Virtual reality has been a tricky technological frontier for different gaming companies to try to produce titles for. Even Nintendo endured a massive setback after its Virtual Boy became a complete failure when it was launched in 1995. But Sony’s PlayStation VR proved to be a much more successful project when it was released as a peripheral of PlayStation 4 in 2016. Many popular games for the console received their own PSVR versions, plunging players headfirst into these experiences with an immersive perspective.
We’re taking a look at our personal favorite PSVR games, each showcasing what this peripheral was capable of. An important distinction here is that the games we’re listing here are PSVR games, not the upgraded PSVR2. While these games were subsequently remastered for the PSVR2 headset, we’re sticking with games that were initially native to the original PSVR hardware.
Here are the five best PSVR games of all time ranked, highlighting how impressively immersive Sony’s PlayStation peripheral could be.
5. Hitman: World of Assassination
IO Interactive thoroughly reinvigorated its “Hitman” franchise with a revival trilogy that began in 2016. The culmination of this was “Hitman 3,” released in 2021 and eventually retitled “Hitman: World of Assassination,” when it was bundled with its two predecessors. The game received PSVR compatibility, putting players in the middle of its sandbox environments to navigate as Agent 47. This transposition actually works more seamlessly than one might anticipate, particularly whenever 47 finds himself in a combat situation.
“World of Assassination” contains some of the most highly ranked “Hitman” games, and its shift to VR feels like a naturally included feature. The developers revamped the game’s cover system to make it feel more intuitive to the VR experience, which is key to the gameplay using the peripheral. Through the “World of Assassination” collection, that means the 2016 “Hitman” and its 2018 sequel are also compatible with the PSVR. Offering three VR titles for the price of one, “Hitman: World of Assassination” brings a fresh look to 47’s greatest adventures.
4. Gran Turismo Sport
Sony Interactive Entertainment
The “Gran Turismo” series has always been built on a solid foundation of bringing pronounced realism to the racing genre. The 2017 title “Gran Turismo Sport” launched with PSVR support, putting players directly in the driver’s seat for the game’s extensive fleet of playable vehicles. Initially only a feature for VR Tour Mode, a post-launch update added PSVR compatibility to the game’s time trials mode. This heightens the overall immersion, of course, but also adds even more engaging dimensions to the handling.
Like all the preceding games in the series, “Gran Turismo Sport” is unplayable today, if you haven’t already purchased it due to vehicle and music licensing. If you do happen to own the game or come across a functioning disc, the game remains a lot of fun to play. Sony would go on to enhance the virtual reality display for “Gran Turismo 7” on the PlayStation 5 through the PSVR2. But “Gran Turismo Sport” highlights the racing franchise when it built the foundation for virtual reality functionality in an exciting way.
3. Tetris Effect
Not every virtual reality game has to be a first-person shooter or racing title, with “Tetris Effect” taking the display to the puzzle game genre. Launched in 2018, the Playstation 4 version of the game was compatible with the PSVR, offering the most immersive “Tetris” experience yet. While the broader gameplay to the classic franchise remains intact, the dazzling visuals and added mechanics makes this a thoroughly engaging and fresh take on a well-worn title. Playing the game from the display of a PSVR makes the entire experience a kaleidoscopic feast for the eyes, elevated by a pumping original score.
Even without the PSVR, “Tetris Effect” is easily one of the best versions of “Tetris” ever made. The addition of playing the game through the PSVR peripheral takes the whole experience to the next level. With its cosmic presentation and atmospheric score, the game feels like players are completing “Tetris” rows in hyperspace. Turning a familiar game into a near-religious experience, “Tetris Effect” feels like witnessing the classic game through a mind-bending perspective.
2. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
After the lackluster “Resident Evil 6,” Capcom needed to restore the series’ reputation as the scariest horror game franchise. Fortunately, the developers knocked it out of the park with 2017’s “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard,” the first mainline title in the series played from a first-person perspective. The game introduces protagonist Ethan Winters, who searches a remote Louisiana mansion for his missing wife Mia, only to find it’s inhabited by a deranged family and their monsters. One of the game’s timed exclusive features when it launched on the PS4 was that it was compatible with the PSVR.
“Resident Evil 7: Biohazard” is already scary enough without standing in Ethan’s shoes with the PSVR headset. Through the peripheral, the game is even more terrifying, putting the jump scares and grotesque horrors front and center for players. With the game shifting to a first-person perspective, that makes the usage of the PSVR even more natural to the gameplay. The most frightening major studio game released for the PSVR, “Resident Evil 7: Biohazard” brings its terror to a new perspective.
1. Astro Bot Rescue Mission
Sony Interactive Entertainment
The “Astro Bot” series has been fantastic at showcasing what PlayStation hardware is capable of, like “Astro’s Playroom” and the PlayStation 5 DualSense Controller. The PSVR got some love from Astro and his friends with the 2018 title “Astro Bot Rescue Mission.” The game is a 3D platformer that assumes a first-person perspective when used with the PSVR headset, placing players in Astro’s shoes. Across the game’s 20 levels, Astro rescues his friends, finds special challenges, and battles bosses, putting players’ platforming skills to the test.
With its vibrant presentation and intuitive controls, “Astro Bot Rescue Mission” feels like an absolute joy to play. The game really makes the case for shelling out for a PSVR peripheral, with its virtual reality display significantly enhancing the experience. Easy to follow and a tremendous amount of fun, the 2018 title is the ultimate killer app for PSVR, with its level design expertly built for its VR usage. Astro has a perfect track record so far, as far as his series’ quality goes, and “Astro Bot Rescue Mission” feels like a rewarding revelation for VR experiences.
