foil virtual.
PlayStation VR2 is finally here, finally. But what can you actually play on Sony’s new headphones?
With a launch lineup of around 30 games, PSVR2 has a lot to offer on day one. However, there’s a big caveat to this: nearly every launch game is also available on Meta Quest or other PC-centric VR headsets. There are very few new releases and exclusives here.
That said, PSVR2 could be your first foray into the virtual world. If so, here are a bunch of games you should definitely consider trying out with your shiny new headset.
The sky of No Man
Price: $60 (but constantly on sale)
Do you remember No Man’s Sky? Originally released in 2016, this survival game lets you explore a near-infinite galaxy filled with near-infinite, randomly generated planets to discover, explore, and mine for resources. You can start a science base, do some gardening, or even control a vast fleet of starships.
The PS5 version of No Man’s Sky received a patch this week enabling VR support and it’s a real doozy. The controls take a few minutes to type in, but eventually you’ll get around with a jetpack and mine carbon effortlessly. Don’t go too high in the jetpack if you are dizzy.
More importantly, flying ships are cool as hell in No Man’s Sky VR. One hand manually controls the throttle while another manually controls the flight stick. You can easily get motion sickness by rolling over, so try to avoid this, if possible.
Runner
Prix : 15 $
If you want to feel super cool in VR without spending a lot of money, there are worse ways to do it than by playing Runner.
Set in a neon-lit future dystopia with an aesthetic that leans heavily on 1980s and 90s anime, Runner is essentially a game about very fast driving Akira’s motorbike. You’ll speed down city highways while shooting police robots and vehicles with a variety of upgradable weapons. It’s simple enough to understand, but the difficulty is no joke.
Sure, dying sucks, but it’s worth it for the thrill of shooting the explosive cores of police motorbikes while going 150 mph. The runner is awesome. You should play it.
Connected Tetris Effect
Prix : 40 $
Tetris Effect might be the coolest game ever made. Imagine Tetris but with psychedelic visuals and songs where one guy raps about how we need to heal our splits. Now imagine that in VR.
This isn’t Tetris Effect’s first spin in VR, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth experiencing. I found myself getting hyper-focused on the action in VR, which led to more deft gameplay than I’m used to exhibiting when playing Tetris. Plus, the visuals and music are so good that you can’t help but get sucked into the proceedings.
Good advice from me to you: cannabis does not harm the experience either.
Ground floor
Prix : 30 $
The only reason I couldn’t definitively declare Tetris Effect the coolest game ever made is that Rez Infinite exists.
This one dates back to the Sega Dreamcast and the PS2. Rez is a sort of 3D rail-shooter (think Star Fox or Panzer Dragoon) set in cyberspace where your shots sync and even create the music across the board. It looks and sounds amazing anywhere, but in VR it’s stunning.
Rez Infinite was also a PSVR1 standout, so it’s nothing new, but it’s worth playing. The PSVR2 version adds the ability to aim with your eyes, which is trippy and damn cool. Just play Rez if you haven’t.
Horizon: The Call of the Mountain
Prix : 60 $
Horizon: Call of the Mountain stands out from the rest of this list in several key ways. First of all, it’s a full price game. Second, it’s a brand new PSVR2-exclusive title from Sony, the only one of its kind available at launch.
From the first hours of play, I can say that people who want maximum spectacle with their PSVR2 headset will be delighted with Call of the Mountain. The massive robot dinosaurs of the Horizon universe get much bigger and more imposing in VR. On top of that, this game uses the power of PS5 to easily create the most beautiful PSVR2 game I’ve seen.
It also happens to be a fairly complete game. You’ll do a ton of mountain climbing (don’t look down, trust me) which can actually be quite tiring on your arms. There’s also a robust combat system that requires you to have a certain level of archery skill. Not only do you have to aim precisely at specific enemy parts, but you have to do so while dodging their attacks.
It’s quite fun and challenging, and Horizon fans will love it. I would call this perhaps the biggest star of the PSVR2 launch lineup.
Kayak RV : Mirage
Prix : 30 $
Kayak VR: Mirage was the first PSVR2 game I played and it really couldn’t be easier to explain.
It’s just a kayaking game. You’ll move your arms like you would in a real kayak, and the physics feel quite realistic. You can kayak in a practice pool or in real places like Antarctica. The visuals are gorgeous, the vibes are serene, and it’s just an enjoyable way to spend 15-20 minutes.
Resident Evil : Village
Prix : 40 $
You can take everything I just said about Kayak VR: Mirage and say the exact opposite of Resident Evil: Village. These vibes are anything but serene, and I wouldn’t call the experience “enjoyable.”
The visuals are still excellent, however.
But seriously, it’s exactly what you think it is. If you played RE:Village when it released in 2021, you can play it again in VR. If you haven’t, well, get ready for a bloody and bizarre journey through the European countryside. The VR elements here are very well thought out, with manual gun reloading (and shotgun pumping), tons of different movement options, and even some cropped cutscenes for a full 3D display.
And yes, the tall lady looks very tall.
Pampan
Prix : 20 $
Thumper originally launched in 2016 and stole the hearts of rhythm game fans (and drummers) everywhere. It has quirky, abstract visuals and a soundtrack that’s low, percussive, and barely registers as “music” at times.
This PSVR2 version of Thumper does not drastically change the gameplay. It’s just Thumper in VR. The feeling of speed is awesome, as is being completely immersed in Thumper’s vaguely sinister rhythmic highways. What else do you need?
Other games to try
I’m just one person and haven’t had time to try all the games in the PSVR2 launch lineup. However, here are a few that seemed worth checking out based on a few quick tries:
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Demeo: a turn-based tactics game with a tabletop setting in your parents’ basement. You can zoom in on proceedings to feel like you’re in a dungeon, or watch from the comfort of said basement.
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Song in the Smoke: A survival game with a heavy emphasis on smashing objects into other objects to create new objects. It has a pretty dreamlike art style, and the first entity you encounter in the game is a bizarre three-headed crow.
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Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge Enhanced Edition: This is just an enhanced version of a game we really liked when it was released on Quest a few years ago. If you dig Star Wars, it’s a no-brainer.
Many of these games will be old hat for longtime VR veterans, but for newbies PSVR2 has a lot to offer. Now seriously, go play Rez and Tetris Effect. You can thank me later.
