Best PSVR Games of 2018
Tetris Effect
Named our best VR game of 2018, Tetris Effect is an incredible experience. Unlike many of the other games on this list, it can also be played on a standard TV display, but it’s clearly intended to be played in VR.
Once you’ve slipped on the PSVR headset, you’re transported to a new world. Whether it be the surface of the moon, sweeping desert hills, or the skies above a sea of hot air balloons, particles wash over you as you play.
Yes, it’s just Tetris to some people, but the combination of the varied music, which features some potential pop hits as well as the usual calming beats, and the beautiful visuals, makes for something that’s more immersive than almost anything else on the VR system.
With all that variety in the music and visuals, as well as the modes on offer, there’s a huge amount of replay value in Tetris Effect that’ll see you jump in again an again.
That might only be for one or two five minutes levels, or for the a full playthrough of the incredible journey mode, but every part is special.
Best PSVR Games of 2018
Moss
Released at the beginning of 2018, Moss has been forgotten by many as one of the games that first proved that tried and tested genres could work just as well in VR as the likes of immersive horror titles.
You’re essentially two characters in Moss. First of all you control the movements of a little mouse named Quill, but you’re also an Overseer type character that Quill can interact with. Even though the cute little guy is under your control, there are two characters that are part of the adventure.
The actual gameplay is pretty standard platforming stuff, with you moving Quill along a level, jumping over obstacles, hitting enemies, and going off the beaten path to find collectibles. You use your Overseer status to move items and help Quill, but it should all be familiar for the most part.
What’s most impressive though, on top of the solid platforming, is how immersive and detailed the fantastical world is. The little world feels real and the way Quill wriggles over ledges or looks at you inquisitively is so endearing. Moss would be a great platformer without VR, but it’s made even more charming with it.
Best PSVR Games of 2018
Firewall Zero Hour
The PSVR has a few games that would call themselves a first-person shooter but few of them are structured in a way that’s similar to the likes of Call of Duty.
With the PS Aim Controller, Firewall Zero Hour feels wonderful. The small enclosed levels force you to take advantage of the head tracking to look round corners and plan your attacks. The actual shooting itself is also extremely satisfying.
The structure of the modes are essentially the same as Rainbow Six Siege, with two teams facing off against each other, with one defending and one attacking.
There are some issues when it comes the progression being a little slow and the servers often being a little empty, but you can jump into the single-player missions if you want to enjoy casual action. No matter how you play, though, Firewall captures the adrenaline rush of online shooters unlike anything else on PSVR.
Best PSVR Games of 2018
Wipeout Omega Collection
The Wipout Omega Collection may have released before the beginning of 2018, but it only received its PSVR update in March of this year.
It was good as it is, bringing the classic Wipeout games to PS4 with dramatically improved visuals. It’s also great for racing fans that are looking for something that’s a bit different from the super cars that we usually see.
In VR, however, it’s arguably even better. It has a sense of speed that the likes of Driveclub VR and Gran Turismo Sport are unable to match, and the scale that virtual reality grants makes it easier to take in the majesty of the remastered tracks and it gives you better control over your racing.
The ability to use depth perception and head movement to attack corners quickly will probably make you better at the game. The VR update is free, too, so it’s a no-brainer if you have both the base game and a PSVR headset.
Best PSVR Games of 2018
Transference
From Spectrevision, Elijah Wood’s production company, Transference is an experiment in virtual reality storytelling. The story it tells is far from perfect, but it’s a great example of where the medium could go when it comes to unique ways of immersing you in a tale.
Your task is to explore a house to work out what happened to the family that lived there. The twist, though, is that you’re doing so from memories that have been stored on a computer.
This allows for all manner of trippy visuals, unusual sounds, and multiple viewpoints. It makes the world you’re tasked with exploring fascinating, but the story it tells is too often confusing. When it’s in its stride, Transference can be terrifying, making you intensely nervous with the sound design and visual flair, but the writing can’t keep up.
If you’re looking for a horror title that’s short, often very unsettling, and a great example of what’s possible in VR, Transference would be a great choice, just don’t expect a story to get invested in.
Best PSVR Games of 2018
Beat Saber
Beat Saber has only just made its way to PSVR, after launching on PC VR systems earlier in 2018, and while it lacks the mod community and custom tracks that the later version does, it’s still great on Sony’s headset.
Wielding the two lightsabers, swiping at the colored blocks as the music pumps, makes you feel incredibly powerful. The little feedback in the Move controllers and the cutting of the blocks is so satisfying.
With the disappearing direction prompts, double speed tracks, and increasing difficulty levels, it can be very tough, asking you to jump around as you swing your arms furiously.
It can be a bit of a workout in the higher difficulties too, with the blocks coming towards you very quickly. Beat Saber is a lot of fun, but you might need a shower afterward.
Best PSVR Games of 2018
The Persistence
Horror games tend to work really well in virtual reality. There’s something about being present in a world that’s designed to be unsettling that elevates games above how they’d be if they were played on standard screen.
The likes of Resident Evil VII, Until Dawn Rush of Blood, and Transference are all great examples of how a setting is important in VR, and The Persistence is no different.
Your task is to save a spaceship and avoid the crew that’s been turned into murderous creatures. It’s full of horror tropes and expected jump scares, but you creep around the hallways, getting to know the setting and learning more about the story.
It’s also one of the most substantial experiences available on PSVR. Unlike other horror titles, it’s not a two or three-hour tale, offering something that actually lets you explore and learn how its world works. There’s definite Dead Space in VR vibes with The Persistence.
Best PSVR Games of 2018
Astro Bot Rescue Mission
Astro Bot and his friends’ first appearance was in The Playroom at the launch of the PlayStation 4. The free title showed off the power of the PS4 camera and the use of the Dualshock 4 touchpad.
When Playroom released, I don’t think many people would have expected PlayStation VR to launch so soon, let alone one of its best games to be a platformer starring the little robots.
Much like Moss, Astro Bot Rescue Mission proves that well-known genres can work well in VR, and it uses head movement in gameplay throughout so that it’s more than just moving your little friend around the world.
It’s all so charming, though. Astro waves at you as he runs by your face, the levels are varied and beautiful, and the boss fights are incredible. The bosses tower above you, changing the level as they move, and you need to use everything you can see to defeat them. Never have bosses truly felt like gigantic, powerful creatures as much as they do here.
Best PSVR Games of 2018
Deracine
Mysteriously announced during the post-show of Sony’s E3 press conference, Deracine is a VR title developed by From Software. It’s a complete departure from the dark and action heavy Souls series, and it has been quite polarising in terms of reviews.
The slow pace and occasionally confusing story structure may be off-putting to some players, but if you’re just looking for a short, relaxed puzzle adventure game, you could do far worse than Deracine.
You play as a fairy who’s trying to prove its existence to the children that live in an old boarding school. The children give you tasks to complete and you run around completing environmental puzzles.
The world you explore is arguably more beautiful than anything else on PSVR and it takes full advantage of the PS Move controllers.
If you connect with the story, you could love your five hours with Deracine. You can sit back, relax, take in the world, and for you trophy hunters, you can get a platinum in just one playthrough.
Best PSVR Games of 2018
Sprint Vector
Much like Beat Saber, Sprint Vector requires quite a lot of movement on your part. By moving your arms in a running motion, your character hurtles along the track and over walls, collecting power ups along the way.
Considering how fast you’re going, drifting around corners and launching yourself towards the finish line, it’s incredible that Sprint Vector manages to avoid motion sickness issues. Rather than riding a fast car, you’re the speeding object, and you’d expect that to be too much for some people.
The rush of playing Sprint Vector is phenomenal. You’re able to react quickly to changes in the levels, and there’s nothing like the attempt to pip an opponent to the finish line by doing anything you can give yourself a boost. Once again, though, the headset might need a wipe down once you’ve finished.
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