Video games enabled gamers to fulfill their fantasies through various genres of games like first-person shooter (FPS), role-playing (RPG), simulations, racing, and so on. With the advancement of visual technology, virtual reality systems entered the realm of video gaming. VR gaming allows you to deeply involve yourself in the game through visual techniques. If you are a gaming buff and want to elevate your gaming experience to the VR world, you have come to the right place. Continue reading to discover some outstanding free VR games, VR gaming tips, and VR gaming systems.
Virtual Reality (VR) Is the New Normal for Gaming
A Statista report suggests that the VR gaming industry should be earning $4.8 billion in revenue by the end of 2021. And, the figure will become more than $12 billion by 2024. The same report also predicts that consumer spending on VR and AR suggests that customers, both industrial and home-based, will spend up to $72 billion by 2024. The virtual reality software market will be worth $6.4 billion by the end of 2022, reported by another Statista report on VR apps. Facebook has reported that it sold 2 million units of Oculus Quest 2 devices in the first quarter of 2021. And its rival, Sony, sold 5 million PlayStation VR units in the same time frame. The market revenue, customer spending, and units sold report suggest that VR games are becoming popular. The Gaming industry experts expect that VR gaming and VR gaming accessories will be the new trend in the coming 2 to 3 years. The exponential growth of VR equipment and games is only possible due to affordable VR technology that consumers can easily buy.
What Are Free VR Games?
VR games are video games that let you place yourself within the game. In conventional games, you look at a monitor to see the responses made by the gaming characters when you press keys on a computer keyboard or game controller. But, in VR games, you experience everything happening within the game around you. VR systems like VR goggles, VR controllers, VR suits, VR weapons, VR steering wheels, etc., make video gaming an immersive process. When game developers release such games for free, we call them free VR games. Since VR technology is in its early stages of development, most of the VR gear providers offer free VR games so that they can create a demand among conventional gamers. You can find many free VR games on Meta Quest and Steam. Now, find below some free VR games that you will love to play:
Gorilla Tag VR
Gorilla Tag VR requires only hand movements for all sorts of actions within the game. You can climb trees, run within the forest, and jump to outpace opponents using handheld VR controllers. It does not need any teleportation, sticks, or buttons. You can push off of a plain surface to perform the jumps and squeeze the handheld VR controllers to climb trees. If you are playing with up to two players, you can play the game in Simple Tag mode. When the number of players goes beyond 4, you automatically enter the Infection Mode. You can either run from the infected gorillas to become a survivor or chased down the survivors and make them infected. This free VR game supports various VR systems like Windows Mixed Reality, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index, etc. You can just play it using tracked motion controllers. Play Gorilla Tag VR Here: Steam | Meta Quest
Pavlov Shack Free VR Games
If you are looking for an intuitive and immersive first-person shooting game for your VR headset, you may try out the Pavlov Shack beta for free. It comes with a realistic single-user gunplay mode. Other popular game modes of Pavlov Shack are player-vs-player and cooperative multiplayer. The game supports many VR systems like Quest and Quest 2 from Meta. You need to play it using touch controllers in standing mode. Since this is a social or multiplayer game, you need to have a working internet connection for gameplay. Also, you must have free internal storage space of 4.4 GB to install the game on your computer. Play Pavlov Shack Here: Meta Quest
Mission: ISS
Mission: ISS is yet another popular free VR game produced by Magnopus in collaboration with NASA. It is a simulation-based game on the International Space Station or ISS. You can feel in real how it feels if you are an astronaut onboard the ISS spaceship. Additionally, you can explore every corner of the ISS spacecraft using your VR devices like Rift and Rift S. It only requires a VR touch controller for every movement in space and inside the ISS. Since it is a graphics-heavy game, you need a gaming computer with a minimum hardware configuration of Intel i5-4590, NVIDIA GTX 1060, and 8.00 GB RAM. Play Mission: ISS Here: Meta Quest
Spider-Man: Far From Home
If you liked the Spider-Man movie, you would love Spider-Man: Far From Home VR game. This free VR game will allow you to swing through the city of New Your just like the boy-next-door, Spider-Man. As the player, you can choose from the four Spider-Man suits before getting launched in the could. However, you need to be careful about the mysterious army as you scale and swing from the towers in Manhattan. This thrilling adventure game supports Touch Controllers and you do not even need an internet connection to play it. Play Spider-Man Here: Far From Home: Meta Quest
Propagation VR
Propagation VR combines wave shooting and survival horror to pump up your adrenaline during the gameplay. Essentially, you play the game to survive zombies in an apocalyptic environment. You get to fight off multi-species creatures, mutants, and zombies using your fists and a gun. It supports a vast range of VR gaming systems like the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Windows Mixed Reality, and Valve Index. Like many other free VR games, it allows you to use only a tracked motion controller. The game is most suitable for play areas like seated, standing, and room-scale. Play Propagation VR Here: Steam
Echo VR Free VR Games
Echo VR is a virtual reality game by Meta. It is available on Meta Quest and compatible with Meta Quest, Meta Quest 2, and Meta Rift S. In this free VR game, the in-game characters are futuristic robots ready for battle deployment. These robots come with an exceptional array of weapons. This VR game comes with a moderate level of virtualization suitable for VR gamers with intermediate experience. It is an obligatory multiplayer game with 4 vs 4 competition in a zero-gravity environment. Play Echo VR Here: Meta Quest
Epic Roller Coasters
Want to have the same thrilling feeling of riding a roller coaster but do not want to go out for that? Epic Roller Coasters is a game that lets you have the same feeling in places that you have never thought of: in a world of dinosaurs or a haunted house. Besides the classic mode where you take a classic roller coaster ride with your friends, there are two other modes. The race mode lets you control your cart and the shooter mode offers a combination of two universes. Play Epic Roller Coasters Here: Steam | Meta Quest
Free VR Games Tips for New VR Gamers
You might feel a bit nauseous after wearing a VR headset and start playing. If it feels disturbing, close your eyes immediately and take off the VR goggles.Nauseousness can be there for a while. So take some rest! Do not jump into VR gaming immediately.VR gaming experience can make you sick because there are too many actions happening closer to your eyes that the brain can not process immediately. So, start with easy VR games like racing, treasure hunting, etc.Opt for high-quality VR gaming kits from branded manufacturers. Because the frame rate and visuals of VR can make you sick if they are of a substandard category.New VR gamers should spend some time habituating with the VR accessories by walking around the room, drawing shapes in the air, sitting, standing, balancing, etc. Start with paid or free VR games that let you play the game while sitting on a couch, gaming chair, or bed.When you need to stand up, take help from a friend or family member.Use the VR Blink option to move around places within the game rather than the VR Continuous option. Try to do VR gaming in a spacious room with very little furniture. If there are objects made of glass, sharp steel, etc., place those somewhere else.
Popular VR Googles and Systems for VR Gamers
#1. Valve Index Full VR Kit
If you are looking for a comprehensive and robust VR kit, Valve Index Full VR Kit is the right choice. Thanks to its revolutionary performance and finger-tracking controllers, people who want to play VR games on their PC prefer it. While you might find the VR headset to be a little costly, it is not when you consider the performance and experience it delivers. The controllers are the most impressive component of this VR kit. The revolutionary controllers can rack individual finger movements thus making the gaming experience much more immersive than the regular controllers with standard trigger grips. The headset of this kit offers crisp and smooth graphics that comes with a high refresh rate. Since you can integrate it with the Valve Steam store via SteamVR, an incredibly large VR games library becomes accessible to you.
#2. Oculus Rift + Touch Virtual Reality System
With Oculus Rift + Touch Virtual Reality System, you get a never-before experience. Besides gaming, this device is also ideal for watching an immersive film or hanging out with friends in VR. Once you get this set, free access to 6 titles comes along, including Robo Recall, Luckyʼs Tale, Quill, and Toybox. Its ultra-low-latency tracking ensures unparalleled immersion for the best experience. Using the Oculus Touch controllers, you can naturally interact with the virtual world. To use this VR system, you need Windows 10, 8 GB+ RAM, and NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti or AMD Radeon RX 470 or greater Graphics Card.
#3. HTC Vive Virtual Reality System
Those who want to have an unparalleled and true-to-life VR experience should go for HTC Vive Virtual Reality System. With its headset and wireless controllers, one can explore the apps and games with experiences where the line between imagination and reality has been blurred. With this system, you get access to more than 2500 apps and games on VIVE. It offers you the option to play how you want to — be it seated or standing. You can also take look at the real world using its front-facing camera. If you want to experience something fully immersive, do not be late to enjoy its features such as realistic movement, precise actions, 360-degree controller, directional audio, headset tracking, HD haptic feedback, and realistic graphics.
#5. Oculus Rift S PC-Powered VR Gaming Headset
Oculus Rift S PC-Powered VR Gaming Headset is one of the highest-rated VR sets that ensure smooth gaming. With it, you get access to the Oculus store — a top library in VR gaming— to play hundreds of exclusive games. Since it needs you to use Facebook ID to log in, you can get in touch with your friends easily in VR and discover global communities. The next-generation lenses of the headset ensure a sharper display while the improved optics reduce the “screen-door” effect to deliver bright and vivid colors to the users. The redesigned Halo headband stays in place securely and takes your fastest reflections with ease. Its updated Oculus touch controllers make sure your slashes and throws appear in VR with realistic precision. The insight tracking feature of this headset translates your movements into VR regardless of your facing direction and provides room-scale tracking minus external sensors.
Final Words
So far, you have gone through some of the most popular free VR games that you can play on your VR equipment. Apart from this, the article also suggests some VR gaming tips that you must follow if you are a newbie. And finally, if you need to get VR systems for gaming or want to upgrade existing ones, find above the best VR gear you can get. You may also be interested in augmented reality (AR) vs virtual reality (VR).
