognition for its excellence in locomotion and indie development. The studio’s innovative approach to locomotion, as seen in their previous title Racket: Nx, and their latest game Underdogs, showcases their commitment to creating unique and engaging gameplay experiences. The arm-based locomotion in Underdogs is expertly integrated into the gameplay, demonstrating the studio’s dedication to crafting immersive and innovative VR games. The maneuverability of your mech, using your arms to fling and glide from place to place, is reminiscent of ice skating, showcasing impressive agility for controlling such a massive machine. The arms, equipped with saw blades, serve a dual purpose as both movement tools and weapons, adding an interesting dynamic to decision-making during gameplay.

Additionally, the ability to use locomotion as an attack by hurling yourself into enemies feels akin to a sumo wrestler forcing an opponent out of the ring. This not only adds a fun element to the game but also enhances the sense of embodiment rarely seen in VR games. With enough playtime, you’ll start to feel as though the mech’s body and arms are an extension of yourself, despite just being the pilot.

The combination of innovative movement and combat is what led to Underdogs receiving both Excellence in Locomotion and Excellence in Indie Development awards.

From the onset, Blade & Sorcery by Warpfrog was already a standout title known for its moddable and visceral physics-based combat sandbox. However, continuous updates and the recent 1.0 update, featuring the ‘Crystal Hunt’ story-based mode, elevated the game to new heights by providing a cohesive world, engaging story, and upgrade systems. The game now feels complete, offering a comprehensive experience for players to test their skills in an authentic setting.

On the other hand, Trombone Champ: Unflattened! by Flat2VR Studios and Holy Wow Studios brings a quirky twist to the rhythm genre with its tromboning gameplay. As a studio specializing in porting flat games to VR, Flat2VR has successfully transformed the 2D experience of Trombone Champ into a fully immersive VR title. The game’s success on various platforms reflects the studio’s expertise in porting games effectively, setting a high standard for future releases.

In conclusion, both Underdogs and Blade & Sorcery exemplify innovation in gameplay mechanics and storytelling, earning recognition for their excellence in the gaming industry. Meanwhile, Trombone Champ: Unflattened! showcases the potential for traditional studios to explore new horizons in VR gaming. Please rewrite this sentence.