The 7 Best Looking VR Games

Due to the technical complexities of virtual reality, games don’t always look as amazing as their PC or console cousins. That’s not to say they can’t, it’s just that rendering for two eyes whilst maintaining a 90Hz refresh rate is hard on any system, so compromises have to be made. Even so, VR developers have made great strides in visual quality, and there are some truly stunning titles out there. So here is XR Source’s selection of the best-looking VR games out there.

The Best-Looking VR Games

Do beautiful graphics matter? Hugely expensive AAA video games seem to think so, but we all know differently. Some glorious 4K eye candy is all well and good, but you need decent gameplay as well. Otherwise, it is almost impossible to enjoy a remarkable vista as you wrestle with controls or experience game-breaking bugs. Thankfully, the below selection balances all, thus allowing you to enjoy the spectacle in front of your eyes.

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

Lone Echo/Lone Echo II

Let’s begin with one of XR Source’s favourite VR franchises, Lone Echo. From Ready at Dawn and Oculus Studios, the first game was a huge hit, combining sumptuous visuals with zero-g locomotion, puzzles and deep narrative. The sequel was grander and more polished than its predecessor but wasn’t quite as well received. Even so, they combine to make a fantastic duo for VR players to get into.

Alas, both titles were Rift/Rift S exclusives, so to play them now, you’ll need a Quest 2 and a PC. Slightly hampering access somewhat. In both games, you play “Jack” an android who needs to help and protect its friend and Captain, Olivia “Liv” Rhodes. Lone Echo/Lone Echo II may have a gripping tale and fun mechanics, but remember to stop and enjoy the majesty of outer space.

Half-Life: Alyx

One of the best VR games of all time, Valve’s Half-Life: Alyx regularly dons list such as these. Years in the making and set between the first two Half-Life games, Half-Life: Alyx became the tentpole of VR games in 2020.

Battling the Combine through City17 as you try to save your father and humanity, the game is littered with detail. Whether it’s a sprawling view over the city, or the dark, dank tunnels underneath, Half-Life: Alyx is a rich playground to enjoy. You can tell this was a labour of love and you’ll always find something new on subsequent playthroughs. Try and take it all in as you enjoy the ride.

Hubris

From the indie team Cyborn, Hubris is another sci-fi title that leans heavily on its visuals. Originally a PC VR title before coming to Quest and PSVR 2, Hubris showcases how even smaller teams can create extravagantly detailed VR games.

Right from the start Hubris lays on the graphical showcase with glee. You soon find yourself on a sun-drenched planet with crystal blue waters. Encouraging you to take a dip and swim through the azure seas, it almost feels like you’re in a tropical paradise on Earth. This isn’t a tranquil game, however, and soon you’ll be shooting dangerous organisms in between all the beautiful surroundings.

Red Matter 2

It just so happens that we have another sci-fi game on the list. This time the far dark and more surreal Red Matter 2. Lauded for its VR visuals on every platform, there’s more to the game than that. A sequel to 2019’s Red Matter thrilling puzzle adventure, this sequel continues your journey through space, on the hunt for a substance known only as ‘Red Matter’.

Heavily puzzle-led, you have a jet pack and hacking tool to navigate various abandoned facilities around the solar system. And it’s those outside moments that truly shine. Few of us will get to experience the sheer size and majesty of space first-hand, which is where games like Red Matter 2 can swoop in and show you a planet or two.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Enough with space, how about a far more terrestrial experience? Asobo Studios’ Microsoft Flight Simulator is at the cutting edge of gaming visuals, realistic vehicles can fly through accurately reproduced locations with stunning clarity.

This is thanks to Microsoft Flight Simulator using real-world map data, photogrammetry, and satellite imagery to provide this detail. Then there are all the planes, helicopters and airports for you to pilot and land at – or crash depending on your skill. Get a beefy PC to enjoy this in all its splendour.

Horizon Call of the Mountain

Exclusive to PSVR 2, Horizon Call of the Mountain was a launch day title for the headset. A “system seller”, it was developed by Guerrilla Games and Firesprite to make the most of PSVR 2’s new features.

Featuring its own unique storyline to its flatscreen cousins, Horizon Call of the Mountain is the epitome of a lush-looking VR game. Forest foliage is vibrant and magnificent to behold, whilst the mechanical beasts that wander the world are impressively imposing. It can be quite the spectacle to behold, especially after climbing up a sheer cliff face for a better view.

Star Wars: Squadrons

Sorry, not sorry, but we’re back to sci-fi again. Albeit this time squarely sat in a cockpit. And not just one cockpit but many from the Star Wars universe. Put yourself in an iconic X-Wing or a TIE Fighter and just look at all the buttons and lights. None of them are functional, but they look darn pretty.

And so does everything else outside your spaceship! Star Destroyers look epic as you take on their defences and the skies are littered with enemies swarming around like flies. Enjoy the graphic in the single-player campaign because you won’t get a chance in multiplayer.

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

Or take a look at: