The 7 Goriest VR Games

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners

Posted on: 09 Dec 2023

Quite often, here at XR Source, we like to list the best roguelike games or the best roomscale games. But for many gamers out there, simply looking for ‘the best’ isn’t always the main requirement. VR titles can offer a bevvy of immersive gameplay opportunities, so you might be looking for great bow mechanics, or games that provide precision physics. Or, as we’re covering here, you might just be looking for the goriest VR games.

The Goriest VR Games

What are we looking for when it comes to this? Well, quite simply we want tons of blood, some dismemberment, maybe the ability to decapitate a head or two. This can be realistic, cartoony, ridiculously over-stylised, we don’t mind. So long as it is brutal, visceral and down to the bone.

The following list is in no particular order, with games for Meta Quest, PSVR 2 and PCVR headsets.

PSVR 2 Trophies GORN

GORN

You couldn’t have a list like this without Free Lives and 24 Bit Games’ GORN. The claret flows here as you enter gladiatorial combat with ragdoll physics.

“GORN is a ludicrously violent VR gladiator simulator. Featuring a unique, fully physics-driven combat engine, GORN combatants will be able to creatively execute their most violent gladiatorial fantasies in virtual reality.”

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners 2 PSVR2

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners (1 & 2)

You can’t have a list of gory games without a few zombie titles. The first is actually a pair, Skydance Interactive’s The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners. Taking place within The Walking Dead universe but with their own original storylines, shoot, stab, hack and slash your way through the zombie hordes.

“Travel through the ruins of walker infested New Orleans as you fight, sneak, scavenge, and survive each day unraveling a city wide mystery within the iconic quarters. Encounter desperate factions and lone survivors who could be friend or foe. Whether you help others or take what you want by force, every choice you make has consequences.”

Resident Evil 4 VR Mode Screenshot

Resident Evil 4

We almost selected Resident Evil 7 but Resi 4 pipped it due to its wider availability. There’s a dedicated Meta Quest version whilst PSVR 2 enjoys a new VR mode within the remaster. Take on the Los Illuminados with the first Resident Evil to mix action and horror.

“Step into the shoes of special agent Leon S. Kennedy on his mission to rescue the U.S. President’s daughter who was kidnapped by a mysterious cult. Come face to face with enemies, and uncover secrets with gameplay that revolutionized the survival horror genre. Battle horrific creatures and face-off against mind-controlled villagers while discovering their connection to the cult behind the abduction.”

Blade and Sorcery

Blade & Sorcery: Nomad

Looking for accurate physics, swordplay and engaging melee combat? Welcome to Blade & Sorcery: Nomad.

Blade & Sorcery: Nomad is a medieval fantasy sandbox like no other, focusing on melee, ranged and magic combat that fully utilizes a unique and realistic physics-driven interaction and combat system. Built exclusively for VR, objects have weight and follow the laws of physics, creatures have full body physics and presence, and blades can be used to penetrate soft materials or deflect magic.”

Best XR Games Halloween Lies Beneath

Lies Beneath

Horrifying, bizarre and nightmarish, Drifter’s 2020 survival horror game for Meta Quest shouldn’t be missed. Enjoy vivid comic-book visuals, puzzles and gruesome melee combat with hordes of monsters.

“Something’s gone horribly wrong in the sleepy town of Slumber, Alaska. Now, returning college student Mae must fight to save her father (and her sanity) from the terrifying townsfolk and creepy creatures infecting her hometown.”

Arizona Sunshine 2 screenshot5

Arizona Sunshine 2

More zombies! The newest VR game on this list is Vertigo Games’ Arizona Sunshine 2. One of the biggest releases of 2023, this long-awaited sequel provides a plentiful selection of gory opportunities.

“Narrated by the unmistakable quips of our dark-humoured protagonist, Arizona Sunshine 2 sets you on an all-new limb-strewn adventure in search of answers. In a post-apocalyptic world where every bullet counts, experience the thrill of realistic combat as you wield all-new and fan-favourite weapons–from shotguns to machetes and flamethrowers.”

The Walking Dead Onslaught

The Walking Dead Onslaught

Even more zombies! If you didn’t realise we kind of like them here. Nowhere near as well received as Saints & Sinners, Survios’ take on The Walking Dead was no less brutal. The only game where a knife was more dangerous than a shotgun.

“Step into AMC’s The Walking Dead and prepare for an onslaught of walkers as you assume the roles of your favourite characters from the show, and confront the horrors and humanity of this apocalyptic new world.”

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

Or take a look at:

Author: Peter Graham

Previously editor of XR news site VRFocus and founder and editor of Web3 publication GMW3, Peter has worked in the tech and video game industry for over 10 years. His expertise covers a critical understanding and reporting of the XR industry, video games reviews and commentary.