The Meta VR collection, including the Rift and Quest, were historically among the first VR systems available at a reasonable price. It gained a following in its early days, enough to eventually pick up the attention of Facebook, which eventually acquired Oculus for $2 Billion in 2014.
Since then, a number of other VR headsets have emerged, including the HTC Vive, PSVR, and Valve Index. The exclusives on the Oculus Store, and its lower price point, make it a great choice for someone just getting into VR for the first time.
Updated on November 25, 2023, by Ritwik Mitra: VR gaming is already one of the biggest and most immersive advancements in gaming, and it won't take too long for headsets to become more accessible than ever before, letting people enjoy a whole new dimension of gaming that was nothing more than a pipe dream at one point. While it's true that VR gaming lacks many quality titles that make the headsets worth a purchase, players should definitely try out the Meta Quest headsets because of their wireless nature and the fact that many exclusive games reside on this platform too.
18 Dead And Buried 2
Meta Score Rating: 3.8
Dead and Buried 2 plays just about the same as the first game, but with a few important changes. The new Survival and Horde modes add a cooperative element to the game beyond team deathmatch, and the addition of bots, new weapons, and other quality-of-life improvements make it superior to its predecessor.
While Dead and Buried had a realistic but cartoonish style reminiscent of the Borderlands series, Dead and Buried 2 goes all-out with the cartoonish art style.
17 Raccoon Lagoon
Meta Score Rating: 3.9
Raccoon Lagoon is an adorable creative game that turns the player into an Island Spirit responsible for building a home for marooned animal sailors. There's exploration, decorating, fishing, cooking, farming, mining, and all the other staples of a building-life simulator game.
The casual game also features multiplayer options. Players can play together cooperatively locally or online together, as long as both players have a Meta VR headset.
16 Rock Band VR
Meta Score Rating: 4.0
The Rock Band franchise was, for a time, the premier rhythm game series known around the world. Hype for the franchise has died down in recent years following the rhythm game boom of the late 2000s and 2010s, but a Meta exclusive version released in 2017 brought it back for the new generation.
It features over 60 songs, most of which are the most well-known in the Rock Band catalog. It's also compatible with the same controllers used for Rock Band 4 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
15 Quill
Meta Score Rating: 4.1
Quill is not as much a game as it is a creative tool for artists in the 3D VR space. In Quill, creators can animate sequences and stand directly in their virtual setpieces amongst their characters, as if the virtual space was a real-life stage.
It's incredibly useful and surprisingly intuitive. It's still in Early Access, though, so be prepared to encounter some bugs as the kinks are sorted out over time.
14 The Climb
Meta Score Rating: 4.2
The Climb is a game developed by Crytek, the same company behind the legendary Crysis series – if that didn't clue players in, the game has absolutely stunning visuals. The Climb allows players to experience high-altitude and high-stakes rock climbing without having to actually risk their lives.
It's not a difficult game, as there's no way to physically simulate the sensation of holding up one's weight on a vertical surface. The game does instill a sense of wonder in the player as they look out on open vistas from the rock face, and it also offers multiple game modes (as well as competitions) to keep players engaged.
13 Vader Immortal
Meta Score Rating: 4.3
A great part about VR gaming is the fact that it allows for a degree of immersion unlike anything ever experienced before. It genuinely allows players to step into the shoes of their controlled character and perform several actions using their own hands, which makes for a great time indeed. As a result, games that allow players to pretty much become a character they love are bound to be a blast.
This is where Vader Immortal comes into the picture, with this game allowing Star Wars fans to step into the shoes of a force-sensitive smuggler in a short yet extremely satisfying adventure where they blast through foes and use the powers of the Force to absolutely destroy their enemies. The very idea of witnessing the legendary Darth Vader himself is enough of a draw for many players to check out this amazing experience.
12 Dead And Buried
Meta Score Rating: 4.3
Dead and Buried is a Wild West-themed gunslingin' multiplayer game that was made exclusively with the capabilities of the Oculus Rift and the Oculus Touch controllers. It's surprisingly satisfying, both in terms of the intuitive shooting controls and the eye-catching cell-shaded graphics.
It was one of the most popular multiplayer games for Meta systems on release and there is still a dedicated online fanbase. However, most moved on to the sequel, which improved on the already well-made shooter.
11 Wolves In The Walls
Meta Score Rating: 4.3
There are a lot of interesting VR games to choose from that offer players a multitude of ways to interact with a virtual space. Gamers can fight through virtual enemies, soar through generated skies, or even ride thrilling rollercoasters through graphically intense worlds. But sometimes players just want to unwind with a narrative experience instead of taking part in the heavy action of it all.
Wolves in the Walls is proof that even films have their place in the VR world. Players will have some moments of interaction with this piece but, for the most part, they'll find themselves immersed in a first-person film experience where they will live the movie as it progresses. It's a one-of-a-kind VR experience that will hopefully spark a renaissance for filmmakers in the future.
10 Wilson's Heart
Meta Score Rating: 4.3
Horror games have become all the rage in VR, with the heightened immersion of this medium allowing for scary experiences to feel all the more alive and engaging. Such is the case with Wilson's Heart, a game with a black-and-white aesthetic that uses its horror setting to great effect and immerses players in its unique and engaging world.
The story might not be the greatest and the game — just like most VR titles — is a bit on the short side, but most players won't mind these faults because of just how absorbing Wilson's Heart really is. Any player with a Meta VR headset should definitely give this title a whirl just because of how unique it is.
9 Chronos
Meta Score Rating: 4.4
Most people know Gunfire Games for their work on the Remnant duology, with both these titles being pretty stellar in their own right. However, what some people may be unaware of is the fact that the studio actually made a roguelike title for the Meta Quest which is pretty great in its own right!
Chronos is a fun roguelike action RPG where players age up after every death, meaning that they have a limited time to complete the labyrinth that they have to delve into time and time again. The game was highly underrated, and Gunfire Games decided to expand its market by releasing an enhanced version called Chronos: Before the Ashes that can be played on non-VR platforms too.
8 Assassin's Creed Nexus
Meta Score Rating: 4.4
A lot of people feel like most major developers aren't really spending any time developing VR titles, which is why Assassin's Creed Nexus is such a breath of fresh air. Even after so many people felt that a game with a major focus on motion would not be a good fit for VR, Ubisoft proved everyone wrong with this title.
The patented Assassin's Creed gameplay is as engaging and fun as ever, with the heightened immersion really making players feel like a member of this mysterious Order. Of course, there are some moments that may trigger a player's motion sickness, but the mere fact that this is an exception and not the rule is a marvel in and of itself.
7 Witchblood
Meta Score Rating: 4.5
Witchblood
- Platform(s)
- Microsoft Windows , Meta Quest
- Released
- June 8, 2017
- Developer
- Kerim Kumbasar
- Publisher
- Kerim Kumbasar
- Genre(s)
- Action , Adventure , Indie Games
- Engine
- One-Roll
- ESRB
- t
- How Long To Beat
- 10 hours
A metroidvania game that is playable entirely in VR, Witchblood is a great example of how games don't really need to place people in a first-person perspective to make the most of this medium. Simply looking around and surveying the level adds an entirely new dimension to what would otherwise be a pretty run-of-the-mill game.
Players control Clara Pathemore as she takes out numerous Hunters while trying to control her powers. It's a fun game that Meta headset owners can have a blast with, letting them experience a familiar genre with a level of immersion that can only be offered by VR.
6 Journey Of The Gods
Meta Score Rating: 4.5
Journey of the Gods is an RPG exclusive to Meta systems that pit the player against the forces of the Chaos Moon. The first-person game features multiple different forms of combat as well as a distinctly colorful color palette and cartoonish aesthetic.
The gameplay is much like that found in most traditional RPGs. There's a mix of puzzle-solving, world exploration, and satisfying combat that will more than satisfy the cravings of anyone looking for a good fantasy game in VR.
5 Lies Beneath
Meta Score Rating: 4.6
There are some truly terrifying experiences in the VR space so far. It's one thing to watch a horror movie but it's an entirely different feeling to experience one. Those who are a bit perturbed by horror may have a hard time sliding into some of the creepiest experiences currently available in the VR space.
Starting with Lies Beneath might be a solid "middle ground." Although it's definitely still incredibly unnerving from a horror perspective, it's a heavy-action game, giving players access to a wide array of firearms and melee weapons to fight and slash through a horde of morbid enemies. Once gamers get past the initial shock of the cel-shaded monsters, they'll find an entertaining and immersive horror-action release.
4 Lone Echo
Meta Score Rating: 4.7
Lone Echo is a sci-fi puzzle game where the player immerses themselves in playing the role of an advanced android to solve problems throughout a mining facility on the rings of Saturn. The game's puzzles and solutions are well-made for the VR space, and there are more than a few mind-bending parts to this interstellar mystery.
The game is among the best-looking Meta Quest exclusive games, in part for the facial animations, but mostly for the sense of scale that being out in space gives the player.
3 Robo Recall
Meta Score Rating: 4.7
Robo Recall is one of the few first-person shooters available for VR systems that actually feel intuitive and easy to control. The satisfying shooting mechanics and beautiful high-res graphics make it a standout choice amongst shooters in general, let alone VR-specific FPS games.
One criticism of the game is that it sometimes feels a little bit cartoonish, despite the high-fidelity style. It's well worth a pick-up for fans of shooters wanting to experience a well-made FPS that takes the meaning of first-person beyond a screen.
2 Oculus First Contact
Meta Score Rating: 4.7
Although VR is slowly gaining ground in the entertainment space, it's hard to deny that it's pretty intimidating for most. Even some gamers have a hard time transitioning into a VR space thanks to the "shock" of being completely immersed in a virtual world.
Thankfully, there are a lot of "beginner" VR experiences that will help introduce players to the medium. There are a handful of great options on Meta systems but Oculus First Contact stands out among the offerings. This futuristic 80s-inspired Sci-Fi playground will help players understand how to interact with the VR space by immersing them in a colorful world filled with toys and gadgets.
1 Resident Evil 4 VR
Meta Score Rating: 4.7
Resident Evil 4 is one of the most legendary video games ever made, and most players would love the idea of playing a VR-friendly version of this title and seeing things pan out from the perspective of Leon Kennedy himself. With the remake of this title coming sooner rather than later, there's no better time to experience the classic game with a whole new level of immersion.
Resident Evil 4 VR is exclusive to Meta VR and runs like a charm, although some people might argue that the game might not be all that tough anymore with the player controlling their attacks with the motion controllers without many restrictions. Regardless, it's still a great experience that any fan of brilliant VR horror experiences should check out.