The Best Oculus Quest 2 Games to start 2022
Maybe you got an Oculus Quest 2 (or rather Meta Quest 2) for Christmas. Maybe you’ve had one in a while and want to dust it off and get into some new experiences in Virtual Reality. Either way we’ve got you covered with a list of the best VR games to buy here at the start of 2022.
Onward
Do you like Counter Strike: Global Offensive? Maybe you like Squad or Arma 3 any other variety of milsim shooters that are out there right now. Well if you like shooters and you like your gameplay to be slow and low then look no further. Onward has a very low time to kill as well as slow player movement. All of this encourages a slow pace and well thought out tactics. There are a variety of different weapons and a couple of game modes for 5v5 matches. It is primarily a multiplayer game, though there is a singleplayer component.
Contractors
Where Onward is the slow paced shooter, Contractors is for those who like their modern military shooter to be a little more fast paced. Think of Contractors as Call Of Duty VR. A recent update added combat sliding the game to even further reinforce fast and frenetic gameplay. There is a longer time to kill than Onward and each player moves much faster, encouraging using movement and quick sprays of bullets to overcome opponents. Match sizes vary from 5v5 to 8v8 or even five player modes versus AI like the Survival game mode.
Blade and Sorcery: Nomad
Blade and Sorcery has finally come to the Quest 2. What is there to say that has not already been said? If you want to bash opponents with medieval weapons then this is the game for you. Especially if you want to do so in slow motion, while jumping over their heads. Oh, and that’s not to mention the magic at your fingertips. Currently Blade and Sorcery: Nomad is a little lacking in content. A limited “Dungeons” mode does offer some semblance of progression oriented gameplay, mostly it’s just a sandbox, for now.
Gorn
Say you like bashing enemies with medieval weapons, but you also like a bit of comedy on the side? Well say no more because Gorn has you covered. Each opponent has comically large arms and chests to accompany smaller legs and heads. In Gorn you can bash or slice your way through a variety of levels using different weapons, each culminating in a different boss fight. All to eventually defeat the warlord who keeps you there and be free of the Arena. Though even then there is an endless fight mode to enjoy and see how many enemies you can kill before falling yourself.
Eternal Starlight
This one won’t be for everyone except for those few who really like both strategy games and VR. As we’ve covered here Eternal Starlight is really the only RTS option on the Oculus Quest 2/Meta Quest 2 at the moment. Its roguelike aspects are an odd design choice and the gameplay doesn’t do anything different or better than other RTS games. The look into a few of the things VR could add, such as a spectacular view of the battle, could be interesting to those who are already fond of the genre.
Medal Of Honor: Above and Beyond
Do you like World War 2? Do you like shooters? Well here you go. World War 2 shooters were a big craze back in the day, and we still see a decent number of them coming out for the PC. However there are slim pickings for WW2 shooters on the Quest 2. The best for sure is Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond. Now you can take part in many of the most exciting scenes of World War 2 in VR, and use many of the weapons as well. Drive a tank, bomb a factory, and so much more. There’s even the assault of Omaha Beach, a classic set-piece for WW2 shooters. Not to mention the multiplayer, which supports up to 8 people in a lobby, and is pretty fun.
Beat Saber
Beat Saber is a game you either love or feel nothing for. It is Guitar Hero for the Oculus Quest 2/Meta Quest 2. Try the demo just to see if you like it. As far as VR games go Beat Saber is the most enduring popular. It would be insane not to include it in any list of the best Virtual Reality games on any platform. It’s all about chopping blocks to the rhythm of music, but there’s something about it that keeps people coming back over and over again.
Thrill of the Fight
Like boxing? Or maybe just the idea of boxing without all of the head trauma? Look no further. As far as boxing simulators go Thrill of the Fight has no equal. Except for maybe Thrill of the Fight 2… whenever that comes out. In Thrill of the Fight go toe to toe with a number of opponents each utilizing different strategies, strengths, and weaknesses to try and knock you out first. Master the art of throwing the perfect hook to another person’s jawline. Or, if the idea of VR fitness intrigues you, fight round after round until you’re too tired to continue. Thrill of the Fight is VR’s most intense workout. Since it’s on the Quest, there are no wires to get in your way either.
Pistol Whip
So maybe you might like a rhythm game, but don’t like Beat Saber. Well Pistol Whip could be what you’re looking for. It is a game also set to a beat, but instead of slicing advancing blocks, you shoot your way through waves of enemies. Pistol Whip has received several major updates and content additions since its release, which has included new weapons like the revolver and shotgun. Not to mention new maps and even a couple of story driven campaigns. Turn up the difficulty high enough and it can be a workout too as you try to dodge incoming bullets and fire back simultaneously.
The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners
No list of the best VR games can be completed with The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners. As far as VR games go this is the one that most takes advantage of the fact that it is in VR. Fight or sneak by humans and zombies alike as you try to find “The Reserve” a National Guard bunker somewhere in the flooded ruins of New Orleans. Scavenge for resources to craft what you will need to survive. Witness and take part in the conflict between the Tower and the Reclaimed. If you like zombies this is a must have game, and even if you don’t there are few if any other titles on the Meta Quest/Oculus Quest 2 that feel as immersive.
Blaston
Blaston is a very unique idea for a VR game. Two players, each standing a short distance away from each other, blast away with various slow moving weapons in order to deplete their opponents health pool before their own. It sounds like a simple premise, but there is a surprising amount of strategy and depth to it. With very quick match times to other players it is a game that’s easy to jump into for a few quick matches, or binge for hours until your battery dies or your legs give out. Contorting and jumping to avoid enemy fire is fun and very active.
Resident Evil 4 VR
We’ve saved the best for last, best port of a PC game at least. Resident Evil 4 VR is everything you would want for a PC game port to VR. Solid controls, little to no bugs, same gameplay feel and experience. All expanded by being in Virtual Reality. It’s easier to line up shots on los Ganados when using your actual hands to aim. All of the spooky creatures and settings are much more enjoyable when they capture your entire vision. Resident Evil 4 is a classic that invented a whole new genre. Resident Evil 4 VR is an expert reimagining of it in Virtual Reality. There is a ton of content here for a VR game, and wow does it keep you coming back.
That’s all for us. While other games were in consideration for this list, only the very best in their class or the most unique made it to the final cut. Though maybe there’s something we haven’t heard about. Do you know of a game that should be on this list? Leave a comment.