Resident Evil 4 remake - Ganado Villager

The 7 Best VR Video Game Ports

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We all love original games designed specifically for virtual reality. Because they’re made for VR developers have paid specific attention to what makes an immersive experience good. From locomotion and interaction to accessibility and spatial audio, there are fundamentals that VR games need. However, that’s not to say that a flatscreen game can’t work in VR. In fact, there’s a thriving community dedicated to porting these titles over. For today though, what we’re focusing on are the official and best VR ports currently available.

The Best VR Video Game Ports

While you might be excited about the latest flatscreen to VR mods – such as the recently released UEVR – we’ll save those for another day. Nope, here we’re highlighting the flatscreen games we think have been made even better thanks to VR. Where partnerships between the original creators and VR studios have seen their respective talents build something very special.

Resident Evil 4 VR Mode Screenshot

Resident Evil 4 VR Mode

Capcom’s Resident Evil 4 is almost 20 years old, yet the game continues to entertain fans old and new alike thanks to remakes. The Resident Evil 4 Remake was released to critical acclaim in 2023, refreshing the gameplay and making it look gorgeous. For the PlayStation 5 version, a VR Mode arrived in September for PSVR 2 owners, built specifically for the VR headset.

This added a wealth of features including motion controls. Thus allowing players to dual wield and manually reload weapons. It made the gameplay more dynamic being able to wield a knife and gun at the same time. And that’s not to mention the increased horror factor thanks to the improved visuals.

Green Hell VR - image1

Green Hell VR

Green Hell was an Amazon-based survival game from Creepy Jar, released in 2019. The studio then teamed up with VR specialist Incuvo – the team behind Layers of Fear VR – to create a VR version. And so they did, with Green Hell VR arriving only a couple of years after the flatscreen original.

It’s a game that drops you in the dangerous Amazonian rainforest, challenging you to find your missing colleague. Survival is all about collecting vital resources and building useful tools. All in a bid to maintain your hunger, thirst, fatigue and mental health. Green Hell VR does a stunning job of capturing the tough environment, with changing weather and day/night cycles bringing their own problems. Plus, at some point in 2024 the co-op should arrive so you can team up with a mate.

Blair Witch

Blair Witch VR Edition

Another horror game – VR is great for horror – coming from Incuvo and Bloober Team is Blair Witch VR. Based on the cult indie movie, Bloober released Blair Witch in 2019 with its VR cousin arriving in 2021. As you’d imagine, Blair Witch VR is a terrifying psychological horror that easily beats the likes of Resident Evil for shocks.

With a pet pooch to keep you company, you join a group searching for a lost girl in the woods. But even your four-legged friend can’t allay that feeling of isolation and fear as your flashlight tries to illuminate the dark woods at night. With plenty of puzzles to solve and exploration to do, this is not one for the faint of heart.

Best Open World VR Games - No Man's Sky

No Man’s Sky

Lightening the mood somewhat is the excellent No Man’s Sky by Hello Games. The studio required no exterior help here, porting the game to VR headsets a couple of years after launch. As most of you probably already know, No Man’s Sky’s original launch wasn’t well-received. But by the time the VR update came along Hello Games was already down the recovery road.

What is there to say about No Man’s Sky that hasn’t already been said? It’s an infinite, procedurally generated universe for you to navigate and enjoy however you wish. Plus the VR support actually works well, rather than some hammered in extra.

PowerWash Simulator keyart

PowerWash Simulator VR

Now we know what you’re thinking, power washing, in VR, why would you want to? Well, because it’s extremely satisfying without the need to get dirty or get out of your chair. That’s right PowerWash Simulator VR is all about cleaning and nothing else. If you enjoy watching cleaning videos on TikTok then this is the game for you.

The flatscreen version was a huge hit for Futurlab in 2022 before the team brought the game to VR late in 2023. Blast grease and grime away with your jet wash, or team up with friends in the co-op mode. It may even spur you into cleaning your own car!

Assassins Creed Nexus Out Now screenshot1

Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR

The Assassin’s Creed games are a huge IP for Ubisoft and the fact the franchise has come to VR is astonishing. Okay, so we will admit this addition to the list is a slight variant as it’s not a direct port of a preexisting game. Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR was built for VR but it leverages all the bits that made the flatscreen games great.

It’s got an original story involving three assassins from different eras that have appeared in previous instalments. But you can still parkour your way across rooftops and leap onto enemies and kill them with your hidden blade. When it comes to AAA gaming in VR, Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR is hard to beat.

Borderlands 2 VR keyart

Borderlands 2 VR

Gearbox Software’s iconic looter shooter Borderlands 2 made its way into VR in 2019. Much like No Man’s Sky, Fallout 4 VR and Skyrim VR, this was an era when studios were using preexisting IPs to determine interest in the technology. Borderlands 2 VR was one of the better ones, bringing all the mayhem and guns a VR gamer could ever want.

It might be a few years old now but Borderlands 2 VR can still hold its own for now.

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

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