Although Half-Life: Alyx may have stolen the hearts of many a VR enthusiast this year, the UploadVR Summer Showcase proved Valve isn’t the only one pushing the bounds in this relatively tight space. From spellbinding experiences to improvements even in hardware, it’s clear now that virtual reality is taking on a whole new ascension into commonplace gaming and the envelope will only be pushed so much further into the next several years. It’s exciting to see what’s in store for VR and what many mesmerizing new worlds will no sooner be available for unbound exploration and in-your-face interaction.

First-Person VR Shooters

Onward

Onward by Downpour Interactive has been languishing in early access since 2016. It’s an FPS VR military simulation focusing primarily on team-based action and realistic battle scenarios. With online multiplayer bouts housing up to 10 players a session, in addition to many various weapons to choose from, Onward can easily be likened to the Call of Duty of virtual reality titles.

Even if the online segment feels a bit too difficult for first-time VR soldiers, there’s always solo and co-op PvE modes packed with a variety of different maps and missions for players to hone in their warrior skills.

Phantom: Covert Ops

Winner of E3 2019’s Best VR game, Phantom: Covert Ops is a fantasy dream made a reality for every single Metal Gear and Splinter Cell fanboy. Developed by nDreams, this stealth-action experience takes a whole new approach to the average virtual reality format, dropping players into a kayak with an arsenal of assorted lethality. The goal in Covert Ops, as one would expect, is to follow specific points laid out across the map and to stay as uncompromised as possible. Although an expert implementation for VR gaming, the kayak in Covert Ops is an absolute death trap, making stealth and strategical positioning of utmost importance. It’s available now for the Oculus Quest and Rift.

Vertigo

First introduced back in 2016, Vertigo was an immediate breakout VR title that had all the right trappings and was even likened to “an indie Half-Life” amid that year’s UploadVR event. Returning with even more content and zany FPS action, Vertigo Remastered will greatly improve upon this initial experience by way of several enhancements, including a total system overhaul utilizing “brand new systems created for Vertigo 2,” as said by Zulubo Productions head Zach Tsiakalis-Brown via Twitter.

Horror & Survival VR

Cosmophobia

Cosmophobia, which was coined by astronomer David Morrison, is the fear of outer space. In White Door Games’ VR experience of the same name, this very cosmic terror comes to life like the demon lovechild of Dead Space and Moons of Madness. The player’s goal is not only to survive but also to escape from the confines of a debilitated space station riddled with entities of unknown origin.

Are you brave enough to take on this horrifying VR game, or will the ever-swirling dread of Cosmoophobia consume you?

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners has received ample praise, despite most video game offshoots under the franchise missing that same level of appeal awarded to the television show. It’s most recent Meatgrinder Update, which added an awesome horde mode to the game, allows VR players plenty more zombie-killing action. Saints and Sinners is available on most platforms, including Oculus, Steam, and PSVR, though it shines best of all on the PC.

Action-Adventure-Based VR Titles

LOW-FI

LOW-FI is a cyberpunk fantasy dream come true. While others may want to dredge up its parallels with Blade Runner and even Cyberpunk 2077, this action-packed sandbox VR stands on its own with an original tale seemingly underscored by apartheid and injustice.

With a majority of the inhabitants now populating the VR simulation known solely as The Platform, those street-dwellers and low-lives unable to merge with it are considered LOW-FI. Their ever-rampant crime sprees and disregard for the law are what drives forward the player character, a police officer overseeing block 303, in their attempt to control and combat the issues still plaguing the real world.

Lonn

Ever pictured yourself as a futuristic bounty-hunting ninja? Well, Lonn will be your next favorite VR game. Mirroring LOW-FI in its cyberpunk chic, this forthcoming experience by Six Sense follows an ex-bounty hunter named Lonn in his attempt to thwart the vile Wux-N corporation from creating a future solely inhabited by cyborgs. Though it may not be akin to an open-world Rockstar VR game, Lonn still evokes extreme promise in its narrative-focused singleplayer gameplay, including wild sword combat, puzzle-solving, and hours of exploration.

In Death: Unchained

In Death: Unchained may have first hit shelves all the way back in 2018, but the most recent update for the Oculus Quest expands the experience and instills far more bow-shooting action. Players will enter either of 3 areas, Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory. Their goal is to survive procedurally-generated levels with baddies ascending in difficulty the more the player progresses. Each successful run will reward players with upgrades and special abilities that will be carried over into the next level. Unchained is a neat rogue-lite with unbound potential and hours of archery fun, just don’t miss your mark on your way to victory.

NEXT: Iron Man VR Developer Camouflaj Was Initially Denied The License