Video games have come a long way since the days of the NES and the Sega Master System, with many modern titles boastinggraphics that come scarily close to mirroring the real world. This, in turn, has led to some incredibly immersive experiences, with players able to lose themselves completely in these beautifully rendered digital worlds.
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This is particularly true when it comes to virtual reality games, with the first-person perspective and gesture-based controls really helping to make players feel as though they’re genuinely a part of the action. The most immersive PSVR 2 games are particularly good at this, either because of theirhighly realistic settingsor the control they wield over the player’s senses.
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Many considerThe Walking Dead: Saints & Sinnersto be one of the best VR games ever made. With that in mind, the release of a sequel in early 2022 didn’t come as too much of a surprise. Sadly,The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners - Chapter 2: Retributionis nowhere near as groundbreaking as its predecessor once was, but that’s not to say that it isn’t still a very good game.
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners - Chapter 2: Retributionimproves upon the original in just about every way, which in turn makes the overall experience even more immersive. The gameplay is enjoyable, the combat is intense, andthe surroundings are just as spooky as ever. Granted, the original is arguably still the better of the two games, but the sequel is definitely the most immersive.
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Horizon Call of the Mountainis easily the most realistic of the PSVR 2’s many launch titles, at least when it comes to the player’s surroundings, anyway. The locations explored throughout the game are beautifully rendered and the core gameplay mechanics do an excellent job of showcasing exactly what the hardware is capable of and how it may well be used in future titles.
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VR games in which the playable character moves around while the players themselves remain still have always struggled with immersion, butHorizon Call of the Mountainattempts to counter this in some interesting ways. Though still not perfect, walking, jumping, and climbing feel a lot more immersive than they do in mostother virtual reality games, and so the development team deserves an awful lot of credit for that.
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Althoughrealism and immersion often go hand in hand, the two are far from mutually exclusive. The latter, for example, can be just as easily achieved by overloading the player’s senses with bright visuals, awesome beats, and some of the most intuitive gameplay mechanics in modern gaming; as evidenced by the fantasticRez Infinite.
Despite being a relatively old game at this point, the PSVR 2 port of thisDreamcast classicstill finds ways to freshen things up for players. Aside, perhaps, from the improved visuals, the fantastic use of gaze tracking is the most notable of these, with players now able to target enemies simply by looking at them. This really helps to crank up the immersion, further allowing players to lose themselves in their visually stunning surroundings.
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LikeRez,Pistol Whipis best described as an action rhythm game. Rather than minimalist polygons and a relaxing gameplay loop, however, the latter uses bright colors and high-octane gunplay to keep its players engaged. It’s a lot less relaxing as a result, but also a lot more exhilarating thanks to the speed with which players are typically forced to react.
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It’s not a very realistic title, but this doesn’t make the game any less immersive. Every design choice feels delightfully deliberate and helps to draw players deeper into the high-speed gameplay that surrounds them. Dodging bullets is incredibly satisfying and canmake players feel like gods, while the heavy beats of the background music help to keep their hearts pumping.
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When it comes to gameplay,Kayak VR: Mirageis unlikely to win any awards. However, where the game really shines is through itsvisually stunning locales, which, together with the tight controls and seated position that players find themselves in while playing, help to make this one of the most immersive games on the PSVR 2.
From the icy waters of Antarctica to the sunny beaches of Costa Rica, the game takes players on one hell of a journey. It’s one that’s best enjoyed in either the free-roam or tour game modes, but those looking to work out their upper arms can instead explore the game’s stunning settings by taking part in a series ofhigh-octane races.
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Given thatResident Evil 7was one of the most immersive games on the original PSVR, it should perhaps come as no surprise that the game’s sequel also ranks pretty high when it comes to realistic PSVR 2 games. Exploring the titular Romanian village and some of the castles and buildings that can be found there is incredibly enjoyable in VR, though the same cannot always be said for encounters with some of the game’s well-designed enemies.
Resident Evil Villagecan be terrifying enough when played from a first-person perspective, but VR takes this to a whole other level. The monster baby encounter is particularly disconcerting, as too are the Lycan-like Varcolacs that players encounter as they progress through the main story campaign. Horror game fans will love what this game has to offer, and owe it to themselves to experience this highly immersive title on the PSVR 2 at least once.
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Gran Turismo 7is one of the best-looking games on the PlayStation 5, particularly when played from a first-person perspective. The attention to detail really is quite remarkable, with each of the game’s 300+ cars looking truly stunning both inside and out. The PSVR 2 really allows players to appreciate the care and attention that went into these little extra details, which in turn helps to make the experience far more immersive for players.
When played in VR mode with a decent racing wheel,Gran Turismo 7is about as close to real-world driving as one could ever expect from a video game. Driving at night is particularly rewarding, especially on tracks with fireworks. That high-speed racing typically requires a helmet even helps to justify the noticeable weight of the PSVR 2 HMD, which, in other VR games, can often end up being one of the biggest immersion breakers.
