Whether you’re new to VR or have been enjoying immersive gaming for years, there’s nothing better than playing with friends. There are plenty of traditional multiplayer games for VR but what about a truly cooperative experience? To answer that, here are XR Source’s selection of best VR co-op games.
The Best VR Co-op Games
Aren’t multiplayer and co-op games essentially the same thing, you may ask? Broadly yes, but co-op titles tend to go that step further whilst focusing on smaller groups. Whether that’s local or online, working together in pairs or small teams can be exciting, rapport-building and a great introduction to VR.
Below you’ll find titles highlighting VR co-op, playable across a variety of VR headsets including Meta Quest 2.
Spaceteam VR
A cooperative party game like no other! Spaceteam VR enables six players to work together, keeping their spaceship in one piece by manning their individual workstations. The only problem is, problems come in thick and fast with the ship’s computer talking in “technobabble”.
That can mean figuring out what the hell it is saying as well as finding the correct console the issue is on. Cue lots of discussions, shouting and more as everyone tries to work as a team and keep things running. It can get quite physical with ray guns, hammers, extinguishers and more to operate.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
In Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes the aim is to disarm a bomb. The only issue, only the VR player can but they don’t have a clue how to!
In VR, you’re presented with a ticking time bomb, with lots of small, individual puzzles dotted around the outside. The only clues to success lie in a Bomb Disposal Manual that only non-VR participants can see. Thus, plenty of communication is required to cut the correct wires or input the right codes.
Want to make this easier? Cast Quest 2 to a TV or use the monitor on PC VR headsets.
Cook-Out
Mayhem is all part of a good VR co-op experience and that’s perfectly personified in Cook-Out. Resolution Games is a multiplayer master and Cook-Out challenges up to four players to make delicious sandwiches as fast as possible.
Travelling a fantasy realm feeding kings and werewolves alike, speed and accuracy are key. You each have your own station, with each one providing different ingredients. Everyone needs to collaborate, chopping ingredients, preparing the food and cleaning up as more and more customers arrive.
Acron: Attack of the Squirrels
Another one from Resolution Games but with a very different twist. Only one person is in VR, and they’re a giant tree trying to protect its golden acorns from naughty squirrels. Everyone else plays a squirrel on their phone or tablet, working together to secure the acorns. Note: the accompanying iOS and Android app is free.
As the tree, you can pick up the squirrels and fling them away. Or throw projectiles at them to slow them down. As a squirrel, there are four to choose from, each with their own abilities like Zip who’s really fast, whilst Chunk carries a shield to protect teammates.
Phasmophobia
Supporting both flatscreen and VR gamers, Phasmophobia is a ghosthunting game for those unafraid of a few scares. You and your team investigate haunted locations to discover clues about the paranormal activity happening within.
Tooled up with a variety of gadgets including EMF Readers, Spirit Boxes, Thermometers, and Night Vision Cameras, there are over 20 different ghost types to track down. Phasmophobia has been in early access for three years now, continually growing in popularity as more features are added.
Vermillion
Undoubtedly the most tranquil entry on this list, Vermillion is a painting app where you can sit down and create a masterpiece. Originally a solo experience, developer Thomas van den Berge expanded support to allow friends to join you on a painting project.
Designed to give an accurate representation of painting in VR, Vermillion features wet-on-wet colour mixing and a multitude of simulated brushes. With the versatility of digital painting so you can undo any mistakes. Great for a mess-free afternoon of painting at home.
Carly and the Reaperman
Time for a co-op puzzler. Carly and the Reaperman is an asymmetric platformer where the VR player controls the Reaperman. A friend can then join in as Carly for free on PC or Mac.
Carly has to navigate a surreal, challenging environment filled with puzzles. The Reaperman comes to Carly’s aid by manipulating the environment, moving objects to create platforms or removing obstacles. You can also control both characters by yourself when no one else is available.
And there you have it. That wraps up our picks of the seven best VR co-op games! What are your thoughts? Any that we missed? Let us know in the comments below!
Or take a look at:
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- The 7 Best VR Fitness Games
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- The 7 Best VR Board Games
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- The 7 Best VR Shooters