The 5 Most Realistic VR Games

There is no better way to escape the hardships of everyday life than to jump into an alternate reality with the help of a VR headset. Virtual reality gaming has come on leaps and bounds in the past few years and the immersion that can be experienced in modern games is breathtaking.

Here we look at the most realistic VR games, choosing the titles that we think are the most enjoyable and had the most lifelike graphics. This list is subjective, and the games may not be for everyone. If not, let us know what your favorite virtual reality game is in the comment section below.

5. Boneworks

Boneworks is a VR puzzle, first-person shooter, and action-adventure game that provides some of the most realistic physics interactions of any VR title. Initially released in December 2019, Boneworks was praised for its realism, aesthetics, and immersion.

Playing as Arthur Ford, players navigate the city of MythOS, which was developed by the company Monogon. The framework used to build the city is known as Boneworks, which is powered by AI and an unstable type of energy known as “void energy”.

This experimental physics adventure allows you to utilize objects and weapons in the environment in realistic ways, making it one of the most immersive VR games available right now. If gameplay is your main pull for an optimal virtual reality gaming experience, Boneworks is the right choice for you.

Not only is it one of the best Steam VR games, it is also one of the best VR games for Oculus. One of the main criticisms of the game, in fact, is that it is too realistic. Many gamers found that, strangely, the level of realism broke some of the immersion. That being said, this is a must try for fans of realistic VR experiences.

4. LA Noire: The VR Case Files

LA Noire has been made available for a number of different platforms over the years, and it is now available for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift VR headsets.

The game, which features several cases from the original game, puts you in the shoes of Detective Cole Phelps as he attempts to solve difficult homicide cases.

One of the key features of LA Noire is the facial motion capture mechanics utilized to make the game more realistic than its contemporaries. This transposes excellently to VR headsets and creates a high level of immersion.

Playing LA Noire in first person may seem strange to the people who played the original game, but it is something that you soon get used to makes it one of the most immersive VR games available. Being able to inspect things from the first-person perspective makes solving the crimes more enjoyable, rewarding, and realistic.

Interrogating suspects is also taken to a new level in virtual reality. You can look carefully for tells in your suspect’s body language and see how they react to your questioning. Another great feature is the increased field of view when driving around the city.

If there is one drawback to the game, its that it’s too short. There are only 7 playable cases in the VR version of the game, as opposed around 20 in the original.

You can buy LA Noire: The VR Case Files on Steam.

3. Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond

Adding Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond to this list feels a bit like cheating, as it hasn’t yet been released (it is due out at some point in 2020, though). Yet, the long-awaited return of this franchise deserves a place in this list if the gameplay footage is anything to go by.

From what we know so far, Medal of Honor VR looks set to be one of the most realistic VR games released to date, especially in the domain of war games. There is a lot of hype and expectation around this game, and it is easy to see why.

The game, which was developed by Respawn Entertainment, is set in Europe during the Second World War. The developers of Medal Honor VR have evidently made it a priority to make the game one of the most immersive VR games so far. In preparation for building the environments for the game, war veterans were flown to historic military locations and asked about what they witnessed and experienced there.

Like many upcoming VR games, this story-driven shooter is expecting some delays in release due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the Respawn developers are still optimistic of a 2020 release date. Read more about Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond.

2. Project CARS 2 VR

If you’ve found yourself wondering what the most realistic virtual reality game available right now is, you can’t go wrong with Project CARS 2. The racing genre lends itself perfectly to VR gaming, and this game showcases exactly why.

This much anticipated sequel to the 2015 Project CARS title is an upgrade to its predecessor and contains impressive and realistic visuals. The customization options in the game and there is a lot to get stuck into for newcomers.

The motorsport racing simulator has over 140 different track layouts, boasting almost 200 cars and 60 venues to select from. Perhaps one of the most impressive aspects of the game is ever-changing dynamics of the race – each lap will change over the course of time, with the weather and track temperature affecting the race.

Despite being released back in 2017, Project CARS 2 stands the test of time very well and there aren’t many others that can hold a candle to it, particularly in the domain of VR racing simulators. If you’re looking for the most realist VR games on offer right now, you can’t go wrong with this game.  

1.     Lone Echo

For those who haven’t heard of, or played, Lone Echo yet, you must. Lone Echo is not only one of the most immersive VR gaming experiences that you can have, but it is also a fantastic story with stunning graphics and an impressive gameplay design.

Set in 2126, you play as an AI housed in a mining facility outside the rings of Saturn called Khronos II. The programming of the playable Echo-1 AI character leads it to form a heartwarming and intriguing companionship with the only human aboard the space station, Captain Liv Rhodes.

You act as a taskmaster for Captain Liv, who sends you on various repair missions around Khronos II. Aside from this, though, Captain Liv also asks you for advice, which you are able to respond to as you see fit using your chosen dialogue response. This can lead to some funny, moving, and realistic responses from the character, and serves as a thought-provoking exercise into how the future may look.

As far as the gameplay is concerned, there are many cool attributes to Lone Echo that make it a unique VR experience. You can traverse the environment in zero-gravity, scan for radiation, and mend things with your blowtorch.

Despite playing as a robotic AI, the game feels surprisingly realistic. This is thanks to a combination of stunning visuals, an accurate physics engine, and believable interactions.

All in all, Lone Echo is a worthy purchase that will provide hours of entertainment. Fans of the game can also look forward to a 2020 release of Lone Echo II.

Get in Touch

We hope you liked our list of the 5 most realistic VR games available to play right now. If you can think of any other games to add to the list, let us know in the comments section below. For any other enquiries, email richard@blogofgames.com

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