Dive into anything

It’s no surprise that VR games are the ultimate experience when it comes to simulation games. No other platform offers such immersiveness, nor can “pull you in” the world as well as VR does because in VR, you aren’t playing a character in a world, you are the character and you are a part of that world.

Following that line of thought, it’s safe to say simulation games in VR can serve as a bridge between a childhood fantasy, a dream job, or simply a desire to experiment, and try out all that stuff without having to undergo all the effort/risk of doing it IRL. Someone said “VR simulation games are the closest we’ve come to experiencing life second hand”, and I’ll use that quote here because it illustrates my point perfectly.

This is why I decided to compile a list of my favorite 10 VR sim games and hopefully help others find something for themselves because VR really does offer something for everyone. I also tried to have as much variety in this list to include something for everyone’s taste and cover as many subgenres as possible.

Asseto Corsa - Fantastic driving sim. Pros: very accurate and realistic driving physics, high-quality graphics, and a wide selection of cars and tracks. Cons: a somewhat steep learning curve, limited single-player content, ai behavior and decision-making, and hardware requirements. Awesome game and one of the best in this genre. If you’re a fan of driving sims, this one is a must-try.

Horror Bar VR - Goofy and truly enjoyable cooking sim. Pros: very original setting, funny monster design, filled with humor, the well-realized potential of VR. Cons: no tutorial, occasional physics-related problems, lack of multiplayer. I’m personally a huge fan of cooking sims and have played many of them, so deciding on only one to include here was a nightmare. Nevertheless, Horror Bar VR made the list because it’s simply that much different and unique in comparison to other titles from this subgenre. Serving food made out of nightmare fuel to zombies in a goofy environment that makes it look funny instead of scary is just a phenomenal experience.

Euro Truck Simulator 2 - Great truck driving sim. Pros: relaxing and enjoyable gameplay, quality graphics and environments, vast open-world map, customization options for your truck. Cons: repetitive gameplay, limited interaction with the environment, limited VR features, no multiplayer. Even though driving trucks isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, for those who do enjoy this type of game, ETS2 is one of the best.

Microsoft Flight Simulator VR - The best flying sim on the market. Pros: incredible immersion, stunning visuals, realistic flight physics, vast open-world map, an impressive collection of aircraft, and multiplayer interaction. Cons: extremely demanding when it comes to hardware, very steep learning curve, limited VR controls, initial VR setup.

Bartender VR Simulator- Relaxing cocktail-making sim. Pros: good graphics, relaxing and immersive atmosphere, real cocktail recipes, fun to play and learn, several different locations. Cons: it can be quite challenging, has rigorous standards, the lack of multiplayer. The one thing I regret A LOT about high school is that I never tried working as a bartender. So many of my friends did, yet I always chose to pursue my interests in the digital world because I wanted to be a game dev. Seeing so many bartenders do cool stuff (even more since the YT shorts got popular) ignited that interest even more, so when I first saw Bartender VR, it was a must-play for me. As a plus, it helped me learn how to make some cool cocktails for parties, even though it can’t be compared to the IRL experience you’d get from a real job.

Blade and Sorcery - Fun physics-based combat game. Pros: realistic physics model and combat, freedom, and creativity, modding support, fully embraced VR potential, regular updates. Cons: limited content, lack of story-driven content, subpar graphics compared to some other similar titles, steep learning curve. It is an immensely fun and immersive sandbox combat sim, set in a medieval fantasy world. Could be considered one of the best games for lovers of medieval-style combat. The OG game is great, but Nomad is what you're looking for because it has just that much better combat that doesn't feel weightless.

Car Mechanic Simulator VR - Fun job sim for car enthusiasts. Pros: hands-on interaction, intuitive approach to car parts and tools, detailed car models, realistic mechanics. Cons: hardware requirements, limited gameplay depth, simplified in comparison to its non-VR counterpart, control, and navigation. I have several friends who are really into handy stuff (especially when it comes to cars), but the tools needed to do this IRL can cost up to a few thousand $. If you’re this type of person, and have a VR headset, this game could be a lifechanger and save you a ton of money.

Walkabout Mini Golf - Fantastic mini golf game. Pros: very pleasing to the eye, intuitive controls, positive and relaxing atmosphere, great physics-based gameplay, easy to learn, multiplayer, regular content updates. Cons: limited courses, potential lack of depth for some players who seek a more serious golfing game. This game is widely regarded as one of the best casual VR games, similar to how Into the Radius is widely regarded as one of the best atmospheric VR games. I’ve met only a handful of people who haven’t enjoyed it, which says a lot about how well-done this game is.

Onward - Great tactical first-person shooter. Pros: high level of realism, tactical depth, great multiplayer experience, regular updates. Cons: steep learning curve, limited player base, graphics aren't that good, some performance issues. It is a very realistic tactical FPS that emphasizes strategy, team cooperation and is a very authentic military simulation. It's not your typical run&gun type of game which can be either a curse or a blessing depending on your preferences. The playerbase used to be a lot bigger than it is today, but due to a lack of new updates, many people shifted to Contractors, Pavlov, and Ghosts of Tabor.

The Climb - Great rock climbing sim. Pros: an impressively immersive experience, stunning environments, intuitive controls, challenging gameplay, frequent updates, and content. Cons: limited gameplay variety, appealing to the small niche, replayability, lack of multiplayer. I’ve always been a fan of extreme sports and wanted to do something like this IRL, but due to the lack of time (and guts), never had the chance to really give it a proper shot. Doing it in VR scratched that itch while keeping me in a safe environment… if we count out the few times I’ve fallen down or broken something.

If you made it this far, congratulations! The last thing I’d like to note is that this list is subjective and mainly based on my own experience/taste. I haven’t done any kind of research when trying to determine which games to include on this list, but simply based it on my own experience, and the experience/comments of many people I’ve talked to here. Still, I hope I’ve managed to stay as objective and informative as possible when it comes to reviewing the games - and as helpful for the players looking to expand their libraries.

Thanks for reading and take care!