Best Free VR Games

Even if virtual reality is no longer gaming’s exciting new fad, the hardware is still in its infancy and has plenty of room to grow. Developers are constantly exploring and pushing the technology’s limitations, striving to craft experiences capable of delivering a sense of immersion beyond anything previously produced by the industry.

With the market offering a myriad of headsets at different price points, VR is now more accessible than ever. That said, it is still generally a costly investment that some people might struggle to justify. Beyond just the hardware, building a library of games can get pretty expensive as well, at least if freebies are entirely ignored. However, there are plenty of great free VR games.

Moon Rider

Beat Saber has seen massive success thanks to its fun and engaging rhythm-based gameplay that sees players slicing and dicing their way to the beat through their favorite songs. It also features a dedicated modding community that is dedicated to filling its libraries with as much as possible. Those who are looking for a free-to-play alternative to the musically-infused smash hit can check out Moon Rider.

As a web-based program, players won’t even need to download anything to get started. Instead, they’ll simply need to head to the website (moonrider.xyz) in their Oculus Quest web browser (or using another applicable headset browser). Once there, players will have immediate access to over 15,000 songs that they can play, with a very similar feeling to Beat Saber.

Moon Rider Reception

Moon Rider is available as a web-based program, meaning players with all types of headsets can hop into the release so long as they can access a web browser on their device. It’s considered one of the better Beat Saber-like releases out there and plays incredibly well for a browser-based title.

Pavlov Shack

Those who are looking for a VR-based first-person-shooter that feels fun to play and offers both cooperative and multiplayer elements will want to check out Pavlov Shack. This free-to-play title is still in “beta” on the Oculus Quest marketplace, and it’s not clear if it will stay that way due to its addictive gameplay. On Steam and the PSVR 2, Pavlov is a premium product.

With many guns to try, levels to explore, and multiplayer action, Pavlov Shack strikes the perfect balance between “realism” and “arcade action.” The gunplay feels very satisfying, and the graphics are solid. With good sound and level design, Pavlov is a fantastic experience that players can have without spending a dime.

Pavlov Shack Reception

Pavlov Shack is currently in beta and has not “officially released” yet but players can still download it for free for the Oculus Quest 2 on the marketplace. As of writing, it has very favorable reviews, with approximately 76% of players giving it a perfect score.

The Lab

Any relatively new technology needs to familiarize users with its functionality, which is essentially the purpose of Valve’s The Lab. Consisting of eight mini-games, The Lab drops players into a pocket universe where they can become accustomed to the wonders of virtual reality. None of the games are long or especially deep, but they are all polished and enjoyable in their own right.

The Lab might not have too much value for those who are already deep into the world of VR, but newcomers should consider starting with this free package.

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The Lab Reception

Although the game did not receive enough critical reviews to earn a Metacritic score, The Lab‘s reception was largely positive. The same can be said for its reviews on Steam.

Cactus Cowboy – Plants At War

Largely created by one developer, Cactus Cowboy – Plants At War has the distinction of being the first free VR game compatible with the PSVR 2. Unsurprisingly, the title was overshadowed by the hardware’s other launch releases like Horizon Call of the Mountain and virtual reality updates to Gran Turismo 7 and Resident Evil Village, but Plants At War is a decent addition to pretty much any VR library. The game has been out on PC for roughly a year too, so someone does not have to own a PS5 to try this release.

A first-person military shooter that trades harrowing realism for army cacti and massive bugs, Plants At War is a single-player experience with charming visuals, a sense of humor, and decent gameplay. While it might not revolutionize the gaming industry, this release is nevertheless impressive considering its small production team.

Cactus Cowboy – Plants At War Reception

Unsurprisingly, Plants At War has received no reviews, but it has a “Very Positive” average on Steam and nearly five stars on Oculus.com.

SCP: Labrat

Inspired by 2012’s SCP – Containment Breach, SCP: Labrat casts players as a test subject imprisoned in an underground research facility. Their goal is to escape, a journey that presents its share of thrills and frights.

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Labrat exited early access at the end of 2022, so the game is finally complete. For horror lovers looking for a short but enjoyable VR experience, this game is a solid pick. Fans of the 2012 title looking to relive it from a new perspective should also try this spiritual successor.

SCP: Labrat Reception

The horror game has no critical reviews. On Steam, Labrat has been well received. That said, its recent reviews have been more mixed.

Mission: ISS

Even if space travel for the masses is slowly becoming a reality, the world is nowhere near making this sort of experience a viable financial option for most people. Also, as incredible as a trip to space might be, it also comes with risks that might be too great for many folks to accept. While obviously not the same thing, virtual reality can provide a taste of what it could be like to head to the International Space Station, all from the safety of somebody’s home.

Mission: ISS strives to realistically portray the feeling of being in space, and it delivers as authentic of an experience as any available at the moment. NASA contributed to the Oculus project to ensure it reflects the real deal to an extent, and the resulting release is impressive. Now, it should be said that Mission: ISS is known to occasionally cause motion sickness, so prospective players should keep that in mind before they commit to taking a walk among the stars.

Mission: ISS Reception

While not featured on Metacritic, the space simulation has four stars on the Oculus store.

Republique VR

Camouflaj’s Republique is an episodic stealth game that debuted in 2013. Garnering a decent overall reception, this title understands its genre, without necessarily bringing too much new to the table. In 2022, Republique VR made its way to PC and PS VR, making it one of the few stealth games on the market.

Initially solid for $14.99, Republique VR and its non-VR version are nowadays free-to-play, and they are both solid experiences. Rather than control Hope, the protagonist, players essentially act as an overlooker who assists the main character by hacking doors and completing puzzles. The gameplay might not be to everyone’s tastes, but it is well executed. The storyline is also quite engaging, and the episodes do not overstay their welcome.

Republique VR Reception

The virtual reality iteration does not have an average score on Metacritic, but the standard PS4 release comes in at 72. On Steam, 72% of Republique VR‘s scores are positive.

Echo VR

One of the earliest and best VR games to gain mainstream attention, Echo VR is a treat for fans of zero-g, sci-fi competition. Originally known as Echo Arena, Echo VR has since expanded to include Echo Combat as well. However, only Echo Arena is free.

That being said, it is still well worth the download. Navigate a zero-g arena with a team to throw a frisbee into the enemy team’s goal. Seems simple, but the result is some of the most pulse-pounding, sweat-inducing gameplay you can have in a VR setting. This game’s movement system is unique and intuitive; easy to learn but difficult to master. Though like many great VR games, it is exclusive to Oculus systems.

Echo VR Reception

Being a game all about getting up and moving around, some players have found that they have gained better hand-eye coordination and some have even lost a bit of weight! The setting and graphics make one feel like they’re in some of their most beloved sci-fi settings, which very much adds to the fun factor.

Dagon: By H. P. Lovecraft

Dagon: by H. P. Lovecraft is one of the best free horror games on Steam. A loyal Lovecraftian experience, Dagon is short and, for a lack of a more appropriate word, sweet, one that will surely hit the mark for any fans of the author’s works.

While not available at launch, virtual reality support was eventually added to the game, taking an already intense experience and maximizing its fear factor. Now, it should be said that intractability is not Dagon‘s priority, as this title predominantly focuses on presenting Lovecraft’s ideas through a more visual medium.

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Dagon: By H. P. Lovecraft Release Date, Platform Availability, & Critical Reception

Dagon: By H. P. Lovecraft was released on September 24, 2021, with VR being introduced roughly two months later. The game can be played using a Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Windows Mixed Reality.

Developed by Bit Golem, Dagon has garnered near-universal praise, particularly for its dedication to authentically capturing the essence of a Lovecraftian story. Fans of the source material should definitely check this out, and even people who have never read anything by Lovecraft are likely to find something to appreciate in this title.

War Thunder

Launching in 2013 as an open beta, War Thunder is approaching its 10-year anniversary, and the free-to-play vehicular combat game is still very active on Steam. Offering three styles of battles that range from arcade goodness to war sims, War Thunder covers a wide spectrum of preferences, and it handles most of these areas quite well.

Virtual reality support was eventually added to the MMO, introducing a new dimension to an already robust package. Now, it should be said that War Thunder is still primarily designed to be played without VR, and the game’s standard version plays better; nevertheless, this option elevates the immersion to the next level. Through VR, War Thunder becomes a proper flight or tank sim, and a pretty fun one at that.

War Thunder Reception

The vanilla version has a Metascore of 81, although most reviews are close to a decade old and do not reflect the current state of the game. Even if it is treated more like a neat bonus than a required part of the experience, War Thunder‘s VR mode is considered decent.

Shattered Lights

Horror and VR are made for each other, and Shattered Lights showcases this wicked union beautifully. Team Morbid’s title uses non-euclidean geometry to create a fully immersive experience designed around the player’s physical movement. Consequently, the game requires a rather large play area, and anyone looking to try this title should first check they have the necessary space.

Conceptually, Shattered Lights is a relatively straightforward horror game. Players investigate an abandoned medical facility with just a flashlight. The visuals are quite great as well, and they certainly make for an intense playthrough.

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Shattered Lights Reception

While it has no reviews on Metacritic, Shattered Lights has an 89% average on Steam. The title has over 350 reviews on Valve’s platformer, which is a decent sample size for a free virtual reality game.

Gun Raiders

Gun Raiders does not deviate too far from the beaten path when it comes to first-person multiplayer shooters, but it does the basics nicely. On the surface, this might not sound like all that glowing of a recommendation, but that’s not the case as there are not all that many free-to-play FPS VR titles out there; consequently, Gun Raiders fills a void.

Beyond just availability, Gun Raiders controls well, has a few modes to inject some variety, a decent selection of weapons, and a colorful visual style. The game is also receiving frequent updates and patches as it steadily develops into a more complete and satisfying package.

Gun Raiders Reception

For the most part, Gun Raiders has been received well by players, developing a dedicated fanbase in the process. Such a game lives and dies by its community, and for the moment, Gun Raiders is managing to keep people engaged.

Star Wars: Droid Repair Bay

Released ahead of The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Droid Repair Bay is a short but charming package that trusts players with fixing a few astromech droids, including BB-8. As tends to be the case with tie-in VR projects, Droid Repair Bay does not offer much in the way of gameplay, at least in terms of length and substance. However, the game gets by on charm alone, and it does a splendid job of crafting a lively setting.

Non-fans will not get much out of this release, but Droid Repair Bay is designed specifically for people who just want to exist in the Star Wars universe.

Star Wars: Droid Repair Bay Reception

The game received no reviews upon release, but it has maintained a “Very Positive” average on Steam.

Rec Room

For the player looking for a more curated and casual social VR experience, look no further than Rec Room. Less chaotic than VR Chat, this game boasts a more gameplay-oriented community. As such it can be a much more relaxing VR experience.

While there is not as much that the player can do to express themselves in this game; what they gain in return is a more refined experience made up of higher quality games to play with others. The player is practically guaranteed to find new friends over the course of their time playing this game.

Rec Room Reception

While the gameplay-geared setting will be nice for players who don’t really want to just sit around and chat, there have been some user complaints about community toxicity. There have been many issues with false reports, heavy-handed moderators, and other problems. Despite this, Rec Room can still be great fun if gamers avoid these negative aspects by playing with individuals who understand how to show others courtesy online.

Cards & Tankards

Despite seeming like a good fit for the technology, VR tabletop games are in short supply. The floodgates probably won’t open until a massive property like Yu-Gi-Oh! or Magic the Gathering makes the leap and experiences success, but anyone looking for a free VR card game should check out Cards & Tankards. Offering a charming presentation and an accessible system that has just enough depth to keep veterans entertained for a while, this 2023 release succeeds in scratching an itch that has been primarily left unattended.

Cards & Tankards is intended to be a social experience that mimics the joys of playing a match at a local store. Although best in VR, the game can be played normally and even offers AI opponents for anyone who wants to practice.

Cards & Tankards Reception

As always, Cards & Tankards does not have a single score on Metacritic. However, the game has been received well on both Steam and the Oculus Store.

Surgeon Simulator VR: Meet The Medic

Surgeon Simulator is a charmingly grim game, and Meet the Medic takes things to the next level. While nothing more than a demo for the HTC Vive, Surgeon Simulator VR: Meet the Medic offers a lighthearted and fun way to spend a few minutes, particularly for fans of Team Fortress 2.

Most of the best free VR games are designed to showcase the technology’s potential, which is exactly what this demo accomplishes. It might not be something people will endlessly revisit, but Meet the Medic is good for a laugh.

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Surgeon Simulator VR: Meet The Medic Reception

Surgeon Simulator VR: Meet The Medic does not have a Metacritic score, but it has been well received by the Steam community. While the content is silly, the game’s controls are intuitive, making this small title worth a download.

Propagation VR

For the more horror-inclined, or for fans of Until Dawn: Rush of Blood, there is this survival shooter. Unceasingly creepy and dripping with a sinister atmosphere, Propagation VR will have the player standing their ground against an onslaught of terrifying enemies ranging from zombies to mutant monstrosities.

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Equipped with nothing but a pistol, a shotgun, and their own two fists, the player will have to utilize all the tools at their disposal to survive. Once it gets going, this game is non-stop action that will keep the player on their toes till the credits roll.

Propagation VR Reception

Some players compare this title to a Resident Evil project for its setting and enemy design, which is high praise when speaking of a horror game. Players can become especially terrified when enemies aren’t just on a screen, but all around them. VR is such a great fit for horror, and Propagation is one of the few free projects that demonstrate that fact.

DCS World Steam Edition

The best VR games find ways to put the most content into as little space as possible–one of the many reasons why VR games have the player standing in place. That being said, no other experience adheres to this idea better than a flight simulator.

This game will put the player in charge of an aircraft in its complete majesty. The controls are complex, but what the player can pull off with these controls is fantastic. One can drop bombs, fire missiles, and evade enemies, among other things. And if that wasn’t enough, there is mod support as well.

DCS World Steam Edition Reception

Despite being fairly old, getting VR capabilities really rocketed this flight simulator back into the view of mainstream consumers. This genre naturally lends itself very well to the potential of VR controls, and this was confirmed by many players claiming it is the most fun they’ve ever had in a VR game both due to the refined controls and excellent immersive qualities.

PS VR2 Demos

Launching on February 22, 2023, Sony’s PlayStation VR2 got off to a mixed start, both critically and commercially. While the technology is by no means bad, the hardware has struggled to promote itself as a must-own companion piece to the PS5, perhaps a consequence of its somewhat middling launch library. That said, games like Gran Turismo 7, Moss, Thumper, The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR, and Resident Evil Village are good-to-great virtual reality experiences that should keep PS VR2 owners busy for a while.

While the system only has one free-to-play game, Cactus Cowboy – Plants At War, Sony also provides a couple of demos and trials for people who are unsure whether a premium project is for them. The following PS VR2 games have free trials or demos:

• Cosmonious High
• C-Smash VRS
• Drums Rock
• Horizon: Call of the Mountain
• NFL PRO ERA
• Puzzling Places
• Ragnarock
• Resident Evil Village VR
• Song in the Smoke: Rekindled
• Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge
• Travel the Words

Even though most of these samples are, unsurprisingly, very short, they generally provide enough exposure to allow potential customers to decide if the full experience could be for them. For instance, Resident Evil Village is not only one of the best virtual reality games on the market but also one of the most intense, and it can be difficult to really grasp the survival horror’s fear factor without directing experience.

Horizon: Call of the Mountain‘s trial is also useful since it does a decent job of highlighting the project’s gameplay loop, which can be polarizing due to its fairly shallow nature.

Release Dates & Critical Receptions

As these are priced VR games, they have garnered the attention of critics, leading to them having Metacritic averages.

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