Highlights

• Puzzle games are a perfect fit for VR, offering challenging puzzles that can be hard to solve but provide a sense of satisfaction.
• VR puzzle games like "A Rogue Escape" and "Out of Scale: A Kurzgesagt Adventure" offer unique and well-crafted experiences.
• Titles like "The Last Clockwinder" and "Red Matter 2" combine engaging puzzle design with captivating visuals and storytelling, making for immersive gameplay.

The puzzle genre of gaming is evergreen. No matter how far the gaming industry improves technologically, with developers being able to create huge open worlds that can be explored for hundreds of hours, there will still always be a space for contained puzzle games. A well-designed puzzle game can be hard to top, regardless of budget, thanks to the sense of satisfaction that the genre's titles can provide, something that can only be created through ingenious design rather than expensive design.

Virtual reality is an amazing new way of experiencing games in their most unique form. From shooters to action, all kinds of games seem to fit the use case of VR and are super fun to play. That being said, who knew that the puzzle genre would work so well too? When it comes to virtual reality, there are numerous interesting games out there that revolve around solving problems. There are many great VR titles on Oculus Quest 2 that one can play and feel like Sherlock while doing so.

Updated January 3, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: Puzzle games are a great fit for VR since players would love to physically move objects about while using their minds to figure out a proper solution. Many titles use the medium of virtual reality to present some challenging puzzles that can be pretty hard to solve.

This is why it's so satisfying when players immerse themselves in the worlds constructed by numerous puzzle games and figure out a proper solution after wracking their minds for the longest time. There's still a long way to go until VR becomes the dominant form of gaming, so it's nice to see that this medium already has a wealth of quality titles that justify the purchase of a headset.

16 A Rogue Escape

Meta Store Rating: 3.8

• Platform(s): Meta Quest, PC
• Developer(s): Spare Parts Oasis
• Release Date: June 10, 2021

While there have been various escape games in the market, A Rogue Escape is something different.

First, the basic idea for this game remains the same. Players have to find a way out by solving interesting puzzles in a given environment to proceed to the next level. However, the main difference here is in the atmosphere and details. This game is tactical, story-driven, and well-crafted, making it a lot more coherent than other games. A Rogue Escape doesn't give players random situations or puzzles. Instead, it's one big effort to escape the planet.

15 Out Of Scale: A Kurzgesagt Adventure

Meta Store Rating: 4.0

• Platform(s): Meta Quest
• Developer(s): Schell Games
• Release Date: October 26, 2023

Kurzgesagt is a popular YouTuber whose animations have become quite viral for their simple yet catchy art style as the team explains numerous complicated concepts that people may be interested in. The fact that they've crafted a VR puzzle edutainment game is certainly worth checking out.

Kurzgesagt will get a kick out of the experience, even if it may not be the most refined or engaging VR puzzle game out right now. Still, there's something oddly gratifying about seeing a respected YouTuber venturing into the realm of video games via a medium that is slowly going to become a worldwide gaming phenomenon for the ages.

14 Myst

Meta Store Rating: 4.1

Myst is a highly atmospheric video game that was released for VR in 2021 but was originally released back in 1993. For many years, Myst was the highest-selling PC game of all time, though it was eventually toppled by EA's The Sims, which was released in the year 2000.

Thanks to various graphical and gameplay improvements over the years across the game's many re-releases, the iconic puzzle game is thoroughly enjoyable to play today, and its high-difficulty level is still intact, with a notebook and pencil being almost essential for beating the game without the use of a guide. Apart from working on Quest 2, players can enjoy this on a normal PC, as it works both ways. However, VR is now the best way to enjoy this puzzle title.

13 Floor Plan 2

Meta Store Rating: 4.4

• Platform(s): Meta Quest, PC
• Developer(s): Turbo Button
• Release Date: April 1, 2021

The colorful Pixar movies-like characters of Floor Plan 2 are enough to make anyone try it out. But for those who are still skeptical, here's why this game rocks. This indie title is a comedy adventure game similar to Escape Rooms. The goal is to roam around in the environments, figure out a way to progress and help retrieve a lost treasure.

In the game, players will have to do all kinds of things, like grabbing stuff, using items, and figuring out how to proceed. The best part about this game is its unique environment, which keeps things funny and enjoyable.

12 Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes

Meta Store Rating: 4.5

Party games are a great fit for VR, which is why Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is such a great title for headset owners to check out. The premise of the game is simple — one player is tasked with defusing a bomb, while the others have a manual that is pretty convoluted on purpose. This makes it hilarious for the defuser to try and keep track of what their friends are saying as they try to prevent an avoidable explosion from going off.

Short sessions of Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes make for a fun time, with players trying their hardest to solve the puzzle of the particular bomb they're defusing in the time they have left. If players are struggling to figure out a great way to keep their guests engaged during a party, then there's no better solution than this title!

11 A Fisherman’s Tale

Meta Store Rating: 4.5

• Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Meta Quest
• Developer(s): InnerspaceVR
• Release Date: January 22, 2019

When it comes to puzzle games on Quest 2, A Fisherman's Tale is right up there with the best ones. This game was developed by Innerspace VR and came out in 2019 for PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, and Meta Quest.

In the game, players control a fisherman in a location that more closely resembles a side shore with a lighthouse, boats, and other things. While the game is set in a magically recursive and repetitive world, its gameplay sets it apart from other games on the list. Anyone who decides to pick this one up will certainly have a great time.

10 Angry Birds VR: Isle Of Pigs

Meta Store Rating: 4.5

• Platform(s): Meta Quest, PC, PlayStation 4
• Developer(s): Resolution Games
• Release Date: February 7, 2019

Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs features a great blend of comedy and puzzles. The game's formula is simple: use the birds and take out pigs and their constructions. In the game, players will enjoy shooting the birds of a slingshot and seeing the oink towers crumble in front of them.

Isle of Pigs also has an AR counterpart that is extremely fun to play. Although, the best version of the game is the VR one, as it feels great in terms of controls. The simple gameplay of this franchise is replicated pretty effortlessly in the realm of VR.

9 Tetris Effect: Connected

Meta Store Rating: 4.6

Tetris first came out in 1984, and the basic idea was to match the tiles and score high. Tetris Effect works on the same idea, except it is much more advanced and works like a charm in virtual reality.

Tetris Effect has a very therapeutic environment and music; it wants the players to feel relaxed as they try to match tiles and score. Apart from being a single-player, Tetris Effect has a good multiplayer mode and local co-op, which both work seamlessly with the classic Tetris gameplay. At the time of writing, Tetris Effect holds an "Overwhelmingly Positive" review score on Steam.

8 Vacation Simulator

Meta Store Rating: 4.7

• Platform(s): Meta Quest, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
• Developer(s): Owlchemy Labs
• Release Date: April 9, 2019

During the early days of VR gaming, Job Simulator came out and showed how effective a quirky VR gaming experience could be. However, over time, players have realized that this game is a bit too short and truncated for their liking, so, thankfully, the developers of this game decided to up the ante with another title that evolved these core concepts in a notable and meaningful manner.

Unlike Job Simulator, which downright feels like a tech demo for what VR can achieve as a gaming medium, Vacation Simulator feels like a proper game that players can spend some hours in and feel satisfied with what they've achieved. It's a fun title that players can check out as they complete the wealth of relatively easy yet entertaining puzzles that this game has to offer.

7 Superhot VR

Meta Store Rating: 4.7

Superhot VR is arguably the most innovative game on this list, which is highly praised considering the competition. Superhot Team's game combines the puzzle and first-person shooter genres, a rare mix that could have been a hot mess if it wasn't executed correctly. However, the game seamlessly blends the contrasting genres to create a fascinating experience where players need to use their heads more than their hands to stay alive.

The commercial success and critical acclaim of Superhot have resulted in its release on a wide variety of systems since its original 2016 PC release, including Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and, of course, Meta Quest 2 for its VR variant.

6 The Last Clockwinder

Meta Store Rating: 4.8

• Platform(s): Meta Quest, PC, PlayStation 5
• Developer(s): Pontoco
• Release Date: February 22, 2023

The Last Clockwinder is a game that more VR enthusiasts need to check out, in no small part because of how innovative the mechanics in this game are. Players use automatons to replicate the actions they take in the game, leading to a captivating gameplay loop as they help machines function using their actions to fuel a complicated system.

The Last Clockwinder's gameplay loop is easily the best part of the experience. Players will have a great time as they solve the game's many innovative puzzles as the title's art and music take them on a memorable journey. It's a shame that The Last Clockwinder isn't all that popular nowadays, since players will love how simple yet engaging its mechanics are.

5 Red Matter 2

Meta Store Rating: 4.8

There are a lot of VR games that end up focusing on gameplay to a level where everything from visuals to storytelling takes a huge hit, as a result. While this isn't necessarily a bad approach, the fact is that players are getting bored of titles that put no real effort into the other facets of what makes a video game popular in the realm of VR, which is why Red Matter 2 is such a tantalizing prospect to behold.

Not only is the game's puzzle design pretty engaging, but the visuals and storytelling of this game are in a class of its own as well. Red Matter 2 combines a wealth of gameplay facets to make for an engaging title that will keep fans hooked for a while, with fans appreciating that this game is a bit longer than most average story-focused VR games, albeit only just.

4 Cubism

Meta Store Rating: 4.8

• Platform(s): Meta Quest, PC
• Developer(s): Thomas Van Bouwel
• Release Date: September 17, 2020

Cubism may look simple from its representation, but it is extremely challenging as the player progresses. The game's goal is simple, take the complex shapes and turn them into a proper form.

Not only is this game fun, but it is also extremely therapeutic due to its zen-like vibe and music. The developer of this game is Thomas Van Bouwel, who has single-handedly crafted one of the best experiences on VR. Currently, Cubism is available on Microsoft Windows and Meta Quest 2.

3 I Expect You To Die 2

Meta Store Rating: 4.8

• Platform(s): Meta Quest, PC, PlayStation 4
• Developer(s): Schell Games
• Release Date: August 24, 2021

I Expect You To Die is a YouTube classic, as various content creators worldwide have played it for their audience. Why? It's a compelling, funny, straightforward game with a Bond-inspired setting.

The second game in the series takes everything to the next level, motivating players to take on ridiculous missions and solve the mystery. In the game, players will have to use their power of telekinesis to complete different situations that are full of danger. The only thing players will have to remember is not to die.

2 Puzzling Places

Meta Store Rating: 4.9

• Platform(s): Meta Quest, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
• Developer(s): Realities.io Inc.
• Release Date: September 2, 2021

Similar to Cubism, Puzzling Places is an extremely wholesome and relaxing game. Although, unlike Cubism, it does not expect players to play with cubes. Instead, Puzzling Places is about jigsaw puzzles made out of unique miniature locations. These areas include The Upper Vestibule, The Stables, The Billiards Room, The Drawing Room, the Biarritz Lighthouse, the Coast of Basques, Kushi Yaki Restaurant, Le Mont Saint Michel, and much more.

There's also an Armenia Pack, including zen-like places like temples and monasteries. The fact that these miniatures are extremely realistic makes the game super intriguing to play and gives players a look at the amazing art of architecture.

1 The Room VR: A Dark Matter

Meta Store Rating: 4.9

• Platform(s): Meta Quest, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
• Developer(s): Fireproof Games
• Release Date: March 26, 2020

With "Overwhelmingly Positive" reviews across the board, The Room VR: A Dark Matter is the perfect puzzle game for video game enthusiasts. This game is a mystery adventure title that appeared in 2020 on various platforms.

One such platform is Meta Quest 2, where the game seamlessly works standalone. With only a 2.5 GB install size, The Room VR: A Dark Matter offers gameplay that's full of details and a mystery that started in 1908. It is easily one of the most enjoyable and impressive puzzle games on VR.

MORE: The Best VR Horror Games For The Meta Quest 2