By Drew Swanson

Published 2 hours ago

Drew Swanson is a Features Article Editor from the Pacific Northwest of the United States. He is a lifelong gamer with a passion for a variety of genres. A connoisseur of everything from JRPGs and Soulslikes, to niche indie titles and horror games, he finds joy in favorites such as Persona 5 Royal, Pokemon, Elden Ring, and more. Aside from his professional writing, Drew is also an avid artist and creates fan art for his favorite games on his Twitter and Instagram accounts.

VR gaming is becoming more accessible each year, and developers continue to refine virtual reality experiences to appeal to both casual and hardcore gamers alike. With platforms like the Meta Quest 3 and PlayStation VR 2 playing host to some fantastic titles in 2025, the medium is only going to grow in the coming years, especially with Valve's recently announced Steam Frame on the horizon. Some of these VR titles may not have made waves like other non-VR games in 2025, yet they are still worthy of recognition by the gaming community as a whole.

Although it's getting easier for developers to release VR titles, not every new VR game is going to stand out from the crowd. That's part of what makes the titles on this list so impressive; they have managed to carve a name for themselves not only within a niche medium, but transcend that medium to achieve mainstream acclaim. The following VR titles (presented in alphabetical order) showcase just how great a year 2025 was for virtual reality fans.

Arken Age

Check Out Arken Age on OpenCritic

While 2025 saw the release of several high-profile first-person fantasy games like Avowed and Oblivion Remastered, fans of the genre may have slept on Arken Age. A VR take on the first-person fantasy genre, Arken Age is an action-adventure game set in the Bio-Chasm, a world corrupted by the Grand Arborist and overrun with plant life. Players can utilize both guns and swords infused with Arkenite to battle botanical foes while utilizing the game's unique physics system to freely access the game's open world.

Arken Age

Virtual Reality

Adventure

Fantasy

Shooter

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Critics Rec:83%

Released

January 16, 2025

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Intense Violence

Developer(s)

VitruviusVR

Publisher(s)

VitruviusVR

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Escaping Wonderland

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Escaping Wonderland is a whimsical puzzle-adventure game that leads players through the world of Alice in Wonderland as new protagonist Molly. As a follow-up to developer Cortopia Studios' 2020 VR title, Down the Rabbit Hole, Escaping Wonderland offers players new puzzles, diorama-like environments, and a colorful cast of characters to interact with. Players looking for a light-hearted VR experience in 2025 should check out Escaping Wonderland for themselves.

Escaping Wonderland

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Ghost Town

Check Out Ghost Town on OpenCritic

The horror genre is a staple of the VR experience, and Ghost Town joins the list of must-play horror titles for VR fans. Ghost Town follows the story of paranormal detective Edith, who travels to a remote Scottish island in search of her missing brother. The tense atmosphere and clever puzzles that players will need to overcome as Edith make this game a worthy successor to developer Fireproof Games' beloved series The Room.

Gorn 2

Check Out Game Rant's Review of Gorn 2

Much like its predecessor, Gorn 2 delivers a similar violent yet comical VR gladiator experience. The combat physics of Gorn 2 allow players to perform brutal decapitations and sever the limbs of their opponents using a massive arsenal of weapons. Gorn 2 essentially takes Free Lives' original Gorn experience and builds upon it to create a far more expanded experience, with even more traps, power-ups, and enemies to conquer.

5/10

Gorn 2

Fighting

Systems

Developer(s)

Cortopia, Free Lives

Publisher(s)

Devolver Digital

5 Images

Where to play

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Hitman: World of Assassination (PSVR2)

Check Out Hitman: World of Assassination on OpenCritic

While Hitman: World of Assassination was originally released in 2021 and an expanded VR experience on Meta Quest 3 (as Hitman 3 VR: Reloaded) was released in 2024, 2025 saw the game get an enhanced release on the PSVR2. With each re-release, Hitman: World of Assassination has only improved, and its PSVR2 version might be the best iteration of the game yet. The PSVR2 release includes a much more immersive gameplay loop that requires players to interact with the world in a more tactile way, like manually reloading weapons and physically swiping key cards. A cleaned-up control scheme solidifies this release as the definitive way to play Hitman: World of Assassination in VR.

Hitman World of Assassination

Stealth

Action

Adventure

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Avg:85/100Critics Rec:91%

Released

January 20, 2023

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Use Of Drugs And Alcohol, Blood, Strong Language, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Drug Reference

Developer(s)

IO Interactive

Publisher(s)

IO Interactive

7 Images

Where to play

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Lumines Arise

Check Out Lumines Arise on OpenCritic

After Tetris Effect proved in 2018 that a simple puzzle game could be transformed into a mesmerizing VR experience, co-developer Monstars followed up on this formula in 2025 with the release of Lumines Arise. Like Tetris Effect, Lumines Arise combines the classic puzzle gameplay of Lumines with psychedelic sounds and visuals that envelop the player to create a hypnotic, zen-like experience. The placement of puzzle pieces synchronized to the beat of its soundtrack makes it incredibly easy to get lost in Lumines Arise's sensory feast.

Lumines Arise

Puzzle

Rhythm

Casual

Arcade

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Avg:86/100Critics Rec:96%

Released

November 11, 2025

ESRB

Everyone / Mild Fantasy Violence

Developer(s)

Enhance, Monstars Inc

Publisher(s)

Enhance

10 Images

Where to play

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Marvel’s Deadpool VR

Check Out Marvel's Deadpool VR on OpenCritic

Superhero games are some of the best uses of VR technology, allowing players to put themselves in the shoes of their favorite hero, or anti-hero, in this case. Marvel's Deadpool VR is everything a fan of the Merc with a Mouth would expect from a game that has players suit up as Deadpool himself. Players will face a veritable Rogues' Gallery of Marvel villains as Deadpool battles his way through the multiverse in a quest to capture them for Mojo's reality show. The combat is intense, the humor perfectly captures Deadpool's signature style, and the voice acting by Neil Patrick Harris as Wade Wilson and John Leguizamo as Mojo is just the icing on the cake.

Marvel's Deadpool VR

First-Person Shooter

Action

Virtual Reality

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Avg:79/100Critics Rec:77%

Released

November 18, 2025

ESRB

Mature 17+ / Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Mature Humor

Developer(s)

Twisted Pixel Games, Marvel Games

Publisher(s)

Marvel Games, Oculus Studios

4 Images

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The Midnight Walk

Check Out The Midnight Walk on OpenCritic

2025 was a standout year for horror VR titles, and The Midnight Walk brings a layer of charm to a disturbing world. The stop-motion style animation of The Midnight Walk has a Tim Burton-esque feel that will both unsettle and endear players to Potboy, the companion they will need to guide through the threats that lurk in this dreary world. While The Midnight Walk can be played in non-VR mode, entering that world through virtual reality drastically enhances the short but sweet experience.

The Midnight Walk

Adventure

Horror

Fantasy

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Avg:80/100Critics Rec:84%

Released

May 8, 2025

ESRB

Teen // Violence

Developer(s)

MoonHood

Publisher(s)

Fast Travel Games

5 Images

Where to play

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Path of Fury - Episode 1: Tetsuo’s Tower

Check Out Path of Fury - Episode 1: Tetsuo's Tower on OpenCritic

Testuo's Tower is the first episode from the Kung Fu VR beat'em up Path of Fury. This action-packed 80s revenge title from the creator of Trek to Yomi sees players battling through oncoming enemies with only their fists in a neo-noir cinematic atmosphere. Not only is Tetsuo's Tower a game that requires strategy in dealing precise strikes to enemies, but the stamina it requires of the player is sure to give them a good workout.

Path of Fury - Episode I: Tetsuo's Tower

Action

Fighting

Released

March 13, 2025

ESRB

T for Teen - Violence, Blood, Language

Developer(s)

Leonard Menchiari

Publisher(s)

Abonico Game Works

Engine

Unreal

Meta Quest Release Date

March 13, 2025

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Surviving Mars: Pioneer

Surviving Mars: Pioneer is a VR spin-off of the colony sim Surviving Mars that strands players on the red planet with limited tools to survive. As a survival crafting game, Surviving Mars: Pioneer requires players to construct their Martian outpost with only the resources available to them. Survival in this title means creating a material production loop that players can invest hours into building by mining the surrounding landscapes, completing contracts, and upgrading their tech.

Surviving Mars

Simulation

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews

Top Critic Avg:77/100Critics Rec:64%

Released

March 15, 2018

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language

Developer(s)

Haemimont Games, Abstraction Games

Publisher(s)

Paradox Interactive

Where to play