Top 5 VR Shooting Games

Shooting games are among the genres that take full advantage of VR’s motion controls. They can make you feel like an action hero in ways that would be impossible outside of VR.

Sniper Elite VR is a fun World War 2 shooter that makes you a Nazi sniper. The game feels fast-paced, and the satisfaction of a perfect shot is unmatched.

Doom 3: VR Edition

Doom 3: VR Edition is a pretty fun shooter, especially in virtual reality. It features the campaign and both expansions, ‘Resurrection of Evil’ and ‘The Lost Mission’ and is a great way to get your feet wet in VR.

While modern Doom games are arena-based superheroic-action, Doom 3 takes a survival horror approach and slows down the pacing. This makes it a much better fit for VR where vr shooting game frenetic action can be overwhelming and exhausting. The slower pace allows you to explore the corridors and the focus on setting up jump scares is perfectly suited to the medium.

The visuals aren’t quite as crisp as they once were, 17 years in the game shows in some areas, especially with dated character and monster models, muddy textures and a lower resolution on PSVR headsets. But it isn’t too distracting and a lot of the modern VR touches like having your health and armour displayed on your wrist device help to heighten the experience. Despite a few annoyances, Doom 3: VR Edition is a fun and scary shooter.

Pistol Whip

If you’re looking for a great rhythm shooter that isn’t Beat Saber, Pistol Whip is the game to get. With an extensive soundtrack, it is perfect for all genres. The gameplay is very easy to pick up and play, and the variety in the songs will keep you interested.

The sense of ’embodiment’ that Pistol Whip creates (thanks to enemies constantly encroaching on your personal space and the need to coordinate dodges with the beat of the music) also helps the game feel more realistic than others that have tried to achieve this in VR before. This is especially true when it comes to the game’s haptics that rumble every time you fire your pistol.

Pistol Whip has been retooled for PSVR 2 since its launch, and it makes excellent use of the headset’s capabilities. It takes advantage of the haptics, eye tracking and 3D audio technology that is baked into the headset to create an immersive experience that feels like it was designed specifically for PSVR 2. The game even has an option to disable the artificial movement that the game uses to move you forward through scenes, which could make it more comfortable for players sensitive to simulator sickness.

Firewall Zero Hour

Firewall Zero Hour is one of the most exhilarating and immersive multiplayer shooters that PSVR has to offer. With rock solid gameplay, intuitive tactical action and excellent map design this is a game that you will want to keep coming back to.

This is a team-based tactical FPS in the vein of Rainbow Six Siege or Counter Strike. Players are split into teams of four and play as either defenders or attackers on a small maps. If the defenders can hold off the attackers long enough or wipe them out they will win.

VR does not limit or compromise this game in any way. All the traditional locomotion and turning remains in place along with the ability to crouch, sprint, knife and lob grenades. Weapon textures are excellent and the gunplay feels just as good in VR as it does on a flat screen.

Unfortunately there aren’t many game modes, a slow progression system and dwindling player numbers mean that the wait for a match can be uncomfortably long. If these issues are addressed Firewall Zero Hour will be one of the best vr shooting games available.

Into The Radius

If you’re looking for a post-cataclysmic Russia to explore with only your pistol and a couple of flares, look no further than Into the Radius. This survival shooter, first released in 2020 on PC VR, comes to the Quest 2 this month with some added features.

The game is often compared to S.T.A.L.K.E.R, and there’s no denying that it borrows heavily from the franchise. However, this is a game that’s about more than just racking up kills and blowing everything up, it’s a vr shooting game more methodical experience that forces you to think ahead and plan your next move.

While Into the Radius doesn’t offer a lot of variation in enemy types and environments, the gunplay is excellent and the ability to choose from a selection of pistols (AK-47, PPSh, M9 Beretta, SKS Carbine) with different ammo types does add some depth to the game. The only downside is the physics system which can sometimes cause weapons to ricochet off of walls and other surfaces, but it’s a minor complaint for the overall quality of the game.

Warhammer 40,000: Battle Sister

The war-torn universe of Warhammer 40,000 is brought into jaw-dropping visceral VR for the first time in Battle Sister. Play as a Sister of Battle in search for her twin sister and fight back against the hideous forces of Chaos that threaten humanity. The action shooter arms you with authentic, powerful weaponry and abilities as you explore vast planetary installations and huge derelict space vessels. It features spectacular Acts of Faith, a deep and compelling story, slow-down and force push abilities as well as 15 devastating weapons and wargear items.

The game’s combat is enjoyable, even for people not invested in the franchise. Its hybrid of FPShooter and melee mechanics allow you to dual-wield with a gun on each shoulder and a sword in your right hand. Using the Quest 2’s haptics, the stubby roar of the Bolter and the heavy clank of the chainsword feel satisfying as you blast and cut through hordes of enemies. A couple of issues mar the experience though. Bullet hole textures look like placeholders and some environments are dull. Despite this, the gameplay keeps the motion sickness at bay and the gunplay feels smooth.