The Biggest VR Games of 2024: A Year in Review

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Introduction

2024 has been a wonderful year for virtual and mixed reality gaming, marked by big releases from both established studios and newcomers to the VR space. From atmospheric horror to mixed reality sports, developers have pushed the boundaries of what's possible in VR, particularly taking advantage of new hardware capabilities like those offered by the Meta Quest 3. Let's dive into the most notable VR releases that shaped gaming in 2024.

Major Studio Releases

Batman: Arkham Shadow

Developed exclusively for Meta Quest 3, Batman: Arkham Shadow finally delivered the full-fledged Batman VR experience fans have been craving. The game puts players directly into the cape and cowl, with a first-person perspective that brings Gotham's dark streets to life. Players can freely traverse the city using the iconic grappling hook and engage in physical combat that truly makes you feel like Batman.

The game features an impressive array of classic Batman gadgets, all reimagined for VR interaction. Detective mode investigations use intuitive VR controls, allowing players to physically examine crime scenes and piece together clues in a way that feels natural and engaging.

Critics and players alike have praised the game's innovative approach to superhero VR gaming, particularly highlighting its fluid movement system and the satisfying physicality of the combat. The attention to detail in detective sequences has earned special recognition, making this one of the standout VR titles of the year and winning the Game Award's 'VR Game of the Year'. 

Alien: Rogue Incursion

Survios' take on the Alien franchise launched on Steam and PSVR2, bringing the terror of xenomorphs closer than ever before. Set on LV-354 (Purdan), players step into the role of Zula Hendricks, an ex-Colonial Marine investigating a research facility gone dark. The game authentically recreates the Alien universe's retro-futuristic aesthetic, complete with motion-tracked gunplay and detailed interaction with iconic weapons.

Players explore the facility alongside Davis, their synthetic companion, uncovering the story through environmental details and intense encounters. The attention to detail in the environment design and sound work creates an impressively immersive atmosphere that fans of the franchise will appreciate.

While the game has received high marks for its atmospheric design and visual fidelity, some players found the combat-heavy approach controversial. Critics noted that while it excelled at capturing the franchise's look and feel, the frequency of xenomorph encounters sometimes came at the expense of building tension and horror.

Skydance's Behemoth

This physics-based action game brought a fresh take to VR combat with its focus on battling massive creatures. In Skydance's Behemoth, Players traverse the Forsaken Lands, facing off against titanic beasts in intense, strategic battles that emphasize the sense of scale VR can provide. The combat system relies heavily on physics interactions, making each encounter feel unique and requiring tactical thinking.

The game features detailed interaction with weapons and tools, allowing players to approach each battle with different strategies. The vast, explorable environments serve as epic battlegrounds, with environmental features that can be used to your advantage during fights.

Behemoth earned strong reviews for its innovative approach to VR combat and the sheer scale of its encounters. The physical interaction system and the sense of scale in boss fights were particularly praised, though some found the sections between major battles less engaging.

The Thrill of the Fight 2

The sequel to one of VR's most popular boxing games launched in early access, focusing initially on multiplayer features. The Thrill of the Fight 2 builds upon the original's praised physics system while adding new social elements that make it more than just a solo workout experience. The online multiplayer includes skill-based matchmaking, ensuring competitive matches for players of all skill levels.

The game features significantly improved physics and hit detection, along with detailed character customization options that let players create their unique boxing persona. A innovative spectator mode allows friends to watch matches on a connected PC, adding a social dimension to the competition.

While some players have noted the current lack of single-player content, the core boxing mechanics have received universal praise for their realism and intensity. The early access release has shown promise, particularly in its multiplayer implementation and improved visuals, with regular updates planned to expand the content offering.

Arizona Sunshine Remake

The beloved VR zombie shooter returned in 2024 with a complete overhaul, bringing the zombie apocalypse to modern VR hardware. Arizona Sunshine Remake maintains the original's dark humor and engaging gameplay while significantly upgrading the visuals with high-resolution textures and realistic environmental details.

The package includes all previously released DLC content, including the Dead Man DLC and The Damned DLC, giving players access to the complete Arizona Sunshine experience in one enhanced package. The combat system has been modernized with updated weapon handling and an impressive gore system borrowed from Arizona Sunshine 2, making each zombie encounter more visceral than ever.

Perhaps most importantly, the game retains its popular multiplayer features, offering both a co-op campaign mode and a multiplayer Horde mode that supports up to four players. Reviews have been largely positive, with critics praising the visual improvements and the preservation of the original's charm. The co-op modes in particular have been highlighted as standout features that offer excellent replayability.

Just Dance VR: Welcome to Dancity

Ubisoft brought its popular dance franchise into virtual reality with Just Dance VR, offering a fresh take on the rhythm game genre. The game creates an immersive 360-degree dance environment where players can express themselves through customizable avatars and interact with fellow dancers in the Dancity social hub.

The game launched with 25 iconic songs from the Just Dance franchise, each reimagined for the VR space. The new control scheme, utilizing a controller in each hand, adds depth and precision to dance moves that wasn't possible in traditional Just Dance games. This innovation in control has been particularly praised by reviewers.

Critics have recognized Just Dance VR as a strong first attempt at bringing the franchise into virtual reality, with special praise given to its precise controls and visual presentation. While some view the Dancity social hub as Ubisoft's take on the "Metaverse" concept, it has been generally well-received as an interesting addition to the formula. The game sets a promising foundation for future expansions and improvements in the series.

Resolution Games' Mixed Reality Revolution

Spatial Ops

Resolution Games made a significant splash in the mixed reality space with Spatial Ops, bringing a fresh take on the FPS genre that cleverly integrates players' physical environments into the gameplay experience. The game transforms your real space into a battlefield, with AI opponents that use your actual furniture as cover and environmental hazards that interact with your physical surroundings.

The game offers varied multiplayer modes including Free for All, Team Deathmatch, and Capture the Flag, along with an engaging single-player campaign inspired by 1980s action movies. The custom level editor allows players to personalize their battlefields, taking full advantage of their available space.

Spatial Ops has emerged as one of the standout VR titles of 2024, earning Game of the Year recognition at the VRDB Community Choice Awards. Players have particularly praised its innovative use of mixed reality technology and the natural feel of its combat mechanics, with many noting how it delivers on the promise of bringing laser tag into the future.

Home Sports

Resolution Games' follow-up to Spatial Ops brings mixed reality into the world of sports gaming, exclusively for Meta Quest 3 and 3S platforms. Home Sports offers multiple sport disciplines in a single package, each taking advantage of your physical space in unique ways that blur the line between virtual and real-world athletics.

The game has been specifically designed to leverage the Quest 3's enhanced capabilities, providing precise tracking and realistic physics that make each sport feel authentic. Social features allow players to compete with friends and family, creating a virtual sports center in their own home.

Early reception has shown promise, with players appreciating the variety of activities and the innovative use of mixed reality technology. While still early in its release cycle, Home Sports represents an exciting direction for VR sports games.

Creature's Unique Experiences

Starship Home

Creature's whimsical mixed reality adventure transforms players' living spaces into an interstellar vessel, offering a unique blend of space exploration and plant cultivation. Starship Home begins when players receive a misdelivered package that allows them to convert their home into a customizable starship, leading to an adventure across eight distinct planets.

The core gameplay revolves around a mission to save plants affected by an interstellar blight. Players explore various planets, collect affected plants, and nurture them back to health in their ship's garden. The game features creative psychedelic mini-games within plant dreams, adding variety to the core cultivation mechanics.

While some players encountered technical issues and found certain gameplay loops repetitive, Starship Home has received generally positive reviews for its creative use of mixed reality technology and family-friendly approach. The game's charm and innovative concept have earned it a dedicated following, including a Game of the Year award at the VRDB Community Choice Awards.

Maestro

Creature's venture into the rhythm game genre takes players into the heart of Paris's classical music scene, offering a unique conducting experience in VR. Maestro focuses on hand tracked conducting mechanics that make players feel like they're leading a real orchestra through classical masterpieces.

Set against various backdrops that can be unlocked as one plays, players use natural conducting movements to control the tempo and dynamics of the music. The game is available across multiple platforms including Quest 2, Quest 3, and SteamVR, making it accessible to a wide range of VR users.

Conclusion

2024 has proven to be a transformative year for VR gaming, with each major studio bringing their unique vision to the medium. The rise of mixed reality experiences, particularly on newer hardware like the Meta Quest 3, suggests we're entering a new phase of VR gaming where the boundaries between virtual and physical spaces are becoming increasingly blurred.

Resolution Games has focused on social and competitive mixed reality experiences, while Creature has explored more experimental and artistic applications of the technology. Meanwhile, traditional VR experiences continue to evolve, with games like Batman: Arkham Shadow and Behemoth demonstrating that there's still plenty of room for innovation in pure virtual reality experiences.

The diversity of genres and approaches we've seen this year - from horror to superhero action, from rhythm games to boxing - demonstrates the versatility and maturity of VR as a gaming platform. While not every release has been perfect, each has contributed something unique to the growing library of VR content, setting the stage for even more innovative experiences in the years to come.