5 Best PC VR Games of 2022

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With VR (virtual reality) becoming more ubiquitous and affordable as a commonly used gaming technology due to technological improvements, many PC gamers are becoming interested in VR-equipped devices and PC VR Games. With a compatible headset and appropriately equipped motion controllers, PC gamers can enjoy and interact with virtual worlds ranging from FPSs (first-person shooters) to horror settings, full-fledged classic RPGs (role-playing games), and VR versions of the latest AAA (triple-A) game releases. If you have ever wanted to truly feel the immersion that only VR games can offer, check out the five best VR games that 2022 has to offer.  

Half-Life: Alyx (Available on Windows Mixed Reality, Valve Index, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive) 

Fans of the top-rated Half-Life franchise have had to wait for over a decade since the release of the last series title. Having a VR title come out with a campaign that only takes about eleven hours to complete might seem like a bit of a letdown. However, despite the short length of this game, players will be delighted to find themselves playing through the experiences of fan-favorite character Alyx Vance in a prequel set in the infamous City 17 before the arrival of the series protagonist, the physicist Gordon Freeman. The vast majority of gameplay involves the titular Alyx combatting through the dangers present in the city, both Band alien, as you engage in puzzle solving, shootouts and advance research on the vulnerabilities of the modified soldiers known as the Combine. Although this title may leave longtime fans who thirst for more Half-Life content unsatisfied, the impressive gameplay helps to highlight just how far VR gaming capabilities have come in recent years. 

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR Edition (Available PlayStation VR, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality, on TC Vive, Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift and Rift S) 

Having been one of Bethesda’s most enduringly popular RPGs, set in its long-running world of TES (The Elder Scrolls), Skyrim remains one of the most-played games over the last decade, including a few much-loved DLCs (downloadable content) and several rereleases with subsequent graphic updates. Even without the inclusion of VR technology, the world of Skyrim includes hundreds of quests, NPCs (non-player characters), factions, and political machinations. The sheer size and scope of the game mean that players have put years into playing without completing the main questline. Being able to experience the glory of Skyrim’s varied climates, real-time weather systems, and first-person melee, ranged, or magical combat through the power of VR provides the icing on the cake of one of the best games in recent history. 

Subnautica (Available on HTC Vive, Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift and Rift S, and Valve Index) 

Set in the far future where humans have developed the capacity for interstellar travel, the protagonist of Subnautica is aboard a passenger ship that crashes into the watery exo-planet only known as 4546B, leaving them as the only survivor. Complicating matters even further is the fact that an ancient alien planetary defense system called the Quarantine Enforcement Platform has eliminated the possibility of outside rescue. So, in addition to keeping yourself alive in a fascinating yet hostile undersea alien world, you must construct tools, buildings, vehicles and more while shutting down the Quarantine Enforcement Platform and uncovering the hidden history of 4546B. Whether you are keeping to the shallow reefs or exploring the outer reaches where the dreaded Ghost Leviathans lurk in darkness until striking, you can enjoy the world of Subnautica in VR like never before. 

Cities VR (replace Iron Man) (Available on Meta Quest 2) 

 If you’re a fan of the wildly popular Cities: Skylines, allowing you to build a city from the ground up, or you simply like the idea of building an entire city and realizing its full potential, Cities VR is a downright outstanding option for you. With Cities VR, you’re living inside a virtual reality environment where you can decide what buildings go up, where, and why. Although Cities: Skylines has more sophisticated features than Cities VR and allows you to have a bit more control over different aspects of the game, Cities VR benefits from VR controllers and the complete control of it all as if you’re there makes it feel extra special. If you want to try your hand at urban development, Cities VR is the place to be.  

NFL Pro Era (replace Supershot VR) (Available on Meta Quest 2 and PlayStation VR) 

In a world where Madden NFL dominates the console and PC sports genre each year, it’s perhaps no surprise that the NFL has made its way to virtual reality with NFL Pro Era. The game, which is the only officially licensed VR title from the NFL, is essentially Madden NFL but you play as one of the players. You can pick from any of the NFL teams, call plays, pass the ball, and tackle your opponents as if you’re in the game yourself. And although NFL Pro Era lacks some of the complexity of Madden, and on VR doesn’t look quite as good as its console counterpart, it’s tons of fun and exactly the kind of title that would make sports fans want to get in on virtual reality. 

Before purchasing any of these titles, you should check to ensure they are compatible with your existing VR headset or if another device is required. Please be always aware of your surroundings to avoid accidental injuries as well as damage to valuable electronic equipment.