As the virtual reality industry continues to mature, the VR experiences available to gamers become increasingly more compelling. These experiences have been backed up by refined virtual reality hardware, like the recently-released Oculus Quest 2, and with a rumored PlayStation VR PS5 headset on the horizon, it doesn't look as though VR is going anywhere anytime soon.
There were plenty of high quality virtual reality experiences available in 2020, but some are better than others. Some 2020 VR titles truly excelled, as developers now have a firm grip on what does and doesn't work in VR, and can use that knowledge to create more entertaining and polished games.
From Dreams to The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners, here are the 10 best virtual reality games of 2020.
10 Dreams
Some of the best virtual reality experiences of 2020 didn't come from games that were made specifically for VR. On the contrary, some of the most compelling VR experiences have actually stemmed from games that used VR as an enhancement instead of a requirement. A perfect example of this is Media Molecule's Dreams. The PlayStation-exclusive creation game boasts some of the most expansive and impressive creation tools on the market, which now allow for players to build their very own virtual reality experiences from the ground-up. As long as Dreams players have a PlayStation VR headset handy, they can greatly expand their options in the game in terms of both a creator and a player, boosting its overall value quite significantly.
9 Half-Life: Alyx
Few would argue against Half-Life: Alyx not just being one of the best VR games of 2020, but the best VR game of the year. Half-Life: Alyx is the highest-rated virtual reality game made to date, with a 92 average critic score and earning widespread acclaim from franchise fans as well. Half-Life: Alyx is notable for being one of the most visually- and technically-impressive VR games without even requiring an absolute top-end PC to achieve those effects. It's a proper gameplay experience from start to finish, with logical motion controls and an incredible level of immersion. It also gives Half-Life fans a chance to become reacquainted with Valve's engrossing far-future sci-fi world, and while it may not exactly be the Half-Life 3 everyone's been waiting for, it's arguably the first VR killer app.
8 Iron Man VR
One of the first major VR games was Batman: Arkham VR for PlayStation VR, so it's fitting that Sony's virtual reality headset has received yet another major superhero release. Iron Man VR is a more fully-featured game than Batman was, with players taking on the role of Iron Man himself, Tony Stark, as he does battle with Ghost. Players are able to utilize the PlayStation Move's motion controls to activate Iron Man's unique abilities, such as flying around and blasting enemies out of the sky with his powerful repulsor weapons. Iron Man VR's story mode is its main draw, but it has a variety of mini-games for players to try out as well if they just want a quick, pick up and play VR experience.
7 Medal Of Honor: Above And Beyond
Few virtual reality games have the scope or budget of Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond, and so the game's subtitle is fitting. Developed by Apex Legends and Titanfall studio Respawn Entertainment and featuring the original Medal of Honor director at the helm, Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond achieves its goal of delivering a high quality Medal of Honor VR experience. A full-fledged FPS World War 2 shooter, Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond has a story campaign for players to complete, plus versus multiplayer modes that take place in a variety of online battlefields. On top of all that, Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond has World War 2 documentary films for players to check out, which is especially great for history buffs.
6 Paper Beast
Eric Chahi is perhaps best known for developing Another World in the early 1990s, one of the first-ever cinematic story games and a title that was hugely innovative at the time of its release. In 2020, Chahi released the virtual reality game Paper Beast, which was a timed-exclusive for the PlayStation 4's PlayStation VR headset. Paper Beast sees players interacting with a variety of interesting creatures seemingly made out of paper, all of which have unique UI that make them act differently from one another. The goal is for players to work with these creatures to progress through the game, though there is also a Sandbox Mode that gives players much more freedom, allowing them to alter the game world and see how the creatures react. Paper Beast earned mostly positive reviews when it launched earlier this year, standing as one of the more highly-rated virtual reality games of 2020.
5 Phantom: Covert Ops
The best way to describe Phantom: Covert Ops is "Metal Gear Solid in a boat." A stealth game that takes place entirely inside a kayak, the unique setting lends itself well to a traditional virtual reality setup. In the game, players have to infiltrate a secret compound, silently taking out enemies from afar or using various gadgets to help them sneak by unnoticed. Solid Snake voice actor David Hayter even appears as the villain in Phantom: Covert Ops, just in case there was any question that this game wasn't heavily inspired by Hideo Kojima's classic franchise.
4 Pixel Ripped 1995
Pixel Ripped 1989 is one of the higher-rated virtual reality games, so it's not all that surprising that Pixel Ripped 1995 has been well-received by VR enthusiasts as well. Pixel Ripped 1995 transports players to the mid-90s, where players work their way through 16- and 32-bit games. The game-within-a-game concept helps Pixel Ripped 1995 stand out from the sea of other VR games on the market, and it's all backed with plenty of nostalgic charm.
3 Population: One
It was only a matter of time before a high quality VR battle royale game hit the market, and it finally happened in 2020. Population: One is exactly what battle royale fans would want from a VR experience, with players dropping on a map with their squadmates, moving from the safety of one circle to the next while keeping an eye out for enemy players and looting everything they can get their hands on. Clever use of motion controls, like having players manually peel a banana to eat for health, help Population: One still play decidedly like a VR game, but the combat and other mechanics are classic battle royale through-and-through. Population: One has received great support so far, with content updates and seasonal events, giving VR gamers much more bang for their buck than they're used to.
2 Star Wars: Squadrons
Similarly to Media Molecule's Dreams, Star Wars: Squadrons can be played without any kind of virtual reality setup. However, those that play Star Wars: Squadrons in VR are in for a treat. Star Wars: Squadrons' VR greatly boosts the game's immersion, and gives players the chance to transport themselves to the world of Star Wars like never before. There are numerous Star Wars VR experiences out right now, but Star Wars: Squadrons stands above them as a truly compelling virtual reality game.
1 The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners
There were multiple Walking Dead VR games that launched in 2020, but The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners is the one that all fans of the franchise will want to try. The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners is a survival game where players have to manage their resources, all the while looting for supplies and fighting off hordes of the undead. Quite possibly the best survival-horror experience available in VR, The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners offers a decent challenge, rewarding gameplay, and plenty of scares to keep fans entertained for the long haul. Mix in some fun motion control combat mechanics, and The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners quickly becomes a must-play game for VR enthusiasts, even if they don't care for The Walking Dead.