The 7 Best Open-World VR Games

VR is quite often lumped in the same category as ‘metaverses’ thanks to Mr. Zuckerberg. But before that was even a thing, VR fans were enjoying immersive open worlds they could run around in, go on quests and hang out with mates. These were simply big expansive videogames and we love them. So here are the best open-world VR games out there (in our opinion).

The Best Open-World VR Games

Open-world games tend to be about adventuring, with the likes of Fallout and Skyrim instantly coming to mind. But these types of titles can cover a wide gamut of possibilities, from horror and sci-fi universes to quaint locales that are relaxing to be in.

Below you’ll find titles (in no particular order) highlighting open-world VR games from across the board. Playable across a variety of VR headsets including PC VR, PSVR/PSVR 2 and Meta Quest 2.

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners

Let’s jump straight into a world you might not initially put in this genre. Skydance Interactive’s The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners might be a single-player adventure but it gives you the freedom to explore the ruins of New Orleans.

If you love a good zombie game then The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners should be on your list. While a sequel has already been released, it didn’t quite live up to the original. As ‘The Tourist’ you encounter a city filled with the undead as well as survivors fighting among themselves. Help people out or lone wolf it, it is up to you. But don’t forget a knife or maybe even a gun because you don’t want to end up being lunch.

Zenith: The Last City

Designed specifically for VR devices, Ramen VR’s Zenith: The Last City is very much your classic MMORPG. Join loads of other players in this magical fantasy realm, where you can hangout in the titular city or venture into the great beyond.

There you’ll find plenty to keep you busy. Choose whether to be an Essence Mage wielding powerful magic or go hand-to-hand as the Blade Master. Combat is physical as you encounter creatures from across the lands or you can compete in epic PvP battles against your friends.

No Man’s Sky

There’s no seemingly endless universe in VR that can quite compete with No Man’s Sky. It may not have been designed initially for VR – that feature was added later on – players have enjoyed the procedural worlds No Man’s Sky offers.

Regularly updated since its launch in 2016, No Man’s Sky gives you freedom to tailor your character however you wish. Become an explorer or become a pirate, choose whether to plunder planets or join forces with other players to discover the farthest reaches. Just be careful not to get lost along the way.

Into the Radius

Part science fiction and part horror, Into the Radius, is about survival in a brutal landscape scared by a calamitous event. Explore the Pechorsk zone which is filled with dangerous anomalies as well as valuable resources.

Fantastical it may be but Into the Radius is built upon realism and physics. Your backpack isn’t infinite so it has to be managed well. And so do your guns, they each have their own reload mechanics and ammo is scarce. With a day and night cycle, this means it can sometimes be more fruitful going out at night, where you can sneak about in the shadows. However, the Fragments, Mimics, and more are also roaming around 24/7.

Green Hell VR

Survival is no less tricky even if you’re stuck in a verdant jungle. Almost everything in Green Hell VR wants to kill you, whether that’s mercenaries, natives or wildlife. Just as they use the jungle to their advantage so can you, if you know how.

A port from the original Green Hell, this VR edition features completely reworked controls to physically immerse you in the experience. Craft weapons to keep you safe and hunt, tools to make tasks easier and heal yourself by wrapping plants around wounds. The Amazon is a very dangerous and interactive space, which makes Green Hell VR a demanding yet satisfying VR game.

Subnautica

Who needs solid ground when you can adventure beneath the waves? Released in 2018, Subnautica drops you into an alien underwater world that’s both beautiful and deadly in equal measure.

This is once again about survival, but here you also need to worry about oxygen alongside all the other perils the ocean has for you. Look for resources like food and water – yes, you can’t drink the ocean – as well as other items to craft diving gear, lights, habitat modules, and submersibles. Construct underwater habitats, design their layouts and components, and manage hull integrity as depth and pressure increase. There’s also a greater mystery to solve if you wish.

A Township Tale

Looking for a far less stressful but still social open-world game? Then A Township Tale is where you want to be. Starting with an abandoned town, you and a group of friends can bring it back to life, taking on roles like being a Blacksmith or a woodsman.

On the other hand, there’s a far wider world to explore so you’ll also need a few warriors to venture into the caves and forests. Bountiful resources can be found there but so can dangerous enemies. A Township Tale can be played solo but it works far better with a group of friends.

And there you have it. That wraps up our picks of the seven best VR open-world games! What are your thoughts? Which ones did we miss? Let us know in the comments below!

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