Top VR Games of 2024 – Our Game of the Year Selections

As we kick off another year entrenched in the ever-evolving world of VR, it’s clear that this dynamic technology isn’t slowing down. Over nearly a decade, virtual reality has continually reshaped what we think is possible in gaming, creativity, and human connection.

Looking back on 2024, it’s been a landmark year, one where VR’s long-promised potential is right in front of us. While the arrival of blockbuster titles is always exciting, this year we’ve also seen the rise of impactful indie projects. These releases underline VR’s vibrant landscape, one that developers and gamers find increasingly rewarding.

What truly stands out this year is the emphasis on refining experiences. Developers, drawing on years of experience, are presenting VR in a way that enhances comfort, immersion, and accessibility. From innovative game mechanics to absorbing narratives and visuals that make you feel like you’ve stepped into another world, 2024 has been a feast for the senses and has set a promising stage for what lies ahead.

That said, let’s dive into 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 occupy a special niche. Unlike the Quest, which stands as the most widely used standalone VR platform, and the PSVR 2, optimized to synergize with the PS5, PC VR enables enthusiasts to push their rigs to extract maximum performance. But immersion transcends mere graphics. It’s about crafting environments players intuitively comprehend, populating them with lifelike NPCs, enveloping soundscapes, and jaw-dropping set pieces. Few games have merged these elements as seamlessly as Skydance’s Behemoth.

Behemoth’s brilliance is partly due to Skydance Games’ prior work on The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners (2020), which laid the groundwork for the sophisticated physics-based melee and the deep, immersive worldbuilding we see in Behemoth.

Before engaging in a Behemoth battle, players master various skills—from scaling heights with grappling hooks to executing precise archery shots. How you handle foes is up to you; choose from three Legendary weapons, all of which offer significant upgrades, or wield enemy gear, from katanas to colossal buster swords.

In capturing the essence of what makes VR gaming extraordinary, Behemoth stands out as our top choice for the PC VR award this year, landing comfortably on our must-play shortlist. Dive deeper in our spoiler-free review.

Batman: Arkham Shadow

Developer: Camouflaj
Publisher: Oculus Studios / Meta
Available On: Quest 3/S (exclusive)
Release Date: October 21st, 2024

Batman: Arkham Shadow is a game that defied odds. Reviving a franchise that had lain dormant for nearly a decade, and doing so via a developer new to the series, was a gamble. But Camouflaj rose to the challenge, redefining the franchise’s classic mechanics for VR and delivering a title worthy of winning our 2024 Quest Game of the Year.

Camouflaj didn’t simply transpose an Arkham game into VR; they reimagined what makes the Arkham series feel authentic while discarding outdated mechanics. The result was a rethinking of every element, particularly the iconic Arkham combat style, where Batman navigates through crowds, gracefully balancing offense and defense.

The studio’s innovative combat solution—integrating motion with movement—allows players to swoop towards foes with a punch, escalating in complexity as the game progresses, making you feel like you could take on whole armies by the end.

In conversations about VR innovations, Batman: Arkham Shadow emerges as one of Quest’s standout triumphs.

Metro Awakening

Developer: Vertigo Games
Available On: PSVR 2, Quest, PC VR
Release Date: November 7th, 2024

The Metro series, long-renowned for its immersive post-apocalyptic atmosphere, has finally made its anticipated transition to VR, confirming the long-standing belief that it would excel in this format.

While it might seem strange to choose to immerse oneself in Metro’s bleak world over something more light-hearted, Vertigo Games’ expertise in VR design makes it a compelling experience. They’ve encapsulated the essence of a Metro game, redefining it for VR in a way that feels entirely natural.

Metro Awakening introduces an array of inventive weapons, reflecting the series’ signature cobbled-together aesthetic. The interplay of unique weapon designs—like a crossbow with a bolt cradle or a drum-magazine shotgun—feels both interactive and satisfying, especially given the game’s tense and reactive enemies.

Further, Metro Awakening showcases an ingenious inventory system, utilizing diegetic design by allowing players to grab items naturally from backpacks on each shoulder, enhancing the immersive realism. With its immersive world, interactive weaponry, foreboding enemies, and tense atmosphere, Metro Awakening earns our Excellence in Immersion award.

Starship Home

Developer: Creature
Available On: Quest 3/S (exclusive)
Release Date: September 26th, 2024

Despite the current limitations in spatial understanding by VR headsets like the Quest 3, Starship Home sets a new precedent for mixed reality gaming. This innovative title takes a bold leap forward in making MR an indispensable experience rather than a mere novelty add-on.

Starship Home artfully merges sci-fi plant gardening and casual ship management, breaking its control systems into room-placed modules. These modules cleverly transform your space into a personal pod, potentially inspiring future MR game designs.

With its unique approach, Starship Home is a notable stride toward realizing MR’s potential.

UNDERDOGS

Developer: One Hamsa
Available On: Quest, PC VR
Release Date: January 25th, 2024

One Hamsa impresses again with UNDERDOGS, taking home awards for both Excellence in Locomotion and Excellence in Indie Development. While their earlier game Racket: Nx opted for stationary gameplay, UNDERDOGS revolutionizes player movement with its inventive arm-based locomotion.

Players maneuver mechs that glide across the ground using their arms, a motion that feels unexpectedly fluid. Your mech’s arms double as weapons, adding strategic depth to gameplay choices. This dual-purpose design fosters a deep sense of embodiment, immersing players in the mech’s world and encouraging innovative combat tactics.

Blade & Sorcery

Developer: Warpfrog
Available On: PC VR, Quest
Release Date: June 17th, 2024

Dedicated to its craft, Warpfrog transformed Blade & Sorcery from a viral early-access gem into a fully-fledged experience. Known for its intricate physics and engaging combat, this game received a significant boost with the release of its 1.0 update, cementing its status with the ‘Crystal Hunt’ story mode.

With the update, the game transitions into an expansive world, inviting players to test their honed skills. Far from resting on its laurels, Warpfrog’s ambition is evident in their plans for future titles, promising to build on their expertise in combat physics.

Trombone Champ: Unflattened!

Developer: Flat2VR Studios, Holy Wow Studios
Publisher: Flat2VR Studios
Available On: Quest, PC VR, PSVR 2
Release Date: November 26th, 2024

Flat2VR Studios has taken the beloved and quirky Trombone Champ to new heights with Trombone Champ: Unflattened! Previously a viral sensation for its charming tromboning antics, this game has been reborn in VR thanks to Flat2VR’s adept adaptation skills.

Reimagining this 2D rhythm game for VR was no small feat. By redesigning gameplay and letting players wield the trombone in a virtual concert hall, Trombone Champ: Unflattened! retains all the joy of the original while enhancing the interaction with hand-tracked controls. The game’s success on various platforms speaks to Flat2VR’s prowess in proficiently porting traditional games to VR.

Each game must be publicly accessible by December 20th, 2024, to be eligible for Road to VR’s Game of the Year Award, and must natively support the target platform.