The future is now, thanks to Sony's effort in pushing the boundaries of Virtual Reality. The concept of VR has garnered quite a bit of mainstream attention in recent years, and though it may still be far from perfect, there is no denying that it will soon take over the gaming industry. In a bid to win the VR race, Sony has taken the next step in virtual reality by announcing PlayStation VR2 for 2023.
Sony's new PSVR 2 headset offers a far greater immersive experience than its predecessor, with a bigger 110-degree field view and four times the pixel count than the original PSVR headset. To showcase PSVR 2's power, Sony announced tons of VR launch titles ready for their PS5 system. Here are some of the most exciting PSVR 2 launch games that fans should definitely pick up when the headset releases.
Updated February 25, 2023 by Saad Tahir: The PSVR 2 is now available, which means day-one adapters will be scoring the marketplace in search of games to play. Which launch titles should be considered?
Tetris Effect: Connected
Play Tetris like never before with Publisher Enhance's Tetris Effect: Connected, which has now made its way onto Sony's PSVR2. Arguably built upon the most widely known puzzle game ever, Connected takes the Tetris formula to a whole new level with over thirty stages of chaos and 10 modes to enjoy.
Everything about the game, including the puzzle design, music, background, effects, and even the tiles themselves, are brimming with style. Tetris Effect: Connected has been made even more addictive by the PSVR2's great VR immersive features. The game received a Metascore of 95 for the PlayStation 5.
The Last Clockwinder
The Last Clockwinder is a VR puzzle game developed by Pontoco and sees the player take on the task of repairing an ancient clock tower. The gameplay involves recording the player's movements which will then be mimicked by a robot indefinitely. Players will have to make use of this looping mechanic to solve various puzzles and progress. This automated formula is quite simple, but the game gets harder and harder as the players dive deeper into it, as the movements become increasingly challenging to nail down and loop.
The intriguing storyline about the previous caretaker of the clock tower mixed with beautiful visuals and charming soundtracks makes this game a great VR experience. The Last Clockwinder received a Metascore of 80 for the PC and has also made its way to PSVR2.
The Light Brigade
Funktronic Labs are bringing forward a new rogue-like single-player game titled The Light Brigade. The game takes place in a world thrust into eternal darkness where The Light Brigade remains as its last line of defense. On top of being a fully VR experience, the game is also promising to showcase realistic physic-based gameplay involving guns and magic. Players will have to climb up the ranks of The Light Brigade and fight their way through hordes of enemies in order to survive.
As the players progress through the game, new abilities, guns, magic, and classes will open for them. The Light Brigade takes narrative inspiration from the poem, The Charge of the Light Brigade, by Baron Tennyson. The game was released on the PSVR 2 as a launch title.
Resident Evil Village VR
Capcom's critically acclaimed Resident Evil Village has received a full VR update for the PSVR2, allowing players to experience the horrors of the game in even more immersive ways. Resident Evil Village is a survival horror game that follows Ethan Winters as he searches for his missing daughter in a mysterious village crawling with mutated beings.
In addition to the usual resource management and exploration tropes, this entry in the franchise puts a heavier emphasis on combat as well. Resident Evil Village received a Metascore of 84 for the PlayStation 5. Owners of the game will receive a free VR update for it, allowing them to dive into the mysterious village once again but this time in VR.
Pistol Whip
Developed by Cloudhead Games, Pistol Whip is an action-rhythm game involving gunplay inspired by the chaotic scenes of action films and shows. The adrenaline-pumping experience was initially offered on the PlayStation 4 with the first PSVR headset and is now back with improved mechanics for Sony's PSVR2 on the PlayStation 5. Players will have to shoot, blast, duck, dodge, and pave their way through waves of enemies in dream-like sequences, creating chaotic rhythms brimming with bullets in their wake.
The sensory improvements, adaptive triggers, and haptic feedback have largely improved the game's core mechanics making it even more immersive than before. The game is made even better with the enhanced 3D audio making it actually feel like players are in an action scene from a movie. The original Pistol Whip received a Metascore of 88 for the PlayStation 4.
Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge-Enhanced Edition
Get ready for another adventure in a galaxy far far away with ILMxLAB's Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge. The game is an action-filled space adventure set amidst the Star Wars Saga. In this run-and-gun experience, players are put in the shoes of a droid repair technician near the Outer Rim who ends up crashing on the Planet Batuu. The crash then kick-starts several exciting events involving new and familiar faces along the way.
Fans can expect to see many fan-favorite characters like R2-D2, C-3PO, and Jedi Master Yoda make an appearance in this Star Wars experience. Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge takes advantage of the capabilities of Sony's new PSVR 2. The audio and the haptic feedback will also be a major part of the experience, making it even more immersive.
Gran Turismo 7
Developed by Polyphony Digital, Gran Turismo 7 is a racing simulator exclusive to the PlayStation consoles that was released back in March 2022. Gran Turismo 7 has long been the face of PlayStaion's racing genre and with the release of the PSVR 2, the game has received a VR update that will allow players to dive into a truly immersive racing experience, filled with ultra-realistic cars.
The graphics, audio, and environmental effects in Gran Turismo 7 were already top-notch, but add the element of VR, and fans have a racing game they will not be able to put down.
Horizon Call Of The Mountain VR
The developers behind Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West have developed a new VR spin-off of the series, titled Horizon Call of the Mountain that is promising to showcase the capabilities of the PSVR 2. Instead of the iconic female lead Alloy, this VR Horizon adventure will instead follow a warrior named Ryas, who is introduced as a former member of the Shadow Carja clan.
In order to redeem himself, Ryas sets out to investigate a new threat in the lands of Horizon, which leads him to face many dangers along the way. The game will see players climb dangerous terrains, and fight against wild beasts with the aid of a bow and arrows. Horizon Call of The Mountain is a PlayStation 5 exclusive VR game and received a Metascore of 79.