VR has been an optional part of the PlayStation experience since 2016 and has come on leaps and bounds since its slightly unremarkable beginnings. If you’ve taken the plunge and are looking for some pointers, read on for what I think are the best PSVR games in 2023.
The PSVR2 headset launch was impressive, with the new kit arriving with a bunch of new titles to support it. Since then there has been a steady stream of new titles, as well as updates for older classics. Check out the pick of the bunch below.
The top 10 PSVR 2 games available in 2023
This list of the best PSVR2 games is of course subjective, so your mileage may vary! I’ve tried to cover as many genres as possible, so a few games that aren’t quite top in their category may have missed out. If you think I’ve missed an absolute must-have, let us all know in the comments below.
10. Humanity
While you don’t need to play Humanity in VR to have a good time with it, the game has been perfectly ported to it and loses nothing from the experience. This is one of the best PS puzzle games available because the simple idea seems to offer endless opportunities. In it you guide a mass of people through a series of maps, herding them to get them through each level. The game seems to add something new and intriguing on every level, making it an ideal dip-in-and-out experience I never grow tired of. It may not use the PSVR 2 tech to its fullest, but that doesn’t stop Humanity from being one of the best games on the platform.
9. Pistol Whip
Pistol Whip is a great example of how consistent love and updates can keep a game at the top of the play charts for years. The game first landed back in 2019, turning heads thanks to its unique blend of rhythm and shooter genres. It has been continuously reworked, with the PSVR 2 version taking full advantage of its Sense controller adaptive triggers and headset haptics. Throw in some mighty visuals and you have a clever, innovative, and individual VR experience that truly highlights what the machine can do.
8. Kayak VR: Mirage
What I love about Kayak VR: Mirage is the game offers two completely different play experiences, depending on my mood. If you want to get competitive you can head to a multiplayer mode and race against your pals, but if you’re alone after a stressful day, simply kick back in free roam mode and quietly paddle your way through some beautiful scenery. It's technically smart too as you use the motion functionality to paddle, giving you quite the workout if you want to push yourself.
7. Before Your Eyes
Before Your Eyes has to make the list as it takes one of the PSVR 2’s best technical features and runs with it, creating a unique experience. It’s a narrative game that follows a set storyline, taking you through the memories of protagonist Benny so that you experience them for yourself. But each time you blink you move the story forward, meaning you need to fully take in everything you can see before doing so. It’s hard to put into why it works so well in VR but trust me, you need to play Before Your Eyes if you enjoy narrative games.
6. Moss
Whether you pick up Moss Book 1 or Book 2, be ready to enjoy an adorable platforming puzzle experience. The cartoonish world is stunning and the gameplay is much more relaxed than many other titles on this list. The game is simply charming, and while each book is relatively short, it's a great way to show the PSVR 2’s tech off to the uninitiated, whether they are kids or grandparents. Sweet and heartfelt, these cutesy games show what’s possible in terms of taking VR to a younger audience.
5. Tetris Effect: Connected
What makes a classic? For a game, I’d say it’s the ability to transcend time seamlessly, and with Tetris Effect: Connected, the classic puzzle franchise Tetris shows it can do just that. The game welcomes you back to the block-clearing goodness of Tetris, bringing VR a much-needed example of how the technology can handle that 10-minute break feeling you often go to your mobile for. The graphics are stunning, and the audio even more so, so don’t be surprised when that 10 minutes becomes a couple of hours.
4. No Man's Sky
When sci-fi sandbox experience No Man’s Sky launched to a torrent of abuse back in 2016, you’d have got long odds on it being near the top of a PSVR 2 recommendations list more than five years later! But here it is and deservedly so. Hello Games has continuously supported and evolved the game and it's an incredible achievement. Whether you choose to explore unique planets or battle in frantic space combat, No Man’s Sky is still one of the best VR games around in terms of pure wonder and imagination.
3. Resident Evil Village
Jump scares are exactly the sort of thing VR nails compared to playing on a monitor. While the timid need not apply, Resident Evil Village is an exemplary example of how to make a first-person horror shooter for VR. It looks fantastic but the controls are equally impressive, from the shooting to object interaction, creating an atmospheric and scary game that’s more than the sum of its parts. Plus, the free PSVR 2 upgrade simply made it even better for the next generation.
2. Horizon Call of the Mountain
Flagship launch games can sometimes be a disappointment, as they can spend too much time showing off the tech rather than being good games in their own right. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case with Horizon: Call of the Mountain. Yes, it looks incredible as you get lost in the gorgeous post-apocalyptic landscapes you’d expect from a Horizon title. But the movement and combat are also right on point, right down to the clever use of the vibration and eye-tracking tech.
1. Gran Turismo 7
While it may not be an obvious choice in terms of immersion, the sheer thrill of speed you get from playing Gran Turismo 7 makes it an absolute must-play. I’m generally rubbish at racing games but it doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy them! Playing races in VR in GT7 is as much of a thrill ride as you could hope for, as you check your mirrors naturally by turning your head while taking in the awesome scenery at breakneck speeds. Or, if you’re me, as you spin to a stop once more…
For more on VR here at Pro Game Guides, check out Beginner’s Guide to VR: Intro to Virtual Reality & FAQ!
Published: Dec 30, 2023 10:00 am