142
In 2016, major VR headsets such as the Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR will see release, and these eight games for those VR devices have the most potential.
Marketed as a type of virtual reality device, Nintendo’s Virtual Boy was a complete and utter failure, and is considered one of the company’s biggest missteps. For years after the Virtual Boy flopped, virtual reality was considered little more than a pipe dream, and something that the industry could only achieve far off into the future. Well, the future is now.
Virtual reality technology is finally at the point where it is impressive, immersive, and can deliver truly unique gaming experiences. Numerous hardware manufacturers are gearing up to release their own VR headsets, resulting in a VR war that has seen Oculus Riftand PlayStation VRemerge as the headsets with the most potential.
Of course, video game hardware is of little worth without high quality games to go with it. Luckily for gamers, plenty of VR games are on the way for Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, and other VR headsets as well. That being said, we see these eight games as having the most potential and should be on every VR enthusiast’s radar.
100ft Robot Golf
There’s really nothing else on this list quite like. Billed as a combination between a fighting game and a golf game, 100ft Robot Golf sees players control giant robots as they play golf and destroy cities. 100ft Robot Golf will have 4-player split-screenalong with online multiplayer options, in addition to a goofy campaign that follows the lives of the pilots inside the robots. It won’t require PlayStation VR, but it will use the device to enhance the experience, allowing players to get even more engrossed in the robotic mayhem.
100ft Robot Golf is scheduled to release in 2016 exclusively for the PlayStation 4.
Edge of Nowhere
Insomniac Games may be mostly known for the work they’ve done for Sony, so it may come as a surprise to some that the company’s first foray into virtual reality is an Oculus Rift exclusive. Edge of Nowhere is a third-person adventure game in the vein of Uncharted and Tomb Raider , but with a darker tone than either of those franchises. As Insomniac’s first virtual reality game, there’s a lot of expectations for, and here’s hoping it lives up to the hype.
Edge of Nowhere is coming exclusively to the Oculus Rift, but no release date information is currently available.
EVE: Valkyrie
One of the most talked-about VR games has been. A spinoff of the popular EVE Online franchise, EVE: Valkyrie looks to provide the most immersive space dogfighting experience possible. The game will likely be one of the first VR experiences for many, as it will serve as a launch title for both PlayStation VR and Oculus Rift. It will even be bundled with Oculus Rift pre-orders, which shows that Oculus has faith in EVE: Valkyrie to deliver a satisfying gameplay experience.
EVE: Valkyrie is coming to Oculus Rift at launch later this year, and will also be a launch title for PlayStation VR on the PS4.
Golem
Former Bungie developers came together to form Highwire Games, andis the first title from that studio. While many expected the company to create an FPS game, Golem is actually a third-person title exclusive to PlayStation VR. After slipping on the PlayStation VR headset, players will take control of a girl who has access to what appears to be even more advanced VR technology, and which she is using to control a large stone golem. Confusing “VR-ception” aside, Golem ‘s unique premise definitely helps it to stand out from the rest of the VR pack.
Golem will be available at some point in the future, exclusively for PlayStation VR.
Lucky’s Tale
Oculus is counting on Lucky’s Tale to be to the Oculus Rift as Super Mario Bros. was to the NES. It comes packed-in with every Oculus Rift headset, and looks to provide a traditional 3D platforming experience, but in a virtual reality space. It will be interesting to see how Lucky’s Tale takes advantage of the VR technology at its disposal when the game launches alongside Oculus Rift within the next few months.
Lucky’s Tale is an Oculus Rift exclusive game that will be available for the device at launch.
Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin
Just last year, the Psychonauts franchise seemed to be dead, with no hope for a sequel in sight. And then, within the last couple of months, all of that changed. Psychonauts 2 was announced, as was a virtual reality Psychonauts gamecalled. Little has been shown of the game so far, but we’re sure that Tim Schafer and the talented folks at Double Fine will be able to come up with something truly creative using virtual reality technology.
Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin will launch in 2016, exclusively for PlayStation VR.
Robinson: The Journey
Crytek is stepping a bit out of their comfort zone when it comes to, an open world VR game with dinosaurs, but what we’ve seen of it so far looks very promising. Hopefully more of the game is revealed soon, as Robinson: The Journey looks like one of the most visually impressive VR games shown to date.
Robinson: The Journey has no release window yet, but it will be a PlayStation VR exclusive game.
Star Citizen
recently passed $100 million in crowdfunding, and those funds are being put to good use to combine and refine a number of genres under one umbrella. Equal parts sandbox game, first-person shooter, and spaceship simulator, Star Citizen will also include a virtual reality component for those who own the tech. The extent to which Star Citizen will utilize VR remains to be seen, but if done properly, it is sure to add yet another layer of immersion to the highly anticipated game.
Star Citizen is slated for release later this year, exclusively for PC. It will be compatible with Oculus Rift and other VR headsets, such as HTC Vive, for virtual reality purposes.
If the games on this list prove anything, it’s that the future is looking bright for virtual reality. All of these games are brimming with potential to deliver high quality, memorable gaming experiences, and luckily we won’t have to wait that much longer to see if they live up to the hype.
Both Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR are expected to release in 2016, and so the race for virtual reality dominance is just beginning. Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR both have a number of strong exclusives in their lineups, so it will be interesting to see what will determine which headset emerges as the dominant device. It’s possible that Oculus Rift’s high price pointcould slow down its momentum, but PlayStation VR requiring a PS4 to function could prove problematic as well. Only time will tell.
Are you planning on buying any of the games on our list? Which virtual reality titles are you most excited about? Are you hyped for the major VR headsets to see consumer release this year, or do you think it will just be a passing fad? Sound off in the comments below and leave us your thoughts on Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, and virtual reality technology in general.