It wasn't long ago when Doom came out and impressed everyone with its fast-paced, action-oriented gameplay. Fast forward to 2022, and things have gotten a lot more real and a lot more immersive for first-person shooters. The modern-day landscape for fps games has various previously unthinkable features, from 100-player multiplayer battles to fully immersive story-driven experiences.
However, developers have just scraped the surface of what is possible in video games. The next phase of first-person shooters is all about virtual reality, and the best PCVR experience is only available on the consumer virtual reality headset, Valve Index. Let's look at some of the most immersive FPS games on Valve Index.
10 Half-Life: Alyx
Let's start by looking at the most authentic Valve experience on the Index, Half-Life: Alyx. The game originally came out in March 2020 on Windows and a few months later on Linux. In a traditional Half-Life manner, it's a first-person shooter that completely focuses on providing a story-driven experience.
However, what makes it stand out is the number of details the developers have crammed into it and fully interactive environments that players will not find in most other similar fps games. Half-Life: Alyx currently stands at an "Overwhelmingly Positive" review score on the Steam store.
9 Pavlov VR
Pavlov VR is a multiplayer-oriented virtual reality experience and a great gun simulator. The game first came out in 2017 on Steam but is still in Early Access due to how ambitious it is. Pavlov VR wants to redefine how everyone experiences the good old military shooter genre by allowing players to move through dozens of maps while mastering how to shoot guns.
People can use all kinds of weapons in the game, from knives, handguns, machine guns, snipers, rocket launchers, grenades, pistols, sub-machine guns, experimental weapons, and much more.
8 COMPOUND
Who knew a pixel-based retro shooter would make such a great virtual reality experience on Steam that it'll get an Overwhelmingly Positive review by every player? COMPOUND is an indie "Roguelite" action shooter that brings nostalgia through its visual style but allows players complete freedom of movement in VR.
The official store page states the game is a "randomized rogue-lite, free-roaming shooter for VR veterans" where players must duck, dodge, and shoot simultaneously to win rounds. COMPOUND claims it is a challenging retro FPS, which is visible from its fast-paced gameplay.
7 BONEWORKS
Boneworks may be the most important virtual reality first-person experience for anyone who owns either Meta Quest or Valve Index. It's a 2019 game that began as an experimental real-time physics demonstration for people who want to experience how immersive PCVR can be.
However, Boneworks has become a much bigger experience in 2022, thanks to the modding community and some of the best mods available for any game ever. But even if players aren't into modifying their games, the vanilla experience of this game offers enough variety through its story & other modes.
6 Contractors
To anyone who loves Pavlov VR, Contractors will feel like a sibling title but with much more focus on action than realism. In this game, players can fight in team-based competitive multiplayer and build their reflexes in true-to-life environments. Contractors claim to be the "next level virtual warfare" that offers many features, such as a hardcore control scheme, accurate firearms, customizable load-outs, and realistic gunplay.
Unlike Pavlov VR, Contractors is a full-functioning VR game that moved past its early access phase long ago. While the game labels itself as a simulation title, it is more in line with Battlefield games than Arma.
5 Arizona Sunshine®
Arizona Sunshine is exclusively a virtual reality shooter that takes place in the southwestern U.S. state. However, there's a twist. Unlike other games on this list, Arizona Sunshine is less about military action or physics demonstrations and more about hilarious Zombieland-type post-apocalyptic action.
The game's store page states that it is one of the best survival co-op zombie VR experiences on any platform, which allows players to team up with up to three different people as they explore the vast lands of the undead. From bright visuals to praise-worthy gore effects, Arizona Sunshine is a must-play title for people who own Valve Index.
4 The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
Talking about Zombie games, here's one that is undoubtedly a big reason why people have bought a virtual reality headset in the first place. The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is an action-adventure role-playing game that expands the world of the popular zombie franchise.
In this game, players can experience how it feels to be a part of The Walking Dead universe and deal with the deadly walkers hungry for guts and brains. The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners is one of the most well-crafted, good-looking, detailed VR games and is only comparable to Half-Life: Alyx in terms of quality.
3 Propagation VR
Propagation VR is just the right game for players who've blown out their budget on the Valve Index and want to play something free-of-cost. It's a 2020 Unreal Engine title with breathtaking visuals usually only available in top-paid virtual reality games.
At its core, Propagation VR is an action-horror shooter where players do not get a lot of freedom to move around. However, it doesn't let the movement-based restrictions stop it from being a fluid on-rail fps with great quality and gunplay.
2 POPULATION: ONE
POPULATION: ONE answers players asking for a PUBG virtual reality game. It is a battle-royale VR game emphasizing squad-based gameplay and fast-paced action. In this multiplayer title, players can jump, glide, shoot & run as they traverse huge maps scavenging for resources.
The best thing about POPULATION: ONE is that it doesn't try to be a PUBG clone or a Fortnite knock-off. Instead, it does its own thing by being the most original virtual reality battle royale shooter on Steam. The game is a must-play for anyone who owns Valve Index.
1 Pistol Whip
Pistol Whip is the most simple virtual reality shooter on the list and one of the most addictive. It is a rhythm-based game where players experience an unstoppable ride, running and gunning the enemies on the beats. As the name suggests, the 2019 title is about mastering the pistols in creative and colorful environments while trying to dodge attacks.
Pistol Whip's official page states it offers "arcade-style scenes/songs, story-driven cinematic campaigns, the Styles system for endless ways to play, Contracts, & more!" People looking for more fps experiences on Valve Index can check out honorable mentions such as Serious Sam VR: The Last Hope, Space Pirate Trainer, and SUPERHOT VR.