Best Upcoming VR Games 2021 (And Beyond)

So far, 2021 has been a fantastic year for VR users in terms of both hardware and notable releases.

We’re happy to report there are more fantastic VR games releasing this year and well into 2022, so get ready.

In this list, we’ll highlight the best upcoming VR games to immerse yourself in throughout 2021 and beyond.

We’ll be updating this list in the future with new titles, so make sure to check back and let us know if we missed any games!

Related:Best Upcoming PSVR Games 2021 (And Beyond)Best Steam VR Games 2021The Best VR Headsets (2021 Reviews)

Sam & Max: This Time Its Virtual sees the comic book buddy cop duo back in action after a lengthy hiatus.

Developed solely for VR, the game sees you joining Sam & Max’s team as a Freelance Police Officer.

Together, the three of you will visit various locales to solve crimes by searching for clues, interrogating witnesses, and waiting for things to inevitably go awry.

Gameplay appears to be focused on completing various physics-based challenges as well as random tasks such as getting Sam’s lunch or pouring him a cup of coffee.

Following closely behind Half-Life: Alyx in regards to the hype, Lone Echo 2 is another sci-fi VR experience that’s currently on everyone’s radar.

Although the first entry didn’t precisely set the world on fire back in 2017, it’s mainly been credited for raising the bar for VR visuals and gameplay.

Now in 2020, the market is a lot more crowded with games that are similar to Lone Echo, so we’re hoping that the developer Ready at Dawn has brought their A-game for the sequel.

Lone Echo 2’s story will be a continuation of the original’s and chronicle the latest adventures of Captain Olivia Rhodes and her robot protector Jack.

Firmament is a new steampunk-inspired adventure game from developer Cyan, best known for classics like Myst, Riven, and Obduction.

Self-described as a “monumental voyage through diverse and curious realms,” the VR game sees you exploring a mysterious landscape brimming with puzzles to solve and lore to soak up.

Along your journey, you’ll be joined by a mechanical companion made of clock parts that act as a key to opening new gateways to other worlds.

With a track record like Cyan has, we’re expecting Firmament to deliver a satisfying and immersive experience worthy of VR. 

Low-Fi made its debut on Kickstarter where it quickly met and surpassed indie developer IRIS’s goal in a matter of only four days after the campaign had launched.

Described as a “non-linear open-world sandbox,” the game drops you in a crime-ridden metropolis in need of a tough but fair police officer who’s not afraid to break a few laws or completely ignore them, too.

As a new transfer, you’ll patrol city-block 303 and get to know its many inhabitants while solving cases and advancing the game’s story.

Alternatively, you have the option of diving headfirst into the city’s criminal underworld where accepting bribes and killing anyone who gets in your way is common practice.

Vertigo Games, the developer behind Arizona Sunshine and Skyworld, appears to be gearing up to release another VR first-person shooter.

Set in an alternative, post-apocalyptic 1980s Los Angeles during the dawn of a new ice age, After the Fall has you fighting for survival as you try to endure freezing cold temperatures amidst a zombie-alien invasion.

The game will reportedly feature weapon and armor crafting, as well as the ability to upgrade and modify any gear you pick up along the way.

In addition to a story campaign that’s playable in both single-player and online co-op with up to four friends, After the Fall includes a breadth of post-game content consisting of dynamic world events, side missions, and enemy encounters.

Sniper Elite creator Rebellion has partnered with developer Just Add Water to design a VR stealth-action game set in Sicily, Italy, during WW2. 

The game casts you as a soldier for the Italian Resistance whose been sent on a dangerous mission to demolish Nazi-controlled U-boats.

To better suit the immersive nature of virtual reality, it will feature a first-person POV along with a new X-ray kill cam tailored for VR.

Additionally, players will be able to hone their sniping skills with an arsenal of authentic WW2-era weapons at their disposal.

Like previous entries, Sniper Elite VR will feature sprawling environments that offer limitless opportunities to utilize different tactics and strategies.

Vertigo 2 picks up right where the first game left off, offering an atmospheric and story-driven VR experience tailored for high-end headsets.

Much like the original, the first-person shooter sees you exploring a massive underground facility belonging to Planck Interdimensional Energy Solutions, the industry leader in providing energy derived from black hole-powered quantum reactors.

Your mission is to reach the reactor’s core while dealing with a myriad of challenges, including parallel dimensions colliding, aliens from other universes appearing, and deadly androids that have been programmed to exterminate anything that breathes.

The sequel looks to be just as weird as the original, but if you try to keep an open mind, chances are you’ll end up enchanted by the game’s absurdity.