The 10 best PSVR games to get lost in
The best PSVR games are here to take you to a virtual reality where you can get swept up in all manner of adventures and experiences. From the neon-tinted rhythm game Beat Saber that will get you moving to action-packed, stylish Matrix-style bullet dodging in Super Hot, there’s no shortage of fantastic PSVR games to dive into that make the most of Sony’s headset.
Since the PSVR2 has arrived with tons of upcoming PSVR2 games also on their way, you may be wondering if the PSVR still has legs. Luckily, it does and is still a great option if you’re after an affordable picking in the sea of the best VR headsets out there. We’ve also gathered all the best VR games that are still available to play on the PSVR today, proving that there’s still hours of fun to be had here.
And if you’re looking to get started in the world of virtual reality and you still need to gear up, make sure you check out the best PlayStation VR deals. But, for now, read on to find our pick of the 10 best PSVR games to play right now.
10. Blood & Truth
Release: 2019
Developer: London Studio
If you’re looking to convince a shooter fan that PlayStation VR is worthy of their attention, put Blood & Truth on their head ASAP. Especially if they like Guy Ritchie movies. It’s essentially the London Heist demo from PlayStation VR Worlds built out into an entire game of its own, and it’s packed with satisfying shootouts.
You’ll be bodily pulled into the action as you pop in and out of cover, taking potshots at enemies with the Move controllers and slapping virtual mags from your chest to your gun to reload. Blood & Truth moves fast, but it also wisely breaks up all the gunfights with an occasional lock-picking, tunnel climbing, or even drone piloting segment. You can play it all with a DualShock controller if you prefer, but it won’t have quite the same immersive effect.
Read our Blood and Truth review.
9. Falcon Age
Release: 2019
Developer: Outerloop Games
Falcon Age is a game about fighting oppression with your wits, your tools, and your cute bird friend. It’s also a game about collecting hats and toys because you love your bird friend with all your heart and want to see what they look like as a little cowboy. The game is playable both in and out of VR, but for the best experience, you’ll keep your headset firmly planted and your Move controllers ready.
You spend your time in Falcon Age traveling from your home village to various sites that have been occupied by robot colonizers. Your falcon can distract enemies, allowing you to follow up with a finishing blow from your own minimal kit of weaponry. Then, on the way back, you can have your bird buddy retrieve distant goodies so you can cook it stat-improving treats. You know what, forget the first two things I said at the start of this paragraph – it really is all about that bird.
8. Hitman 3
Release: 2021
Developer: IO Interactive
Make no mistake: Hitman 3 on PSVR is a bit janky, and developer IO Interactive had to make some visual sacrifices from the flat version to make it work on PS4’s somewhat dated hardware. Once you get past those drawbacks, you’ll arrive at a gripping and immersive new way to play Hitman – easily the freshest approach to the franchise since it started in 2000.
You may find it tough to stay on task tracking down targets with just how tempting it is to stop and people watch, or to admire the massive scale and small touches of each level. And yes, if you own them on PlayStation, you can also play through every stage from the first two games. Whether or not you were already a fan of 47, Hitman 3 VR is very much worth your time.
Read our Hitman 3 review.
7. Trover Saves the Universe
Release: 2019
Developer: Squanch Games
Trover Saves the Universe is a game about saving the universe. Yep, just saving the ol’ universe – you in your floating alien chair and your friend Trover runnin’ around, killing bad guys with his laser sword and jamming Power Babies into his eye sockets. This weird world is the creation of Squanch Games, the same studio that brought you the nihilistic improv splendor of Accounting Plus (and whose co-founder, Justin Roiland, also co-created Rick & Morty).
Despite telling a slightly more focused story than its predecessor, Trover is no less eager to embark on extended asides and a never-ending rollercoaster of gross-out gags and slow-burn, cerebral hilarity. You can play Trover Saves the Universe on a standard screen if you prefer, but you’ll feel like much more of a team if you pop on a headset and join Trover in his weird little world. You’ll use your Dualshock 4 or Dualsense to enjoy Trover Saves the Universe.
6. Firewall Zero Hour
Release: 2018
Developer: First Contact Entertainment
There’s no better online multiplayer shooter on PlayStation VR than Firewall Zero Hour. Actually, there’s no better online multiplayer game on PlayStation VR, period. Think of it like Rainbow Six Siege with less wall-exploding and way more feeling like you’re actually there.
Military buffs will squeal with tactical delight as they sight down their authentic-looking firearms with a PSVR Aim Controller, while more casual players can do just fine with a good old DualShock 4. Either way, you’ll get to enjoy tense, tactical matches that encourages communication and teamplay.
Check out our list of the best shooters of all time.
5. Tetris Effect
Release: 2021
Developer(s): Monstars Inc., Resonair, Stage Games
Describing Tetris Effect feels painfully reductive: you play a standard game of Tetris in the foreground while a bunch of strange stuff happens around the board (and you). It’s basically a playable music visualizer. It doesn’t sound like much, but it feels fantastic to play in VR.
All the space whales and freaky fire monks and pounding music are enhanced by the fact that you’re too busy stacking blocks to pay attention to them: they light up your peripheral vision and respond to big line clears, promoting both focus and a sense of place. Tetris Effect is fully playable outside of VR, and you may want to try it that way if you’re going for an endurance run, but there’s nothing like submerging yourself in its strangely beautiful worlds.
Read our Tetris Effect: Connected preview.
4. Astro Bot Rescue Mission
Release: 2018
Developer: Japan Studio
Astro Bot Rescue Mission isn’t just one of the best PSVR games, it was one of the best games of 2018 overall. As a platformer, Astro Bot is most directly comparable to Super Mario 3D World: a series of courses give you room to explore for secrets while guiding you down one set direction toward the finish line.
But on top of all that, your PSVR headset puts you and your controller inside the world. You’ll crane your head around as you look for hidden bot buddies to rescue, and you’ll instinctively position your controller to send out ziplines or shoot shurikens to clear a path ahead. It all works together joyously and perfectly and will leave you humming that cave theme for weeks.
3. Superhot VR
Release: 2017
Developer: SUPERHOT Team
If you’ve played Superhot, you probably already have a good idea of how it would work in VR. If you haven’t, this is the perfect place to start. You’ll need the two PSVR Move controllers for Superhot, which plays more like a puzzle game than a frantic shooter because time stands (almost) still, except when you move.
This gives you plenty of time to figure out how the heck you’ll survive a room full of glowing red goons unloading rifles and shotguns on you. Usually, the answer involves a good deal of Matrix-style bullet dodging, throwing bottles, and snatching guns out of the hands of fallen opponents. Whatever solution you come up with, you will definitely feel like Neo.
Read our Superhot review.
2. Beat Saber
Release: 2018
Developer: Beat Games
What if, instead of a floating robot that shot pain rays, Luke Skywalker trained with a bunch of Tron polygons to the sound of throbbing EDM? That’s pretty much Beat Saber. Your left hand controls a red saber and your right hand a blue one, and you must artfully swipe them through an advancing line of cubes.
The beat of the song dictates when cubes of each color appear and also which direction you have to cut them. Keeping all that in mind while your arms instinctively swing about drops you into a deep focus state, not to mention promoting some pretty good cardio.
1. Resident Evil 7
Release: 2017
Developer: Capcom
Resident Evil 7 was one of the first big-budget games to make a dedicated VR mode a priority, and it remains one of the most gripping experiences you can have with a PSVR headset strapped to your face. There are some sacrifices from the standard version, of course – the visuals aren’t quite as crisp, and some parts of the game (like cinematics) are clearly meant to be experienced on a two-dimensional display.
You’ll also need to use your regular PS4 or PS5 controller to play. But the raw horror of feeling like you, not a video game protagonist but youare exploring this horrible place and encountering these awful creatures is worth the tradeoff. This is also one of the best Resident Evil games ever made, so you should 100% check it out!
Read our Resident Evil 7 Biohazard review.
Find even more fun in our guide to the best gifts for gamers. Or look at our list of the best PSVR 2 games for more recommendations.